Sadly, Johnny Cash passed along this week. I don't think they hand out black robes in heaven, in fact I don't even think there is a heaven, but lets make an exception for both just this once. I had never heard his most recent version of 'Give my Love to Rose' until today, and wow. I'm not sure there is anyone left to replace him as the voice of the poor, the innocent, the guilty, or the crapped on. Perhaps, but there is certainly there is nothing to replace the voice. If you didn't listen to the guy because that isn't 'your thing', I'd really give it a shot.

So long Johnny Cash - we'll be sure to 'give your love to Rose'

...and give our love to June.

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Picking just one favorite song is futile -- but how about a favorite part of a song? Here is a song I totally love, and the last bit has to be right up there with anything, even a finer moment of JC himself... Everyone sings about people leaving their boring hometown and rising above it. Except people like Tom Waits. He loves the ones that didn't do so well. They left for California, but didn't seem to make it past St. Louis. Worse. Lots worse in fact. As it turns out, 'Hold On' can mean 'to each other', 'hey wait a minute', 'trying not to go backwards', and it can even mean cling, as in 'to your life'. My award goes to this part of 'Hold On' (and yes, the nickel is in the mail):


Down by the Riverside motel,
It's 10 below and falling
By a 99 cent store she closed her eyes
And started swaying
But it's so hard to dance that way
When it's cold and there's no music...
Your old hometown is so far away
But, inside your head,
There's a record that's playing
A song called
Hold on, hold on....

Now lets just point out that 'Down By the Riverside' has to be one of the happiest silly old time Christian songs there is. My, it started so well (~ Motel!?). And by that point, the old hometown is like a dream, and you're sort of awake. Shit.

Not to misplace credit where credit is due, Tom Waits co-writes many of his songs (including this one) with another person who's name I can't remember. So full kudo's to that guy, who ever the fuck your are, and I do hope your mother is proud of you. Ahh, music.