Needle In The Heart of West Virginia A New Release From Rebekah Speer.
Huckleberry Records has announced the release of Needle In The Heart of West Virginia, the highly anticipated new single from acclaimed bluegrass roots music artist Rebekah Speer.
Known for her honest vocals and genuine artistry, Speer delivers a track that resonates with emotion and authenticity, continuing her tradition of connecting with listeners through heartfelt bluegrass and Americana.
Needle in the Heart of West Virginia isn’t just a song. I would say it’s a cry from deep within my own story. Addiction runs through my family like a scar and members of my family battle that darkness. This song is my way of honoring that pain, the truth, and the hope that somehow still survives in the hollers of West Virginia – Rebekah Speer.
Following a long hiatus from the recording career she loves so much, Speer finally got back in the studio for this song. After hearing it the day it was written, she always dreamed of her voice resting against this story and as a result, has further cemented her legacy as a bluegrass artist. Needle In The Heart of West Virginia stands as a bold addition to her music repertoire.
Needle In The Heart Of West Virginia is proof that honesty resonates and add Rebekah Speer’s vulnerable, sincere vocals and the hills of West Virginia will be set ablaze. Rebekah knows the story, having had loved ones live through some of the madness of substance abuse so it was no stretch to deliver this as if she lived it – Donna Ulisse.
Although we don’t hear about it as much as we once did, the opioid epidemic continues to ravage the families of rural America. I hope this song brings attention to the need to provide compassion and hope to those in need – Mark Bondurant.
The new track features: Rebekah Speer on lead vocals, Jaelee Roberts on background vocals, Grayson Lane
on background vocals, Seth Taylor on guitar and mandolin, Andy Leftwich on fiddle, Josh Swift on rsonator guitar and Darrin Vincent on upright bass.
Needle In The Heart of West Virginia is available now on all major digital streaming platforms here, and available to radio via Get It Played.
The song was co-written by Donna Ulisse, Mark Bondurant, Terry Jacobs and Rick Stanley.
Song Lyrics:
I grew up in the shadow of the Blue Ridge
Daddy worked where the sun wouldn’t shine
Never missed what his dollar couldn’t give us
Our riches were the Dog woods and the pines
Now they’ve stripped the land and lives lay wasted
Folks had to find a way to just get by
So the demon in the bottle and the devil in the bag
Led them to the place where only dragons lie
Soar as high as Flat Top Mountain
Fall as deep as Blue Creek Mine
There’s a needle in the heart of West Virginia
And it’s killing one dream at a time
I lost daddy to the dust that finally killed him
And Mama just because she missed my dad
But to watch a poison take away my brothers
Might be the biggest loss I’ll ever have
Soar as high as Flat Top Mountain
Fall as deep as Blue Creek Mine
There’s a needle in the heart of West Virginia
And it’s killing one dream at a time
What a sad state, there’s crying in those hills
Where defeat rises up like a mist
And children have to face a hard tomorrow
Where escape would be a better way to live
Soar as high as Flat Top Mountain
Fall as deep as Blue Creek Mine
There’s a needle in the heart of West Virginia
And it’s killing one dream at a time
About Rebekah Speer:
Rebekah Speer
Rebekah is a dynamic singer, songwriter, and sound engineer whose roots run deep in Appalachian tradition. Born and bred in Georgia, her southern drawl sells a story and song. Known for her soulful voice and sincere delivery, she has commanded stages across the country. Previous charted albums, Here I Am and Run Away, hold some of Rebekah’s favorite songs, written and co-written about parts of the life she holds dear.
In addition to her performance and technical work, Rebekah is a driving creative behind the scenes. She serves as Creative Director for The Bluegrass Standard magazine and has earned IBMA nominations for both Graphic Designer and Sound Engineer of the Year. Her design work spans album covers, logos, and branding for labels like Turnberry and Huckleberry Records. With a passion for preserving tradition while embracing progress, Rebekah continues to shape the sound and look of modern roots music.
