I’d never heard of Laura Nyro until about a year ago. She’s another of those influential and mega-talented artists who faded into obscurity because they never achieved much commercial popularity. Some of her songs were big hits, but always for other people.
It seems Nyro was something of a savant when it came to songwriting. She was just 20 years old when she released Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, the groundbreaking album that features this song. She leaped between keys and time signatures within her songs in a way not done very often before or since.
I have to admit, though, that as much as I appreciate her talent I can’t call myself a huge fan based on this album. For one thing, her voice puts me on edge when she really starts belting things out. And she also has a tendency to utilize one of my pet peeves, excessive repetition. I see a parallel between Nyro and Joni Mitchell, another legend who I can’t bring myself to fully embrace. I think Mitchell writes better songs but I find her voice particularly bothersome.
However, both are definitely worthy of the ‘Song of the Day’ treatment. In fact, I planned to feature a Joni Mitchell song today but ran into the YouTube copyright issue. I’ll keep digging around until I find something of hers that hasn’t been ripped down by the powers that be.
In the meantime, enjoy Laura Nyro.
Farmer Joe, I’m the meanest woman you know, woman you know.
I let you slide about an hour ago, now.
Farmer boy, get your gun, run, run, run.
Farmer boy, get your gun, run, run, run, run, run, run.
Farmer boy, get your gun, run, run, run.
Farmer boy, get your gun and run, run, run like a son of a gun from love.
Running from the mindreader, run baby, run.
Got a date with the town shoe maker you know, baby you know,
she said, I can’t wait for your cornfields to grow, baby to grow.
Whoa, baby, whoa baby, give my bags and let the good wind blow.
Give my bags and let the good wind blow. Give my bags and let the good wind blow.
I’ve got to see about a man I know.
Fire, flames of gold rush my mind. Fire, flames of gold rush my mind.
Sock it to the railroad, baby. Baby, there’s a train whistle coming.
Baby, there’s a train whistle coming.
Once it was alright, alright, baby. Once it was alright, alright, baby.
Once it was alright, alright, no…
Meet Me In Montauk 
My sister has adored Nyro for years. Still, I admit that I haven’t heard all that much from her. And, as interesting as this song is from a songwriting perspective, I can’t say that I love it.
I think I probably mentioned before that, in the Costelo interview with Elton John, they both rave about Nyro for nearly half of the program, and Elton demonstrates how Burn Down the Mission was influenced by Nyro’s style of temp changes and unconventional song structure.
I am more familiar with Mitchell, who my sister also adored, and Amy discovered more recently. There are Mitchell songs that I absolutely love, mostly from the wonderful Court and Spark album, and I think her singing is just fine, thank you:)
You picked one of Laura’s most interesting tempo’d songs. I adore this song, and its one of the best convertible, in the wind, driving songs in the world. Just da bomb.
LOVE IT!!!!!
Maybe it’s a girl thing? (the ability to appreciate Nyro’s music, that is). Reminds me of Stony End, a Nyro song I love that Barbra Streisand covered. Great tempo changes; easy to see how she could have inspired musicians such as Elton and Elvis.
Nyro’s version
Streisand’s version
Great stuff 🙂