American Holly - A song i will always sing and sing again, never the same. This 2021 revisited version gets closer to the wide screen CinemaScope vista I have always heard in my head over the years.
lyrics
American Holly
J Shogren 2009
high bridge rolling river full of mud
My ears still ring from the first volley
wood and iron ricochet through her
the smile is real, American Holly
she skipped on down to the family store
wipe off the windows, locks off the door
man on his feet, broom on the floor
Glad to say I aint working here no more
high bridge rolling river rain full of mud
eyes still dry from the last volley
steel and iron ricochet through her
the smile is real, American Holly
took her up to the family grave
brand new grass on a red blood blade
she kept up promises, but she can’t behave
happy to say, Tom Fool’s in his grave
high bridge rolling river rain full of mud
ears still ring from the first volley
steel and iron ricochet through her
the way she danced, American Holly
She danced around the family tree
Dug up the roots, ate the sweet peas
Crowds came home, but where was he
God damn Tom Fool, he fooled me
high bridge rolling river rain full of mud
ears still ring from the first volley
steel and iron ricochet he thought of her
the smile is real, American Holly
100 dollars and a family beaver pelt
You cant reach up to see how I felt
Nothing will be better than before
happy to say, I dont work here any more
high bridge rolling river rain full of mud
ears still ring from the first volley
steel and iron ricochet he thought of her
the smile is real, American Holly
Mike Krupp—washboard, legs; Shaun Kelly—double bass; Doug Woody—fiddle; Jalan Crossland—banjo; Jennifer Lyford—violins; J Shogren—vocals, guitars, misc.; Strings arranged by Shaun Kelly; Original recordings at Thunderground Sound Studio (Laramie, WY); Dan Tinker, engineer; New recordings and remixing by J Shogren at the Stump (Laramie, WY), with guidance from Larry Crane (Jackpot! Studios, Portland, OR); Remastered by David Benyamin (Paris, France).
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 29, 2020