Subscribe to the feedCelebrating Life
by Heather Williams
Gravedigger - Willie Nelson
One of the most powerful songs out right now is Willie Nelson’s cover of the Dave Matthew’s song “Gravedigger”. I can’t listen to that song without feeling uneasy inside. I also wonder while watching the Gravedigger video how Willie feels about performing this song and getting into a coffin. Especially since he is in his twilight years. There are always country songs out there that make us think about our mortality and the importance of life. I am going to list some of my favorites dealing with this topic below.
1. Gravedigger - Willie Nelson
Like I mentioned earlier this song really makes me think about my own mortality. This song also makes me sad for all those people that do face losing a child. I just can’t imagine out living my children. I think many of us just don’t want to think about dying or losing a family member. I don’t know if anyone else in country music could do this as well as Willie. He is just so haunting, touching, and real. This song reminds me of the Johnny Cash’s song, “Hurt”. It just reaches you deep inside.
2. Live This Life - Big & Rich
This is one of my favorite Big & Rich songs. The chorus of this song is so powerful.
I live this life until this life won’t let me live here anymore
Then I will walk yes I will walk
With patience through that open door
I have no fears, angels follow me wherever I may go
I live this life until this life won’t let me live here anymore
It just makes you realize that you have to live your life the best you can and when the time comes it will be OK. Kenny and John sing this song in such a commanding and touching way that I am just mesmerized when I am listening to it.
Link to a YouTube Slide Show set to “Live This Life” - Big & Rich
3. I Wanna Feel Something - Trace Adkins
I love when Trace Adkins sings deep songs. Trace’s music is such a contradiction. He sings the most meaningless songs and the most meaningful. I think “I Wanna Feel Something” has such a powerful message. We all need to live our life with meaning and feeling. That we need to be present in this life.
I Wanna Feel Something - Trace Adkins
4. Three Wooden Crosses - Randy Travis
When I hear this song, I am reminded to be thankful for the life I have. That life is a gift that should be respected to honor those that did not get to live a full life. I think we all wonder sometimes why good people or children can be taken from this world and others are spared. I think this song just reinforces that we can’t answer that question. We just need to live our life the best we can.
Link to a YouTube Live performance of Randy Travis singing “Three Wooden Crosses.”
5. I Saw God Today - George Strait
This is such a beautiful song. I think our children all give us hope and help us celebrate life. I think we all see the miracle in the birth of our children.
Link to a YouTube slide show set to George Strait singing “I Saw God Today.”
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Heather you must be a “spring chicken”, listing mostly to contemporary singers with songs about life, death and mortality.
Actually that is a theme that used to define the origins of country music. As the people in the remote valleys of the Appalachian mountains were pretty much isolated, several fiddler combos would play on weekends and tell people from other valleys what happened, who died etc… It was an early form of communication. Other so called “story songs” - today sometimes considered folk songs - would tell about murder, disasters, train crashes and other happenings in the world outside of their isolation. Most of these bands were “string bands” and not until 1927 (Legendary Bristol Sessions) was some of that “Hillbilly Music” recorded.
Even though the music emerged rapidly into several styles from there the theme of life and death used to be a constant factor in country music till about the millennium, when Nashville decided that they want use more uplifting, less drinking, dancing and cheating songs. Basically that’s when todays country music became rather bland.
So it’s not too much of a surprise that both songs you mention were recorded by rock outfits, before Cash and Nelson even thought of recording them. “Hurt” was a song by Trent Raznor from NineInchNails, “Gravedigger” was a song Dave Matthews (normally a rather mediocare songwriter) recorded. But I probably could give you a CDs worth of songs that were old staples in country music dealing with life and death.
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I love that gravedigger video, too. I think it’s really powerful. Willie said they spent the night in the cemetary, then started filming at 6:00 a.m. They filmed all day, in the rain. All I heard him say about the coffin scene was that they wanted him to take off his boots, but he said. A cowboy is buried in his boots. Did you see Dave Matthews version?
March 24th, 2008 at 10:52 am
amu,
Thanks for the background. Interesting stuff. I was introduced to country in the early 90’s so my reference really starts there. I agree with you that it is an issue when country musicians can’t get support for music that doesn’t fit inside a certain box created by the industry. It should be clear by now that contemporary country music fans will flock to songs like gravedigger, hurt, etc.
Linda -
Thanks so much for the information on what Willie said about shooting the video. I still can’t imagine performing all those parts like Willie did and then have to go into a coffin.
I listened to the Dave Matthew’s version. I did not like it at all. I use to listen to Dave Matthews a long time ago and I liked some of his stuff. He is an aquired taste. I just will end by saying again — I just love how Willie covered the song Gravedigger. It was awesome!
March 26th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Great topic.
My favorite song in this vein is “Top of the World.” The version by the Dixie Chicks is my favorite, but Patty Griffin, the songwriter, does a great job of it as well.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Kevin,
I have never heard that song before. I listened to the dixie chicks version
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yrNkuQUhh3A
That Top of the World Song is very powerful. Thanks for the addition.