Songs don't wear out. Good songs are good now. If they were a comfort during those hard times in the past, they'll be a comfort in today's age. - Levon Helm - drummer in The Band (May 26, 1940 - April 19, 2012)
A friend, Greg, calls them ear worms. Songs that set up home in your head and won’t leave. You sing them in the shower, play them in the car, and send links to friends. I’ve had one living in my head at least 50 years. Though mostly dormant, recently he is once again crawling around in my head. You probably know this song.
A pilgrim enters the town of Nazareth looking for a bed. He is greeted with a handshake and a grin. But there was no room at the Inn.
Sound familiar? Must be a gospel song. Right?
Next, the pilgrim spots an old friend and asks her to go downtown. She declines but offers the Devil to take her place.
Go downtown with the devil? Oh! An old blues number.
Around the corner the pilgrim meets Luke, who is waiting on judgement day. When the pilgrim asks about Anna Lee, Luke asks him to stay with Anna Lee.
Rock & Roll.
Further on down the road, Crazy Chester tracks down the pilgrim. Chester offers his dog. When the pilgrim declines, Chester tells him to the feed the dog when he can.
Ah, a country song.
Having seen enough, the pilgrim decides to go back to Miss Fanny and tell her what he’s found.
Nah, folk.
Of course, this song is all this and more. We try to pigeonhole music and artists. However, music is universal and speaks across countries, cultures, and creeds. Comfort food for the soul.
Don’t believe me? Let me put a worm in your ear - sung and played by artists from all over the world: The Weight.
What about you? What's your worm? Share a story!
Second Helping
The Band, The Weight from Music from Big Pink (1968)
Chances are, one of your favorite artists has performed The Weight – go ahead, google it.
