My Only True Friend

Listen while you read:  (No video yet)

You and I both know this river will surely flow to an end
Keep me in your heart, keep your soul on the mend
I hope you're haunted by the music of my soul when I'm gone
Please don't fly away and find you a new love
I just can't face living this life alone
I can't bear to think this might be the end
But you and I both know the road is my only true friend

Another night alone but I see you in my dreams sometimes
No matter where I go, Lord knows, you were always on my mind
I hope you're haunted by the music of my soul when I'm gone
. . . 

Still on and on I roam
It feels like home just around the bend
I've got so much left to give
But I'm running out of time, my friend
I hope you're haunted by the music of my soul when I'm gone
. . . 

~  Gregg Allman & Scott Sharrad

So maybe you're crying? As was true with Warren Zevon's The Wind (2003) or David Bowie's Blackstar (2016), Gregg Allman's posthumous last album, Southern Blood, is guaranteed to reach deep into your soul and drag you through an unexpected catharsis. Based on "My Only True Friend," the only song released so far, get ready to turn on the waterworks. Southern Blood will be released on September 8, so you have a month to get ready for it. Meanwhile, give this one a listen.

As I'm sure you know, Gregg Allman died of cancer in May. Prior to his death, he was working on this final album. "My Only True Friend" was co-written with Allman's long-time manager, Scott Sharrad. Sharrad says that he began writing the song in Duane Allman's voice, but didn't reveal that to Gregg. However, Gregg responded with another verse that seemed to imply that he understood. So think of the song as a conversation between the brothers. If you want to increase the tear production, that is. But considering that Duane died 46 years ago, a brotherly reunion is a cause for celebration, yes?

The original intention of the album was to have all new songs, but time was running out. So the collection includes a few covers. Just to prepare you for the emotional storm that will strike on September 8, consider the following songs:

Bob Dylan's "Going Going Gone"
Grateful Dead's "Black Muddy River"
Lowell George's "Willin'"
Tim Buckley's "Once I Was"
Jackson Browne's "Song for Adam"

Do you see a theme here? Buckley's "Once I Was" has long had the power to reduce me to a puddle. And the haunting line in Browne's "Song for Adam," Still it seems he stopped his singing in the middle of his song, takes on a new sadness.

So why is it that these songs, performed by those whose deaths are imminent, reduce us to such grieving? It's not like we know these people personally. Perhaps it's simply that a mirror has been placed in front of us, allowing us to stare into the face of death? Maybe it's just a reminder: we're all gonna die. Some of us just get to know when.

As for the rest of us, we should sing all our songs as if they were our last.