Asheville Strong – A Benefit EP for Asheville after Helene
Even though it is no longer headline news, the residents of Asheville are continuing to struggle. Please support in whatever way you can.
In June of 2006, I wrote a song called Asheville.
I had recently visited the town, and as I reflected on that visit and a conversation I had with an aging musician, I penned the lyrics below. I am a big fan of Johnny Cash, and this song’s musical cadence is my attempt to honor the Man in Black.
The song has always been one of favorites. Though I have yet to make a studio recording of the song, I have performed it live on numerous occasions where it has been well-received.
Upon learning of the recent devastation of Asheville by Hurricane Helene, I decided to release on an EP several live recordings as well as new mixes and interpretations of the song in solidarity with the people of Asheville as they begin the long hard task of cleaning up and rebuilding.
Proceeds from the sale of the EP will go to help Asheville rise from the rubble of this difficult time.
#AshevilleStrong
Listen and purchase (click the “buy all” button) on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/the-belly-hymns-project/sets/asheville-strong-helene-benefit-ep
Streaming at:
KMLS
Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/1157198404
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0TF18wwlkAs7CJS0mGYjH7
Visit https://kmls.bandcamp.com/album/asheville-strong-hurricane-helene-benefit-ep for more info.
Lyrics:
Asheville
June 4, 2006
Well, I’m going down to Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina
I won’t be going to Nashville, and get caught up in the Nashville Machine.
Asheville is where I’ll be.
I hear that it’s pretty, pretty in North Carolina.
It’s not the Music City, the city of broken dreams.
No, it’s Asheville for me.
Outside my window Mr. Mockingbird still sings his tunes for free
While in Nashville songs are bought and sold like commodities.
The melodies we make can never be owned by you and me
Music is for sharing like the birdsong on the morning breeze,
Music is for sharing like the birdsong on the morning breeze.
An old musician he was saying, he was saying unto me.
He said don’t you be playing, playing down in Nashville, Tennessee.
It took the music out of me.
(He said) When I was young, I hit the road, hit the road with all my dreams
I sold my soul, sold it to the Nashville Machine
Til there was no music left in me.
Outside my window Mr. Mockingbird still sings his tunes for free
While in Nashville songs are bought and sold like commodities.
The melodies we make can never be owned by you and me
Music is for sharing like the birdsong on the morning breeze,
Music is for sharing like the birdsong on the morning breeze.
Well, I’m going down to Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina
I won’t be going to Nashville, and get caught up in the Nashville Machine.
Asheville is where I’ll be.
I hear that it’s pretty, pretty in North Carolina.
It’s not the Music City, the city of broken dreams.
No, it’s Asheville for me.
October 7, 2024
MuTAZioni
Greg Cocks 
