Raising Sand is a duet collaboration between rock legend Robert Plant and country/bluegrass superstar Alison Krauss. The brains behind the project is T Bone Burnett, who explains: “The idea was to take them both out of their comfort zone – to take us all out of our comfort zones” (5:30) Here’s a video about the making of this unique album:
To me, this project represents the true magic of team work between people who come from totally different worlds. It takes a completely new look at roots music from the Mississippi Delta to the Sahara, blending blues, bluegrass, country and folk with the polyrhythms that Robert Plant picked up in Africa. The title is a play on words: “Let’s raise hell” means to make lots of noise, have fun and make trouble. We also raise dust (=Staub aufwirbeln). “Sand” almost certainly refers to the African desert sounds that have inspired Plant’s music in the past years. It really cracks me up (bringt mich zum lachen): This weird and wonderful album is billed as “country music”. Featuring the great Mark Ribot on guitar, this album won a Grammy in 2007.
The top song that introduces the video is a tune from 1965, “Gone gone gone” by the Everly Brothers :
Some sunny day-hay baby
When everything seems okay, baby
You’ll wake up and find out you’re alone
Cause I’ll be gone
Gone, gone, gone, really gone
Gone, ga-gone, cause you done me wrongEveryone that you meet baby
As you walk down the street baby
Will ask you why you’re walkin’ all alone
Why you’re on your own
Just say I’m gone
Gone, gone, gone
Gone, ga-gone, cause you done me wrongIf you change your way baby
You might get me to stay baby
Ya better hurry up if ya don’t wanna be alone
Or I’ll be gone
Gone, gone, gone
Really gone
Gone, Ga-gone
Cause you done me wrong
They performed on CMT Crossroads (Country Music TV), and you can watch videos from that session. They even did a Led Zepplin song that didn’t make the album. It just goes to show: Rockers don’t get old, they get mellow. And dare I say: this one gets better.
Black Dog (Led Zepplin)
Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove.
Oh, oh, child, I said the way you swing
Gonna make you burn, gonna make you sting.
Hey, hey, baby, when you walk that way
Watch your honey drip, I can’t keep away.I gotta roll, I can’t stand still,
I got a flame in my heart, I can’t get my fill,
Eyes that shine burning red,
Dreams of you all through my head.Didn’t take too long before I found out
What people mean by down and out.
Spent my money, took my car,
Started tellin’ her friends she’s gonna be a star.
I don’t know but I’ve been told
A big legged woman ain’t got no soul.All I ask for, when I pray,
Steady rollin’ woman gonna come my way.
I need a girl gonna hold my hand
tell me no lies, make me a happy man.
Just in case you’ve forgotten the original…
learning english with songs 🙂 englischlernen mit liedern
