Whispers in the Florida Swamp

[Intro – Spoken Whisper / Swamp Sounds] (Crickets… frogs… slow wind through cypress trees) MALE VOICE, LOW AND GRAVELLY: “They say the Florida swamp ain't empty…” (Distant splash) “Something's always watching.” (Low thunder… heartbeat-like kick begins) WHISPERED VOICES: “Don't go deeper…” (Sudden silence) MALE VOICE: “'Cause once the swamp knows your name…” (Heavy guitar hit) FULL BAND: “YOU AIN'T LEAVIN' THE SAME!” [Drums slam in — swampy Southern-rock guitar riff] [Verse 1] Down a two-track road where the black water bends, Cypress knees rise like old dead friends. Spanish moss hanging from the ancient trees, Something moved down there… but it wasn't me. Frogs go quiet when the moon gets high, Something lets out a scream in the night. Gator eyes glowing by the water's edge, And an old-timer swears he saw something walking on two legs. [Pre-Chorus] There's stories passed down from generation to generation, About things that don't show up on no map or station. You can laugh at the legends sitting safe by the fire… Till you hear those footsteps getting closer through the mire. [Chorus] Whispers in the Florida swamp, Black water hiding what the daylight won't. Something's moving where the moonlight stops, Eyes are watching from the cypress tops. Call it a legend, call it a lie— You won't be laughing when you hear that cry. The deeper you go, the less you know… Whispers in the Florida swamp. [Verse 2] They talk about a creature seen deep in the green, Tall as a pine with eyes hardly seen. Some say it's a ghost, some say it's flesh and bone, Some swear it follows folks all the way back home. There's an abandoned shack by an old muddy trail, Windows all broken and a rust-covered nail. Nobody knows who built it or why, But every few years somebody sees a lantern burning inside. [Pre-Chorus] And the wind starts talking through the sawgrass reeds, Like the swamp itself knows every secret you need. Then a branch starts breaking somewhere out of sight… And you realize you're not alone tonight. [Chorus] Whispers in the Florida swamp, Black water hiding what the daylight won't. Something's moving where the moonlight stops, Eyes are watching from the cypress tops. Call it a legend, call it a lie— You won't be laughing when you hear that cry. The deeper you go, the less you know… Whispers in the Florida swamp. [Bridge – Slow, Haunting] Maybe it's the wind… Maybe it's the trees… Maybe every story's got a little truth beneath. But if you hear three knocks When you're miles from town… Don't turn around… Don't turn around… [Final Chorus – Huge Southern Rock Lift] Whispers in the Florida swamp, Black water hiding what the daylight won't. Something's moving where the moonlight stops, Eyes are watching from the cypress tops. Call it a legend, call it a lie— You won't be laughing when you hear that cry. The deeper you go, the less you know… Whispers in the Florida swamp. [Outro – Spoken / Fading Swamp Sounds] MALE VOICE, WHISPERED: “They say the swamp keeps what it takes…” (frogs and wind fade) “Some mysteries…” (pause) “…were never meant to be found.”