Song of the Day: "If I Should Fall Behind" by Grant McLennan · Jun 4, 09:05 PM by Don
I decided to search my local library’s catalog using the name, “Grant McLennan.” I was happy to find an Uncut magazine compilation from 2003 with the deceased Go-Between’s rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “If I Should Fall Behind.” It was originally recorded for the 1992 “Surround Me” CD single. McLennan must have realized he liked the song rather quickly, because the original can be found on Lucky Town, which also came out in ’92. It is a kind of precursor to “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” by Death Cab For Cutie. The DCFC song is more obviously about death and mortality, but it’s not difficult to see the same themes in Springsteen’s song.
Now there’s a beautiful river in the valley ahead
There ‘neath the oak’s bough soon we will be wed
Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees
I’ll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin’ I’ll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me
I don’t dislike the original, but the song really shines when stripped of Springsteen’s vocal idiosyncrasies and presented in that clean, economical style that characterized the Go-Betweens and Grant McLennan’s solo work.
mp3: Grant McLennan – If I Should Fall Behind :: from Uncut – Born To Run 2003 (Vol. 1) (2003)
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Songs in the MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 format are offered for a limited time only. Songs that are no longer downloadable can be streamed at the Timedoor page at Hype Machine. Dead mp3 links take you to the top of page one. Support your favorite artists by buying their music at your local independent record store (mine is Atomic Records) or eMusic. And read about ‘em at TrouserPress.com.
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