Started last year with “American IV: The Man Comes Around”
I liked it more than I anticipated, then I found out most of the songs were cover songs… especially surprised by the most personal feeling song “Hurt” being a cover of a Nine Inch Nails song. I was affected the most by “I hung my head”, covered from Sting. This one really spoke to me about moments of regret, it connected me with the feeling of remorse and when it’s too late to make something right. One day I was driving around and I just started crying as I listened. I have never killed anyone, but I believe I may have contributed to a couple of suicides. Perhaps more on that later…

I set off running to wake from the dream
My brother’s rifle went into the stream
I kept on running into the salt lands
And that’s where they found me, my head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me “Why had I run”
Then it came to me just what I had done
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
I hung my head, I hung my head

Recently I have started listening to everything he’s got through Rhapsody, picked up after I saw the movie last week. I think I am a lot like him in some ways. His struggles to be honest and comfortable with himself. his need for approval, especially from his father. He arrived at this gritty double sided honesty that I long for. He was honest about the difficulty and injustice of life and living, but also identified with the inherent joy and good of life…

Categories: Music