John,
Cool insight on Feathers. I have often seen the lyrics posted as "Darkies" and even referred to as such in other articles etc,. But even with that, I don't think anyone one took him for a racist. I had always assumed it was just an unfortunate term that had later become "incorrect" as times changed. But, never knew it was actually 'Darkness Creeping Through The Treess" that he sang.
John Battles said:
Actually , Feathers was saying "Darkness" , tho' it sounds like "Darkies". Not saying he had no Redneck tendencies , but , as it happens , I was the last person to interview him , and he did not strike me as a racist , at all. Of course , another local writer (Who surely got the Revenant CD set for free , when all I got from Revenant was the offer of passes to see Insurgent Country bores....) . The guy took every given opportunity to shit all over Feathers , who , by then , was hanging out with Elvis and Carl , discussing the pranks they'd pull when they saw Sam Phillips again.
Had'nt heard "Beat Her With a Rake" in a long time....Then there's "Sit on My Face , Stevie Nicks" , by The Rotters , who got in more trouble because they actually used a snippet of "Rhiannon" w/o PERMISSION , Than for the actual song content.