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The Southern night doesn’t fall; it settles.

It seeps in slow, like molasses on a cold morning, curling around porch posts, weaving through the lattice of an old screen door. The sky, once ablaze with the last light of day, softens to a velvet hush — and then the South begins to sing.

First, it’s the cicadas.

Not just a hum, but a rising, pulsing chant that rattles the bones of ancient oaks and makes the very air vibrate with life. It’s as if the earth itself is sighing from the heat, shaking off the dust of the day with a crescendo only a Southern summer can compose.

Then come the crickets, like a thousand tiny fiddlers, plucking away in rhythm, keeping time with memories too old for words.

You can almost hear Granny’s rocker creak in time with them, a front porch lullaby that whispers, “Slow down, child, the night’s just beginning.”

And somewhere out yonder, beneath a tangled curtain of kudzu — that stubborn, wandering vine the South can’t tame — a tree frog answers back. His song is a little sad, a little sweet, like he knows something you don’t.

Buttermilk’s beside me, barefoot, cradling a glass of sweet tea that catches the porch light just so, and in that moment, time feels suspended. The sounds out here… they ain’t just background noise. They’re the old language of the land, telling stories in a tongue that don’t need words.

Tonight, Cornbread and Buttermilk invite y’all to lean in, let the night wrap ‘round you, and listen.

For in the South, when the sun dips low and the cicadas take their bow, the earth begins to whisper truths that only the darkness dares to tell.

You can find Edward Phillips on YouTube.   Go to @Edwardphillipsroots for more of his music.  Learn about  the history behind the Delta and Piedmont Blues.  Edward brings the music of Sun House, Blind Willie Johnson, and Robert Johnson to life with his stories.

Cornbread and Miguel lay hands on the land.

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Disclaimer:

Cornbread & Buttermilk is all about sharing stories, traditions, and the wisdom of the Southern kitchen, but we are not medical professionals. The information shared in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always consult with your physician or a qualified healthcare provider before adding new foods, supplements, or home remedies to your routine—especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications. Listen to your body, trust your doctor, and enjoy the journey of good food and well-being!

Thank you for listening; please share our Podcast with friends and family members who would find our stories interesting. It would certainly help us, it would be a blessing, it certainly would.
Let us know if you enjoyed the program. What’s on your mind? We would love to hear from you. Contact us at: southerncornbread101@gmail.com

Title: Ragged and Dirty

Performed by: William Brown

Recorded by: Alan Lomax

From the album: Negro Blues and Hollers

Courtesy of: American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

You can reach History By Mail for more information at, www.historybymail.com

Listen to @EdwardPhillipsRoots on YouTube. You can watch, “The Electronic Juke Joint” Live stream, with Edward on Wednesday Nights at 8:30 p.m. E.T. where Edward takes song request from his liste...