This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Iris still plays live occasionally and if you’re interested in finding out when and where you can see her perform check out her dates via Pollstar here. I will always be grateful for the musical gifts she’s given. I can count on one hand the number of times someone’s voice changed my life and I would venture to say that none hit me harder than Iris Dement’s. Here is a clip of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” that someone was kind enough to post on YouTube:Ī similar interest in her music arose when the above embedded song “Our Town” was used in a beautiful closing sequence for the much loved TV show “Northern Exposure.” These instances just show that Iris Dement can sing you home and keep your emotions long after you leave a theater and go to bed. She gave so much of herself on those records it would be selfish to expect more.ĭuring this time she appeared on numerous compilation CD’s including the Bob Dylan produced tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, Nanci Griffith’s masterwork “Other Voices Other Rooms” and a beautiful duet album with John Prine entitled “In Spite Of Ourselves.” It’s an odd and hard to explain phenomenon in her career but the three previously mentioned original abums are such a zenith they stand on their own and if it’s Iris’ decision to remain away from recording original material that’s OK with me. In reasons that I will leave to the artist herself Dement virtually walked away from recording waiting near 8 years to record the gospel covers album from which the “True Grit” closer was pulled. This is another record I would strongly suggest and the title track could very well be her finest song. My Life was followed by The Way I Should (1996), an album that had Iris extending her songwriting from the personal to more of a universal theme with songs that dealt with issues such as Vietnam, child abuse, and social injustice. It is the most honest record that I know of. It swims in the waters of Johnny Cash’s most earnest work and leaves you with the same type of feelings that Townes Van Zandt’s live records do. This is my go to if anyone ever suggests an album to hear and I think that they may not know who Iris is. This debut was followed by my own personal very best album of the 1990’s My Life (1994). ![]() The clip features Emmylou Harris but all the shine comes right out of Dement’s heart on this one: Here is an amazing live performance of probably her most well known song “Our Town” from this debut. The hallmarks of her style, that warbling mountain vocal and straight away heart bending lyrics came through and were so refreshing people turned on to her music just about couldn’t believe their ears. Iris seemed to come out of nowhere with her debut release Infamous Angel in 1992. She’s an astounding songwriter and her vocals harken back to a time out of mind, an immediate and sacred place where original voices called out to America from small wooden and wired boxes. I’m glad to hear of a resurgence in the interest of Iris due to this well chosen closer for the film. ![]() The woman with the stunning and piercing vocal is Iris Dement and this particular version of “Everlasting Arms” is culled from her 2004 gospel release Lifeline. One of the more interesting questions that movie goers have had after catching the film is, “Who is the woman singing the traditional hymn ‘Leaning on the Everlasting Arms’ while the closing credits roll?” Well it is my pleasure to answer that very question because she happens to be one of my all time favorites. The Coen brothers 2010 version of the western classic “True Grit” is receiving near universal high praise.
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