Dale Watson - 'Every Song I Write Is For You'

Every Song I Write Is For You Bottom Line:

From sorrow often comes great art, and such is the case with this 2001 release from country music powerhouse Dale Watson. When Watson sings these songs, they come from a dark place yet bring him a much-needed catharsis, and draw the listener into emotions so pure and real it's impossible not to feel them, too. Through the songs on this album, Dale Watson bears his fragile soul, bringing himself out of that darkness and back into the light. The healing was long and hard, and now, in retrospect, the entirety stands as a beautiful, loving tribute to a lost love.

Some History:

On September 15, 2000, Terri Lynn Hebert was driving to Houston. Just outside of Austin, she somehow lost control of her vehicle. She went off the road, overcompensated, and flipped. She wasn't wearing a seat belt, and died at the scene. Her fiance, Dale Watson, lost his mind. Quite literally, in his own words, he lived like a zombie, a bleak version of the film "Groundhog Day," living that same day, the day after her death, with every waking. For three months he suffered, until a suicide attempt landed him in a hospital, and then in intense therapy to get him through his post-traumatic shock. Finally, he recorded these songs to help, and released it initially only to hardcore fans. Watson didn't think anyone else would really be interested in hearing about his trials, but in the end, determined it was important to get these songs heard. He worked with Audium/Koch and his personal journey was released in July of 2001, one of the first major label releases for the prolific Watson, and finally allowing him to proceed with the grief process in a normal, more healthy way. Now, eight years later, this disc still stands as a brilliant work of art.

Every Song I Write Is For You The Songs:

The very first tune on the disc, the title track, tells us something about Ms. Hebert, how she wanted him to write a song for her (he managed only one during her lifetime, the tune "Blue Eyes," available only on the album 'Texas Through the Eyes of Terri Hebert'). Now all his songs are for her, and while they maintain the pure country simplicity that categorizes all of Watson's songs, there's no getting around the love and affection that shows in these lyrics. He tells us how she made him feel, how it was to be with her, both good times and bad-and how easy it would be for him to "Deal With the Devil" to get her back. We hear her nickname for him in "Hey Chico," we listen to his lament over "These Things We'll Never Do," and "Our First Times and Our Last Times," the regret, and guilt, in "If I Knew Then What I Know Now." But most of all we hear the love, notably in "You're the Best Part of Me" and that touching title track. My favorite track tells how he meets an old man who lost his wife and still mourns her, and how they get to talking about their respective losses in "I See My Future." While distinctly different from other Dale Watson albums, this still maintains his high standards and his pure traditional sound. Dale doesn't do too many of these songs in concert, but he says it's the only disc of his that he'll listen to. It's a beautiful tribute to a lost love, and a good listen for anyone who's ever been in love at all.

Release Date: July 24, 2001 - Label: Koch/Audium Entertainment

Every Song I Write Is For You Track List

1. Every Song I Write Is For You
2. You're the Best Part of Me
3. I'd Deal With the Devil
4. One More For Her
5. I See Your Face in Every Face I See
6. If I Knew Then What I Know Now
7. Your Love I'm Gonna Miss
8. Money Can't Buy Her Love
9. I See My Future
10. Our First Times and Our Last Times
11. Hey Chico
12. Angel in My Dreams
13. I Can't Let You Go
14. These Things We'll Never Do