This weekend we celebrate another Easter. It comes relatively late this year but can come as late as the 25th or as early as March 22nd since it’s based on the lunar calendar just like Chinese New Year.
If the title of today’s column applies to you as a musician, there might be something seriously wrong. Easter is not the best day to play a gig. You either love bluegrass too much (if that’s possible) or you need the money from an extra gig a little too much. Easter should be a day to relax with your family, frolic in the beauty of another springtime, and think about what gives life meaning to you and others of your species. You can play a little music if you want to, just make sure you are appropriate to the context. Or you can listen to your favorites play the music you love through the miracle of recordings, made on wax, acetate, vinyl, cellulose or … I don’t know … Ethernet?
So what should our listening set list be on Sunday? You might have fun setting up your own list, but you probably have better things to do like watching your youngest relatives brave the perils of locating their prized Easter eggs. Here are some of my suggestions:
1) Little Annie
I like this tune for Easter because it’s secular. It cuts across all creeds and it celebrates the coming of spring. Easter is a springtime holiday at its core. It comes after the first full moon following the vernal equinox and is based on the Jewish Passover. In the old days, if the barley wasn’t ripe, the rabbis would just add an extra month!
“Now the springtime has come Little Annie, and I am on my way back to the lane. For you promised me, Little Annie. You’d be waiting when the springtime comes again.”
2) The Old Crossroads
Bill Monroe’s classic. We all face crossroads in life. We have to choose a path in life for good or evil and the cross of Easter is a powerful metaphor for that crossroad.
The old crossroad now is waiting. Which on are you going to take?
3) Amazing Grace
Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
As a music fan, I always find it interesting that it is a sound that leads the author to grace. Perhaps it was something heard in a hymn. All I know is that I feel closer to God when I am around my friends playing music.
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now can see
4) Before the Fire Comes Down
Del McCoury sings this song powerfully. We all know that sins abound in this world, and the sins Del sings about are modern ones like “slipping silver needles in their veins.” But even with a hard core drug addict redemption is possible! You have to doubt it at first when you hear of it but, I can tell you without a doubt, I have seen it.
5) He Took Your Place
This one from Flatt and Scruggs is one of my favorites:
His hands are gently knocking on your door. Outside he’s pleading to come in. His heart is breaking as he waits for you. To wash you free from every sin
6) Carpenter of Wood
This song by the Bluegrass Cardinals is a real classic. Perfect harmonies for the great story of a simple fisherman, son of a carpenter who asked the question:
Is the best you’ve done always the best you could?
7) The Cry From the Cross
This Stanley Brothers song tells the crucifiction story in more detail than any other bluegrass song that I can think of.
8) My Name is Judas
Claire Lynch sings a good version of this tale of betrayal.
9) Power in the Blood
I’ve always liked this old gospel classic but it is rarely heard these days.
10) Remember the Cross
Bill and his Bluegrass Boys sing this one to great effect:
Remember the cross on which Jesus died. Follow in his footsteps each day. He shed his blood for you and he shed his blood for me. Never cast that cross aside.
11) Were you There?
Need I say more
12) The Old Rugged Cross
Ditto to the last liner note comment.
Since eggs are sold by the dozen, I’ll stop there with my top songs for Easter. Have a happy one!
