I'd like to say I've always been a fan of Nanci Griffith, but the truth is that, way back in my radio DJ days, I found one of her albums (“Lone star state of mind”) and laughed at the, as I saw it, pithy sentiments expressed on the back cover --- something to the effect of “all of these songs are jewels and important to me”; I can't recall the exact quote, but I know I made a face and rolled my eyes. It was to my initial chagrin, and later relief then when, one night with a surfeit of records to play, I decided to give one of the tracks a spin, and was very pleasantly surprised. Taking the album home that night I listened to it avidly, and it wasn't long before I was buying all her records.
Which in itself surprised me, as I have never been a country music aficionado, but this was different. Of course, back then in my long-vanished youth, I was one of those people who conveniently tagged music, and if something didn't fit into my narrow perceptions or definitions of what I thought it should be, I wouldn't even give it a chance. I'm (a lot) older and (a little) wiser now, and understand that good music is good music, whether it comes from a genre you normally listen to or not, and to refuse to listen to something --- or worse, accept that it's a good song/album --- purely on the basis of your dislike/ignorance of that genre, is pretty bloody stupid and close-minded.
And so I learned, as I listened to each new Nanci album, that she was and is a fine singer, a great artiste, and indeed there are many, many examples of her work that I could use to illustrate this point, but this has always been one of my favourites. It's perhaps the more interesting as it is not one Nanci wrote herself --- those are few and far between, as she is an accomplished writer and poet, as well as singer and musician --- but was written by Julie Gold, who also penned the song that most people know Nanci for, the ballad “From a distance”.
Southbound train (Nanci Griffith) from “Flyer”, 1994
Music and lyrics by Julie Gold
I particularly love the imagery in this song. It seems to be the story of a girl who has ended (or had ended) her love affair, referenced by the line in the chorus
”I remember your voice/ And the sound of goodbye”, and is now heading south, perhaps to a new life, trying to put the breakup behind her. Perhaps many will see it as a classic lovesong/breakup/brokenheart song, nothing special, but I really think it stands out from the slew of ballads, even within Nanci's own musical sphere of influence, country music.
Clever devices like comparing her heart to luggage, and the lines
”Towns and cities flutter past/ Like the pages of my life”, as well as the man who is sleeping on the seat next to her, his head leaning against her so that she is concerned that people will think she's married to him, make this song very special to me, definitely the standout on the album, and one of my favourite Nanci Griffith tracks. The acoustic piano accompanying her voice is also a great way of symbolising the sense of isolation, fear and loneliness engendered by the song. The lovely, breathy female backing vocals only help to heighten this sense, but also add a note of sisterly support, while the understated violin helps add a sense of majesty and hope to the tale. Of course, nothing need be written about Nanci's plaintive but never broken voice, singing determined near the end to rise again, as she sighs
”No I must learn to wait my turn/ Before I love again.”
I'm sitting on a southbound train
Staring at the sky;
I'm thinking of my childhood
And I'm trying not to cry
While a stranger sleeps against me,
And it feels like I'm his wife:
Towns and cities flutter past
Like the pages of my life.
My heart is on the baggage rack:
It's heavy as can be.
I wish that I could find someone
Who would carry it for me;
Just to pay it some attention,
And to handle it with care:
Because it has been dropped
And is in need of some repair.
[Chorus:]
Some things I know,
Some things I guess,
Some things I wish that I could learn
To express,
Like the way that I feel
As I stare at the sky
And I remember your voice,
And the sound of goodbye.
Maybe it's the autumn chill,
Maybe it's the rain;
Maybe I should wake the stranger
And ask him his name.
But my eyes they would betray me,
And my words could not defend.
No, I must learn to wait my turn
Before I love again.