Saturday's Songs for the Soul: Nancy Griffith & Rodney Crowell: "I Still Miss Someone"

Thought for the Day: Today it is June 21st and in 8 days it will be 3 years since my brother Larry passed away. This week, an old friend of my older brother, Bill, called. She was noticeably upset. I had never met Harriet, since I had lived in Israel when she and Bill were close. Harriet had gone to a movie about James Joyce, "In Bed With Ulysses." The movie was created in 2012 by Alan Adelson and Kate Taverna, close friends of Larry and my sister-in-law, who is also a film maker. At the end of the film, Harriet noticed a credit in memory of and thanking Larry Bogdanow. She had not heard of Larry's passing. She searched online and found my blog. Moved by what I had written she tracked me down to share her condolences and tell me how moved she was by what I had written. She reminded me that Bill had died on June 25th many years ago. I realized that even though I am more than aware of how anniversaries impact on us, I was already beginning to think about both of my brothers and how I miss them.  (In case you live in the NYC area, the film will be playing at Symphony Space tomorrow at 5 PM & I plan to be there as part of remembering them.) So today,  I am also reposting this song & post in their honor. Here's what I wrote last year:


Thoughts for the Day: As I said yesterday, today is a tough day for me. It has been 2 years since my my brother, Larry, passed away. When I started Saturday's Songs for the Soul last February it was to honor Larry's life & the love of music which we shared. For today, I chose a song that we used to sing & harmonize on together when we were teenagers. It was back in the days when he taught me to play guitar. I always loved the simplicity of the lyrics, the sad yet lilting melody & the sound of harmonizing with my brother.

I listened to about 10 versions before choosing this one. I could have picked any or all of them since Larry had such eclectic taste, he would have loved to hear all the alternative versions of this song & I know he appreciated all of the artists who have covered this song. I listened to Johnny Cash singing solo.  Then I heard Johnny Cash with Bob Dylan followed by the man in black with Joni Mitchell.  I also played Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, Emmy Lou Harris, & Suzie Bogus' renditions. As part of a tribute to her father, Roseanne Cash tells a story about being angry her father. when he asked her to sing this song with him at Carnagie Hall.  She refused until he started to walk away with his guitar slung over his back & then she agreed. I chose this version by Nanci Griffith & Rodney Crowell because it is simple & harmonious.

When I first sang this song with Larry, we were young & did not miss anyone. As a young adult when I lived abroad, I would sing it by myself & feel closer to my family despite the miles between us. Today, when I sing it,  I will always miss Larry & Bill. However, "I Still Miss Someone" will also make me smile. It brings back the innocent times we had together when we could only imagine what it was like to miss someone. It is strange how songs can mean different things to us over the course of our lives & how they help us heal.

Do you miss someone? What songs help you when you do?

I hope that even if you are missing someone this song brings you peace this Saturday.
                                                               I Still Miss Someone

Performed by

Nanci Griffith with Rodney Crowell.
Words & music Johnny Cash and Roy Cash, Jr.

Photo from Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephanie_in_love/4331118167/