I'll admit that this one is a bit of a MacGuffin as an album opener. Most of the tracks in this collection are fairly personal and intimate stories. Not all are autobiographical in any kind of obvious way, but most have some deep connection for me. This one, however, is, lyrically at least, a bit of a Doug-by-numbers relationship-crisis story, another lost-love story written from the real-life cocoon of a thoroughly happy marriage. But the song still feels real for me, and its Jayhawks-meets-Neil Finn 12-string folk-rock feel just seemed right for the album opener.
lyrics
I stood and watched my house burn down
The life that we built, all gone to ground
The clues, the hints I failed to catch
And I'm the one who struck the match
Is there a trace of what you sold
For moments of grace, this poor fool's gold
I never knew how much you meant
Until I smelled that sulfur scent
And if you've been considering
The wages of desire
Baby, it's the ashes, not the fire
The flash and the spark, don't ask me why
I thought that we'd seen the worst gone by
But now, these bonds all repossessed
The years ahead, the lonesomeness
And if you've been considering
The wages of desire
Baby, it's the ashes, not the fire
credits
from Small Stars,
released January 8, 2021
Doug Davis: vocals, acoustic, electric, and electric 12-string guitars, hammered dulcimer sample, percussion, bass guitar
Corky McClellan: drums
Chris Stamey: extra guitar, harmonies, edits, and mixing
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