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This is a song for "around the campfire"! In a previous post I said, "I write what I'm given,...and there you have it!"

Witch Hazel Cove
copyright 2009 Droptine
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=906433&songID=7879911

Paddle down to Witch Hazel Cove
The river's slow, and there ain't no roads
A howlin' wolf 'cuz the moon just rose
Way back here in Witch Hazel Cove

Baby girl born without no soul
The swamp was hot but her heart was cold
She grew up crazy, grew up alone
Way back here in Witch Hazel Cove

Judge Lafayette had labeled her insane,
And Hazel was her name.

Four chinkless walls with a lotta mold
Hickory log in that ol' wood stove
No creepier tale was ever told
Way back here in Witch Hazel Cove

Now, once upon a time in black timber
Oh Buddy, have you heard?

Two good ol' boys with intent to poach
Flat head cats done filled their boat
They crossed the line. They got too close.
Way back here in Witch Hazel's Cove

Those fishermen were found skinned like a deer,
Grinnin' ear to ear.

(INSTRUMENTAL)

Now Hazel she's been dead for fifty years
Fellas, tip your beers!

Witch Hazel she's been dead and gone for years...
(spoken: What was that?)
Let's get outta here!

This is pretty cool. Love the bluesy movement going on in this, your voice, and the harmony. The lyric is good too. You got it goin' on, my friend. I listened to Bitchy Ass too. This seems like the appropriate follow-up tune to that one..from Bitchy Ass to Witchy Woman.

If I lived in Overland Park, I'd come see you play. I went to Pittsburg State in Kansas for my first stint in college. There were lots of kids from Overland Park when I went there, most of them came from Shawnee Mission North, I think.

Hey Wendy,
Thanks for the Listen! I know it's a little "dark", but I had the guitar riff first. It just naturally went that direction! Some think a little too far! Creepy!

Droptine

I keep running into my pop-up blocker with your links, just have the link go to the full song info page and let us choose hi-fi or lo-fi.

Kevin

Sorry about that. Please try again! Link should be fixed.

Droptine

Really good stuff y'all! The only exception I take is with the line "A howlin' wolf 'cuz the moon just rose".....wolves don't sound swampy to me somehow...a swampy-er line might be, "a moanin' hound 'cause the moon just rose"....this could fall under the heading of "nit-pickin'" so take it or leave it. Great song regardless!!!
yerz, Ellen

Cool riff and good delivery on the lyrics. I would love to hear it with a little bass and percussion (like even just congas). Cool tune. Singing and playing are top notch.

Kevin

Hey Ellen and Kevin,
Good morning and thanks for the listen! Good point on the "wolves" Ellen. I went with them for the CREEPY factor! Just like ALL my music, that just gets played at "open mics", I'd love to hear them with a full band production. I can hear alot of parts in the music, lets say a dobro and a haunting fiddle in "Witch Hazel Cove", but I can't play either to get them on a worktape!? Oh Well.

Thanks again Guys! Droptine

Very cool groove on this one, it'd lend itself quite nice to lots of different instrumentation in a fuller production. I'm definately hearing the dobro like you said.

The lyrics, melody and groove work perfectly together, great swampy blues tune.

Hey Mark,
Thanks for stoppin' by! I wish I was talented enough to fill in the blanks. For me it's the, "can't teach old dogs new tricks"! Ha! Listened to your Sleepy McGee, is that fiddle "live or Memorex"?

Thanks again, Droptine

Posted a different mix for this song. Tweaked the levels, and tightened the harmonies! ENJOY!

Droptine

Hi Drop,

I really like this one. Very cool swamp blues. The lyrics deliver a great feel and the music really brings it home. The guitar/vocal is, again, very smooth, harmonies a nice touch. Really well done all the way around.

Ricki

Hey Ricki,
You,re busy this morning! This is my newest creation, and everyone says, "Dude, what's up with this song!?", in a creepy SAW IV sort of tone. I just say, "I write what I'm given!". I had the guitar riff first, liked the feel, and brainstormed to determine how to shoehorn it into my repertoire'. It started out creepy, and just got creepier! Shooting myself in the foot of course, because nobody on Music Row will pick it up to cut. I do hear someone like Jamey Johnson, or the Steeldrivers playing it though!? Swampy X Ten!

Take care, Droptine

Droptine,

I love the feel and story! Great job. I loved the last part... Lets get out of here. Very original thinking there...

Curt

Yo Drop,
I say submit tha sucker anyhooo....it's a great song and your new mix is dandy! I've been reading the 2009 Songwriter's Market and you've got nuthin' to lose by chucking it out there. Tha heck with Music Row....it's quality stuff and somebody might "get it". Now just change that dang wolf to a hound already (hahaha)
yerz, Ellen
p.s. ya wanna hear dark & creepy? check out the first song on my Myspace page: Don't You go....another one sure to be to be a Music Row reject!

Thanks Curt!
This song I think I'll tweak a little and try and do a "full production" demo. If no other reason, to be an album cut on MY next project!

Droptine

Ooooh, very nice! Great story, vocals, and I love the harmonies. Well done.

Donna

Thanks Donna,
My wife has to listen to it with the lights ON!? Whats up with that? probably not a TOP TEN hit,...but perhaps an "album cut"? I'm not greedy. It gets funny reactions played at a bar, especially if people are listening more than drinkening!? Ha!

Droptine

Creep-a-licious.

Having heard this live at NSAI and open mic, all I can say is, the "groove" works, plain and simple. Even cooler when GM jumps in on slide.

Still not sold on TIM-BER, but you knew that already.

~Bubbles

Thanks Bubbles!
I've been "slackin'" on my replies,...Sorry! Everyday holds a NEW adventure it seems. Thanks for the listen.

Creep-a-licious! COOL...that works!

The slide guitar is a nice touch, thanks to GM.

Droptine

Hi there Droptine,


Nice to "meet" you....and welcome to JPF!

This is really a cool song! The lyric, vocals and harmonies are so well done. It does have a "swampy blues" feel!

Great job!


My best to you,
Gail

Nice to meet you too Gail!

Thanks for the listen,...this song is really fun to play "out"! It gets alot of mixed reactions.

Thanks again, Droptine

Great song. nice harmony and guitar counter movement. very nice

Thanks for the listen Glen!

Glad you like it, Droptine

Hey Drop,

OOH, this is a good creepy one alright! The writing is tight and chock full of vivid, spooky imagery. For some reason I really liked this section:

Judge Lafayette had labeled her insane,
And Hazel was her name.

The name Lafayette lends a real authenticity to the piece...if you figure this takes place down in the Louisiana Bayou... And I think the play on Witch Hazel is very clever.

As others have mentioned, your vocals are quite engaging. The harmonies are terrific, and the musication as a whole isn't over-the-top scary.....so we all let our guards down a little.... ).

The only sug I might make is about the line:

"Fellas, tip your beers"

Aside from it sounding a little odd to me (I think either "swig YOUR BEERS" or "TIP your waitress! ), I wonder if the meaning of the line would be lost if you weren't introducing the song for round-the-campfire. Maybe something a bit more generic?:

Now Hazel she's been dead for fifty years
Fellas, tip your beers there ain't nothin' to fear!

Just food for thought....kos!

Otherwise, like this a lot, Drop. And I'm with the rest of the gang -- pitch away... I can totally see the guys trying to scare their girlfriends, and the girlfriends finding it a good excuse to snuggle. That's what I call a Win-Win my friend!

Anyhoo, thanks for sharing....
Beth

Droptine,

Cool in a spooky way. The guitar and vocal are excellent. And the harmony is very tighht.

I've been thinking there should be a "Cajun Funk" genre. I wrote on a couple of years, "Midnight In The Swamp", and couldn't find an appropriate genre for it. If you're interested in hearing it, here's a link. It's actually a finalist in the JPF Lyric Awards this year. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=276329&songID=2899627

I found your song to be spooky and entertaining, but not so much creepy. I like to hear people experiment, brerak the rules within reason and create something totally new. I loved it from beginning to end. Two thumbs up from me!

Alan

Beth,
Thanks for listening! You're right on the beer thing,...It should actually say "Lift your Beers", in a toast fashion! I WILL be making that correction!

Al,
Thanks also for the listen! As soon as a get a few minutes, I'll go to your link and listen to YOUR "swamp" song! I've always enjoyed songs in drop "D", really like the low end!

Thanks again guys, Droptine

AL,
Just now went to your "Midnight in the Swamp" link. Very COOL! Alot of great images! Dark, creepy,...just the way I like'm!

Droptine

Well, well...

I can't add anything, cos, I think all your stuff is perfect..you for sure have a big fan in me..love your voice, can't explain it, just a very great sound to it..I wish you the best of luck, IMHO you're going places my friend.

The way you have discribed this story it takes you there, and the way you sing it, I enjoyed the ride....thanks..glyn

Glynda,
You're too kind. You'd better hold your complements until the collab is finished,...I'm thinkin' the jury's still out!? Anyway, I had my bubble popped today. I heard Reba's new album, and she has a song with the same "dark" feel as this, "Maggie Creek Road", and it's "CUT" and on HER album! We just drool! I,...just drool!

Oh Well, back to reality,
Droptine

TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT, thanks !!

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Droptine,

The lyric reads "campfire" but the music isn't what I'd expect around a campfire at all. Okay, if "Cream" huddled round a campfire, this is something I could see Jack Bruce and Clapton coming up with for fun, the odd time signature being Ginger Baker's idea.

I loved your vocals. The harmonies were very good.

I kept finding myself (lap) drumming along with this, as it's a dream piece for a drummer; so many different ways to divide the beat up.

Mike

Gentlemen,
Thanks for the listen! I'd really like to do a full blown demo of this song. I hear an eerry slide guitar, an equally eerry fiddle, and as Michael pointed out, drums can go anywhere! Just so it;s "DARK" and "CREEPY"! Cuz,...that's the way I roll!?

Droptine

You go Droptine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! glyn

Glynda,
Unfortunately this song is gunna take the "Back Burner" in the demo process for now. I've been workin' on a brand new song the last few days that is the closest to putting ME on the map as anything I've ever written,...with a "REBEL" twist of course!? It will probably be demoed before it's posted here. Lord willin'!?

Droptine

Well, good luck to you, I hope you go all the way with it..you deserve it from what i've seen and heard...glyn

Glynda, I'm still tweakin' on our collab, don't give up on me. I told you I was slooooow!?

Droptine

Very cool sound. Enjoyed it!

Hey Droptine,

Never will I ever...give up on you.....glyn

Glynda,
I heard Reba's new CD over the weekend. Whooa!? The woman is amazing!! She has a song, "Maggie Creek Road" it's DARK w/slide guitar/dobro goin'on, just exactly what I have in mind for "Witch Hazel Cove". I'd die to see what Nashville would do with it! BTW I'm ready to record the g/v on "You've Got Mail". 'Bout time!?

Droptine

Hey JPFer's!

I'm gettin' ready to send this in for an NSAI Evaluation! Lookin' for crits on the tightness. It's not a formal "demo", but is it good enough for an eval!? Let me know,...I can take it!?!

Droptine