Week three of our new series spotlights a song that never, ever gets old. Some how, every time I hear it, it makes me want to sing to the rafters. I suppose it’s as close to a gospel song as I’ll ever have in my life.
It’s the lead track off of 1995’s “Tomorrow the Green Grass,” the fourth record by Minneapolis’ The Jayhawks. It’s called, simply, “Blue,” and its a beautiful folk/country/pop hybrid written and sung by Gary Louris and Mark Olson.
Why this record never got the attention it deserved, I’ll never know. This song should have been a massive radio hit.
Besides the subtle string section and the perfect harmonies of its two singers, “Blue” features a short, infectious middle eight where Olson and Louris take different complementary vocal lines for a brief emotional outburst:
“Stand by, stand by, waiting round
(All my life I’m waiting for, someone I could hold the door)
Now that I’m blue, that I’m blue
(But nothing seems to change, you’ll come back I know)
From now on, so…”
…before sweeping right back into that simple, majestic chorus:
“Blue, why don’t you stay behind”
Heaven.
Link to The Great Songs: The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset
Link to The Great Songs: Big Star – Thirteen
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
YEAH, OK i get it. jeez.
YEAH, OK i get it. jeez.
this song was actually a pretty big hit for them in the UK. It’s fucking lovely.
this song was actually a pretty big hit for them in the UK. It’s fucking lovely.
I will never forget the Jayhawks. I saw then open for the black crows back in late 92. I will never forget their sound and the amount of raw live emotion they had. It has remained in my top 10 shows to this day.
I will never forget the Jayhawks. I saw then open for the black crows back in late 92. I will never forget their sound and the amount of raw live emotion they had. It has remained in my top 10 shows to this day.
I missed that show, and despite seeing them several times since, I never saw them with Olson and regret it to this day.
I missed that show, and despite seeing them several times since, I never saw them with Olson and regret it to this day.
i bought this single
– Jack Duhamel