Backstory:
Knotty Earth was formed in the humming alleyways of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, in the bright spring of 2005. Comprising of four lifelong friends, Oscar ‘The Lumberjack’ Reed on vocals and lead guitar, ‘Whispering’ Willie Johnson on bass, ‘Cajun’ Carl Stevens on drums, and ‘Harmonica’ Hank Thompson on, you guessed it, harmonica and rhythm guitar, the band combined their shared love of classic rock and blues with their unique perspectives and experiences. Despite their diverse individual backgrounds — from working on fishing boats to studying classical music in college — the band’s chemistry was immediate and powerful, resulting in a unique sound that was distinctly their own.

Genre:
Blues Rock

Title:
“Tangled Roots”

Full Song Lyrics:

(Verse 1: Em G D A)
Em G
“Down by the river, where the willows weep,
D A
I met a girl, who made my heart leap.
Em G
With her eyes of hazel, and her hair like night,
D A
She was a vision, a pure delight.

(Chorus: C G D)
C G D
Oh, Tangled Roots, in the knotty earth,
C G D
Our love bloomed, full of mirth.
C G D
But like the river, it took a bend,
C G D
Our Tangled Roots, met an end.

(Verse 2: Em G D A)
Em G
In the moonlight, beneath the stars,
D A
We shared stories, of battle scars.
Em G
In her laughter, I found my home,
D A
But like the river, she had to roam.

(Chorus: C G D)
C G D
Oh, Tangled Roots, in the knotty earth,
C G D
Our love was wild, full of worth.
C G D
But like the river, it took a turn,
C G D
Our Tangled Roots, began to burn.”

Favorite Fan:
The band’s favorite fan is a lively woman named Mabel Taylor. Mabel, a retired school teacher from Nashville, has been following the band since their inception. She never misses a show and stands front and center, dancing and singing along, no matter the weather or circumstance. In her words, “Knotty Earth’s music speaks to my soul. Their energy, their lyrics, their passion, it all resonates with me. It’s like they’re singing my life back to me. I’ve been to a thousand concerts in my life, but nothing beats the raw, real connection I feel when I’m at a Knotty Earth show. They’re more than a band to me; they’re like family.”