"Oh Death" and Diane Izzo
In the late 1990s, I loved Diane Izzo's "One"
I loved her voice and her songwriting. It reminded me of Patti Smith with a wee bit of P.J. Harvey thrown in. I've not really understood why she didn't become more popular.
Last night, @heidi 's recent posts about bluegrass got me thinking about the Stanley Brothers which got me thinking about Ralph Stanley's "Oh Brother where art thou?" version of "Oh, Death" which got me thinking about Diane Izzo's take on the song from the Executioner's Last Song (from circa 2002) which I love.
That got me wondering what Diane Izzo was up to these days. Well, I found out she died on Feb. 25 at the age of 43.
For some reason, this really shook me up.
I assume she didn't have cancer when she recorded the song, but I don't really know. If she did, that might explain the power of her performance. Otherwise, it is ironic.
In the 1980s and 1990s, lots of my age peers in my extended social circle died of sex (AIDS, etc), drugs (overdoses) and rock and roll (lifestyle hell). But brain cancer has nothing to do with sex, drugs or rock and roll. I reckon it is a reminder of my own mortality. My mom died of lung cancer post-surgery complications at the age of 60. So I guess that might have something to do with how I'm feeling around Mother's Day.
I loved her voice and her songwriting. It reminded me of Patti Smith with a wee bit of P.J. Harvey thrown in. I've not really understood why she didn't become more popular.
Last night, @heidi 's recent posts about bluegrass got me thinking about the Stanley Brothers which got me thinking about Ralph Stanley's "Oh Brother where art thou?" version of "Oh, Death" which got me thinking about Diane Izzo's take on the song from the Executioner's Last Song (from circa 2002) which I love.
That got me wondering what Diane Izzo was up to these days. Well, I found out she died on Feb. 25 at the age of 43.
For some reason, this really shook me up. I assume she didn't have cancer when she recorded the song, but I don't really know. If she did, that might explain the power of her performance. Otherwise, it is ironic.
In the 1980s and 1990s, lots of my age peers in my extended social circle died of sex (AIDS, etc), drugs (overdoses) and rock and roll (lifestyle hell). But brain cancer has nothing to do with sex, drugs or rock and roll. I reckon it is a reminder of my own mortality. My mom died of lung cancer post-surgery complications at the age of 60. So I guess that might have something to do with how I'm feeling around Mother's Day.
Well what is this that I can't see
With ice cold hands takin' hold of me
Well I am death, none can excel
I'll open the door to heaven or hell
O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
Whoa, death someone would pray
Could you wait to call me another day
The children prayed, the preacher preached
Time and mercy is out of your reach
I'll fix your feet til you can't walk
I'll lock your jaw til you can't talk
I'll close your eyes so you can't see
This very air, come and go with me
I'm death I come to take the soul
Leave the body and leave it cold
To draw up the flesh off of the frame
Dirt and worm both have a claim
O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
My mother came to my bed
Placed a cold towel upon my head
My head is warm my feet are cold
Death is a-movin upon my soul
Oh, death how you're treatin' me
You've close my eyes so I can't see
Well you're hurtin' my body
You make me cold
You run my life right outta my soul
O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
Oh death please consider my age
Please don't take me at this stage
My wealth is all at your command
If you will move your icy hand
Oh the young, the rich or poor
Hunger like me you know
No wealth, no ruin, no silver no gold
Nothing satisfies me but your soul
O, death
O, death
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year
With ice cold hands takin' hold of me
Well I am death, none can excel
I'll open the door to heaven or hell
O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
Whoa, death someone would pray
Could you wait to call me another day
The children prayed, the preacher preached
Time and mercy is out of your reach
I'll fix your feet til you can't walk
I'll lock your jaw til you can't talk
I'll close your eyes so you can't see
This very air, come and go with me
I'm death I come to take the soul
Leave the body and leave it cold
To draw up the flesh off of the frame
Dirt and worm both have a claim
O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
My mother came to my bed
Placed a cold towel upon my head
My head is warm my feet are cold
Death is a-movin upon my soul
Oh, death how you're treatin' me
You've close my eyes so I can't see
Well you're hurtin' my body
You make me cold
You run my life right outta my soul
O, Death
O, Death
Won't you spare me over til another year
Oh death please consider my age
Please don't take me at this stage
My wealth is all at your command
If you will move your icy hand
Oh the young, the rich or poor
Hunger like me you know
No wealth, no ruin, no silver no gold
Nothing satisfies me but your soul
O, death
O, death
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year
