Emily Scott Robinson – Let ‘Em Burn
John Prine left us last year.
But his independent record label lives.
In 1980, Prine’s contract with Asylum Records expired, and he moved to Nashville. Rather than sign with another label, he decided to start one of his own. Oh Boy Records was born.
Oh Boy’s first release was a red vinyl Christmas single with Prine singing “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” (I’ll share that one with you in December.)
The label has released more than 50 audio and video recordings by singer-songwriters Prine, Dan Reeder, Todd Snider, Kris Kristofferson, Kelsey Waldon, Tré Burt, and Arlo McKinley, and others — along with a dozen reissues of classic country music artists.
Over the years, Prine received many offers to sell the label. He always refused.
And today, his family continues to own and operate Oh Boy Records.
Yesterday, the label released “American Siren” by Emily Scott Robinson. It’s a great album. (Thanks to NPR’s “All Songs Considered” for introducing me to it).
Here’s a track I’ve played over and over since hearing it.
Enjoy…
Today’s Song
Title: Let ‘Em Burn
Artist: Emily Scott Robinson
Album: American Siren (2021)
YouTube Links:
youtu.be/vIBL5i1aWRo (The Story Behind the Song)
youtu.be/PMxyo6WVal8 (The Song)
Lyrics:
White picket fence, a quiet street
Faithful wife of fifteen years, mother of three
I go to church, I say my prayers
But I have never felt the breath of God in there
I followed every rule and played it safe
And I built myself a beautiful cage
The coffee’s hot, the kids asleep
This is the only time I feel like I can breathe
But late last night I locked the door
And cried myself to sleep on the bathroom floor
’Cause I lit a match and held it to my yearning
And found out I was a house already burning
I’m on the edge of something wild
On the edge of something free
On the edge of something reckless
I get down on my knees
If you don’t recognize me when I come back around
It’s ’cause all the things I thought I’d be
I let ’em all burn to the ground
I let ’em burn, I let ’em burn
I never dreamed I’d start this war
When I was young I was so innocent and sure
I was afraid to be alone
So I wrote every vow with loyalty in stone
Is this the life I want for my own daughter?
Just trying to keep her head above the water
What if desire is a gift and not a sin?
What if this could be the start and not the end?
I’m on the edge of something wild
On the edge of something free
On the edge of something reckless
I get down on my knees
If you don’t recognize me when I come back around
It’s ’cause all the things I thought I’d be
Yes all the things I swore I’d be
I let ’em all burn to the ground
I let ’em burn, I let ’em burn
I let ’em burn, burn, burn
Here are the Playlists:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xYKtYparrdJRYAjBj9kjx?si=eb6c3ebc30484204
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/ware-house-concerts-song-of-the-day/pl.u-Ggz26cZlAVLj
