Walking and listening to old Terry Gross interview’s on my I-pod is such a treat. I’m never at home or in my car when Fresh Air is on, so I miss a lot of great radio. On this particular day, I was listening to Terry interview Rosanne Cash about her newest CD, “The List.”
Thirty-five years ago, Rosanne’s father, Johnny Cash, gave her a list of what he considered the songs she absolutely had to, at least, be aware of if she was going to call herself a well educated musician; he called the list 100 Essential Country Songs.
I seldom choose to listen to country music, but after this interview, I couldn’t wait to hear (the first installment of) what Johnny Cash considered must-know country songs.
I’m enjoying the whole CD, but her interpretation of Motherless Children hit me like a fist to the gut. I’m sure it was because my brother-in-law just lost his mother. Dorothy E. (Lefevre) Sandlin was 90 years old and very sick, so her death was a blessing for her and the rest of the family. By changing the word “dead” to “gone”, Rosanne Cash infused this sad song with even more longing, more sadness and more resignation than the original. (Lucinda Williams (dead) – Rosanne (gone).
The wake and the funeral are over; unfortunately, the missing and the forever start now.