Something Wicked This Way Comes

Album: Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • When Lucinda Williams was kindergarten age in the late '50s, she and her father, the poet Miller Williams, were invited guests at the Southern Gothic writer Flannery O'Connor's Milledgeville, Georgia house. A decade later, Williams picked up a few books written by O'Connor and immediately ate her darkly humorous short stories up.

    "Her stuff influenced and inspired me," Williams told the Tallahassee Democrat. "I read all of it. I just devoured it. I related to it. It just seemed so real to me. I had seen these people. They were real people to me. ... My song 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' is straight from Flannery O'Connor."
  • Williams recalled her fifteen and sixteen-year self devouring Flannery O'Connor's stories to Believer magazine: "Her stuff was so descriptive," she said. "You could just see it—a picture of what she was talking about. I loved that kind of writing, that very descriptive, realistic writing."

    "I learned that instead of just saying 'I just left this last town,' why not say the name of the town? Williams added. "Describe the town. Don't just say 'I put my shoes on today,' say 'I put my cracked leather shoes on.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.