This is the second original song that I have produced, this time going for a more folk/country feel as opposed to alt-pop. I'm still learning the basics of music production using Logic Pro, and I think that this release shows a step up in quality from my previous track, "October Revolution." I can only hope that progress continues as I go.

Anyways, this song, called "The Battle of Grapevine Creek," is the result of hours upon hours of difficult, laborious research on the Hatfield-McCoy feud through a single Wikipedia article. Before I sat down to write it, I was thinking about how the main tropes of modern country are simple, descriptive lyrics centered around a very basic theme, commonly used chord progressions, and a very simple verse-chorus song structure. My goal with this song was to create something with a country sound that completely inverts these common conventions. So I picked a multi-part song structure like you would find in a long classic rock song, a key that flips from major to minor and back to major again, and lyrics that are less concerned with feel-good imagery and more with telling a story. I got my cousin who has spent a large part of her life singing country at an amateur level to feature her vocals on the track.

Admittedly, the final result isn't necessarily what I would call "country" - I actually find it quite difficult to place it into a certain genre since I borrowed from a few different styles including country rock, folk, pop, and a little bit of funk. I am pretty happy with the results regardless, and I thank you for giving it a listen. If you like what you hear, feel free to follow me on Newgrounds or check out my profile on Spotify or Apple Music.

(I apologize in advance for rhyming "way" with "way." It's cheating, but I think I can get away with it.)

LYRICS

Devil Anse Hatfield worked in timber by the fork in West Virginia

Randall McCoy had a sneaking suspicion that he killed his brother, Asa

Anse's cousin Floyd fought Randall McCoy over livestock that he branded

Staton testified that the hog was his, and Randall's kids just couldn't stand it

Ain't that just how it goes when you make your own mortal foes

Sooner or later something's gotta give to the fight

Ain't that just the way when pettiness gets in the way

What do they have in store for New Year's night

Rosanna McCoy fell for Anse's boy, his name was Johnson Hatfield

Rose and Johnse didn't last for months, but their love became a battlefield

When Johnse ditched Rose, her brothers supposed they'd get revenge and they'd be even

But the Hatfield clan had another plan, they showed 'em something to believe in

Ain't that just how it goes when you make your own mortal foes

Sooner or later something's gotta give to the fight

Ain't that just the way when pettiness gets in the way

What do they have in store for New Year's night

Devil Anse straps up his boots, he's gonna end this feud tonight

Takes a posse down to Grapevine Creek, just itchin' for a fight

The McCoys are intercepting them, now the feud's become a war

How many Hatfields risk their lives, do they know what they're fighting for?

Down, down, down, them McCoys, they're goin' down

Ol' Devil Anse is gonna take it to the grave

Down, down, down to Grapevine Creek, they're goin' down

'Cause heaven knows there's gonna be hell to pay

It's over, it's all done; what have the Hatfields all become?

One was strung up at the gallows with nowhere left to run

With his final breath, "the Hatfields made mne do it," he proclaimed

But the law ain't got no sympathy or cares which family is to blame

Ain't that just how it goes when you make your own mortal foes

Sooner or later something's gotta give to the fight

Ain't that just the way when pettiness gets in the way

Nobody wins no matter who was wrong or who was right