The Big Savage Descent

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The following topographical map shows the terrain referenced in the lyrics of the song "Ode to Big Savage." The yellow dot identifies the crest of Big Savage Mountain. The red dot shows the former location of the little white church in the village of Wellersburg, Pennsylvania, before that church was wiped out by runaway trucks. The blue dot shows the end of the 5+ mile grade at Barrelville. The Board Yard Curve that is referenced in the song is the sharpest turn on the descent. From that point on, the road runs along the flank of a spur of Big Savage Mountain that is locally (but not officially) known as Wellersburg Mountain.

Listener feedback indicated that:

• A few individuals didn't approve of the aforementioned mountain spur being impliedly part of the "Big Savage descent" or the "Big Savage mountain side."

• A few individuals didn't understand that "Big Savage" was a mountain, and thought it was the name of one of the treacherous highway curves.

The revised lyrics in the song version titled "From Big Savage Mountain Ridge" were written in response to that feedback. The song version titled "Steep and Winding Road" was a Country-Western developmental iteration that was created between the "Ode to Big Savage" and "From Big Savage Mountain Ridge" recordings. I liked the sound, so I kept it around.

L. Dietle

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