There’s this song that I love, it’s called New Cut Road, and every time I hear it, I can’t help but slap my thigh and holler along with the lyrics. It’s infectious. Though Guy Clark wrote it, I’ve always had a preference for the Bobby Bare edition. Ever since my buddy Cory Cox ran off to Kentucky, I think of him when I hear it. Not because I think he’d necessarily like it, but because it’s about leaving Kentucky for Texas…
However, it’s more than just moving to Texas. In just a matter of minutes, and with very few words, you hear the story of America. You listen to the westward expansion in your words (“I always thought Kentucky was just passsin’ through). Within that framework, there is also Coleman Bonner (“a backwoods rounder and brayer of mules”). Unlike the rest of his family, he is intent on staying in Kentucky. Though his sister and father are not keen on the idea, as his momma wisely states: “Wouldn’t be no Kentucky less you didn’t stick to it.”
So, while we all wish Cory a speedy recovery back to Texas, I think we’ll all understand if he ends up like Coleman: “I’m gonna stay here in Kentucky til the day I D, I’m gonna drink that sourmash and gonna race that mare and find that woman with the foxy red hair.” Especially if he is sharing that sourmash.
A loosely related song (at least in my head), is Nashville to Kentucky. Not because of the obvious relation to the state of Kentucky, but because of the obvious current of escape throughout the song.
from nashville to kentucky, my heart it draws the line,
somewhere someone thinks of me,
i just wish it was somewhere i could find.
TAKE ME OUT of this dead-end nightmare.
TAKE ME OUT of this hell im in.
TAKE ME OUT of this dead end nightmare,
and put me back in a world i can live.
Lyrically, it is one of the most honest looks at despair I’ve come across. He knows there is someone that cares about him…he’s just unable to find them. All he can see the world he is in and not the way out. It’s beautiful, but at the same time unbearably depressing.
To counteract the gloomy nature of the previous track, I’ve decided to cap the post with Miniature Birds by Grand Archives. It’s a bouncy confection, sure to clear your head of any thoughts and replace it with a goofy grin. Oh, and to top it off, it’s kind of related to everything.
Wonderful Wednesday–An Ode to Cory, sort of
There’s this song that I love, it’s called New Cut Road, and every time I hear it, I can’t help but slap my thigh and holler along with the lyrics. It’s infectious. Though Guy Clark wrote it, I’ve always had a preference for the Bobby Bare edition. Ever since my buddy Cory Cox ran off to Kentucky, I think of him when I hear it. Not because I think he’d necessarily like it, but because it’s about leaving Kentucky for Texas…
09-New-Cut-Road.mp3
Bobby Bare – New Cut Road
However, it’s more than just moving to Texas. In just a matter of minutes, and with very few words, you hear the story of America. You listen to the westward expansion in your words (“I always thought Kentucky was just passsin’ through). Within that framework, there is also Coleman Bonner (“a backwoods rounder and brayer of mules”). Unlike the rest of his family, he is intent on staying in Kentucky. Though his sister and father are not keen on the idea, as his momma wisely states: “Wouldn’t be no Kentucky less you didn’t stick to it.”
So, while we all wish Cory a speedy recovery back to Texas, I think we’ll all understand if he ends up like Coleman: “I’m gonna stay here in Kentucky til the day I D, I’m gonna drink that sourmash and gonna race that mare and find that woman with the foxy red hair.” Especially if he is sharing that sourmash.
A loosely related song (at least in my head), is Nashville to Kentucky. Not because of the obvious relation to the state of Kentucky, but because of the obvious current of escape throughout the song.
Nashville-to-Kentucky-1.mp3
My Morning Jacket – Nashville to Kentucky
The lyrics are simple. Six lines in total:
from nashville to kentucky, my heart it draws the line,
somewhere someone thinks of me,
i just wish it was somewhere i could find.
TAKE ME OUT of this dead-end nightmare.
TAKE ME OUT of this hell im in.
TAKE ME OUT of this dead end nightmare,
and put me back in a world i can live.
Lyrically, it is one of the most honest looks at despair I’ve come across. He knows there is someone that cares about him…he’s just unable to find them. All he can see the world he is in and not the way out. It’s beautiful, but at the same time unbearably depressing.
To counteract the gloomy nature of the previous track, I’ve decided to cap the post with Miniature Birds by Grand Archives. It’s a bouncy confection, sure to clear your head of any thoughts and replace it with a goofy grin. Oh, and to top it off, it’s kind of related to everything.
02-Miniature-Birds.mp3
Grand Archives – Miniature Birds
That opening line: “Westward course of empire…” wonderfully ties in to the first song, right? I hope you enjoy your goofy grin.