Colin Randall writes: in chilling political times, it warms the heart and soul to know at least that decent human qualities survive.
The thought occurred to me as I made my long-intended withdrawal from what I regard as the far right swamp of Elon Musk’s Twitter/X. Sixteen years on, I am still @salutsunderland but active only at salutsunderland@Bluesky.social.
And yet once we stop worrying about toxic social media and turn to song, those resilient human qualities shine brightly still.
I have been playing the Unthanks’ Dear Companions into the ears of a beautiful but severely handicapped baby granddaughter who sees little but adores sound.
Dear Companions now and ever
Will live on in songs we sing
Isn’t that just a gorgeous refrain? Perhaps more about parting generally than death specifically, Becky Unthank’s lyrics, set to the old American time of Nettleton, work for either.
On the Unthanks’ exemplary album In Winter, the sisters Becky and Rachel’s voices are complemented in joyous fashion by a choir of the 60 or so people who attend their weekend singing sessions.
The themes of death, affection for and remembrance of departed loves ones, related or not, and of less final partings, inspire much good music. This is a folk site but pop has its moments, too.
Elton John dedicated his plaintive Song for Guy to Guy Burchett. a 17-year/old runner from his record company, killed in a motorcycle accident. Apart from a closing line, Life Isn’t Everything, it’s an instrumental and John had been working on its composition – intended to address his own sense of mortality – at about the time Guy died. John more famously recorded Goodbye Norma Jean in honour of Marilyn Monroe, adapting it later for Diana, Princess of Wales.
Eric Clapton wrote heartbreakingly, in Tears From Heaven about his little son, Conor, who fell to his death from the window of a 53rd floor New York apartment. Don McLean remembered Buddy Holly in American Pie, Serge Gainsbourg a host of rock stars in the rather trite Ex-fan of the Sixties (sung by his then lover and partner, Jane Birkin).
Folk music certainly has the edge on Gainsbourg’s contribution to the genre.
Kate Rusby could never forger the kindness and affection shown to her by the Scottish musician Davy Steele when she was a child, being hauled around folk festivals by her parents. Her song Who Will Sing Me Lullabies? approaches his untimely death at 52 from the perspective of Steele’s young son but is clearly deeypersonal, too.
Martin Simpson spoke with simple poetic warmth about his father in Never Any Good. It strikes the listener that dad was actually very good indeed, if as flawed as the rest of us.
There are so many others I could offer. Let us just allow Dear Companions to serve as catch-all illustration of our feelings for those we miss, wherever they’ve gone.
Please also see:
https://salutfolk.com/2014/12/09/song-of-the-day-martin-simpson-never-any-good/
https://salutfolk.com/2022/01/24/song-of-the-day-kate-rusby-who-will-sing-me-lullabies/
https://salutfolk.com/2025/11/05/archie-fisher-farewell-to-a-huge-musical-icon/
And let us remember from 2025 and 2026 alone (among many I shall undoubtedly overlook):
Moya Brennan
Dolores Keane
Archie Fisher
Bill Leader
Marianne Faithfull
Gabriel Yacoub
Dave Cousins
Peter Yarrow
Garth Hudson
Bill Fay
John Roberts
Tucker Zimmerman
Bon Weir
Ed Askew
NB: any omissions brought to our attention will be added to this list (2025 and 2026 only please).
And please visit our Facebook group at Salut! Folk Group and follow salutfolk on Instagram.
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