The (Folk) Singer

I have never really been the "fan" kind of person.
I have never really idolized many people if not my mother, some writer, director, or OK Marlon Brando.
In music is the same, its about the songs, the charisma, not the person itself.

With few exceptions.

Johnny Cash was the first of the legendary singers-songwriters that I started really following and loving.
I was really touched when he died, and then I started reading and reading and reading about him and his life.
I also loved a film done 4 years ago, "Walk the line", in which was shown, to a wider audience, his career and amazing personal life.
(June Carter anyone?)

I have a little obession, and its about covers.
In his late years he started doing amazing ones, that for me in most cases turned out being even better than the originals.
But this is not what I wanted to write about today, as I think I'd need hours and boxes of cigarettes to put down all I feel for these songs.

There is one he wrote in 1971, that I particolarly love, and that shows all the beauty of his dark dark deep voice.

To me the most beautiful voice in music.



Someone covered him,
Nick Cave
1988
and let me tell you

it was really as good as the original.




00:36 the guitar comes in and its amazment

As I walk these narrow streets
Where a million passing feet have trod before me
With my guitar in my hand
Suddenly I realize nobody knows me
Where yesterday the multitude
Screamed and cried my name out for a song
Today the streets are empty
And the crowds have all gone home
I pass a million houses
But there is no place that I belong
All I knew to give you
Was song after song after song
All the truths I tried to tell you
Were as distant to you as the moon
Born 200 years too late
And 200 years too soon

It always make me shiver maybe as much at the thought of you
the most marvellous artist and person I had ever met

I'm a child of this age
Locked into the pages of your book
And when I am but dust and clay
And all the children stop to take a look
Will they marvel at the miracles I did perform
And the heights I did aspire
Or will they tear out the pages of the book
To light a fire
With the rain on my face
There is no place that I belong

Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?

And did you forget my song?