Whiteside Mountain, named for its sheer white cliffs, overlooks the headwaters of the Chattooga River. The entire upper portion of the mountain's west side has fallen away, leaving a 700 foot vertical face which attracts rock climbers, vertical cavers, and peregrine falcons.
The song Whiteside is dedicated to Doc Bayne, a dear friend, who was killed a few years ago in a hang-gliding accident. Doc was one of the premier woodsmen and rock climbers in the Southeast. He told me a story about the first time he "free-climbed" Whiteside. When he reached the top, a falcon circled just over the top of his head as if to say "way to go". The song implies that if it's up to Doc, I'll bet his spirit is with one of those peregrine falcons circling Whiteside today.

Whiteside

East of Wildcat Ridge
To the Devil's Courthouse
Sits a solid wall of stone
Another jewel in the crown of my Carolina home
Rising high as the falcon flies
When my life's over rest my soul

High on Whiteside
Like a falcon circling
On the clear horizon
Lies eternity

There is peace so real
That you can't help but feel
When you see it
Stretched above the sea of trees
Like a humpback whale that's about to breach
Men climb to touch the sky
Cause here's where heaven can be reached

High on Whiteside
A falcon is circling
On the clear horizon
Lies eternity
On the clear horizon
Lies eternity

Bobby Holliday - Lead & Background Vocals, Guitar "Taro Patch Tuning" (D,B,G,D,G,D)
Viktor Krauss - Acoustic Bass
Randy Kohrs - Dobro
Tom Roady - Percussion
Robert Bowlin - Mandolin