Bad September

Greetings, all! This is Keith (acoustic guitar, sometimes bass, sometimes drums). We'll have the pleasure of playing a show on 6 September. A few oldies, a few we've played out a handful of times, and a good ol' fashioned premiere.

One song that's in the Handful category is called Copper Zephyr. It's about a fictional Great Lakes vessel and her able crew, partly inspired by the last remaining whaleback freighter S.S. Meteor in Superior, WI. The tune is from American hymnody (Beech/Beach Spring - Sacred Harp, 1844) and always struck me as having a nautical lilt to it. It also felt hopeful and encouraging, which made me think of people working together to get stuff done no matter the weather. Many songs about freighters tend to tell of the tragedies of shipwreck and/or drowning, so I intentionally stayed away from that to try & highlight the industry and drive of those who ply the Great Lakes. Where did they come from? What did they haul? Why was it worth it?

I wrote an intro and bridge of my own, and after playing this at CONvergence a couple years ago, an audience member suggested we add a chorus. This was another fun challenge to make something fit with the original hymn. We hope to record this and some other newer ones in the next year or so.

Hope you'll come hear it at the Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater next week!

Always reach for something better
Never know all that's in store
Sail on, O Copper Zephyr
Sail on forever more

⚓️

https://www.bryantlakebowl.com/theater/bad-september