Thea Gilmore featuring Joan Baez - The Lower Road

Bit of an indulgence, this, but whatever, it's my channel.

There's a few songs which have genuinely brought me to tears. A Boy and His Frog. A live version of For Emily Whenever I May Find Her. The Chalet Lines. And this, from Thea Gilmore's latest album released about six months ago.

This is the closing track (the bonus track cover of You Spin Me Right Round notwithstanding) and probably the best thing she's written, and that's saying something. She even got Joan Baez to do a verse. And Steve Wickham of the Waterboys on violin.

Anyway this is one of my favourite songs, yeah? So why isn't it on YouTube? Well, probably because we live in a cruel and godless universe in which Thea Gilmore isn't a multi-millionairess cultural touchstone by now. So I took matters into my own hands, constructing a video for the song out of found footage, including shots of the war in Iraq, the film Mississippi Burning and, inevitably, several public information films, around the very loose concept of some ignorant git hopping channels. Thea and Joan also appear, lip-sync not even attempted.

AOB: this is the only song I know of which references both Billie Holiday and Freda Payne. Also, Thea turning the video on at the start there was totally accidental but a great effect and a terrific addition to the video's loose concept: this way she actively engages the unseen viewer, forcing him to pay attention, a recurring theme in her lyrics.

Watch the video then go out and buy absolutely every one of her albums and command all your friends to do the same. Twice.

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• Baez
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[TheGerkuman]

You a Simon and Garfunkel fan then, Applemask?

[Applemask]

@TheGerkuman Yeah. It's the version of Emily from "The Definitive" I'm referring to.

[seosamh1c]

Goose pimples and raised neck hairs - mostly due to Joan Baez's composition and lyrics. But, all praise to Thea's great folky phrasing and whose voice is a great foil to that of Baez. What's with the Iraq footage. These pictures don't deserve nostalgia and regret but screams of of protest and howls of rage

[Applemask]

It's Thea's composition and lyrics, and there's no nostalgia.

[SmashRockgroin]

A lovely song, Applemask - I too, found it genuinely moving. Somewhere underneath my cold, steel coffin of a heart there exists enough emotion to let a tear roll down my cheek when I hear a good, powerful song. Thank you for this; I'll be looking up some more of this lady's wonderful work.

On another note, those little interference "blips" right at the start and near the end are off Screenwipe, correct? :D

[Applemask]

And kind of all the way through the video. Yeah, I had a proven natural resource for static effects so I used it.

[Tearloch]

if your comments are directed at me @seo .. your emo is overwhelming any sense of common sense you may possess .. this lady (Threa) is amazing .. and open to be shared by all that love good music .. so enjoy and avoid emo capitals wherever possible .. Thea is definately not a Capital letter kind of gal .. /s

[cimawr]

@seosamh1c - say WHAT?? THEA wrote & composed the song, and if you think this version is moving, you should seek out the version Thea recorded solo... it's even more powerful.

[Tearloch]

What a beautiful touch and feel this song has .. thank you so much for sharing ..

[davidrhable]

Thea just keeps on doing it. How many artists have songs as sublime as this on their 8th(?) album

[deadontherange]

I think the version on Thea's "Recorded Delivery" album is a little better but I'm not trying to start a debate. Thea's so talented it's unreal!

[breffnipark]

Awsome ... Thea ... you are awsome !

[CornedBeefSurprise]

One person has no soul.

[auntiewewe2]

Wonderful!!! Thanks! best wishes, Mina