Drunkard's Prayer | lyrics | credits | notes
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Notes:
1. Talk a bit about the band's goings-on since OHIO.
OHIO got quite a bit of good press and our fans embraced the songs, which was a lot of fun for us, especially since we were a bit unsure how a double album would be received. We threw ourselves into promoting OHIO, because we believed it was some of our best work and still do.
But a few months into our national tour, Karin and I realized that although good things were happening with our music, there was just very little energy or creativity or time left over for our marriage, and it was taking a toll on us. I think we had to learn that putting a long-term relationship on autopilot indefinitely can be dangerous if not fatal. We decided we had to pull the plug on the tour and go home and figure out if being together was something we were still committed to.
We opted to start over, reinvent our own relationship, dig deep and do the homework to see if we could make our marriage sing. We decided to redirect the same thought and energy, that we had been putting into writing and performing, toward our life at home together. We prayed alot. Our friends prayed alot. It was the beginning of a wonderful new chapter for us. And hopefully, some of what we've learned has not only made us better people, but better songwriters as well.
2. Discuss the making of the record, the decision to record at home, the sonic results and feel.
Part of the challenge of being a working musician is just being away from home so much. On the one hand, it's a real privilege to be able to perform our songs in front of an appreciative audience. On the other hand, it's difficult to establish rhythms, be rooted and build a good life at home when we're constantly coming and going. It's also a challenge to stay connected to family and friends, to be part of a community. So, we opted to record Drunkard's Prayer in our living room. We decided to keep it close to home and make a simple record that was deeply connected to this time in our lives.
We limited the palette to our piano and acoustic guitars, upright bass, some cello, a few horns and subtle textures. We didn't labor over the songs, which tend to be very personal. We've found there's often an undeniable warmth and honesty that comes through in the recordings we make at home.
3. Discuss the origin of the title.
We opted to call the record Drunkard's Prayer, which was the name of the first song we recorded for this project, a song that sort of set the tone for the record. Maybe that's why we need songwriters: when we run out of words to pray, sometimes a song will do the trick.
We decided to put a white horse on the cover, because that image has been associated with redemption. The songs on this record tell the story of two people finding their way back home after almost losing everything, each other included.
We also liked the fact that Drunkard's Prayer sounded like the name of a race horse, a long shot, a horse with little chance of winning, but the one you've got all your money on.
4. Provide a few sentences on a few of the tunes: inspiration for, anecdotal info, etc.
Born - When we came home from the tour, we bought two cases of wine and decided we were going to put a bottle on the kitchen table every evening and start talking until nothing was left. The idea was not to get piss-drunk, but to talk face to face deep into the night.
Drunkard's Prayer - Everybody wants to be drunk on the good stuff--drunk on life, love, music, the wine of God and what not. In the New Testament, when the believers were first filled with the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues, the onlookers thought they were drunk. It takes some of that same holy foolhardiness to attempt to be an artist, a lover, a true friend, an adopted child of God.
Hush Now - We've talked about doing a record someday with just the two of us, and we did a few songs on Drunkard's Prayer that way.
5. Anything else you'd like to have mentioned?
Quiet music should be played loud.
We are not brother and sister.
Questions: Anne Dickens
Answers: Linford and Karin
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Drunkard's Prayer | lyrics | credits | notes