Levon Helm: Often Imitated. Never Duplicated.

That's some sweet music, especially to anyone who has lived in and appreciated the hardscrabble scrappiness of the South. Always liked "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Weight".

Posted by billy at December 2, 2008 2:20 PM

Gerard,

Thanks for posting strong music lately; I've been suffused with memories of the '60s (Ugh, in my case.)

This song is definitely a distillation of the South. Another you may like is "The Train Carrying Jimmie Rodgers Home", from the Nashville Bluegrass Band. Goosebumply.

Posted by Rob De Witt at December 2, 2008 2:47 PM

Have you ever read 'Albion's Seed' and the folkway that became this South?

Posted by Webutante at December 2, 2008 6:12 PM

I don't remember who said it, but his comment was that you could learn more about the U.S. Civil War by listening to Levon's voice in that song than what they teach in school now.

Posted by ken at December 3, 2008 1:12 PM

Oh, I love that song! It just says so much, damn Yankees!

Posted by felix at December 14, 2008 5:57 AM