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Many of you are already aware of Bob Dylan’s Hank Williams “Lost Lyrics” project. For those that are not, Dylan acquired the rights to the “lost lyrics” that were reportedly found in Hank Williams’ briefcase after his death in 1953. These were lyrics only – no music had been written for them (or at least, none that has been found). Dylan invited several songwriters & artists to pick a set of lyrics, write the music for them, then record the song for an upcoming album. Lu was asked to do one of the tracks. (Additional info can be found, here and here). I have some additional info on Lu’s contribution I’d like to share w/ everyone.
Lu has written the music for and recorded a song entitled “I Am So Happy I Found You”. I was so very fortunate to hear this song along with stoger in Birmingham last month when Lu played the Alabama Theater (February 27th). That night, after the show, Lu & Tom invited stoger & me onto the bus, where Tom played the song Lu recorded for us on his MacBook Pro. Needless to say, stoger & I were both blown away.
The song was beautiful and, as the title suggests, a somewhat uncharacteristically “happy” Hank Williams song. Lu did an amazing job with the vocals, but I was even more blown away by the music she wrote to accompany Hank’s lyrics. I was struck by how “authentic” the music sounded – like Hank had written it himself. In fact, after the song ended, I looked across the bus at Lu in amazement and asked, “Lu, that was amazing. Did you feel like you were ‘channeling’ him?” I’ll never forget her response. Looking down, she paused a second than said, “Yeah, I did” with the emotion very evident in her voice. It was a moment I’ll never forget.
Stoger & I were also very blessed to hear a live recording of Lu performing an Emmylou Harris song, “Boulder to Birmingham”, that she sang at Emmylou’s induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Far from an easy song to sing, Lu did an amazing job on that as well. And we got to admire Lu’s new engagement ring that Tom just bought when they were in New Orleans for the HOB show this tour. It is a beautiful silver (or maybe platinum – I do not recall) ring with three snakes wrapped around Lu’s finger – one with a ruby eye, one with an emerald eye and one with a sapphire eye. Surrounding the snakes were sparkling diamonds. Lu told us proudly it was an antique ring from the 1920’s. It was absolutely beautiful, and so very, very “Lu”.
But the highlight of our time on the bus was the Hank Williams song. What an incredible moment. And how appropriate is the song’s title “I Am So Happy I Found You” given Lu and Tom’s relationship as symbolized by the beautiful & unique ring we admired. Lu, Tom – thank you SO much.
Stoger, your thoughts on the song? I’m sure you can put words to the moment better than I can…
Tom
P.S. Tom didn’t know for sure when the Hank Williams “Lost Lyrics” CD was going to be released – he thought maybe this summer.
You were on the bus? And you are just telling us this now? You are way too cool.
The only contact I will have with the bus is probably being run over by it.
😮
whoa. what an experience and story. (sure beats anything in the “who has met lu” threads of the past!) You know, any one of those things you mentioned would have been enough to make my day (or year!). you lucky dogs!
but seriously, we’ve chatted here about the “williams connection” many times — the similar poetry and soul of lucinda’s and hank’s music, even her father’s account of meeting hank when Miller was a young professor… The way lives and art can arc around over time and eventually meet…makes you believe in some kind of karma or fate. That Lu should compose music for, and sing, one of hank’s “lost” song’s really is fitting and beautiful.
Thanks, Tom: and no, I can’t better your own sterling account. Back to back Hank and Emmylou re: Gram “on the bus”–I was in a daze, with or without the Cabernet Lu was dishing out from the cupboard above the official bus sink. Agreed, it was a magic moment.
@stoger wrote:
the Cabernet Lu was dishing out from the cupboard above the official bus sink
And let’s not forget the leftover pizza, stoger. After we both had had only popcorn from the Alabama Theater to eat for dinner, Lu & Tom’s leftover pizza was a Godsend… 😆
Tom
You & I will meet up one day at a NEIL! concert, tony, and get to ride in NEIL’s hydrogen/solar-powered Winnebago. Yeah, we’ll show them! Just you wait!
Seriously, TNT – – You win our “Post of the Week” (Month?) Award. Congratulations!
@tonyg wrote:
Well now you’re just rubbing it in. 😯
Sorry. 😳 Not my intent at all. I really am humbled by it all. Again, a night I will never forget.
One big thing I took away from the experience was how much Lu & Tom care about the fans, and how nice & down-to-earth they both are. The Lu that comes across on stage – humble, maybe even a little insecure, about her talent & her body of work, yet fun & out-going personally, is the Lu you get off stage. And, Tom is just as unassuming & nice.
Also, we talked some about the TM/LN merger & the high service charges on tickets, and they really do passionately care about that – they understand how every dollar counts to many of us & they appreciate the support & love they get from the fans. They definitely don’t have their heads in the clouds, taking for granted the people that come out to see the shows & who buy the CDs…
Tom
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