There are two things in this human experience that are common to us all. We all experience them. We all either want more or less of them. No matter who you are, you have an opinion on each. Love and Loss.
Today's soundtrack entry is steeped in both.
Jolene, recorded by The Little Willies, is a cover of a Dolly Parton classic. The Little Willies, led by the beautiful angelic voice of Norah Jones, dusted it off and made it their own. Indeed, it's the star of the show on their new album For The Good Times.
Country music is famous for its story telling ballads and this one, in particular, is headed back for the special place called "classic". The original song was a #1 hit for Dolly Parton and if they care to market this updated incarnation, it will reappear at the top of the charts.
This song is a vivid painting... no, a beautiful epic of a short story, hand crafted into a haunting short film played by the mind's eye, at the behest of the brain which is completely mesmerized by the lyrics and delivery. Remember, everyone knows love and loss.
She starts off knocking on the front door, to confront the red haired beauty Jolene. Nervously she knocks, trembling about the knees, half-hoping that no one is home, half-hoping to get it over quickly. She's on the porch, in this small country town where everyone knows each other and Jolene, the new muse who has entered the town on some corporate job transfer down at the local plant. It's a somber Sunday afternoon, when Norah walks up to the door with these words...
"Jolene... I'm begging of you, please don't take my man. Jolene... please don't take him just because you can." This is a fantastic song, that wraps up the mind in a warm blanket of comfort. Ok, I'll grant it that it's not the usual idea of comfort, however this song is like a friend who's gone through the same thing. We've all been there. We all may not have had the courage to stand up to the one who threatens to steal our livelihood and change our life forever, but it's a sad fact that everyone has been in that position at least one time in their life. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a job, property (stolen or foreclosed), or the attention of another we have yet to love.
This song runs so much deeper than the words suggest. Norah hits pay dirt. The song is sung with all the pain and determination of a stalwart underdog, who, with her back against the wall, has decided to fight back. She fights for her man. She fights for her sanity. She fights for us all. Now, don't get me wrong, this is not the typical bar room throw down one would associate with "fighting back" -- that is left up to another track on the album (Fist City). No, this is something deeper. She reaches into Jolene's soul and touches her with her own humanity... and, just like that, like the Ghost of Christmas Future, she delivers a mental snapshot of the possible devistation that Jolene's actions could cause.
The song is so perfectly executed, one could easily envision the film switching from the shot of Norah's beautiful pleading face, to the back of her head, just as she turns around to walk away. We then pull back for a wide shot and see her descend the stairs, before zooming in to see the attractive enemy, Jolene, with tears slowly tracking down her cheeks, as she holds back the full force of heartache that has just been visited upon her. Norah walks away, without looking back. Jolene wipes her tears and shuts the door. She understands. Norah has won.
The music is soft and lush and is the perfect soundtrack to the epic. It comes in soft and rises with the tension of the conversation and Norah's emotion. It dips in the middle and quiets down when Jolene begins to really consider what is being shared with her. This is past denial. This is past any of other petty games or tricks she's tried in the past. Her heart has been captured by the song and in four minutes and fifty-one seconds, it's over. It's a lovely ride. Someone should play it for the executives of the oil corporations, in a plea to release the strangle hold they have on our entire society (but I digress... that's for another blog).
As soon as you have the opportunity, check this song out and allow yourself to take the trip with The Little Willies. I promise, it'll be worth the price of admission.
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