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"Every Song I Write Is
for You"
Long inspired by country legends who
endured tragedy and heartache, Dale Watson received a double
dose of both in 2000. Devastated after his fiancée died
in a car crash in September, Watson attempted suicide by drug
overdose after Christmas and wound up committing himself to a
mental health institution. After his release, he wrote songs
to confront his pain, resulting in Every Song I Write Is for
You, a moving, inspiring journey through past joys, present pain,
and, ultimately, healing. Emotions of bereavement run through
every number: sorrow ("I Can't Let You Go"), anger
("Our First Times and Our Last Times"), sacrifice ("I'd
Deal with the Devil"), and acceptance ("I See Your
Face in Every Face I See" and "These Things We'll Never
Do"). Misty, atmospheric arrangements, occasional jazzy
rhythms, and (synthesized) strings in the Billy Sherrill tradition
frame each number to perfection. As mainstream Nashville leans
on cotton-candy kid stuff to maintain eroding audiences, Watson
has not only regained his personal bearings, he's created a classic
of staggering proportion, a powerful reminder of what this music
is really about. --Rich Kienzle |
