Tracy Grammer’s ‘The Waking Hour’

KBCS has been playing Tracy Grammer’s cover of The Waking Hour (hear it) in heavy rotation and it is ravishing. David Francey, who wrote it, is a fine Scottish-born singer-songwriter who now lives in Canada. Among his other extraordinary songs is Redwing Blackbird. While Francey’s version is entirely serviceable, Grammer’s takes it to its apotheosis. She slows down the original tempo and somehow makes it more sorrowful and lovely. What I especially love is the Daniel Lanois-like guitar accompaniment. It is haunting and soulful.

I started to describe the song’s storyline and realized that it’s too evocative to pin down to any single meaning. Best to leave it to you to listen and judge for yourself. For Grammer’s live YouTube performance check this out.