Music lightens the heavy load of grief.

Tim's Playlist #12 — Watchhouse

To hell with politics. I’ve been really struggling lately. It’s been hard to focus and think about the here and now when I’m scared about the future. Let’s talk about something else!

For my many new subscribers, thanks for being here! I’ve been writing essays called Tim’s Playlist. Before he died on May 7, 2021, Tim left me a legacy of music… all rich, meaningful, and various. I want to share another song with you here.

Tim died of colon cancer… it was totally preventable. (SCHEDULE YOUR COLONOSCOPY, DAMMIT) But after he passed, I received a song from someone else that was incredibly comforting and beautiful.

In fact, I’m going to suggest that we ALL start doing that! Let’s email or text people music. What a personal and loving thing to do. Maybe they won’t care for what you send, but so what? How do you know you don’t like something until you hear it?

Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange) is a husband/wife bluegrass duo, Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz. Marlin sings, plays mandolin, guitar, and banjo, while Frantz plays violin and sings.

This song, "“Golden Embers’, is lovely. The harmonies, the delicate dance of the notes, and the lyrics are so sweet and haunting, I’ve cried listening to it.

Just like an old friend
Kinder than expected
That Cadillac came and gave our girl a ride
Loss has no end
It binds to our connection
And we don't speak of it, we don't even try

If you could help me to share the trouble
that you've got burning in you, then you can help me
And in our time together
Her memory will ever shine like golden embers in the night

I miss the old hymns
when she used to sing
The sparrows spread their mortal wings
Now they've all lighted
with the silence of strings
Like notes on the pages, she breathed life into all things

If you could help me to share the trouble
that you've got burning in you, then you can help me
And in our time together
Her memory will ever shine like golden embers in the night

Just like an old friend
Reach out to me
Bathe me in the light of understanding

And try to help me to share the trouble
that you've got burning in you, then you can help me
And in our time together
Her memory will ever shine like golden embers in the night.

Don’t you think music comes into your life at the time you’re ready to receive it? As I’ve gotten older, I’m discovering so much new music. (Nod to Geoff Anderson who enlightens me on the regular.) I didn’t think I liked bluegrass…I guess I wasn’t mentally ready, or patient enough, to give it a chance.

This speaks to me on many levels. I hope you liked it, too. ❤️