I mention this song in the acknowledgments for Once Was Lost. I mean, I mention Karin and Linford of OTR and this song as it would be weird just to acknowledge a song. For awhile I was thinking about putting lyrics from it at the end of the book in addition to kicking it off with lyrics from OTR’s “Long Lost Brother,” because I liked the sense of getting from there to here but not really being done with the trip. Especially: We’re all riding on the last train / trying to find our way home again.

I love this song because it is a lament, but it’s also got incredibly beautiful and hopeful imagery (Til we walk like lovers through Bethlehem / how long, how long?). I think about it a lot in regard to my own life and also when there is bad news in the world. Like today, for example, and pretty much every day. Also when I am pondering the idea of “too late,” and if there is such a thing, and if so how do you know when that is? Here’s a live performance video. The image quality is terrible but the sound is pretty good (and very clear when audience member is inappropriately yelling out for a different song). The album (Ohio) version has a gospel choir backing, which I love, but this is also lovely, slower, pared down. Lyrics here - you have to scroll down a bit.