Original Performance: Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Written by: Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Written by: Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Versions:
- Weighted Down (The Prison Song) (4:48)
Available on Oar.
CreditsRecorded at: Sunset Sound Studios
Glenn Kotche: Drums
Nels Cline: Guitar (Acoustic)
Brian Lebarton: Hand Claps, Synthesizer
Feist: Hand Claps, Vocals
Beck Hansen: keyboards, Vocals (Background)
Jamie Lidell: Vocals (Background)
Lyrics:
Weighted Down (The Prison Song) [Version (a)]:
Skip Spence: Waited down by the river for you to come
Weighted down by possessions
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
A best friend to your ear of true said I was guilty of sin
Said my being gone was the best thing for you
But the truth, it all comes through for me and my kin
It wasn't the best thing for me but was the best for him
Weighted down by decision
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
Weighted down by possessions
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
While I sat there wondering, you thought that eyes were hid
And I had the honor of watching everything you did
Weighted down by possessions
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
Weighted down by possession
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
Weighted down by possessions
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
Skip Spence: Waited down by the river for you to come
Weighted down by possessions
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
A best friend to your ear of true said I was guilty of sin
Said my being gone was the best thing for you
But the truth, it all comes through for me and my kin
It wasn't the best thing for me but was the best for him
Weighted down by decision
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
Weighted down by possessions
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
While I sat there wondering, you thought that eyes were hid
And I had the honor of watching everything you did
Weighted down by possessions
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
Weighted down by possession
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
Weighted down by possessions
Weighted down by the gun
Waited down by the river for you to come
The Song:
"Weighted Down (The Prison Song)" is a stunning song from Skip Spence's album Oar. Beck's third Record Club was with the band Wilco and singers Jamie Lidell and Feist, and together, they covered the entire album.
The Record Club version of the song begins with a snippet of the original Spence track, before it starts (apparently so they can all get familiar with the melody). Feist sings lead on the track, which I think is a great decision--I'm not sure Beck, Jamie Lidell, or Jeff Tweedy's voices would have fit this song. Her voice has more of a fullness to it, which is necessary for this song. Anyway the band fills it out with lots of beats and percussion, as well as Nels Cline "arpeggiating some ridiculous 64th notes on a toy guitar."
In the end, their version has a cool, slight funk to it. This is pretty different from the slow mesmerizing folk of the original, but it still maintains some of the pathos of the original (which is pretty damned hard to live up to).
"Weighted Down (The Prison Song)" is a stunning song from Skip Spence's album Oar. Beck's third Record Club was with the band Wilco and singers Jamie Lidell and Feist, and together, they covered the entire album.
The Record Club version of the song begins with a snippet of the original Spence track, before it starts (apparently so they can all get familiar with the melody). Feist sings lead on the track, which I think is a great decision--I'm not sure Beck, Jamie Lidell, or Jeff Tweedy's voices would have fit this song. Her voice has more of a fullness to it, which is necessary for this song. Anyway the band fills it out with lots of beats and percussion, as well as Nels Cline "arpeggiating some ridiculous 64th notes on a toy guitar."
In the end, their version has a cool, slight funk to it. This is pretty different from the slow mesmerizing folk of the original, but it still maintains some of the pathos of the original (which is pretty damned hard to live up to).