Written By: Big C
Ghosts whisper in the southern breeze, where echoes of history never cease... Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood is stepping into the solo spotlight with The Forks Of Cypress, the latest release from his upcoming album Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams, arriving February 21 via ATO Records. Featuring Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield, the track drifts through haunting storytelling and lush folk arrangements, capturing a piece of Alabama folklore wrapped in melancholic harmonies and evocative production. Inspired by the ruins of a historic plantation house near Hood’s hometown of Florence, Alabama, the song weaves a fictional tale in the tradition of Bobbie Gentry’s southern gothic narratives. Hood shared:
I wrote the song as pure fiction, inspired by those great story songs like 'Ode to Billie Joe,’ where the story is implied rather than fully told. In my head, I heard Katie (Waxahatchee) singing it with me, and I was blessed that she was willing to do so. She’s one of my very favorite artists, and such a lovely person.
Hood’s signature storytelling, complemented by Crutchfield’s ethereal vocals, breathes life into a forgotten past, while the atmospheric production, featuring Kevin Morby, Phil Cook, and Brad Cook—adds depth to its ghostly allure. The official music video, filmed at the historic Capitol Theatre before Drive-By Truckers' Southern Rock Opera Revisited Tour, premiered today, blending eerie aerial shots of the real-life ruins with Hood’s magnetic performance. With "Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams," Hood is marking his first solo album in over a decade ahead of his 2025 tour, where Hood will be joined by The Sensurrounders and special guest Lydia Loveless. Stream "The Forks of Cypress" now and watch the official music video below. Connect with Patterson Hood on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, and YOUTUBE.
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