R.I.P. David Olney

Marie-Lynn Hammond has been moved to write a song about David's passing. She told me that it's not really finished yet, but I think it's wonderful. Here are her thoughts on David Olney's death. 


"I've been haunted by the story of Americana singer-songwriter David Olney since hearing of his death January 18, so much so that I seem to be writing a song about it (lyrics below). He was only a few months older than I am. At a music festival, on stage in the middle of a song, he paused after a verse, said "I'm sorry," put his head down, and died. I didn't know his music all that well, until now that is, although there are at least two knock-out songs I'd heard in the past w/o realizing he'd written them. And many of the singers I love (e.g., Emmylou Harris) had recorded songs by him. Soon after I read the news, a song began manifesting itself, quite different from the kind of thing I usually write, but in part inspired by his lyrics in "Deeper Well". This is the current draft, but I'm still tinkering:"

When I go, let me go like David Olney,
A song on my lips, my guitar in hand
I'll apologize, then I'll close my eyes,
And set out on the road to that unknown land

Oh time is an arrow, time is an avalanche
Time is a stranger on a speeding train
It moves so fast that nothing can last
Except grief for the ones you'll never see again

CH: You can't know when it's your time to go
You can never tell when they'll toll that bell,
But sooner or later it's the final show
And we all find the water from that deeper well

Now you can stand with the righteous,
You can run with the rebels,
You can battle the darkness for all you're worth
But whatever your fate, choose love over hate
And try to tread lightly on this wounded earth

[Chorus, and repeat first verse]