The girl I love / Is on that train and gone — “Worried Man Blues” It’s hard to know Before he died in 2003, Johnny Cash recorded tracks for what became the first posthumous collection of his American series – … Continue reading →
This is the twelfth installment in our “Conversations with Death” sub-series. Introduction My spouse had cancer 14 years ago. She’s fully recovered. I’m still not sure I am. When I think back over the complex set of interests and experiences … Continue reading →
Introduction: “It’s the butcher boy I love so well …” The title of today’s song suggests a narrative consistent with the stereotype of violent misogyny in our genre of choice. Strictly speaking, this time that could lead to some inaccurate … Continue reading →
Urgency and Dread A few weeks ago when I wanted something just right to read, I visited my bookshelf. I relish in-home browsing, and I also generally find what I need. That day, I was looking for a new way … Continue reading →
I think perhaps all of us go a little crazy at times. — Robert Bloch, Psycho (1959) Just out of sight In the summer of 1968, a peculiar country and western song came and went to little fanfare on a … Continue reading →
We break at times from our regular fare of murder ballads for songs that confront mortality in other ways. Today’s discussion is the next installment in our “Conversations with Death” series. Special thanks to David Travis for his pictures in … Continue reading →
“The man is dead, the man is dead” This week marks the 40th anniversary of the death of South African anti-apartheid activist Bantu Stephen Biko. Biko, a leader in the Black Consciousness Movement, died in the custody of South African … Continue reading →
“I am here when the cities are gone. I am here before the cities come. I nourished the lonely men on horses. I will keep the laughing men who ride iron. I am dust of men.” — from “Prairie” by … Continue reading →
Introduction – “Still Growing” Today’s featured song fits clearly, if not neatly, into our wheelhouse here at MBM. It is not precisely a murder ballad. Neither is it exactly what we call a ‘conversation with death.’ It is, like many … Continue reading →
In our first post on Titanic songs, we listened to songs that emerged in the years soon after the disaster. They reflected on the events of the tragedy itself, and the lessons we might draw from it. Moving closer to the … Continue reading →
