Music Notes

When I am not writing books about music, I am a musician writing songs and musing about current events from the perspective of a folklorist. In the posts below are links to my original songs and covers of my favorite tunes. Enjoy!

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  • Forced Separation

    Forced Separation

    Misery is inevitable when people are forced to leave loved ones, for whatever reason. We fail as a nation when we force such separations rather than finding ways to help people stay together and safe. Irving Berlin's song from a century ago speaks to this current kind of separation misery.

  • Separated Families

    Separated Families

    This sad song by Irving Berlin always makes me think of how often families must separate—through deaths, through wars, sometimes through hard decisions that force parting ways.