Where's the Damned River?

from People, Places, Things by Butch Ross

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about

A dumb joke in an email and a cribbed line from a better songwriter gave me one of the saddest, darkest things I’ve ever written, go figure. It ends with a positive note of self-reliance and strength, like Thoreau without having to chop all that wood.

This was a hard one to get right, at one point there were almost 40 instruments! But like almost everything, simple is usually the best. Fun fact, the guitar solo that Steve plays was originally played over the verse, I just moved it to the chorus...gotta love technology

lyrics

“I'll never leave you.” was the accident’s reply.
And I knew that she was lying
'Cuz she looked me in the eye.
Caught in the gold band of a transcendental lie,
after years of buying tears over a Transatlantic wire.

I Christened her forgiveness, 'Tho it caused my heart to break.
And even tho' her father said, "There's bodies in her wake."
I felt I'd dodged the storm, the music never strayed.
But I couldn't feel the wind, that made the words all blow away.

//So where's the damned river when you need it?
To wash away the sins of the faithless one that feeds it.
How many times can history be repeated?
Tell me where's the damned river,
Where's that damned river,
Where's the damned river when you need it?

The truth be told, I was little more than struck.
In the influence sphere of genius
I could not believe my luck.
But her copper hair was just a penny set to drop.
On the train of her ambition, I was just another stop.

//So where's the damned river when you need it?
To wash away the sins of the faithless one that feeds it.
Why don't you just admit you've been defeated?
Tell me where's the damned river,
Where's that damned river,
Where's the damned river when you need it?

Out to the old bridge then, I made that lonesome trek.
Set to stare at the abyss
with a Lodestone around my neck
Until a voice inside said, "You are not to blame.
And as long as you're alive, she can never clear her name."

//So where's the damned river when you need it?
To wash away the sins of the faithless one that feeds it.
And what replaces anger now depleted?
Tell me where's the damned river,
Where's that damned river,
Where's the damned river when you need it?

credits

from People, Places, Things, released June 13, 2014
Hara Paper - Guitar
Hannah Kuhn - Cello
Jessica Nunn - Viola
Mike McDade - Bass
Br - Mellotron, Vocals
Steve Brehm - Guitar Solo

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Butch Ross Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga multi-instrumentalist and mountain dulcimer maestro Butch Ross has tackled everything from Radiohead to Bach and come away with a renewed appreciation for what the humble dulcimer is capable of. His music is born from his respect for its abilities, a respect born from the years he's spent prying apart its pieces and discovering new sounds where none existed before. ... more

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