kim richey, “straight as the crow flies,”
froM: bitter sweet, 1997
“Against a blue sky
A black shadow flies by
Guess he’s got some place to go
Some mission’s callin’
No high ground can slow him
The miles flash by down below
You know you could always count on me
I’m like the river to the sea
As sure as day follows night
But I won’t run a crooked mile
And I won’t wait for morning light
I’d come straight as the crow flies
Each night the North Star
Reminds me of so far away
From the one light that’s true
But love’s a strong tie
That binds you to my life
And will go the distance for you
You know you could always count on me
I’m like the river to the sea
As sure as day follows night
But I won’t run a crooked mile
And I won’t wait for morning light
I’d come straight as the crow flies
If there’s ever anything you need
You only have to whisper in your dreams
You know you could always count on me
I’m like the river to the sea
As sure as day follows night
But I won’t run a crooked mile
And I won’t wait for morning light
I’d come straight as the crow flies
”
I wonder where the line of demarcation is in recording history where a singer decided: “you know, I should sing with myself. Record another voice, higher or lower to create a harmonic atmosphere heretofore unexisting. Make my own choir.” Here, beautifully and simply, the warrioress, inveterate, much traveled, plugger writer Kim Richey unveils the powers of such an approach. With the Hammond B3 as the watercolor wash against which the piece is draped, she employs only minimal acoustics, her voices and a close fitting electric guitar solo to direct effect. Straight as the crow flies.
