What I’m listening to right now.
The Steeldrivers, “Can You Run.”
I think this song has a Civil War theme involving slaves running for freedom across the battle lines, which was a frequent occurance, but I find the song oddly resonant at a personal level – despite my own utterly different life – without really paying close attention to the lyrics.
It’s just a well-done song, I guess: I really like the line “chase the taste of bondage from my tongue.”
There’s smoke down by the river
Hear the cannon and the drum
I’ve got one thing to ask you honey
Can you run?You know I hate to ask so late
But the moment’s finally come
And there won’t be time to change your mind
Can you run?(chorus)
Can you run, to the freedom line of the Lincoln soldiers?
Where the contraband can be a man
With a musket on his shoulder
I’ve got to stand up tall before I’m done
Wrap these hands of mine around a gun
And chase the taste of bondage from my tongue
Can you run?
Can you run?I’m takin nothin with me
We’ve just got time to beat the sun
And the boys in gray are never far away
Can you run?(repeat chorus)
There’s smoke down by the river
Hear the cannon and the drum
And even if I die, I’ve got to try
Can you run?(repeat chorus)
Can you run?
Can you run?
