It’s been ten years since Lyle Lovett’s last album, 2012’s Release Me, and that record was a contractual obligation featuring only two Lovett originals among a slew of covers. Before that came another cover-heavy release, Natural Forces in 2009.
So it has really been 15 years, looking back to 2007’s It’s Not Big It’s Large, since Lovett gave us an album featuring mostly his own compositions.
You might think that puts a massive burden of expectations on the shoulders of 12th of June, Lovett’s long-awaited new release. But the truth is, I had resigned myself to never hearing a new Lovett album again, so this one feels more like a pleasant surprise.
It’s a good thing I didn’t expect much from 12th of June, because Lovett definitely isn’t over-achieving. Three of the album’s 11 tracks are jazz standards, and one is a jazz/blues instrumental. A few of the original tracks are lyrically silly enough to feel like outtakes.
But it’s still Lyle Lovett. And he still manages to deliver a couple of achingly poignant stunners, including the title track I’m featuring today. Written for his twin children (born during the decade-long break between albums), it’s a beauty I’d stack up there with some of Lovett’s best ballads.
Lovett’s longtime band is in their usual fine form throughout 12th of June. That includes guest vocalist Francine Reed, who has been trading snarky verses with him since the 80s. It’s a pleasure to just sit back and listen, even when the material is a bit lacking.
So no, this isn’t another Pontiac, Large Band, Joshua Judges Ruth or The Road to Ensenada. Nobody else has come close to putting out one of those in the meantime, either.
But it is a nice check-in from an old friend.
After night turned into day
They were born a Monday morning
In the days just after May
In the days just after May
By the branch at San Jacinto
Play for me a happy tune
Know of all the days I loved
I loved best the 12th of June
I loved best the 12th of June
He was strong across his shoulders
She was delicate of skin
And their mother lay there ashen
As we held them to our breasts
As we held them to our breasts
By the branch at San Jacinto
Play for me a happy tune
Know of all the days I loved
I loved best the 12th of June
I loved best the 12th of June
All I have I gladly give them
All I am they will exceed
And one thing I know for sure
If they improve the likes of me
They make a better man of me
So to my father and my mother
And to our fathers long before
There are those who walk above us
Who’ll remember that we were
They will remember that we were
And to these beautiful two children
And to my sweet and tender wife
I will love you three forever
Though I fly beyond this life
Though I fly beyond this life
By the branch at San Jacinto
Play for me a happy tune
Know of all the days I loved
I loved best the 12th of June
By the branch at San Jacinto
When they lay me in my tomb
Know of all the days I loved
There are so many days I’ve loved
Know of all the days I loved
I loved best the 12th of June
I loved best the 12th of June
Meet Me In Montauk 
I generally agree with your review of the album, though I think you are being a bit harsh on the “silly” songs. Lyle has been writing songs with “silly” lyrics since the beginning of his career, always packaged with great melodies and instrumentation. Admittedly, I would not characterize any of his “silly” songs as among his very best (with the possible exception of “Don’t Touch My Hat” and “That’s Right) You’re Not from Texas”), it is nevertheless very much a part of the overall Lyle listening experience.
In any event, even a lesser Lyle Lovett song/album is better than the output of most other artists, so I am pleased that he is back putting out original material.
I think “pants is overrated” is a notch sillier than ‘Don’t Touch My Hat,’ but I agree that the instrumentation carries the day on the lyrically weaker tracks.
Perhaps, but it becomes far more excusable given that it was written for his kids who were constantly running around without pants on.
love this featured song so much! I agree that the rest of the album doesn’t quite reach the level of this “single” he put out first. But in any case, I’m glad to have new Lyle 🙂
Your post makes me want to revisit the album as I am a fan who did listen with those heightened expectations that I was about to listen to 15 years of new Lyle material, and I was decidedly underwhelmed.
When we have a Large Band, a Pontiac, and a Road to Ensenada, why would we ever give this new one a spin? I know it’s not fair to expect an artist to keep topping himself, but…