Scrappy Jud Newcomb accompanies a road-weary Slaid Cleaves just before soundcheck at The Southgate House Revival in Newport, Kentucky, during the 2022 Summer Tour.
Camera work by Otis Gibbs and Todd Fox. Edited by Otis Gibbs. (Thanks, guys!) You can find more of their great work at:
https://www.youtube.com/@otisgibbs
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Slaid says: I wrote "At Christmastime" to the tune of my favorite Duke Levine instrumental, "The Stars Look Down." I was going for the saddest Christmas song ever.
I stayed in town too long I guess
I can't afford regrets
I saw the writing on the wall
We all pinned our hopes upon
The politician's song
But all is silent in the empty union hall
Was a time, when factories hummed
Enough for everyone
We didn't notice what we had
Today I'll drive to the Dollar Tree
I work from 8 to 3
And then nursing home, to check on Mom and Dad
Sister married, moved out west
Took the civil service test
Delivers bills and junk mail
On the streets of the big city now
Younger brother joined the Corps
And on deployment number four
Took some shrapnel in his knee
And puts up with the pain somehow
And as for those who moved away
I wonder if they'd say
They think about this place they left behind
This old house is all that's left
A family once so blessed
The memories echo off the walls at Christmastime
written by Slaid Cleaves, Duke Levine
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