via the Avett Brothers.
Written by folk legend Woody Guthrie, the counter-culture revolutionary. The bros do it true to the original version, but the black and white portraiture is a bonus.
I didn’t know this, but Woody died of Huntington’s disease, which was passed down from his mother and then passed on to his daughters.
someone said in the comments, if they don’t play at my funeral, i’m not coming. i agree.
the boys are at it again.
from their upcoming album Gleam III.
my father will say they need a haircut and a shave. and it’s a shame they can’t finish out that garage. but wouldn’t you like to be hanging out with them while they sit around and play?
The other day I wrote about finding special moments throughout the day in piece called ninety nine miles. At the end, while travelling back home, the narrator finally finds some relief as Scott sings, Salina, I’m as nowhere as I can be.
Did you Google? Did you figure it out?
Who is Scott? Answer, Scott Avett, of course.
The song, Salina. It starts out as just another nice Avett Brothers song about being away from home. Then near the end, the music takes on a symphonic quality.
Click the link and stay with it. No video on this clip, just great music for a rainy Saturday night.
this is exceptional songwriting.
I was listening to the Avett Brothers via Youtube yesterday and got to reading some of the comments about how their older work was better than their new stuff. Here’s one of their new ones. You be the judge.
Listening to the music of the Wonder to escape
Digging words and stories cause he always tell it straight
Life be scarred and dogs bite hard, to that I can relate
Soulful grooves, the spirit moves, tells me it ain’t too late
Driving horns lay down the tune, I’m hearing now the Tears
David Clayton Thomas sings, it’s not the dying that he fears
Spin the wheel, cut the deal, find wisdom in the years
Blues sung hard, and hope stands guard, a triumph for the ears
Singing with a nasal twang and tangled up in blue
The poet tells his story ‘bout the people that he knew
Stars are crossed and loves are lost, his heart we see straight through
A simple song to sing along, to change our point of view
A banjo picks the intro with a groovin’ upright bass
A nice and easy song of love, till the breakdown sets the pace
Toes are tapping, hands are clapping, the cello plays like grace
They sing of love and God above, our worries are erased
I play the C, I play the G, play the A chord in the minor
I write the words, scratch out a tune, plan it out like a designer
Find the truth, a touch of youth, up the beat to make it finer
But truth is cold, cause it ain’t gold, I know I ain’t no rhymer
Thank God for voice and stories told and those who came to play
The soft piano soothes the soul and carries us away
They give the beat and words complete, to speak what we can’t say
Turn it up and fill my cup, play the music of my day.
Copyright 2017, Joseph E Bird
“You can be the best songwriter or guitar player in the world, but you have to work at positioning yourself so that you’re in a place where, if the stars line up, if the right man comes along at the right time, you’re on your way.”
Jim Avett – father of Scott and Seth Avett, aka the Avett Brothers
“I told the boys early on, play it the way you play it, and if it’s good, if it’s entertaining, then folks will come to hear you. If not, then we’ll sit here on the front porch and entertain ourselves.”
Jim Avett – father of Scott and Seth Avett, aka the Avett Brothers
Joseph E Bird 