Here we are meditating on what Memorial Day means. I grew up during Viet Nam. My earliest non-immediate family memories are of that, and all it brought about. Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time with Viet Nam vets who had PTSD, learned about WW1, WW2, Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq, the Khmer Rouge, Idid Amin, Tutsis and Hutus, as well as the war on drugs, the war on women, the war on non white persons, and the war on the planet. I’m sure you can think of a multitude of wars I haven’t mentioned. The damage is impossible to grasp.
On the other hand, when I was younger, Memorial Day mostly meant a chance for a long festival weekend, in spite of all of the above. I think that’s ok, life is as important as death and, of course, much briefer. So, I’m good with people celebrating life on Memorial Day if they want to. Except, of course, this year is different. No festivals.
Well, there is this Coverfest right here. woohoo!
For Memorial Day, the song that comes to mind for me is absolutely Morning Dew. It was introduced to me by the Greatful Dead, but it was written by Bonnie Dobson.
It’s been done all kinda ways, though. Here’s a different take.
Lulu also covered it back in the day. I wish she’d just done it acapella. I assume some jackass suite made her add the stupid instrumental.
Can’t have a Morning Dew coverfest without Duane and Gregg
And (Lemmy, stop listening now!) the Dead. Jerry’s voice so clean and deep here!
I hope you enjoyed the coverfest, I love covers and this just seemed like the time. I hope whatever your Memorial Day holds, it’s good, and that you hold those who are departed close and those who are still here even closer.
Give peas a chance.
There are so many good versions of this song but I’m partial to this one.
Kirsty MacColl – Miss Otis Regrets
Nice! I thought about doing a reverse cover of this, posting the Nick Lowe original.
Here’s one by Swiss prog rockers Krokodil
I’m thinking of absent friends today.
Okay, I screwed up earlier. I thought we were doing covers. But it’s Memorial Day! So I’ll try again, still technically a cover but more appropriate.
Billy Holiday- I’ll Be Seeing You
Memorial Day covers it is.
Nirvana – The Man Who Sold The World (MTV Unplugged):
cover of,
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold the World:
Paper Lace – Billy Don’t Be A Hero:
cover of,
Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods – Billy Don’t Be A Hero:
So many covers of this one, but it was made for Bonnie
I love covers in which the artist really tries to make it their own song, like this version of Jealous Guy by Colin James.
Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground.