Sidetracked

On the livestream yesterday, my friend Bobby asked which of the songs I have written is my favorite. That’s nearly impossible to answer, but “Sidetracked” is special to me for a number of reasons. The lyrics are a painful and personal revelation, and I believe I wrote about it with honesty and the correct amount of triumph and indignation.

I have been enjoying these online concerts, but the inherent limitations of them struck me after I signed off yesterday. We have all been sidetracked here, haven’t we? Our attempts to carry on are admirable, but we are a social species. Screens and spotty wireless internet are not gonna cut it. The analog experience of sound waves bouncing around a room is irreplaceable. Vocal chords vibrating and ear drums responding. The bizarre and mysterious energy of other human beings, sharing a space, making noises and breathing together.

Perhaps I have also been in a bit of denial about how this global pandemic and economic crisis are going to affect Freedom Tour 2020. I thought my timing was fortuitous because I wasn’t planning to leave until the end of May, but cancellations have begun and it’s all very wait and see at the moment. I remain obstinate about this fact: I’m going on a long bike tour across the country this year, with or without gigs. And I will post about it here on my all new blog. #blog

Yesterday’s show is dedicated to my friend Janet, who took her own life last week in Arkansas. The person who told me put it this way: “I’m not sure why she decided it was time, but she has always had a hard time with this world and her life. She was a raging fire of a soul and chose her own path.” When I hear about a suicide, my first thought is that it must have been really bad. Janet must’ve been in a lot of pain to choose to end her journey in that way. I feel no judgement — only sadness and empathy. She got sidetracked and she didn’t make it through the detour.

But we are still here. We are earth, fire, water, and wind. We’ll always end and begin — over and over again. We’ll get through this, all together and all alone.

Monday Online Residency // 4.6.20 To Live Is To Fly (Townes Van Zandt cover) / Sidetracked / Hellbound, Bent, and Heaven-sent / Closer To There / Out in the Branches / Alone Together / The War On Cars / Back Where I Was / Eulogy / The National Anthem / At The End of the Year