Nanci Griffith 102523

The columnist discusses the power of well-written song lyrics and shares a song called "There's a Light Beyond These Woods, Mary Margaret" by Nancy Griffith. He reflects on childhood friendships and the nostalgia it brings. He also mentions how Nancy Griffith was underappreciated in the music industry. The columnist hopes the song will evoke memories for listeners. Welcome to the Sunday Column Post for Wednesday, October 25, 2023. I am Dan Flannery, and today I'm returning to a musical and lyrical and meaningful theme. If you know me, you know I'm enamored with well-written song lyrics, not necessarily the ones that happen to rhyme at the end of every line or two, but the ones that bring a memory or a heartbreak or a friendship or a spouse to mind and make you pause or reflect on a long-ago discussion, smile a bit, or wipe a tear. I found such a song last Friday in the Menards parking lot in Marinette, of all places. After I parked my vehicle, I peeked at my phone and saw a story about an upcoming tribute album to the late Nancy Griffith. I hadn't heard of the album, so I sat for five or ten minutes and read the story. The album is called More Than a Whisper, celebrating the music of Nancy Griffith, and oddly, it does not include this song, but it was mentioned in the story I read in the parking lot. That's a lot of preamble, I know, but it does lead to these thoughts. I'd think, or maybe I'd hope, that everyone had a childhood friend to share hopes and dreams. I had a few of those, and every so often I'd think about them in the conversations we had, about what we'd do, where we'd be, how we'd get there when we grew up. For a while, when I was 12 or 13, I thought I'd be a truck driver. That never happened, although I once owned a pickup. Those kinds of thoughts filled my brain Friday after I stumbled onto this song. This was based on one of her childhood friend relationships, a girl named Mary Margaret, about seeing where the big city was and someday discovering what those city lights were all about, and ultimately never quite getting to do that together. It's called There's a Light Beyond These Woods, Mary Margaret, and it's one of those hidden gem songs that deserves to be heard over and over. It's been played a lot in my house, my vehicle, and my head for five days now. Here are the first two verses. There's a light beyond these woods, Mary Margaret. Do you think that we will go there and see what makes it shine, Mary Margaret? It's almost morning and we've talked all night. I know we've made big plans for ten-year-olds, you and I. Have you met my new boyfriend, Margaret? His name is John and he rides my bus to school and he holds my hand. He's 14. He's my older man. We'll still be the best of friends, the three of us, Margaret, John, and I. Those words bring me back to my life at that age, my first crush, my plans, my optimism. And from what I've read, Nancy Griffith felt slighted and disrespected by the music industry. She wasn't wrong. Although she knew success and her songs are revered by a respectable segment of the country and Americana sector, she never got the full recognition she probably deserved as a master of her craft, telling stories, provoking thoughts. But Nancy Griffith was great, and so is this song. And I hope it brings back a few memories for you. Here's the song. Maybe you'll smile or wipe a tear. That's the Sunday column for Wednesday, October 25, 2023. Hope you enjoyed it. Hope you enjoyed the music of Nancy Griffith. I'll be back with another post on Friday or Saturday later this week. Thanks again for listening and reading, and have a great rest of the week. See you then. Bye.