The other day when the sun didn’t shine, and didn’t shine, and didn’t shine, and all my clothes that are not in the attic weren’t warm enough, I got jittery, wondering how I would make it through winter this year. People say as you age, cold weather becomes harder to endure. But the grey is too soon this year. The rain. Drear, she came early this year.
So as I do when I prepare for winter, today I listened to Dead Can Dance’s Toward the Within. The live album includes perhaps the saddest song ever, Lisa Girard’s transcendent “Sanvean.” You can see a long, beautiful version here. (Her gown is worth a look, too!) Lisa Girard just breaks my heart, and then fills up the broken pieces. This week of grey skies needed true keening like hers. It’s been a hard year.
Another cathartic winter song on the same album is the traditional, “I Am Stretched at Your Grave,” sung here by Brendan Perry. (For a version with a funky backbeat that you might have heard, try this one.)
And now for something completely different. This might be obvious to you raindogs, but “November” by Tom Waits is a worthy winter anthem. Who else but himself could sing, “Go away, you rainsnout, go away, blow your brains out…”
Here’s hoping the sun shines soon. But if not, you know what I will be listening to.
What will get you through the chill this year?
Rebecca Kuder 