Born Milton Sims Newbury, Jr. in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, Mickey Newbury sang tenor in a moderately successful vocal group called The Embers. The group opened for several famous performers, such as Sam Cooke and Johnny Cash. Although Mickey tried to make a living off of his music by singing in clubs, he put his musical career on hold at age 19 when he joined the Air Force. After four years in the military, Mickey again set his sights on making a living as a songwriter. Before long, he moved to Nashville and signed to the prestigious publishing company Acuff-Rose Music.
For a time, he was one of the most influential creative minds in Nashville and it's arguable that he was the first real "outlaw" of the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. Ralph Emery referred to him as the first "hippie-cowboy" and along with Johnny Cash and Roger Miller, he was one of the first to rebel against the conventions of the Nashville music society. After being disappointed by the production methods used by Felton Jarvis on his debut album, Mickey got himself released from his contract with RCA and signed the first offer he received to comply with his condition that he could either produce his own albums or hire a producer of his choice.
He went on to record three musically revolutionary albums in Wayne Moss's garage-turned-studio just outside of Nashville. The influence of the production methods can be heard in the albums Waylon Jennings went on to record in the 1970s (with instrumentation highly unconventional for country music) and his poetically sophisticated style of songwriting was highly influential on Kris Kristofferson.[citation needed] It was Newbury who convinced Roger Miller to record Kristofferson's "Me & Bobby McGee", which went on to launch Kristofferson as country music's top songwriter. Newbury is also responsible for getting Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark to move to Nashville and pursue careers as songwriters. However, he had no desire to cash-in on the Outlaw movement.[citation needed]
In 1974, he moved to a house on the McKenzie River in Oregon with his wife, Susan, and new born son, Chris, where they welcomed three more children over the years. He recorded several albums throughout the 1970s for Elektra and ABC/Hickory, all of them critically praised, but financially unsuccessful. In 1980, he was given the distinction of being the youngest songwriter ever inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Although he spent much of the 1980s retired from performing and recording music, he returned both to recording and touring in the late 1980s before he died following a prolonged battle with pulmonary fibrosis on September 29, 2002, aged 62.
An American Trilogy
Mickey Newbury Lyrics
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Mickey Newbury
(words & music by Newbury)
Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton
Old things they are not forgotten
Look away, look away, look away Dixieland
In Dixieland I take my stand to live and die in Dixie
Cause Dixieland, that's where I was born
Early Lord one frosty morning
Look away, look away, look away Dixieland
Glory, glory hallelujah
Glory, glory hallelujah
Glory, glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
So hush little baby
Don't you cry
You know your daddy's bound to die
But all my trials, Lord will soon be over
Mickey Newbury's "American Trilogy" is a three-part medley that opens with "Dixie," a song that nostalgically remembers the antebellum South. The lyrics reflect the longing of a Southerner who has left Dixieland for other regions of the country but cannot forget his roots. The phrase "Old things they are not forgotten" evokes nostalgia and exemplifies the legacy of the South. The second section of the song is "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," a well-known anthem of the Union during the Civil War. The refrain, βGlory Hallelujah,β is classic battle cry, celebrating the Union's triumph over the Confederacy. The song's third section features "All My Trials,β a traditional African-American spiritual that empathizes with the struggles of life and reminds the listener to persevere in overcoming them.
The song's message is not just a combination of nostalgia and political ideology but also a dedication to the land of the United States of America. The song emphasizes the idea that the United States would not be what it is today if not for its varied histories and experiences. The medley mixes the ideas of Union and Confederate, North and South, and black and white to create a cohesive image of America that is as diverse as it is strong. The message of the song is clear: no matter where we come from or how different our journeys might be, we all share a common bond as Americans.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton
I long to be back in the southern United States
Old things they are not forgotten
Traditions of the south still abound
Look away, look away, look away Dixieland
A cry of longing for the south
Oh I wish I was in Dixie, away, away
I miss the southern way of life
In Dixieland I take my stand to live and die in Dixie
I am committed to my southern roots and culture
Cause Dixieland, that's where I was born
I was born and raised in the south
Early Lord one frosty morning
I come from a humble beginning
Glory, glory hallelujah
I express my deep sense of faith
His truth is marching on
God's promise lives on
So hush little baby
Don't worry, everything will be alright
Don't you cry
You don't have to be sad
You know your daddy's bound to die
Death is inevitable, it's a part of life
But all my trials, Lord will soon be over
Eventually, all hardships and struggles will come to an end
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICKEY NEWBURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aprilo Asanuma
An American Trilogy
Song by Mickey Newbury
An American Trilogy
Mickey Newbury
(words & music by Newbury)
Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton
Old things they are not forgotten
Look away, look away, look away Dixieland
Oh I wish I was in Dixie, away, away
In Dixieland I take my stand to live and die in Dixie
Cause Dixieland, that's where I was born
Early Lord one frosty morning
Look away, look away, look away Dixieland
Glory, glory hallelujah
Glory, glory hallelujah
Glory, glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
So hush little baby
Don't you cry
You know your daddy's bound to die
But all my trials, Lord will soon be over
Source:Β LyricFind
Songwriters: Mickey Newbury
An American Trilogy lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lou Dastous
Just found out a few years before my Mother passed away that this incredible man and writer of song was my uncle . . . So Very Proud of Him . . Rest In Peace Uncle Mickey . . This is the PERFECT version
Aaren Myatt
Its an awesome bit of writting and combination of some historic significant tunes.
Leo
how INCREDIBLE!
Ann R Cantu
I worked with his niece Wendy (Windom Mica) Newbury in the early β80s.
Philo Brandon
I follow a 45 single 'gram page, and someone put Michey's What Condition My Condition was In on there the other day. I mentioned to him that Trilogy was one of my Mom's favorite songs, his arrangement for Elvis -she loved it. Her Birthday had just passed and her leaving first anniversary is coming around, I wept and had to look this up, this morning. Bless All.
Pam Brown
I saw a video of him doing this song and I was amazed! Great singer and writer!
Rory Fabbri
Absolutely great song, sung meaningfully and with pride. I am not American, but love this song. Cannot separate Elvis firm Mickey . Different performers and different interpretations. Both great!
Jan Hammer
Thanks Rory for visiting my site and for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Gary Henderson
He was born in Houston in 1940, I was born there in 1937. We were both musicians of different backgrounds. We never met and had never heard of each other, our paths had never crossed. I first heard of Mickey after he had passed away. I am still astounded by his talent combination, a brilliant song writer with endless creativity and a beautiful, beautiful singer. As with so many wonderful discoveries I was late to the scene and so many of my loves came to my attention after they had been sensations for many years. Iβm embarrassed to admit that the BGβs were names that i vaguely was aware of and the internet was responsible for much of my education. Mickey Newberry is now embedded in my mind forever, I think I have hard copies of every song he ever wrote or sang. His American Trilogy, performed with beautiful violinist/fiddler Marie Rhines is played in my home every week.
k maher
I never saw him sing. But I remember when he convinced two Houstin folkies to move to Nashville. Townes and Guy ..