I wrote this song about an Iowa moonshiner/farmer who lived by the tracks. Instrumentally, I went for a train, early blues, native American vibe. Lyrics were inspired by a recent binge-watching jag of Petticoat Junction. I was recording the train whistle guitar track up in the loft of the barn when a thunderstorm came on. The thunder and rain turned out to be an integral part of this song.
Erick Hovey
lyrics
I got a call from a railroad gal, she’d been out in the sun
Wanted hooch and a bushel, of corn, and I just had me some
Made a trade for a heap of fun, she got paid in kind
I made it safe across them tracks, and she found the end of the line
Queen corn, standin tall, out in Ioway
Queen corn, standin tall
She got a bushel and that aint all, she got a bushel and that aint all
Met her sis on a country road, she had a bag of seed, said this grow tall in Iowa, this is what you need
So I grew it up and I brewed it up, gave her all the squeeze
She drank it all then took a fall said bury me if you please
Queen corn, standin tall, out in Ioway
Queen corn, standin tall
We squeeze corn till we hit that wall, squeeze that corn till you hit that wall
Sister three she came to me, heard I had some shine
She dropped dead of a heart attack, before I got online
Her sister called said what the hell, you killed off all my kin
Said keep that cob in your pants, and your corn crop in the bin
And the corn crop in the bin
Queen corn standin tall, out in Ioway, out in Ioway
So I dug dirt and searched my soul, now I got to say, you best step lightly on that land, out in Ioway
I don’t cook corn by the tracks no more, I feel bad every day
Two of them sisters in the ground but ones still in the hay
Queen corn, number one, all she had was too much fun
Queen corn, number two, squeezed that corn turned it blue
Queen corn, number three, she didn’t have no luck with me
Queen corn, standin tall, out in Ioway
credits
from we're all out here because we're not all there,
released September 10, 2021
Written by Erick Hovey
Recorded by Erick Hovey at The Barn
Mastered by Tom Scheponik at The SoundLab
Vocal and Guitar: Erick Hovey
Percussion: Ray England
Bass: Bill Hoft
Backing Vocals: Heather Kelly, Hannah Mosqueda, Don Sorensen, Jessica Webb
Erick Hovey's music is peppered with seasonings of blues, roots rock, jazz, funk, old power trio rock, reggae, and newer
folk fusion styles. His lyrical content has not only good humored nods towards classic blues and rock clichés’, but spans the afterlife, and existentialism as well. Sometimes it’s spooky, sometimes it’s raw, spiritual, and sensual. Think Mark Knopfler, JJ Cale, and Peter Green....more
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