I first saw Coltt Winter Lepley perform at the Dead Canary in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania. I showed up to a packed space, all sorts of people came out to listen to Lepley play. In just a few hours he played songs from the 1920’s, classic folk songs, shared some original songs and stories, and finished the night with a call and answer acoustic version of Cab Calloway's “Minnie the Moocher.” It was clear that Coltt Winter Lepley was a talented and knowledgeable songwriter, so I was excited to welcome him as the first guest on the Eighty Unplugged Podcast!

Lepley chose to perform his murder ballad, “The Ghost of Emmaline Bryn.” In this episode, we dive into Pennsylvania history and folklore, Coltt’s extensive knowledge of folk music and its tropes, and much, much more!

Campfire Storyteller

When you have a conversation with Coltt Winter Lepley it becomes clear how knowledgeable he is. From historical facts and Pennsylvania folklore, to folk and country artists, he is a wealth of knowledge. You can definitely hear this in his music; he writes with passion and depth. Coltt has had a long-term relationship with writing. At a very young age he started writing short stories. Inspired by campfire ghost stories, classic literature, and the artists of Bedford County, PA, he says it’s always been a goal of his to become a storyteller.

A Legend in his Own Right

Since becoming a songwriter and musician, Coltt has had an impressive touring career. He performs across the entire U.S., averaging about 200 shows a year. This dedication has built him a supportive fanbase, unique in that he didn’t have a single song on any streaming service until March, 2025. Although he has played all over this nation, his heart is in Pennsylvania. Saying “We have a lot of really important history and stories here and I love that people write about other places, and I do too, but we need to remember how important where we’re from is.”

Coltt Winter Lepley wants to inspire the people in his area to get involved in their local communities. Leading by example, he offers free writing classes to people from the Bedford County area. People of all ages have been empowered to express themselves and improve their own skills! Coltt has also been known to make appearances at schools in his area to inspire young people to be interested in the arts.

Coltt Winter Lepley, the Album

In 2024, Coltt set out on a new adventure, bringing his well-loved and in-depth stories to a whole new audience. He prioritised working with Pennsylvania musicians, collaborating with Pittsburgh natives Amico Demuzio, Joe Pinchotti III, Nate Cratanzarite, Al Torrence, Justin Long, Alan Getto and the Allegheny Highs. With the help of the Music Garden Studios, he brought different life to his acoustic classics like “The Bandito” and “Crack Cocaine.”

The Ghost of Emmaline Bryn

Coltt Winter Lepley’s storyteller expertise is on full display in his song “The Ghost of Emmaline Bryn.” Pulling from a rich history of tropes in his genre of choice, he chose to reimagine the classic murder ballad. In this song, Coltt gives the victim a voice by having her haunt her murderer.

“I wanted my murdered woman character to have agency to modernize it, as the trope can be problematic,” he explained. Lepley also incorporates Pennsylvania’s rich paranormal legends and witch folklore as inspiration saying, “Pennsylvania had more witches on record than Massachusetts ever had, except William Penn doubled down on freedom of religion and determined no "witches," more-so faith-healers, and women educated in herbal medicines, would ever be tried in the Commonwealth.”

Again pulling from his wealth of Pennsylvania knowledge, “poor ol’ Emmaline” dies in a way that is sadly common among Pennsylvanians. “I wanted an exclusively Bedford County way for her to be murdered,” he said, “and drowning in a grain silo is an unfortunate, miserable death that occurs to hundreds of people per year… It's slow, but like quicksand. What a miserable way to murder someone.”

by Coltt Winter Lepley
I see faces in the trees
I wonder if they'll follow me
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
I hear voices in the wind
I wonder if she'll call again
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
I hear footsteps on the stairs
I swear that there's someone there
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
I thought I saw you standing in the door
but I blink my eyes are you're gone once more
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Well it's the ghost of Emmaline Bryn
I hope I don't see her again
Hi-ho stay away
Poor ole' Emmaline Bryn
Poor ole' Emmaline Bryn
Well she fell into a grain silo
And oh she screamed, but she died real slow
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
I admit I pushed her in
And I cry at night for Emmaline Bryn
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
I hear her moaning in the rain
Her body's there with the mice and grain
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
She lay in there all alone
There's nothing left but hair and bone
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Well it's the ghost of Emmaline Bryn
I hope I don't see her again
Hi-ho stay away
Poor ole' Emmaline Bryn
Poor ole' Emmaline Bryn
Her spirit dances on the lawn
I look out and her face is gone.
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day.
Shadows darken when she's near
Cry out in your lonesome fear.
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Scariest sight you ever saw
To see her crawling up your wall
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Go with a friend to the willow tree
If she sees you there, she'll follow thee
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Hi-ho-deedle all day
Well it's the ghost of Emmaline Bryn
I hope I don't see her again
Hi-ho stay away
Poor ole' Emmaline Bryn
Poor ole' Emmaline Bryn.