So you filled your hands

Lhasa de Sela made The Living Road in 2003. Above and beyond being an absolutely incredible album, it contains two songs that are absolutely key to The Falling Woman, which used to be called The Soft Road. The most important was "Anywhere On This Road." This is Lady Macbeth to a T, not to mention the basic momentum behind the story.



I live in this country now
I'm called by this name
I speak this language
It's not quite the same
For no other reason
Than this it's my home
And the places I used to be
Far from are gone

You've travelled this long
You just have to go on
Don't even look back to see
How far you've come
Though your body is bending
Under the load
There is nowhere to stop
Anywhere on this road

My heart is breaking
I cannot sleep
I love a man
Who's afraid of me
He believes if he doesn't
Stand guard with a knife
I'll make him my slave
For the rest of his life

I love this hour
When the tide is just turning
There will be an end
To the longing and yearning
If I can stand up
To angels and men
I'll never get swallowed
In darkness again

You've travelled this long
You just have to go on
Don't even look back to see
How far you've come
Though your body is bending
Under the load
There is nowhere to stop
Anywhere on this road

(The second song, for the curious, is "Soon This Space Will Be Too Small," which is about someone else.)

Anyway, I just found out that Lhasa has finally, finally released a new album, Rising. Apparently it's all in English (I do love her French and Spanish songs, though; I'll miss them), and has its fair share of bluegrass and (North) American roots influences, according to the reviews on iTunes (link opens in iTunes Store).

So yes, I'm quite excited about getting my hands on this.