Hominy Valley from Morning Shift by Steep Canyon Rangers

Graham Sharp: A couple friends in my neighborhood introduced me to a little history pamphlet that lives in the archives at UNC Asheville. It tells the story of General Rutherford’s campaign against the Cherokee during the Revolutionary War. One of the spots it references is right across the street from my house. Apparently my neighborhood is cursed, stemming from the killing of a Cherokee scout who was following the Revolutionary Force as they moved through the area that is now Asheville. The story is that the army got wind they were being followed by two scouts and poisoned a creek that one of them drank from. His friend buried him sitting upright on the hill, under what is now a huge old oak tree, looking over the valley to keep watch. I’ve been trying to write this song for years and never got anywhere until one night after dinner I sat down and the whole thing was right there. The story never felt right until it connected with the current construction of apartments going on at that very spot right now.

Tracklist

1.	Hominy Valley	4:23

Videos

Lyrics

Two Cherokee scouts were tracking General Rutherford’s march through the Swannanoa hills
The Yanks got wise and poisoned Caney Creek and one of them braves got killed
He’s buried sitting beneath an oak tree
Sitting up so he can keep his watch over Hominy Valley
I think he’s watching me

And all I’ve got to go on is three lines in a book that nobody reads
And the gash in the crook of the tree that never heals
Sure enough there’s a rise about three feet high
And I can follow the line of his eyes out across the field
Across Hominy Valley
I think he’s watching me still

The neighborhood fought it when some money from Charlotte bought up that riverbend
The church owned the land and they needed the cash and their lawyers got an easy win
So look who’s moving in now
Who am I to run my mouth about Hominy Valley
I think he’s watching me now

And all I’ve got to go on is three lines in a book that nobody reads
And the gash in the crook of the tree that never heals
Sure enough there’s a rise about three feet high
And I can follow the line of his eyes out across the field
Across Hominy Valley
I think he’s watching me still

The gate by the road stays locked but you can still walk up to get to where he sleeps
A tree crew is making their way through the hood
They’re doing hard work and doing it cheap
Now one of those guys speaks English alright
And I asked him if they had their sights on that oak on the hill
Over Hominy Valley

And all I’ve got to go on is three lines in a book that nobody reads
And the gash in the crook of the tree that never heals
Sure enough there’s a rise about three feet high
And I can follow the line of his eyes out across the field
Across Hominy Valley
I think he’s watching me still
I think he’s watching me still
I think he’s watching me still

Credits

from Morning Shift, track released September 8, 2023
2023 Yep Roc, LLC. All rights reserved.

Written by Aaron Burdett, Graham Sharp and Barrett Smith
Puzzle Gully Publishing (BMI), Enchanted Barn Publishing (ASCAP) administered by Seed Soup Songs (ASCAP), Barrettsong Publishing (ASCAP)

Mike Guggino: mandolin, harmony vocals
Mike Ashworth: drums
Aaron Burdett: guitar, harmony vocals
Nicky Sanders: fiddle
Barrett Smith: bass, lead vocals
Graham Sharp: banjo
Darrell Scott: electric guitar

Produced by Darrell Scott
Engineered by Dave Sinko
Recorded at Inn Bat Cave - Bat Cave, NC
Mastered by Richard Dodd

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