The Legend of Wooley Swamp

"The Legend of Wooley Swamp" is the title of a song written and recorded by the Charlie Daniels Band. It was released in August 1980 as the second single from the album Full Moon, which was later certified platinum.^[1]

Content

"The Legend of Wooley Swamp" tells of a myth in which an elderly man, Lucius Clay, is filled with greed and cares only about the money buried in the area in which he lives, called Booger Woods. According to the song, Lucius Clay lives out in the Wooley Swamp and digs up his money just to run his fingers through it. The antagonists, the Cable Boys, live in Carver's Creek- a neighboring wilderness just miles away from Wooley Swamp. These three brothers are described as being "white trash" and "belligerent." They soon grow jealous of the old man and plot to kill him. Later one night they sneak up on Lucius, who has just dug up "13 rusty mason jars" filled with money. The Cable brothers then attack Lucius and dump his body in the swamp. Afterwards, they go back to the shack and pick up the money and run. But after only taking a few steps, they discover they are running in quick sand. Shortly before they sink, they can hear the old man "laughing in a voice as loud as thunder."

The song later goes on to say that, although it's been 50 years later, on full moon nights "you can hear three young men screaming" while "you can hear one old man laugh".

Success and reception

Although the song only went to #80 on the Billboard country charts, it was major crossover hit on the U.S. pop charts as it entered the Top 40 on Sept. 27, 1980 and later peaked at #31. It receives occasional airplay to this day and has become one of Charlie Daniels' signature songs.

References