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American Routes Shortcuts: Spring Awakening

New Orleans Mural
Ranna Zahra McSwain

It’s a Spring Awakening, and we’ve got songs about bunny hops, rockin’ robins, and fragrant flowers but also lonely hours, gospel prayers and sad losses. In hopes that the real and surreal can commingle with joy and hope in our Corona Global Companion for your consideration and pleasure.

 

 

Nick Spitzer: It’s springtime. Trees are leafing, flowers budding, sun shining, weather warming, Easter and Passover, but obviously it’s different. Not a silent spring for birds at least. We are mostly indoors, sheltering in place, keeping social space, physical distance, and wondering what’s to become of family and friends, our democracy, economy, and people worldwide. We planned to call this show “Spring Awakening,” and we’ve got songs of bunny hoppin’, rockin’ robin, and fragrant flowers, but also lonely hours, gospel prayers and doomsayers, as the real and surreal combine with joy and hope in our Corona Global Companion for your consideration and pleasure.

 

NS: In Mountain Country music, when you think of songs about flowers, they are often metaphors for women as fragile and tender. Think the Carter family’s “Wildwood Flower” or “Sweet Fern.” Gillian Welch has a song about a sturdy flower, heralding of spring--despite lingering snow and cold along rivers and gorges in Southern Appalachia. Joined here by partner David Rawlings on acoustic guitar for their 1996 recording Revival, it’s the tale of the “Acony Bell.” 

 

NS: John Prine 1971, “Hello in There” from his first LP. Also ever timely about avoiding ageism and reaching out to elders. Sadly, John Prine passed away from coronavirus. He was a great friend of American Routes, and our thoughts are with his family. Stay well, until that time when we can all walk through the streets of the city together again on American Routes from PRX, Public Radio Exchange. 

 

To hear the full program, tune in Saturdays at 5 and Sundays at 6 on WWNO, or listen at americanroutes.org.