The availability of digital recording software, apps, and dyi culture, coupled with the constant state of flux of the music industry, has allowed the process of home recording to become just as sophisticated and creative as studio recording. These days, plenty of talented musicians make their records at home.
And then there are the musicians that make their records sound like home.
That’s the case with Michelle Held—whose name is a speck of a song all its own, go ahead, say it aloud—a singer songwriter from Detroit, who “has a big heart and a guitar” and whose gorgeous song, God Damn I Don’t Know, (which she recorded at home), is a thing of beauty and provocation.
Somebody said I should believe in you
And somebody else said that you’re just not true
And the other guy he claims it’s just a vibration between the two
He said we’re always in motion
And the other guy says that’s just some magic notion he made up
To fill in the gaps
Everybody’s walkin along at their own accord tryin to get some sort of award
Cause they think it means somethin
But I don’t know I don’t know what it means anymore
I’m tryin to clear my head
I’m just walkin along thinkin about people who’re passed and dead
And I don’t know where they gone to
Thinkin about em makes me sad and blue
And it makes me wanna stay so damn true
But I don’t know I don’t know who to stay true to
Everybody’s right and singin their own song and if they sing it loud enough
They’ll be able to prove you wrong
But I don’t know I don’t know anymore
And the other guy says that I do know
And I got all I need to prove it’s so
But I don’t know I don’t know if he knows what he’s talkin about
Everything now seems strange to me
You seem weird too but don’t take that personally
Cause I don’t I don’t know what I’m talkin about
And if it’s true if it’s true that I do know
And I got all I need to prove it’s so
Well if that’s true if that’s true then why do I feel so God Damn blue
And now I’m afraid I just offended you
But those are just some letters that somebody threw together
And who’s to say who’s to say they have to remain that way
Maybe all that was once tried and true has grown
And what was set in stone has been blown it ain’t new no more but old
And all the stories we were sold how can you be sure that they still hold
Maybe the person who said it was black or white or good or bad
Was just as sad and blue as you and me and
Maybe he was trying to find his own way tryin to find a way to break free too
And the other guy said just take the time commit your mind
And sooner or later you’ll be fine
But I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know if he’s right
But I hope he’s right I hope what he’s sayin is true
And I hope this fight takes me from here to you
Cause if it don’t take me somewhere well that don’t seem fair
And you gotta remember the joy’s in the journey
But does the joy end after they wheel you out on that gurney
I don’t know I don’t know anymore . . .
Michelle Held has contributed several songs to the Sirenstories SoundCloud and God Damn I Don’t Know is my favorite. Although there are plenty of differences in style, for example Held’s voice is unparalleled when it comes to vibrato, Michelle Held makes me think of Rickie Lee Jones, early Michele Shocked, and Elizabeth Cotton—quite an aural cocktail.
God Damn I Don’t Know is a song written out frustration with life; not knowing what to do with it. Think Held’s figured it out, yeah?
Love the tags she used on SoundCloud: Indie. Folk. Tired of the Bullshit. Question Everything.
Please follow Michelle Held on fb and twitter.
Then check out Libby, still going strong at 92.
