My Gen X Playlist: Emmylou – First Aid Kit

I listened to a lot of music in high school and college. This was before the internet, so the only way to consume music was through the radio or buying CDs or albums. I used to love obscure cover versions. I would search for compilation discs or rare bootlegs. Both were not easy to find.

In college, I stumbled upon a alternative CD store that sold bootleg CDs. These typically were compilations of rare live songs from concerts. You had the feeling they were home made by the amateur CD cover art and the fact that the music abruptly started and stopped without any fade in or fade out. I was cool with it because they typically were rare finds. I doubt it was legal to sell these. They typically were at least twice the price of a normal CD. But if it was cool enough, I’d still buy it. I remember finding a lot of U2 gems.

These days, YouTube is a godsend. I can go down cover version rabbit holes and listen to various takes of songs I love – and it’s free. While I was writing a post about Oingo Boingo’s We Close Our Eyes, I learned Susanna Hoffs also did a cover of this song. For those who have been reading this blog, you know she was my high school crush so I was eager to listen. In the end, meh. It was just OK. My younger pre-internet self would have paid big bucks to buy the CD. Thanks YouTube for helping out my wallet.

These days, the youngsters get all of there music online. It’s convenient and easy. I’ve hopped on the bandwagon as well. I do miss the CD buying experience. I used to love digging through the used CD bins, panning for gold. I enjoyed looking at the CD art, weighing song titles and reading through the lyrics. I’d bring handful of CDs to the listening stations in the store to see if any caught my attention. Most didn’t, but there would be that occasional find. If you flipped through my CD collection, you’d probably scratch your head at some of the bands. Heck, I did recently when I went through my old CDs. Some are pretty obscure. I still regret selling off my sound system over a decade ago. It would be nice listening to them again.

I used to use the Pandora app a lot. Pandora plays artists that are similar to the music taste you like. It’s a good way to randomly listen to new music. That’s how I discovered Brandi Carlile who has become one of my favorite artists.

I discovered First Aid Kit’s EmmyLou on Pandora. Later, I found a great cover version by YouTubers Kina Grannis and Daniela Andrade. Both have great harmonies.

So what does Emmylou Harris think of First Aid Kit’s Emmylou song? “I loved it,” she told Uncut magazine. “Everybody told me I had to hear this song, but for some reason I didn’t seek it out. Then I was on tour in Australia and it came on in a store in Adelaide. I remember stopping and saying, ‘Boy, that’s really beautiful.’ And then I heard these beautiful voices singing my name and I went, ‘O my gosh, that’s the song everybody’s been talking about!’ It was nice to hear it in that way without expectation – it was one of those little gifts from the universe.”

– Songfacts

I like that anyone can now sing or make music and put it on line. During my stressful days at work, I’d think of a song that I loved and search for acoustic covers on YouTube. Maybe this is my modern day panning for gold. I’ve listened to a lot of really good music this way. There’s a lot of not so good music also, but I’ll never criticize too harshly. It takes stones to record yourself singing and post it on line for the world to see. You’ve got to give props for that, if nothing else.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Oh the bitter winds are coming in
And I'm already missing the summer
Stockholm's cold but I've been told
I was born to endure this kind of weather
When it's you I find like a ghost in my mind
I am defeated and I gladly wear the crown

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

Now so much I know that things just don't grow
If you don't bless them with your patience
And I've been there before, I held up the door
For every stranger with a promise

But I'm holding back, that's the strength that I lack
Every morning keeps returning at my window
And it brings me to you and I won't just pass through
But I'm not asking for a storm

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

And yes I might have lied to you
You wouldn't benefit from knowing of the truth
I was frightened but I held fast
I need you now at long last

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me
Just sing little darling, sing with me