Sunday morning and we deserve a break from painting, at least in this blog. I was thinking of a song I first heard back in 1975 when Willie Nelson released his classic Red Headed Stranger album, which was a concept album composed of sparse compositions that told the story of a fugitive on the run. Just a beautiful group of disparate songs that come together to chronicle a tale.
When I heard Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, I was hooked on the poetry and simplicity of the song, especially as performed in Nelson’s spartan manner. So simple but so filled with emotion and feeling. I think of this song often when I’m painting, trying to think how I can match that feeling of simple grace and depth of feeling in my own work.
I didn’t know much about the song then, always thinking that it was Nelson’s song. But it had a long history, written in 1945 by the legendary Fred Rose for Roy Acuff. Hank Williams recorded it in 1951 and a number of others have as well over the years. It is considered to be the last song that Elvis recorded at Graceland, the day before he died. But for me, there’s only one version that really stands alone.
Here’s the lovely Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain…
Redtree Times 