This was beautiful writing. Have you heard Sandy Denny's cover of Blues run the game? Townes Van Zandt and Jason Molina do the same thing for me when I'm feeling Karenina-ish.
I hadn't until you mentioned this, and then I promptly listened to it and then fell into a Sandy Denny vortex (a good thing). That might be my favorite cover of 'Blues'! And when I was trying to figure out what song to write about, Townes Van Zandt was a runner up... love his stuff. My vinyl of 'Delta Momma Blues' is a HUGE favorite of mine.
I'm a young a lad living life on easy mode, as far as I can tell, and I've never had depression, but even so, this post soothed something in me.
Maybe it's the fact that I've taken the subway a lot to uni, and in that ride there are always sections where the train emerges from the tunnel into the light. I've written several poems on such a ride.
I'm still not too sure what your words soothed in me. Perhaps they soothed a little my fear of failure. Of things crashing and burning. I dunno. Maybe I'm just sleepy and rambling. I am sleepy and rambling, but again, anyways, thank you for writing and sharing this.
Something about that train scene is lingering on my mind.
love this song (first heard it around the time the holdovers came out-maybe it was on the soundtrack? if not it feels like it should’ve been), love these thoughts on depression (so relatable and insightful), love this writing 🖤
I first heard this song as the pandemic blanketed the world, just after I moved to another country hoping things would be different. The blues follow, they always will, but they aren’t a bogeyman. A fantastic price of writing - I need to revisit this song that makes me feel so vulnerable and seen.
This is really the PERFECT song to find during the pandemic. Makes me happy to think that this piece will result in some people revisiting or even discovering Jackson Frank's music.
Thank you!! The song is such a gift. It makes me sad knowing how lonely and heartbroken he was by the end of his life, I wish there had been more ways for him to know how appreciated his music was.
Totally agree on the Joni Mitchell part tbh, I meant more good & beautiful as in 'wow she is so good and her work is so beautiful'. I got to see her live last October and it was... something else.
Ha, funnily enough that fits into this piece perfectly, doesn't it? She created (and creates!) this beautiful work that makes our hearts ache. The beauty she shares in her songs cohabitates with the darkness she faced - seeing her live must have been an unforgettable experience.
Totally! I also love the color connection between Jackson Frank's 'Blues' and then Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' (brain exploding emoji). She was wonderful. It was a concert designed to make me cry
This was beautiful writing. Have you heard Sandy Denny's cover of Blues run the game? Townes Van Zandt and Jason Molina do the same thing for me when I'm feeling Karenina-ish.
This is the second time Denny has come up in TRACKS comments! Could be a sign ...
I hadn't until you mentioned this, and then I promptly listened to it and then fell into a Sandy Denny vortex (a good thing). That might be my favorite cover of 'Blues'! And when I was trying to figure out what song to write about, Townes Van Zandt was a runner up... love his stuff. My vinyl of 'Delta Momma Blues' is a HUGE favorite of mine.
I'm a young a lad living life on easy mode, as far as I can tell, and I've never had depression, but even so, this post soothed something in me.
Maybe it's the fact that I've taken the subway a lot to uni, and in that ride there are always sections where the train emerges from the tunnel into the light. I've written several poems on such a ride.
I'm still not too sure what your words soothed in me. Perhaps they soothed a little my fear of failure. Of things crashing and burning. I dunno. Maybe I'm just sleepy and rambling. I am sleepy and rambling, but again, anyways, thank you for writing and sharing this.
Something about that train scene is lingering on my mind.
love this song (first heard it around the time the holdovers came out-maybe it was on the soundtrack? if not it feels like it should’ve been), love these thoughts on depression (so relatable and insightful), love this writing 🖤
I've been meaning to watch The Holdovers (would you recommend??). And thanks so much Erin :) glad you enjoyed it
I would recommend! Shot on film. Very endearing and well-acted. Subtle yet earnest.
Michael is one of my favourite writers I have discovered on this platform, and this piece is no exception. So thoughtful and unflinchingly real.
:') that means a lot coming from you!
I mean every word.
I first heard this song as the pandemic blanketed the world, just after I moved to another country hoping things would be different. The blues follow, they always will, but they aren’t a bogeyman. A fantastic price of writing - I need to revisit this song that makes me feel so vulnerable and seen.
This is really the PERFECT song to find during the pandemic. Makes me happy to think that this piece will result in some people revisiting or even discovering Jackson Frank's music.
Love this song and loved this writing!
Thank you!! The song is such a gift. It makes me sad knowing how lonely and heartbroken he was by the end of his life, I wish there had been more ways for him to know how appreciated his music was.
A truly beautiful piece. While the end might be pessimistic, there is an incredible message of hope here; thank you.
(Although, I would argue that Joni Mitchell's songs don't always depict good and beautiful moments...)
Totally agree on the Joni Mitchell part tbh, I meant more good & beautiful as in 'wow she is so good and her work is so beautiful'. I got to see her live last October and it was... something else.
Ha, funnily enough that fits into this piece perfectly, doesn't it? She created (and creates!) this beautiful work that makes our hearts ache. The beauty she shares in her songs cohabitates with the darkness she faced - seeing her live must have been an unforgettable experience.
Totally! I also love the color connection between Jackson Frank's 'Blues' and then Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' (brain exploding emoji). She was wonderful. It was a concert designed to make me cry
Chicago mentioned
it was important to me to get a reference to The Bean in there