Lucinda’s duet with Jimmy Webb

Hi folks I am new here – Most of you have heard, or heard of Lucinda’s duet with Jimmy Webb on his classic “Galveston” from his new record, “Just Across The River.” I want to chime in and say that while Jimmy and Lucinda are friends, it’s not why I go crazy about this recording. I love to support my friends music, but I don’t blindly think everything they do is always their best. We all have favorites and this one is my current favorite Jimmy Webb and Lucinda Williams song. Knowing them is not why I insist that every single person I come into contact with listen to this great great version of Jimmy’s classic song. Jimmy is not shy is saying that his friend Glen Campbell made it a hit by upping the tempo and creating a kind of ‘marchin’ off to war’ kinda thing, but Jimmy always saw this song as a tale about a soldier being in a very difficult position missing his girl back home. So it really was anti war in the most personal way. Now Lucinda has become that girl back home missing her guy. It’s really that simple longing and sadness that only she can convey that breaks my heart everytime I hear it. My God what those couples must go through. This is not some bullshit didactic preachy anti war rant, it’s story is really always the best reason we need to stop wars. Bringing the female perspective to this now makes it complete. As Jimmy tells it, it was her idea and my God does it work! Jimmy sings it every night alone and it’s always stunning, but this version with it’s wonderful arrangement is how I want to always remember it. Susan Cowsill also does a wonderful version on her new record which I love as well. I love this and I am so proud of them for creating such a thing of lasting beauty. It’s a damn shame this song isn’t on the top of every Americana playlist this summer. Jimmy gave me an advance in March and I have played it pretty much everyday since. In fact hell I need to listen to it right now. It’s still a new record as far as I am concerned. WIsh I could see Lu in Arkansas – soooooo pigs!!!

Greg Johnson
Oklahoma City