This summer, I travelled nearly 2,000 kilometers to the beautiful shores of Nova Scotia. On this trip, I designed a playlist meant to inspire me on the long drive up and through the east coast.
Here are three of my favorite songs that emerged from that playlist.
“Fisherman’s Blues” by The Waterboys
“Fisherman’s Blues,” from The Waterboys’ fourth studio album of the same name, was the perfect addition to my vacation playlist. The track’s distinctive Celtic sound perfectly meshed with the local music that surrounded me. This was likely because the band’s mishmash of English, Irish and Scottish heritage was of a similar composition to the majority of Nova Scotia’s population.
“Fisherman’s Blues” is a hardy, heartfelt example of what many refer to as “big music.” The album this song is featured on showcased The Waterboys’ departure from the kind of music they had been making throughout their last three albums, now shifting towards something riskier. Yet, when all was said and done, the only thing this record lacked was bad music. In their attempt to try something new, The Waterboys stumbled upon a sound that was incredibly timeless and exceedingly unique.
“Fisherman’s Blues,” the album’s titular track, is one of the best examples of this. It manages to portray a level of traditionalism while still feeling like something that could be (and was a) successful lead single in 1988. This traditional atmosphere can be attributed to the combination of the fiddle and mandolin, which create an exceptionally folk-inspired sound.
Lyrically, the track yearns for a type of freedom that can only be found away from everyday life. The first verse refers to being a fisherman out on the sea, far away from dry land. The second verse describes the feeling of being carried away by a train that is moving so fast that you can’t make out any of the landscape outside the window. Both of these metaphors make it clear that this song, and likely the album, are not about the life of a fisherman. Instead, they lean into the idea that Mike Scott is desperate for the opportunity to leave his normal life.
For me, this felt like the perfect inclusion for a list designed for a trip away from everyday life. As I adventured through the green, nature-filled landscape and sailed on the bright blue seas of Nova Scotia, I was yearning for the type of freedom that Scott was describing on this track.
“Let Me Die In My Footsteps” by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s “Let Me Die In My Footsteps” makes less sense on this list than some of the other tracks I chose, yet due to its beautiful imagery and folk-oriented sound, it still felt like a perfect fit for me.
Dylan’s “Let Me Die In My Footsteps” is a powerful anti-war song that protests the creation of fallout shelters during the Cold War. While the musicality of the track is simple, made up of just two intersecting acoustic guitar lines, the lyricism of this track is the real star of the show.
Originally written for his first album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, “Let Me Die In My Footsteps” went through several iterations before it evolved into its final form. While it never appeared in one of Dylan’s mainstream albums and was only performed live once on July 2, 1962, there is no doubt that this track has taken on a life of its own largely thanks to to the intense, yet beautiful imagery reflected in Dylan’s songwriting.
Throughout the track, Dylan condemns the building of fallout shelters, stating that just because someone tells him death is coming, he will not carry himself down to die. Instead, Dylan says that he will go to his grave with his head held high. As the song progresses, Dylan details the beauty of the natural world before wishing that he had the ability to turn it into a peaceful place with no lies, no war and no death.
While this track isn’t a natural fit for a list like this, “Let Me Die In My Footsteps” is a track that makes me thankful for the beautiful nature that surrounds me. While the world Dylan describes in his song mirrors much of the world we are living in today, “Let Me Die In My Footsteps” is a track that reminds me of all those before us who fought hard for what is right. It reminds me that even when things look bad, the will of those who believe in good will allow things to get better.
“If I Should Fall from Grace with God” by The Pogues
Much like “Fisherman’s Blues,” “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” was an inclusion to this list that required very little thought. The track’s high-energy, raucous soundscape fit right in with the energy of the Nova Scotian musical sound. Its Celtic nature and dancing tune made me feel like I was attending a Cape Breton ceilidh long before I set foot inside the pub doors.
“If I Should Fall from Grace with God” is a passionate and rousing track that wrestles with ideas of mortality and the Irish experience. While this song could have taken a turn towards a slower, more emotional musicality, The Pogues chose to give this track a musical body that felt more like a raging party.
Lyrically, the track reminds us of our past, present and future, encouraging the listener to not let struggle and conflict crumble their resolve. “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” is a prayer for peace, especially in Ireland where, at the time, conflict was running rampant. Yet, both its musical properties and lyrical nature are not meant to make the listener sad. Instead, the track’s cathartic nature suggests that in the face of death, one should live their life to the fullest before they meet their maker.
While this song’s sound was what drew me to it initially, its place on this list was solidified by its lyricism. After a year of struggle and hardship, I was finally ready to find myself in a place of peace and happiness while experiencing the beauty of eastern Canada. Much like Shane Gowan, the lead singer of The Pogues and the writer of this song, I felt ready to go forward and take control of my own destiny so that I could enjoy what I had given and would continue to receive.
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Although many other songs made an appearance on my Nova Scotia playlist, these three tracks were my favorite of the bunch. Between their beautiful lyricism and warm soundscapes, there was no denying that “Fisherman’s Blues,” “Let Me Die In My Footsteps” and “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” inspired my soul.