The Haunting Music of Lucinda Williams
There is an old Rolling Stone bio on Lucinda Williams that appeared back in 2001, but it is such a well written piece on this wonderful artist that I thought many of you would still like to read it (possibly again).
Along with a lot of great info on Lucinda, it also has 62 great photos that you will probably find yourself scrolling through.
It is interesting that Lucinda Williams mentions that the short story writer, Flannery O'Conner, was a great influence on her songwriting. If you've ever read O'Conner's stories, you can easily see the connection.
I remember reading in college that one of Flannery's neighbors dismissed her stories because, "she just wrote about people the way they were." (One of the highest compliments any writer can receive).
The same is true of Lucinda Williams' lyrics. They capture the essence of people and their stories so well and so perfectly, you barely notice the hard work she put in to her songs.
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One great way to download all of Lucinda Williams' music is to get a 14-Day free trial to Rhapsody Unlimited, then pay only $12.99 per month.
Download Lucinda Williams' Music
Get a 14-Day free trial to Rhapsody Unlimited then pay only $12.99 per month.
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Lucinda Williams Interviewed by Claudia Marshall
Listen to Lucinda Williams on NPR
I've got to say, sometimes public radio "gets" Lucinda Williams much better than local commercial country, rock or crossover stations.Listen to this great interview by Claudia Marshall from last year. It is interesting to hear Lucinda reveal a little about how she creates her wonderful songs (a short line gets stuck in her head and stays there until it attracts another great line, etc.)
Despite the melancholy nature of many of her songs, Lucinda Willams claims she really can't write unless she is happy.
Check out the interview and learn a little more about "America's Greatest Songwriter:" Lucinda Williams on Words and Music from Studio A.
The Voice of Lucinda Williams
The story behind Lucinda Williams' song, "Fancy Funeral"
Listening to Lucinda Williams' voice is liking drinking fine whiskey. It bites at first but goes down smooth. She does not have a "pretty," sweet voice like a Martina McBride, but it doesn't take long to find yourself drifting along with her music and lyrics.Her songs tell stories about flawed people who hurt but carry on.
As I see it, Lucinda Williams is first and foremost a poet who just happens to be a great guitarist. As I write this, I am playing her CD, West, on my hard drive. I just can't get the song, Fancy Funeral, out of my head.
The song is about the family's funeral plans after Lucinda's mother died. Her mother had made it clear that she did not want a big fancy affair, but the relatives all wanted a traditional funeral that Lucinda felt did not reflect her mother's wishes or nature.
Nevertheless, Lucinda found herself being pushed along to have the funeral the family wanted rather than the one her mother would have wanted. And Lucinda would up paying for the affair.
As she said later in an interview, it all had the feel of a Flannery O'Conner short story.
Lucinda Williams' Lyrics: "Those Three Days"
If the purpose of art is to communicate truth to those who might not otherwise hear it, Those Three Days certainly succeeds.In her own, pull-no-punches style, Lucinda Williams sings about a woman who has been used for someone else's temporary pleasures for just three days.
The refrain tugs at the hear when she sings:
Did you only want me for those three days?
Did you only need me for those three days?
Did you love me forever
just for those three days?
And now she can't get him, or the promises he made, out of her mind.
You say there's always gonna be this thing
Between us days are filled with dreams
Scorpions crawl across my screen
Make their home beneath my skin
Underneath my dress stick their tongues
Bite through the flesh down to the bone
And I have been so fuckin' alone
You built a nest inside my soul
You rest your head on leaves of gold
You managed to crawl inside my brain
You found a hole and in you came
You sleep like a baby breathing
Comfortably between truth and pain
But the truth is nothing's been the same
Since those three days
Those Three Days is another example of Lucinda Williams' artistry. If you want to download this song, you can get it from Amazon here. Or, you can get a better deal on all your music downloads with unlimited downloads when you try a 14 Day Free Trial With Rhapsody. Afterwars, Rhapsody is only $12.95 per month.
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