Song Story- History in a song

This episode tells the story of the illustrious yet undesirable club, the ranks of which you would not aspire to join. The unofficial 27 Club. This exclusive club is a cultural phenomenon, reserved for the tragic list of musicians, artists, actors, and athletes who all died prematurely at the age of 27. Some would say, the prime of one’s life. 

During this episode Dara Hession puts the spotlight on 7 of the big ones and plays the music of Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, The Doors, and Robert Johnson to help tell the tale.

This episode tells the story of the Australian Vietnam War experience told through the lyrics of the quintessential Australian anthem; I was only 19. Released by Redgum in 1983, the lyrics finally told the story how it was, touching the hearts and minds of the Australian public and Vietnam Veterans alike. The conversation about Vietnam had for too long been brushed under the carpet, but this song as much as anything forced a new narrative of empathy and healing. Following on from my popular Vietnam War Music Episode, this Songstory is a uniquely Australian tale dedicated to those who served. 

Dara Hession plays a variety of acoustic song versions throughout this podcast to help tell the story including, The Band played the Waltzing Matilda, Willie MacBride, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Khe Sanh, When the War is Over, and I was only 19.
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Wattie Creek entered Australian folklore as the birthplace of the Aboriginal land-rights movement when Prime Minister Gough Whitlam granted the deeds to the land of the Gurindji people and symbolically poured the red dirt into the hands of Vincent Lingiari. Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody`s iconic Australian protest song tells a surprisingly unknown story of human struggle and the 8-year long fight for justice that would pave the way for future change.

Dara Hession plays a list of powerful songs throughout this podcast to help tell this story, including Beds Are Burning, Solid Rock, and From Little Things Big Things Grow.

This episode of Songstory  takes a historical snapshot of the tumultuous decade of the Vietnam War and uses music to help tell the story. 1960s music is already a lay down misère as being some of the best folk, rock, and popular music of all time, but there is a sub-genre from the 60s, known as Vietnam War music. It’s a vast catalogue of songs that includes, songs protesting the war, songs supporting the war, songs about the war, songs popular at the time of the war, and finally, songs most requested at the time by frontline soldiers.

Posthumously recognised as one of the best folk singer/songwriters of all time, Nick Drake barely managed a blip on the radar of fame during his own lifetime. His music is exceptionally beautiful. His talent is prodigious. His short career and life were filled with complexities resulting in his unfortunate and untimely death at the hands of the debilitating black dog of depression. If you are already a Nick Drake fan then you already know how he keeps getting better with every listen, and if you are yet to discover his music, you’re about to meet an artist to add to your list of favourites.

This podcast celebrates the life and music of Nick Drake.

Dara Hession performs the music of Nick Drake throughout this podcast.

Raglan Road, voted in 2019 as Irelands most favourite folk song. It tells the autobiographical story of unrequited love. Raglan Road was first written as a poem by Patrick Kavanagh in the 1940s and made famous when put to music and recorded 30 years later, by the The Dubliners, with Luke Kelly on vocals. This episode takes a closer look at the people, places, story and meaning behind the poem that became a song. Dara Hession performs his acoustic version of Raglan Road for the podcast.

Such An iconic singer, Billie Holiday , such an iconic song, Strange Fruit.

First performed in 1939 at the Café Society of NY( Americas first integrated nightclub), this episode takes a closer look and listen to Billie Holiday's landmark song about racist lynchings, which stunned audiences and redefined popular music. Voted in 1999 by Time magazine as “the song of the Century”, the macabre and haunting protest song “Strange Fruit” deals with the inhumanity, violence, fear, and terror of American racism.
Dara Hession performs his own acoustic version of Strange Fruit for the podcast.

Woody Guthrie is recognised as one of the most influential American folk musicians of all time. His album Dust Bowl Ballads chronicles the collision of economic and environmental disasters which had a devastating impact on the land across 6 states of America and pushed more than 2 million people from their homes in forced migration.

Dust Bowl Ballads was released in 1940 and generally recognised as one of the very first concept albums, it was Guthrie's first commercial recording and remained the most successful album of his career. Each song dealing with the tragedy associated with the Dust Bowl, and its effects on the land and the people.

Dara Hession performs the music of Woody Guthrie throughout this podcast.

The song “Grace”. One of Irelands most beloved and tragic love songs set amidst the backdrop of revolution, the 1916 Easter Rising Rebellion in Dublin. Only hours before his death by firing squad, Joseph Plunket marrying his childhood sweetheart Grace Gifford in the chapel of Kilmainham Gaol. I explore in depth the people, places, and true events behind the endearing folk song, and perform my own acoustic interpretation.