The Charlie Daniels Band was formed in 1970, with Charlie Daniels joined by Barry Barnes (guitar), Mark Fitzgerald (bass), Fred Edwards and Gary Allen (drums), and Taz DiGregorio (keyboards). They started recording southern rock-styled albums for Kama Sutra. Although a multi-instrumentalist, Daniels was a limited vocalist, but his voice was well suited to the talking-style "Uneasy Rider", which reached the US Top 10 in 1973. He followed it with his anthem for southern rock, "The South's Gonna Do It". In 1974, Daniels had members of The Marshall Tucker Band and The Allman Brothers Band join him onstage in Nashville. It was so successful that he decided to make his so-called Volunteer Jam an annual event. It led to some unlikely combinations of artists such as James Brown performing with Roy Acuff, and the stylistic mergers have included Crystal Gayle singing the blues with the Charlie Daniels Band.
The Charlie Daniels Band underwent some personnel changes on 1975's 'Nightrider", with Tom Crain, Charlie Hayward and Don Murray replacing Barnes, Fitzgerald and Allen respectively. When Daniels moved to Epic in 1976, there was a concerted effort to turn the band into a major concert attraction, despite the fact that at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 20 stone Daniels was no teenage idol: he hid his face under an oversized cowboy hat. The albums sold well, and in 1979, when recording his "Million Mile Reflections" album, he recalled a 20s poem, "The Mountain Whipporwill", by Stephen Vincent Benet. The band developed this into "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", in which Johnny outplays the Devil to win a gold fiddle. Daniels overdubbed his fiddle seven times to create an atmospheric recording that topped the US country charts and reached number 3 in the US pop charts. It was also a UK Top 20 success.
In 1980 the band recorded "In America" for the hostages in Iran, and then in 1982, "Still In Saigon", about Vietnam. The band were featured on the soundtrack for Urban Cowboy and also recorded the theme for the Burt Reynolds movie "Stroker Ace". The 13th Volunteer Jam was held in 1987, but financial and time constraints meant the event was put on temporary hiatus (it resumed four years later). In the late 80s Daniels appeared in the movie "Lone Star Kid" and published a book of short stories, but continued touring and playing his southern boogie to adoring audiences.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the Country charts and the music continues to receive airplay on country stations today. Daniels also released several Gospel and Christian records.
http://www.charliedaniels.com/
The Legend Of Wolley Swamp
Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's things out there in the middle of them woods
That'd make a strong man die from fright
There's things that crawl and things that fly
And things that creep around on the ground
And they say the ghost of Lucias Clay gets up and it walks around.
[Chorus]
And I couldn't conceive it, I never would listen to nobody else
No I couldn't believe it, I just had to find out for myself
That there's some things in this world you just can't explain.
The old man lived in the Wooly Swamp way back in the gurgling woods
And he never did do a lot of harm in the world
But he never did do no good
People didn't think too much of him
They all thought he acted funny
The old man didn't care about people anyway
All he cared about was his money.
He'd stuff it all down in Mason jars and bury it all around
But on certain nights if the moon was right
He'd dig it up out of the ground.
He'd pour it all out on the floor of his shack
And run his fingers through it.
Old Lucias Clay was a greedy old man
And that's all there ever was to it.
[Chorus]
The Crayton boys were white trash they lived over on Parvis Creek
They were a real snake and sneaky as a cat
And belligerent when they'd speak.
One night the oldest brother said ya'll meet in the Wooly Swamp later
We'll get old Lucias' money and we'll pitch him to the alligators.
They found the old man out in the back with a shovel in his hand
And thirteen rusty Mason jars he just dug up out of the sand.
And they all went crazy and they beat the old man
Then they picked him up off the ground
Then they threw him in the swamp and they stood there and laughed
Till the black water sucked him down.
Then they turned around and went back to the shack
And they picked up the money and ran.
But they hadn't gone nowheres when they realized
They were running in quicksand.
And they struggled and screamed but they couldn't get away
Then just before they were gone
They could hear that old man laughing
In a voice that was loud and strong.
Now that's been fifty years ago an' if you go back by there again
There's a spot in the yard in back of that shack
Where the ground is always wet.
And on certain nights if the moon is right
And you're down by the dark footpath
You can hear three young men screaming
And you can hear that old man laugh.
If you ever go back into Wooly Swamp son you better not go at night
There's things out there in the middle of them woods
That'd make a strong man die from fright
There's things that crawl and things that fly
And things that creep around on the ground
And they say the ghost of Lucias Clay gets up and it walks around.
[Chorus]
The Legend of Wooley Swamp, a song by the Charlie Daniels Band, narrates a spooky story about a swamp where strange things happen at night. The song warns the listener about going into the swamp at night as there are things in there that can make a strong man die from fright. The singer cannot believe the stories he hears and decides to investigate for himself. The song also narrates the tale of an old man who lived in the swamp and buried his wealth, and the Crayton boys, who killed him to seize his money. However, after disposing of the old man's body, the brothers find themselves trapped in quicksand and hear the old man's laughter coming from the swamp.
The song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of curiosity. The singer cannot believe what he hears and decides to investigate for himself, which endangers his life. The old man's story also highlights the dangers of greed, as he hoards wealth and alienates himself from society. The Crayton brothers' fate is a reminder that karma eventually catches up with one's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ever go back into Wooly Swamp son you better not go at night
Going back to Wooly Swamp at night is not advised.
There's things out there in the middle of them woods
There are mysterious things in the woods of Wooly Swamp.
That'd make a strong man die from fright
These things are so terrifying that even the strongest man might be scared to death.
There's things that crawl and things that fly
The things in the woods of Wooly Swamp includes creatures that crawl and creatures that fly.
And things that creep around on the ground
There are also things that sneak around on the ground.
And they say the ghost of Lucias Clay gets up and it walks around.
There's a rumor that the ghost of Lucias Clay roams the woods of Wooly Swamp.
[Chorus]
The chorus talks about the singer's disbelief until he finds out the truth for himself.
The old man lived in the Wooly Swamp way back in the gurgling woods
Lucias Clay lived in the deep part of Wooly Swamp.
And he never did do a lot of harm in the world
Lucias Clay was not known for doing any harm to people.
But he never did do no good
Lucias Clay was also not known for doing any good for others.
People didn't think too much of him
The people of Wooly Swamp didn't have a high opinion of Lucias Clay.
They all thought he acted funny
They also thought that Lucias Clay was strange.
The old man didn't care about people anyway
Lucias Clay didn't care about what people thought of him.
All he cared about was his money.
Lucias Clay was only interested in his wealth.
He'd stuff it all down in Mason jars and bury it all around
Lucias Clay would fill jars with his money and hide them throughout Wooly Swamp.
But on certain nights if the moon was right
Lucias Clay would dig up the jars of money on specific nights under certain lunar conditions.
He'd pour it all out on the floor of his shack
Lucias Clay would empty the money from the jars onto the floor of his home.
And run his fingers through it.
Lucias Clay enjoyed touching and feeling the wealth he had accumulated.
Old Lucias Clay was a greedy old man
Lucias Clay was notoriously greedy.
And that's all there ever was to it.
His greed was his defining characteristic.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats to emphasize the singer's disbelief until he sees the truth for himself.
The Crayton boys were white trash they lived over on Parvis Creek
The Crayton family lived near Parvis Creek and were considered low-class.
They were a real snake and sneaky as a cat
The Crayton boys were deceitful and sly.
And belligerent when they'd speak.
They were also aggressive and confrontational.
One night the oldest brother said ya'll meet in the Wooly Swamp later
One brother suggests they meet in Wooly Swamp for a nefarious purpose.
We'll get old Lucias' money and we'll pitch him to the alligators.
The Crayton brothers plan to rob Lucias Clay and then kill him by throwing him to the alligators in the swamp.
They found the old man out in the back with a shovel in his hand
The Crayton brothers found Lucias Clay digging up the jars of money with a shovel.
And thirteen rusty Mason jars he just dug up out of the sand.
Lucias Clay had just dug up 13 jars of his money from the sand.
And they all went crazy and they beat the old man
The Crayton brothers attack Lucias Clay.
Then they picked him up off the ground
After beating him, they lift Lucias Clay up.
Then they threw him in the swamp and they stood there and laughed
The Crayton brothers throw Lucias Clay into the swamp and enjoy their crime.
Till the black water sucked him down.
Lucias Clay is swallowed by the murky water of the swamp.
Then they turned around and went back to the shack
The Crayton brothers leave the scene of the crime.
And they picked up the money and ran.
The brothers take Lucias Clay's money and flee the scene.
But they hadn't gone nowhere when they realized
The brothers didn't get far before they encountered an unexpected challenge.
They were running in quicksand.
The brothers find themselves stuck in quicksand.
And they struggled and screamed but they couldn't get away
The Crayton brothers were unable to free themselves from the grasp of the quicksand.
Then just before they were gone
As they approached their untimely ends.
They could hear that old man laughing
The brothers hear the laughter of Lucias Clay, even though he is already dead.
In a voice that was loud and strong.
Lucias Clay's voice was unnaturally loud and clear.
Now that's been fifty years ago an' if you go back by there again
Fifty years have passed since the events took place in Wooly Swamp.
There's a spot in the yard in back of that shack
There is a specific spot in the yard behind the Crayton brothers' former home.
Where the ground is always wet.
The ground there is permanently moist.
And on certain nights if the moon is right
Under specific lunar conditions.
And you're down by the dark footpath
If you're walking along the dark, ominous footpath.
You can hear three young men screaming
The screams of the Crayton brothers can be heard.
And you can hear that old man laugh.
The laughter of Lucias Clay can still be heard even after 50 years.
[Chorus]
The chorus is repeated at the end to emphasize the message that there are some things in this world that can't be explained.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES FRED HAYWARD, CHARLIE DANIELS, FRED EDWARDS, JAMES W. MARSHALL, JOHN CRAIN, WILLIAM J. DIGREGORIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesd7495
I have a special memory of this song. as a 10 year old boy, my dad took me to see Charlie daniels. This was in 2001. This was our favorite song by Charlie Daniels but neither of us thought hed play it. He opened the concert with it and for the first and last time in my life, I saw my dad jump up and down in excitement. we both were! great memory lol
@jmulby
My dad and I favorite as well he passed in November sending good vibes your way brotha
@derrickwilson2295
Saw Charlie Daniels at the Tennessee Valley Fair the same year (2001).
This would have been about 4 days after 9/11.
I believe he did Wooly Swamp that night, but what I fervently remember is his rendition of In America.
“This last May have stumbled, but she ain’t never fell. And if them Arabs don’t believe that, they can all go straight to Hell!”
That crowd popped like a cherry on prom night!!
@lunapro9853
Awesome
@4801540784
Was this in Florida?
@zanethecobra
@Jack MeHoff it literally says at the Tennessee valley Fair lol 😁
@sntbozeman
“You could hear three young men screaming...you could hear one old man laugh”. What a great line.
@kevinjasper6620
Best line in the song
@therabidscorpion
Revenge from beyond the grave is best.
@mikedowless6336
The song is true. I live in wooly swamp