It’s been about 10 months since I last featured a Tift Merritt song on the blog, so I figured she could use another plug.
It’s funny that I didn’t seriously consider any of Merritt’s individual songs for my desert island list, but if I were to make a list of desert island artists she would almost certainly make the cut.
All of her work — five studio albums so far — is heartfelt, genuine and smart. A comforting warmth exudes from her music and from Merritt herself (as I was lucky enough to discover in concert).
Hers is definitely a spirit and sensibility I’d want with me on that island.
Dad, I’ve been thinking I got to get born.
Got to mean something heavy to somebody somewhere.
I don’t know who I am but I can’t stay here.
I didn’t mean to stand up, I didn’t mean to daydream.
I didn’t want to hear it calling my name.
Regular life don’t suit me at all.
I gotta get going, I’m still not home.
I try so hard and I’m still not home.
Robert Johnson was trembling, calling for help
At the edge of the field talking to himself.
Not a woman, not a dollar, not even his soul
Feels as good in his hands as that old guitar.
He say, Nobody sees how desperate I’m torn.
Feel like I’m crazy the way that I’m going.
Don’t know if it’s from up high or way down low.
I try so hard, I’m still not home.
I gotta get going, I’m still not home.
You know that ache’s grown so familiar.
How many times I got to shoo it from my door,
Putting the shine on the far side of the river,
Come round to bruise me up a little bit more,
Come round to bruise me up just a little bit more.
One day, I’m gonna light like a season of green.
My heart is gonna run like a flying machine.
Lipstick and a nickel in the pocket of my coat.
I won’t even care if I never come back.
All the windows open and the wind like wheels.
Nobody can tell you the way that it feels.
Lord, if you could see the way I’m gonna soar.
I gotta get going, I’m still not home.
I best be going, I’m still not home.
I try so hard, I’m still not home.
I gotta get going, I’m still not home.
Meet Me In Montauk 
Given the number of people who attend her concerts, this may be the one artist you could get to helicopter onto your desert island to do a live show. 🙂
Sorry for being hair-splitting, but what about the “Night”-project with Simone Dinnerstein? Adding “Traveling Companion”, the bonus-cd on the “T. Alone”-Book, we already have 6 1/2 studio albums 😊!
By the way: Tift and Eric Heywood take part in Andrew Bird’s new album “Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of…”, a compilation of songs that originally are written and performed by The Handsome Family, including a wonderful version of “Far From Any Road”. I warmly recommend it. Best wishes from Germany!