Most fans of roots music know “O Death” from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack and the version popularized by Ralph Stanley and the Stanley Brothers. It’s a paradox distilled impossibly perfectly into song. The lonesome longing dirge of a flat-seven chord might be the spookiest sound in bluegrass, from “Wheel Hoss” to “Old Joe Clark” to “Body and Soul.” A love song written through a morbid and mortal lens, you can almost feel the distance between the object’s body and soul widening as the singer - in the Big Mon’s unflappable tenor - objectifies his love, perhaps not realizing the cold, unfeeling quality of his actions. What’s more scary than an accidental (on purpose) double poisoning? The Stanley Brothers might accomplish spooky ‘grass better than any other bluegrass act across the decades.Ī less traditional rendering of a folk canon lyric, Missy Raines’ “Blackest Crow” might not feel particularly terrifying in and of itself, but the dark imagery of crows, ravens, and their relatives will always be a spectre in folk music, if not especially in bluegrass. Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it? Here’s a tried and true old lyric, offered by the Stanley Brothers in that brother-duet-story-song style that’s unique to bluegrass. The Stanley Brothers – “Little Glass of Wine”Īh, American folk music, a tradition that *checks notes* celebrates the infinity-spanning, universe-halting power of love by valorizing murdering objects of that love. Not technically a ghost story, we’re sliding in this hit purely because a Nashville hook as good as this deserves mention in a spooky-themed playlist. Equal parts cheesy and stunning, if you haven’t belted along to this song at hundreds of decibels while no one is watching, you’re lying. Feel free to color inside - or outside - of the lines as you decide just how the song’s couple landed in their double grave.Ĭome for the iconic AKUS track, stay for the impeccable introduction by Alison. Just enough of the story is left up to the imagination of the listener. One has to wonder, though, with so many songs about murderous, deceitful women in bluegrass - the overwhelmingly male songwriters across the genre’s history couldn’t be bitter and misogynist, could they? Could they?Ī more recent example of unsettling songwriting in bluegrass and Americana, husband-and-wife duo Zach & Maggie White give a whimsical, joyful bent to their decidedly creepy song “ Double Grave” in the 2019 music video for the track. His grumbling, coarse voice and deadpan delivery do this modern murder ballad justice and then some. (Yes, that’s a country songwriting archetype.) The Country Gentlemen did quiet, ambling - and spooky - bangers better than anybody else in bluegrass.įans of now-retired family band Cherryholmes will know how rare it was for father and bassist Jere to step up to the microphone to sing lead. THE archetypical example of “What’s that story, stranger? Well, wait ‘til you hear this wild twist…” in country songwriting. The Country Gentlemen – “Bringing Mary Home” If you’re a fan of pumpkins, hot cider, and murder ballads we’ve crafted this list of 13 spooky-season bluegrass songs just for you: Bluegrass, old-time, and country do unsettling music remarkably well, from ancient folk lyrics of love gone wrong to ghost stories to truly “WTF?” moments. Ah! There’s a chill in the air, color in the leaves, and a craving for the spookiest songs in bluegrass - it must be fall.
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