Inside Llewyn Davis
A musician performs a heartfelt acoustic set at The Gaslight Café before an attentive audience.
The year is 1961 in Greenwich Village, New York City. We find ourselves in the gaslight cafe, a lone folk singer on stage.
“Early one morning, drizzlin’ rain
And in my heart I felt an achin’ pain
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well
Now one of these mornings, it won’t be long
You’ll call my name and I’ll be gone
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well
If I had wings like Noah’s dove
I’d fly up the river to the one I love
Oh fare they well, oh honey, fare…fare thee well”
The start of Folk music could be thought of as the start of the Peace, Love and understanding movement here in the USA. Imagine though if a folk singer’s personal life was anything but that….full of misery and heartache. He only sings to make a meager living, no greater aspirations to change the world. Just give him a couch to sleep on for the night, a bit of food if it isn’t too much bother.
“One of these mornings
It won’t be long
You’ll call my name
And I’ll be gone”
My local theater is showcasing movies about music this month, and Inside Llewyn Davis played yesterday. A film directed by the Cohen brothers, it slipped passed me in 2013 when it was originally released, but I was glad to see it on the big screen. This week in the life of a struggling NYC musician is a masterpiece of storytelling, acting, directing and cinematography.
“I’m goin’ away to leave you love
I’m goin’ away for a while
But I’ll return to you somehow
If I go ten thousand miles”
