I first heard Gillian Welch waaay back when in my freshman year of college, the year I was piddling around and learning to play the guitar. One of the first "real" songs I learned to play on the guitar was "Orphan Girl." I loved that song then, but it's funny how a song can take on a whole new meaning and new depth to you personally as you live life. This happened to me yesterday, too, in the car on the three hour ride home from the lake.
My two boys had full bellies, were quietly looking out their windows at the lush greenery and I saw signs of heavy eyes. To encourage that slip into slumber, I scanned my iPod and remembered that the Garden State movie soundtrack was chill. A couple songs in, wonderful, quiet sleep. If you have that soundtrack, I encourage you to give her another listen. But ... THIS Music Monday post is about "Orphan Girl" so without further ado, here is a killer live performance of Gillian Welch's "Orphan Girl" with the incredibly talented David Rawlings at ACL Fest 2008. I saw them play together at George's back in 2001 here in Fayetteville and that simple show, at which I saw my then Psychology professor, remains one of my most favorite shows I've ever seen. I hope y'all enjoy it.
Orphan Girl
I am an orphan on God's highway
But I'll share my troubles if you go my way
I have no mother no father
No sister no brother
I am an orphan girl
I have had friendships pure and golden
But the ties of kinship I have not known them
I know no mother no father
No sister no brother
I am an orphan girl
But when He calls me I will be able
To meet my family at God's table
I'll meet my mother my father
My sister my brother
No more an orphan girl
Blessed Savior make me willing
And walk beside me until I'm with them
Be my mother my father
My sister my brother
I am an orphan girl
I am an orphan girl
8 comments:
I was at that concert with you, sister.
Of course you were there.
I cried that night it was good.
NO YOU WERE NOT! Of course YOU were there. Bummer that it took a good 7 years later to figure that out.
I have never forgotten the feeling of watching David Rawlings and that 100-year-old guitar sing to me. I was completely entranced.
Gillian seemed so pleased to be there for us too, which was so cool to me.
I will never forget the inside of that room and the sounds that filled it that night.
I'm so glad you get me (once again) on something that means so much to me.
Ahhhhh. Classic Milt. Takes me back to our incredible sophomore year. Love your tonts.
I too love Gillian Welch and was fortunate enough to get to see her and Dave Rawlings when they came to Hendrix College while I was a student there (most likely the same year).
She began to tell a story of how she desperately tried to find a song to sing about Arkansas for this particular show. She detailed the trouble she had finding one to her liking. As she continued her story she explained that she chose the song "Tennessee Stud" because it mentions Arkansas. The best part of that is my friend, Ryan, turned to the group we were with and said, "my great uncle wrote that song". We all sat in awe of the irony of the situation and then turned our attention back to Gillian who spent the rest of her show wooing us until we were all truly in love with her personality as well as her music.
Gillian's voice is lovely and haunting and unbelievably distinct. Her music is both simple and complex at the same time. She is a wonderful artist and amazing songwriter too. How does she do it? Well, I don't know, but I am so glad she does.
I also encourage everyone to check her out if you never have. You will not regret it. To this day 'Paper Wings' remains one of my favorite songs.
Additional sidebar for you... I also performed "Orphan Girl" as my first song in the first sign language class I ever took. For reals.
Dude, I am going to I tunes to download some of her stuff. The descriptions you have given of her sound right up my alley, yet, I have never listened to her. I am on it! Love to you friend. So good to hear your sweet voice today.
Wow, Lynn. Tingles on that one. Was it Ryan Jones, by chance? I agree with all that you said about her. And, I like that she and her music seem simple and complex at the same time. I relate to that about her.
"Paper Wings" is one of my top three of hers, no doubt. Maybe even number one of hers. Her cd's were among the hundreds lost/stolen in the cd case I've been missing for five years now. If I had that cd, I'd re-listen to it now.
Sidebar for you ... First song I sang in front of the one hour college credit guitar class I took freshman year, (or ever with a guitar, really) "Closer to Fine".
Also freshman year, I sang "Fryin' Pan" with another girl I played with once at the bottom of Brough (eating hall at UA). That is maybe, my favorite song ever. And these days, I find myself playing it about once a day. Thomas has even started to ask for it. That, and the oh so original "Air Conditioner" song we made up. ;)
Cass, if anyone should hate that song, it'd be you for the hours of torture I put you, my favorite roommate ever, through as I learned it and others.
P.S. Sophomore year = best ever.
Jenny, I stand by the fact that YOU will LOVE her. After you download it, picture our next road trip with windows down, that blaring from the speakers while double-fisting a Sonic. Let me know what you think. Report back?
Also, our talk today was like water to my thirsty soul. To pieces.
Okay, SIL, I am going to make you a little gift! Wait for it...
Post a Comment