Wildwood Weed

About Wildwood Weed

"Wildwood Weed" is a 1974 hit song written by Don Bowman and recorded by Jim Stafford. It was the fourth of four U. S. Top 40 singles from his eponymous debut album. Musically, the song takes its inspiration from The Carter Family's instrumental recording "Wildwood Flower". The lyrics in the verses are spoken, rather than sung. The song is a story about farmers who take a sudden interest in a common wildflower on their farm, and soon discover and enjoy its hallucinogenic and mind-altering properties after one of them begins to chew on one. They begin to cultivate the plant in earnest, however, federal agents raid their property and destroy their crop. Nevertheless, the men are undeterred by the destruction of their plants as they have saved a supply of seeds which was overlooked by the agents. "Wildwood Weed" reached number seven on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100, number five on Cash Box and number three on the Canadian pop singles chart. It was a crossover hit onto the Adult Contemporary charts of both nations (reaching number two in Canada), as well as the U. S. Country chart. more »