The Hadley Witch Reaches The Fabulous 413

 

In the winter of 1684-85, young men in Hadley dragged Mary Webster from her home, hanged her from a tree, and left her in the snow for dead. She survived and lived about eleven more years. Three centuries later, Margaret Atwood dedicated The Handmaid's Tale to her.

I wrote "The Hadley Witch" to tell her story the old way, as a fiddle and mandolin roots ballad, recorded here in Granby, a few miles from where it happened.

This week I got a lovely surprise. Monte Belmonte of NEPM's The Fabulous 413 listened to the song, called it very interesting, and asked about bringing me into the studio with a Hadley historian before Halloween. I can't make it to the studio, but I told Monte he's welcome to use the song however it helps.

So here's my promise: if Monte plays "The Hadley Witch" on the radio, I'll donate 100% of the song's proceeds to NEPM. Local public radio keeps stories like Mary's alive, and I'd love to give something back.

Download "The Hadley Witch" for only $1.50:

https://vervemusic.bandcamp.com/track/the-hadley-witch-a-verve-music-original

Listen to the whole song for FREE on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI5ljMGOrX8

Thanks for listening, and happy Halloween from the Valley.

Adam Sweet,

Verve Music,

LinkTr.ee/VerveMusic