Bonus track from the Together Through the Dark sessions.
lyrics
Ballad of the Silver Dollar
written by Slaid Cleaves, Jeff Elliott, Robert George and Mike Morgan
I started out as just a lump of silver ore
In Denver, minted as a dollar back in '34
Traded through the Dust Bowl and the swamps of Louisian’
My journey is what made me what I am
One day a drifter found me in a dusty barn
Put me in his pocket, kept me for a lucky charm
Shined me with his ragged shirt and hopped a freight that night
He vowed that he would soon start living right
Up out of the ground come dust and silver
And a wise man comes to know what each is worth
Dreaming up and building out a life for all to see
Till dust and silver return to the earth
The young man enlisted after Pearl in '41
Got a uniform, a paycheck, and an army issued gun
From Normandy on to Ardennes, in the battlefields of France
He held me, in his trembling muddy hands
Somehow we made it back to the old USA
With the G.I. Bill and a couple of years of saved up soldiers pay
He raised a family, prospered, was respected in the end
He'd show me off to family and friends
Every day he turned me with his fingers and his thumb
Placed me on his bedside table when the day was done
Bowed his head and said a prayer of gratitude, sincere
As I grew smooth and thinner year by year
inst
It was late one night on his old back porch rockin’ chair
He dropped me by his boot heel as he said his final prayer
And now we rest together, our travelling days no more
In the quiet earth, just like a lump of ore
Up out of the ground come dust and silver
And a wise man comes to know what each is worth
Dreaming up and building out a life for all to see
Till dust and silver return to the earth
Dreaming up and building out a life for all to see
Till dust and silver return to the earth
credits
from Together Through the Dark,
track released August 1, 2023
performed by Slaid Cleaves and Scrappy Jud Newcomb
produced by Scrappy Jud Newcomb
recorded by Pat Manske at The Zone, Dripping Springs, Texas
mixed by Chaos Theory with Slaid Cleaves
mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering, Nashville, Tennessee
supported by 37 fans who also own “Ballad of the Silver Dollar”
1st time i heard DeathWish, i turned it off.
felt rushed, not the Isbell i've come to admire. really grab'd me when i took time to listen on the 2nd try. the writing on these songs stopped me in my tracks more than once. raw talent with just enough polish in the delivery.
thankyou Jason + 400 for another keeper swirlingmadness
supported by 27 fans who also own “Ballad of the Silver Dollar”
The best I've heard from Steve Earle in a while. The songs have a subtler, earthier tone, tastefully rendered in authentic sounding country/blues/bluegrass stylings. 'J.T' reminds of earlier records like 'Feel Alright' or 'Train a Comin'.
Deep grief, love and compassion is felt on the final track, the only composition from Steve, seemingly written for his son. The rest, composed by JT, do confirm what a great songwriter he really was. tideracer
Collaborating remotely with 12 songwriters from all over the world, Kim Edgar emerged with a work of striking art pop. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 11, 2023
This collection of '90s work from folkie Patrick Regan and friends will appeal to fans of Fairport Convention and Pentangle. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 17, 2023