Sad Sad Song
This was a bit short for its own page on spike, but Francis kindly agreed to let me blog it.
Review of M. Ward�s �Sad, Sad Song� mislabeled �Vincent O�Brien� By Francis Raven
On first listening to the track listed as �Vincent O�Brien� (but which is actually �Sad, Sad Song�) off of M.Ward�s album Transfiguration of Vincent (generously supplied by Matador Records) you will note that you love the song. This love will first flourish because his song uses the word �Whippoorwill� (�So I went to the Whippoorwill/I said Whippoorwill please��) and you believe that that everybody should love every song that uses the word �Whippoorwill.�
While listening to the mislabeled song a second time it is probable that you will assent to Matador�s description of Ward as bridging �the gaps between the roots of various American musical traditions�folk, country, blues and rock.� But is it ironic? The lyrics seemingly offer no help: �Oh I went to the Doctor,/I said Doctor please,/what do you do when your true love leaves?/He said the hardest thing in the world to do,/is to find somebody believes in you.� Ward could be earnest and lovestruck or he could be making ironic fun of the whole earnest-lovestruck tradition of American music. Both interpretations are within the realm of possibility. And if it is ironic it�s not ironic in an annoying indierock way. It verges on the edge of irony, urging the listener to ask whether it is ironic or not, but not offering an answer for offering such a solution would destroy the delicate balance. And it is this balance which provides the bridge that possibly connects the various roots of American music. The most interesting conclusion Mr.Ward�s song leads the listener towards is that the bridge between the various traditions of American music is the bridge between earnestness and irony. This tension is at the very heart of American music and Mr. Ward�s song lays that problematic right in the spotlight of his sad song.
Other Splinters posts of interest:
- Back of the net Brian
- The Strange History Of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah
- Idle thoughts
- Agnes, Queen of Sorrow
- Death’s head ring upon his finger
