This song references a young man trying to find his way in the world. It is named after George “Bitter Creek” Newcomb.

Newcomb, also known as the “Slaughter Kid,” was originally a part of the Dalton Gang, but was deemed too wild and left for the Wild Bunch.

Newcomb and Charles Pierce, another Wild Bunch member, were killed by the Dunn Brother bounty hunters after going to visit Rose Dunn. Rose was the Brothers' sister and Newcomb’s girlfriend; Newcomb and Rose began dating when he was 27 and she was 14.

Bernie Leadon, Eagles multi-instrumentalist, wrote this song. A 2014 Uncut interview said, “Leadon wrote the lowering “Bitter Creek” after Dalton gangster George “Bitter Creek” Newcomb, although it only references outlaw exploits in its final verse.”