Welch and Rawlings have collaborated on seven critically acclaimed albums, five released under her name, and two released under the name Dave Rawlings Machine. Her 1996 debut, Revival, and the 2001 release Time (The Revelator), received nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Her 2003 album, Soul Journey, introduced electric guitar, drums, and a more upbeat sound to their body of work. After a gap of eight years, she released a fifth studio album, The Harrow & The Harvest, in 2011, which was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
Welch was an associate producer and performed on two songs of the soundtrack of the Coen brothers 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a platinum album that won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2002. She also appeared in the film attempting to buy a Soggy Bottom Boys record. Welch, while not one of the principal actors, did sing and provide additional lyrics to the Sirens song "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby." In 2018 she and Rawlings wrote the song "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings" for the Coens' The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, for which they received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Welch has collaborated and recorded with Alison Krauss, Ryan Adams, Jay Farrar, Emmylou Harris, the Decemberists, Sam Phillips, Conor Oberst, Ani DiFranco, and Robyn Hitchcock.
Gillian Howard Welch was born on October 2, 1967 in New York City, and was adopted by Mitzie Welch (née Marilyn Cottle) and Ken Welch, comedy and music entertainers. Her biological mother was a freshman in college, and her father was a musician visiting New York City. Welch has speculated that her biological father could have been one of her favorite musicians, and she later discovered from her adoptive parents that he was a drummer. Alec Wilkinson of The New Yorker stated that "from an address they had been given, it appeared that her mother ... may have grown up in the mountains of North Carolina". When Welch was three, her adoptive parents moved to Los Angeles to write music for The Carol Burnett Show. They also appeared on The Tonight Show.
As a child, Welch was introduced to the music of American folk singers Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and the Carter Family. She performed folk songs with her peers at the Westland Elementary School in Los Angeles. Welch later attended Crossroads School, a high school in Santa Monica, California. While in high school, a local television program featured her as a student who "excelled at everything she did."
Welch and Rawlings incorporate elements of early twentieth century music such as old time, classic country, gospel and traditional bluegrass with modern elements of rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, jazz, and punk rock. The New Yorker's Alec Wilkinson maintained their musical style is "not easily classified—it is at once innovative and obliquely reminiscent of past rural forms".
The instrumentation on their songs is usually a simple arrangement, with Welch and Rawlings accompanying their own vocals with acoustic guitars, banjos, or a mandolin. Welch plays rhythm guitar with a 1956 Gibson J-50 (or banjo), while Rawlings plays lead on a 1935 Epiphone Olympic Guitar.The New Yorker's Wilkinson described Rawlings as a "strikingly inventive guitarist" who plays solos that are "daring melodic leaps". A review in No Depression by Andy Moore observed that Rawlings "squeezes, strokes, chokes and does just about everything but blow into" his guitar.
Many songs performed by Welch and Rawlings contain dark themes about social outcasts struggling against such elements as poverty, drug addiction, death, a disconnection from their family, and an unresponsive God. Despite Welch being the lead singer, several of these characters are male. Welch has commented, "To be commercial, everybody wants happy love songs. People would flat-out ask me, 'Don't you have any happy love songs?' Well, as a matter of fact, I don't. I've got songs about orphans and morphine addicts." To reflect these themes, Welch and Rawlings often employ a slow pace to their songs. Their tempo is compared to a "slow heartbeat", and Cowperthwait of Rolling Stone observed that their songs "can lull you into near-hypnosis and then make your jaw drop with one final revelation".
The Way It Goes
Gillian Welch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put a needle in her arm
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That's the way that it goes
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
The song "The Way It Goes" by Gillian Welch is a reflection of the gritty and harsh realities of life. The song is essentially a litany of misfortunes and tragedies that befall the people in the song's world. The opening verse is an account of Becky Johnson, who has passed away due to a drug overdose. The way Gillian Welch delivers these lyrics and the use of the phrase "That's the way that it goes" give a sense of inevitability to the situation, suggesting that death by drug overdose is almost an expected outcome in this world. Later in the song, we hear about Miranda who has left LA and had to sell her cat to make ends meet. Once again, the phrase "That's the way that it goes" is used, indicating a resigned acceptance of misfortune.
The use of the phrase "That's the way that it goes" in every verse can be interpreted as a coping mechanism for the characters in the song. Gillian Welch is invoking a sense of fate, suggesting that these events are beyond our control, and that we must accept the events that take place in our lives. The line "Everybody's buying little baby clothes" is repeated in every verse, providing a contrast to the misfortunes that are being described. The repetition of this line highlights the cycle of life and death- while some are born and brought into this world joyfully, others are leaving it in tragic circumstances. The singer of the song once knew these people and calls them friends, but their lives have taken different paths, leading them to where they are now.
Line by Line Meaning
Becky Johnson bought the farm
Becky Johnson died
Put a needle in her arm
Drug overdose caused her death
That's the way that it goes
That's how life goes
That's the way
That's just how it is
And her brother laid her down
Her brother buried her
In the cold Kentucky ground
She was buried in Kentucky soil
That's the way that it goes
Death is inevitable
That's the way
That's just how it is
That's the way that it goes
Life is unpredictable
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
Life goes on even after death
That's the way that it ends
Death puts an end to life
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
She and the singer were once friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Miranda left her old life
Took her cat and left LA
Miranda went somewhere else and took her pet with her
She was busted, broke and flat
Miranda was penniless and desperate
Had to sell that pussy cat
Miranda was forced to sell her pet
That's the way that it goes
Misfortune can befall anyone
That's the way
That's just how it is
That's the way that it goes
Life has ups and downs
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
People still bring new life into the world
That's the way that it ends
Life goes on even after death
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
Miranda and the singer were once friends
See the brightest ones of all
The most vibrant people pass away
Early in October fall
In the fall season
While the dark ones go to bed
The somber individuals carry on with life
With good whiskey in their head
Possibly, drinking to forget
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
Billy Joe is in jail
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
The singer is passing on this message
Did he throw her down a well?
A possible explanation for someone's disappearance
Did she leave him for that swell?
Another possible explanation for the disappearance
That's the way that it goes
Life can be full of mystery
That's the way
That's just how it is
That's the way that it goes
People disappear or have misfortune
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
Life goes on despite the grim realities
That's the way that it ends
Life still ends in death
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
All parties involved were once friends
When you lay me down to rest
When the singer dies and is buried
Leave a pistol in my vest
Leave a gun on me when I'm buried
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Asking someone about their feelings towards the singer
Did I hurt you very much?
Asking someone if the singer has hurt them
That's the way that it goes
Life is full of questions and regrets
That's the way
That's just how it is
That's the way that it goes
The pain and uncertainty of life continues
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
Life goes on despite the sadness
That's the way that it ends
Everything comes to a conclusion
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
A reminder of the past relationship
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Rawlings, Gillian Welch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
C S
Becky Johnson bought the farm
Put a needle in her arm
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
Alexandra M
Becky Johnson bought the farm
Put a needle in her arm
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
C S
Becky Johnson bought the farm
Put a needle in her arm
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
dougsthang
I believe the line is "You tell Musso, I'll tell Frank" it's in reference to the old watering hole/restaurant on Hollywood Blvd in LA, Musso & Frank's
Tomasz Gądek
Thanks
Tim Whiting
I personally know people who died from heroin and I'm so lucky it wasnt me. Heroin Is terrible and alot of kids lost there parents as well.
Randy Squires
Southside darts.....
Angel Blessings
Our guitar class tutor gave us the lyrics to this with 'Russo' too...
Laurie Goldsmith
I keep coming back to this music again and again...when my dog was declining over several weeks I played her music in the house when I woke up and when I was driving home from work. It's like sitting in the sadness while reaping the deepness of this simplicity. Human tales of realness.
Max Power
Sorry about your dog.
F. B.
Yeah, I feel that. I keep coming back to this and singing along, again and again, like some nut. My aunt died a week ago and it really threw me for a loop. And these are crazy times we are living in, loss everywhere. This song really speaks to all that.
F. B.
I'm sorry about your dear dog dying.