Love and family have always been sources of inspiration for critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter/musician Rodriguez, but never have they featured so prominently than on her release Love & Circumstance, a covers album that includes songs written by her father, and once performed by her great aunt.
Rodriguez' journey from teenage violin student to touring the world with the likes of Chip Taylor (famed songwriter of "Wild Thing), Lucinda Williams and Alejandro Escovedo, has resulted in a prodigious output of recordings - eight albums in as many years - for the young musician; with the new album, Carrie relies on others to handle the songwriting duties, she provides the interpretations.
"In 2009, after a very busy few years, I felt like I should take a step back and assess the situation," she says, during a quick stop between tours. "The idea of doing a covers record had been developing for a while, and had been prompted by requests I get at every show for a recording of some of the covers I play live, especially 'La Punalada Trapera.' I stated to wonder what kind of album I could make that would be a fit for that song."
Besides the contributions from her immediate family, Love & Circumstance, includes compositions from her extended musical family and friends, including John Hiatt/Nick Lowe/Ry Cooder/Jim Keltner (aka Little Village), Buddy Miller & Julie Miller, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Richard Thompson, Townes Van Zandt, M. Ward, Merle Haggard & Bonnie Owens, Hank Williams, and Lucinda Williams.
"It was very important for me to go back to my roots with this record and concentrate on what was important to me," Rodriguez explains, "songwriters like Richard Thompson, Townes, Hank, they're the ones who initially inspired me." And Rodriguez' inspirations are being admired, with Thompson exclaiming "It is always a thrill to write a song and have someone else take it to unexpected places. Thank you (Carrie) for the heartfelt and impassioned performance."
Rodriguez' professional career was launched in 2001 after a show at South By Southwest introduced her to Taylor, with whom she has recorded four full albums and an EP. Her musical development started much earlier, however, and at the hands of an equally seasoned songwriting veteran, her father David Rodriquez. "My dad gave me a Leonard Cohen record for my ninth birthday! I hated it. But of course I rediscovered it at thirteen and loved it." By fifteen Rodriguez and her dad were touring the Netherlands together; chops were being honed.
Rodriguez' maternal side of the family also influenced her musical upbringing. Not only was her mother a fanatical opera enthusiast, her great-aunt, Eva Garza, was a popular Latin recording artist in the 50's, and it was from Garza that Rodriguez first heard 'La Punalada Trapera,' which soon became a mainstay in her live set. Having family friends include Lyle Lovett, who invited Rodriguez to sit in with his band when she was at college, also helped her develop as a performer.
The list of bold faced names that have come into Rodriguez' orbit over the years also includes Lee Townsend, the famed producer, who collaborated with Carrie on the selection of songs for the album, and ultimately produced the project at her new label's (Ninth Street Opus) studios in Berkeley and at the renowned Fantasy Studios.
As might be expected from her and Townsend's A-list connections, the list of players on Love & Circumstance includes a sterling roster of music greats including Bill Frisell (guitars), Greg Leisz (pedal steel & slide guitars), Aoife O'Donovan (background vocals), and Buddy Miller (background vocals).
"Greg Leisz is the greatest pedal steel player in the world, and for someone with a Bill Frisell record collection getting to play with him is a dream," gushes Rodriguez, reminding us that despite a decade and a half in the trenches she's still a young (31) and impassioned music fan.
Those who have been following Carrie Rodriguez throughout her career will find Love & Circumstance an exciting addition to her oeuvre, new fans will get a glimpse of the rising star's influences; both will revel in the sterling musicianship and heartfelt interpretations of new and classic songs.
"This is a really important record for me,' says Rodriguez, 'not just because it gave me the chance to go back to my roots, but also because it celebrates my family."
And for those who need a more intimate experience with Carrie Rodriguez, you'll find her where she started, live and on the road.
02/10 - A. Pollock
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Carrie Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whinin' low
I'm so lonesome, I could cry
Never seen a night so long
When time goes crawlin' by
The moon just went behind a cloud
Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves begin to die?
That means he's lost his will to live
I'm so lonesome, I could cry
The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome, I could cry
I'm so lonesome, I could cry
Carrie Rodriguez's interpretation of Hank Williams' classic "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a melancholy reflection on loneliness and heartbreak. The song is about a person who is feeling so lonely that even the sounds of nature and the train only serve to emphasize his sadness. The opening lines "Hear that lonesome whippoorwill, He sounds too blue to fly, The midnight train is whinin' low, I'm so lonesome, I could cry" describe how the melancholic sounds of nature and the train in the background only seem to amplify the emptiness that the singer is feeling.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on his loneliness by comparing it to other things in nature. He describes how the night seems to go on forever, and the silence of the falling star seems to light up the purple sky. The lyrics "And as I wonder where you are, I'm so lonesome, I could cry" describe the reason for the singer's heartache, which is a lost love. The robin weeping when the leaves begin to die is another metaphor for the singer's lost hope and desire to live following his lost love.
Rodriguez's delivery of the song is soulful and raw, making the song even more impactful for its listeners. Her take on "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is distinctly her own while still paying tribute to the original version of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
Listen to the sound of that bird which is so sad, it's unable to fly.
He sounds too blue to fly
The bird's cry is so mournful, that it expresses it's sadness and inability to fly.
The midnight train is whinin' low
The sound of a train passing by late at night is a mournful cry, as if it can feel the loneliness of the singer.
I'm so lonesome, I could cry
The singer's feeling of isolation and sadness is so overwhelming that it could make them cry.
Never seen a night so long
The night seems to be dragging on forever, adding to the singer's feelings of loneliness and isolation.
When time goes crawlin' by
Time seems to pass very slowly, making the night feel even longer and more unbearable.
The moon just went behind a cloud
Even the moon, a source of light and comfort, has disappeared, leaving the singer in darkness and despair.
To hide its face and cry
The moon has gone away to cry, as if even it cannot bear to witness the singer's misery.
Did you ever see a robin weep
The sight of a bird shedding tears is a powerful symbol of sadness and despair.
When leaves begin to die?
As the leaves change color and fall from the trees, it's a reminder of how everything is temporary and fades away.
That means he's lost his will to live
The bird has lost its desire to live, just as the singer has lost their sense of purpose and hope.
The silence of a falling star
The brief moment of quiet as a shooting star streaks across the sky is a reminder of how small and insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things.
Lights up a purple sky
The flash of the star illuminates the night sky with a soft purple glow, briefly illuminating the singer's solitude.
And as I wonder where you are
The singer is thinking about someone they miss deeply, adding to their feelings of loneliness and longing.
I'm so lonesome, I could cry
The singer is so overcome with their emotions that they cannot contain their sadness, weeping for their loneliness and despair.
Contributed by Aaliyah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kurt Nichols
I think this is my new favorite version of this song. Beautiful, y'all!
Luke Jacobs
Kurt Nichols Thanks Kurt!
fordhouse8b
Beautiful, looking forward to more! I’m not quite at the point of crying, but it does feel a bit weird not leaving my apartment for over two weeks, ever since business at my job basically evaporated.
Christine Morgan
Beautiful! Thank you.
Christine Karapetian
AWESOME VERSION-
nice pc on npr about you both-Inge Trøen
Thanks, that's lovely!
Any chance you could do Waltzing's For Dreamers..?
David Schmid
Please come back to SPACE in Evanston, IL, when this craziness is over!
RNCellist57
You should let Junior join in with you!
Robert McDonald
😂🤣😭