Rock Salt and Nails – Tyler Childers
Another song covered by so many artists, and written by, but never performed or recorded by Utah Phillips, “Rock Salt and Nails” is one of the most haunting country songs of all time. Performed by Tyler Childers, the song seems to take on a whole new level of sorrow.
Utah describes the song as “a hard, angry love song,” and I’d have to agree. There is a real venom to the lyrics. Rock salt and nails, fired out of a shotgun, probably wouldn’t kill you, but it would sure hurt a hell of a lot.
By the banks of the river, where the willows hang down
And the wild birds they warble with a low moaning sound
Way down in the hollow where the river runs cold
It was there I first listened to the lies that you told
Now I lie on my back and I see your sweet face
And the past I remember, time can’t erase
And the letters you wrote me, they were written in shame
And I know that your conscience still echoes my name
Now if the ladies were blackbirds, if the ladies were thrushes
Well, I’d lie there for hours in the chilly cold marshes
And if the woman were squirrels with them high bushy tails
Well, I’d load up my shotgun with rock salt and nails
I’d load up my shotgun
Waylon has a great version as well that I’ll link below, but Tyler’s rendition reigns supreme in my opinion.
My Taste in Music 
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