Immediate download of Snakehandling in your choice of 320k mp3, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.
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about
A couple of years ago when I first I played this song for the band, the response was not enthusiastic. Maybe I wasn’t able to keep the guitar part going while spitting out all the lyrics. Maybe it seemed too similar to Commander Cody’s ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’ (which does not, however, include one single mention of any kind of reptile). Or maybe the other Dizzies hoped that if they didn’t encourage this sort of material, I’d go away and write a song about cars, dancing, or holding hands or something.
While recording LONG BLACK LIMO, this song came back and got a better reception with the band. Hope you like it. -Eric
PRODUCTION NOTE By David:
Going into the fifth and final day of tracking for these 29 songs, it was acknowledged that we'd already laid down successful takes of almost every song the band had written. The group was feeling up when Eric suggested another try at the almost forgotten Snakehandling.
After a couple warm ups, we roared through five takes in about 35 minutes. The fifth was the keeper. There is a sense of danger in trying to record a song you barely know. The excitement is palpable in this track (definitely what Eric was looking for).
lyrics
Lyrics to SNAKEHANDLING
Well I found myself in the county jail
On account of some troubles I won’t fully detail
Cooling my heels cause I could not raise the bail
So I’m sitting in a cell thinking life is a mess
Passing the time watching PBS
When a show came on made me sit up and say, “Hell yes!”
There was a preacher somewhere way down South
And all he had was his faith in the Lord between
Him and the deadly bite of a cottonmouth
CHORUS:
Oh, snakehandling
It’ll tear your nerves apart
You got to know your Scripture
Chapter and verse by heart
Two weeks later I finally got sprung
Feeling like one lucky son of a gun
I headed for the city zoo, at a run
The reptile house was closed for the day
But I wasn’t going let that stand in my way
Climbed over the wall, jumped down
– and then started to pray
Handling snakes looks easy on TV
But with that cobra’s grin two feet from me
I had to admit to a very strong urge to flee
CHORUS
It was a test of faith, and I knew just what to do
I said, “Satan, I won’t be scared by you!”
And I grabbed that cobra’s tail fast and true
But its head was swinging down by my knee
And that snake reached out latched on to me
Fangs so deep they’re never going to let me free
Now my leg feels funny, and everything’s getting dim
Odds of making it alive are looking pretty slim
Good thing I’ve already made my peace with Him
CHORUS
credits
from Long Black Limo,
track released August 10, 2011
Words and Music: Eric Mandt
Lead Vocal: Nick Lutes
Guitar: Eric Mandt
Bass/Backing Vocals: Cheri Keller
Drums/Backing Vocals: David Bacon
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