The cover of the album, “Lines on the Pines.”
We’ve already included one song inspired by the mythical Jersey Devil in 350 Jersey Songs, but here’s another one: “In the Pine Barrens Night,” by Paul Evans Pedersen, Jr.
Pedersen, of Malaga (Gloucester County), has not only written a book of short stories called “Pine Barrens: New Tales From Old Haunts,” but has released, in partnership with his wife Cookie, a CD of Pine Barrens-inspired songs titled Lines on the Pines. The country-flavored “In the Pine Barrens Night” — the leadoff track, sung by Pedersen in a rich, resonant voice that’s somewhat reminiscent of Gordon Lightfoot — establishes a mysterious tone with its lyrics about a creature with “the wings of a bat and a serpentine tail/And his red eyes, they glow like the fires from hell/And when he hisses and screams, you’ll pray it’s all a bad dream.”
Check it out below.
New Jersey celebrated its 350th birthday in 2014. And in the 350 Jersey Songs series, we marked the occasion by posting 350 songs — one a day, from September 2014 to September 2015 — that have something to do with the state, its musical history, or both. To see the entire list, click here.
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
3 comments
Here is another song about the Pine Barrens you might enjoy, and, this is the song that was featured on CNN’s “Anthony Bourdain-Parts Unknown-NEW JERSEY”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CFR09h0xPg
Thanks!
Suggest “AztecEagle” from my CD Tragedy.Mystery.Hope
Thanks