Song Lyric Sunday – You’re Killing Me!

Good Morning! I am a little late to the party today because yesterday I completely forgot to search for something for Song Lyric Sunday. On checking I see that we were to find a song that mentions death, kill or murder. Yikes!

Folk music is good for telling stories and there are several American Folk artists I do enjoy. One being Gillian Welch and her musical partner Dave Rawlings. He plays lead guitar and sings harmonies with her, forming one of the most celebrated duos in Americana/folk music, known for their intricate guitar interplay and distinctive two-part vocals. They have worked together for decades, with Rawlings’s unique style complementing Welch’s rhythm and banjo work.

I did in fact use this song about three years ago but I am sure I am the only one here that would remember that so I am using it again as it fits the theme. I could listen to that guitar all day long!

The Song

I was unable to find any background for the writing of The Way It Goes but being a country song it tells its own story.

The song is from the album The Harrow & the Harvest. The fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Gillian Welch. It was Welch’s first album in eight years and was released on June 28, 2011. The album was nominated for Best Folk Album for the 54th Grammy Awards.

The eight years since the release of 2003’s Soul Journey marked the longest period of time between album releases for Welch. In explaining the relatively long recording absence, Welch said, “The sad truth is we never liked anything enough to put it out, which is not a pleasant place to be.” She added, “over the course of that time that we were quiet we probably had enough songs to put out two or three records. Actually we made a few tentative steps at trying to record, but inevitably the heart would go out of it when we realized that we simply didn’t like the material enough to go on with it.” Welch frequently performed the song “The Way It Will Be” in years prior to the release of the album. Welch explains that this tense time period inspired the album title: “Our songcraft slipped and I really don’t know why. It’s not uncommon. It’s something that happens to writers. It’s the deepest frustration we have come through, hence the album title.”[3] The writing process involved “this endless back and forth between the two of us,” Welch said, stating that “It’s our most intertwined, co-authored, jointly-composed album.” John Dyer Baizley provided artwork for the album.

Courtesy of Wiki

The Lyrics

Becky Johnson bought the farm
Put a needle in her arm
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

That’s the way that it goes
Everybody’s buying little baby clothes
That’s the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends

Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

That’s the way that it goes
Everybody’s buying little baby clothes
That’s the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends

See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

Now Billy Joe’s back in the tank
You tell Russo, I’ll tell Frank
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

That’s the way that it goes
Everybody’s buying little baby clothes
That’s the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends

When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That’s the way that it goes
That’s the way

That’s the way that it goes
Everybody’s buying little baby clothes
That’s the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends

The Way It Goes Lyrics as written by Gillian Welch David Rawlings
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
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