This is my blog where I write about music, jewelry, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, songs about baltimore, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Subscribe via any of the methods in the right-hand column. Please do not link directly to the mp3 files.

Lately, this has been my favorite song about a place. As I've listened to it repeatedly, I've found it more and more moving.
At first I found the harmony pleasing. I realized the song is just the same thing.. over and over. A song like that has to be special. See also: Carter Family. Just the same pretty thing over and over.
I thought "I could sing this as 'West Virginia' instead of 'Alabama." I was wrong. I'm not sure if West Virginia has all the same crops and the same scenes mentioned in this song, but even if it does, this song deserves to be kept intact.
The Bailey brothers are actually from Tennessee. This song was recorded many times by Alabama natives the Louvin Brothers. Everything seems to point towards Charlie Louvin as the originator of this song.. but it seems like the Bailey Brothers recorded this in the early 50s at the latest, and the Louvin Brothers years later. Maybe not, I dunno. Anyway I like the Bailey Brothers more. Their music is more old timey.
The lyrics amount to one the most passionate odes to a homeland that I can think of. Very descriptive and sentimental. Without the usual bitter lament of moving to a big city and wasting time. This song makes me want to go to the beautiful places that I love, up in the woods and all around the Appalacians. The leaves are turning colors right now. There's not enough trees in the city to appreciate them.

The Bailey Brothers
Alabama

PS One last thing.. WHAT IS "CERISA"??

Labels: country, displacement

Posted by: Kara Mae 11/05/2009 09:40:00 AM