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Monday, August 25, 2014

When My Father-in-Law Sang Jimmie Rodgers

"I'm a thousand miles away from home just waiting for a train." - Jimmie Rodgers

Most people smile and nod when they hear someone sing the blues; they
rarely cry. Maybe the smile's in recognition, kinship with the feeling of the
lyrics or with the singer's delivery. Maybe it's from a pure pleasure taken in
the musicality of the song. Whatever it is, don't ask people to take ahold of
this dowsing rod, this poetry. This poetry finds deeper water underfoot; it
twitches over lyrics, saying "Dig here, dig deep, dig now." When my father-in-law
sang "Waiting for a Train" to us today, the poem leapt in my hand, pointing
down to brackish water not yet drunk, unquenchable thirst, the tears beneath.

3 comments:

am said...

"The Voice in the Wilderness of your Head"

Chemirocha.

Yep. Thanks for your words and for the link and thanks to your father-in-law.

Dale said...

I have an old album that has -- can it be John Sebastian? -- singing that, and it's really harrowing, in that good good way.

Lori Witzel said...

I think that cover was on something called "Cheapo Cheapo" - gawd, I luv Google search! http://www.richieunterberger.com/sebastian2.html