See Darrell Scott’s Celebratory ‘Down to the River’ Video
Most musicians find ways to honor their influences, whether through more subtle musical means or literally naming them in song. On the other hand, Darrell Scott takes the time to mythologize his own musical roots in “Down to the River,” with a video premiering today.
Taken from Scott’s new album Couchville Sessions, “Down to the River” finds Scott imagining a scene where his heroes join their voices in musical harmony, name-checking Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, among others. “Let’s all go down to the river at midnight / we’ll swim muddy waters and pick us a tune / and we won’t give us a damn if it’s rock, folk, country or blues,” he sings, accompanied by a lilting waltz-time progression. Closing the tune out is a trippy recitation from Scott’s friend Guy Clark, who died on Tuesday, May 17th. The video, directed by Clay Riley Hassler of Tiny Terror Productions, puts Scott on the bank of the river, surrounded by all the elements one would need for this fantastic jam.
Couchville Sessions, which was released on May 13th, is the Scott’s first album since 2012’s Long Ride Home. In addition to writing such hits as the Dixie Chicks’ “Long Time Home,” Scott served as an instrumentalist in Robert Plant’s Band of Joy.