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Gillian Welch — Tear My Stillhouse Down
Album: Revival
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 316









Released: 1996
Length: 4:28
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Put no stone at my head, no flowers on my tomb
No gold plated sign in a marble pillared room
The one thing I want when they lay me in the ground
When I die tear my stillhouse down
Oh tear my stillhouse down, let it go to rust
Don't leave no trace of the hiding place
Where I made that evil stuff
For all my time and money no profit did I see
That old copper kettle was the death of me
When I was a child way back in the hills
I laughed at the men who tended those stills
But that old mountain shine, it caught me somehow
When I die tear my stillhouse down
Oh tear my stillhouse down, let it go to rust
Don't leave no trace of the hiding place
Where I made that evil stuff
For all my time and money no profit did I see
That old copper kettle was the death of me
Oh tell all your children that Hell ain't no dream
'Cause Satan he lives in my whisky machine
And in my time of dying I know where I'm bound
So when I die tear my stillhouse down
Oh tear my stillhouse down, let it go to rust
Don't leave no trace of the hiding place
Where I made that evil stuff
For all my time and money no profit did I see
That old copper kettle was the death of me
Comments (78)add comment
Great song from a great album!  (er, CD)
Wow this caught me by surprise....me likey ...8

Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss - "Go To Sleep You Little Baby" Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94h2L9oBOHM

Gillian Welch on Harmonica by ~JohannaStudios
Kieran John Delaney ©2009-2010 ~JohannaStudios

Newport Folk Festival 2009


When I worked for a rum distillery (small, high end, doomed) we played this in the barrel room often. When the lyric

"for all my time and money, no profit did I see"

came up, you could count on every soul in the place joining in.

BTW, chanchu & wally42, in O Brother, Where Art Thou the Sirens were Mia Tate, Musetta Vander and Christy Taylor. Gillian Welch cameoed (in addition to sharing music coordinator credits with T-Bone Burnett and providing part of the soundtrack) as the record store customer asking for a copy of Man of Constant Sorrow.


Another American Legend that fits right in here.  Way to go you guys and girls!
One of the Sirens in 'O Brother Where Art Thou?'

'Caleb Meyer' is another excellent song by her. {#Cheers} 
 MiketheKnife wrote:
I worked for a country radio station in a small town in VA (circa 1991) & actually got in trouble for playing k.d. lang on the air- (and I come from a line of moonshiners in case I need any dirt road cred)- if this track was in the studio then, I would have played it 3x/day. There is good & bad. Formlaic Nashville pop is crap- but here is still good Americana out there that redeems the rest.
Bless Gillian Welch.
 
Really? Where?

I've got to get some more GW.

 caregiver wrote:
I love David Rawlings' guitar playing.  His acoustic stuff is phenomenal.  His style, one-of-a-kind.  And Gillian's voice, well yeah, there's that.
 

Improves it.
I love David Rawlings' guitar playing.  His acoustic stuff is phenomenal.  His style, one-of-a-kind.  And Gillian's voice, well yeah, there's that.
MiketheKnife wrote:
I worked for a country radio station in a small town in VA (circa 1991) & actually got in trouble for playing k.d. lang on the air- (and I come from a line of moonshiners in case I need any dirt road cred)- if this track was in the studio then, I would have played it 3x/day. There is good & bad. Formlaic Nashville pop is crap- but here is still good Americana out there that redeems the rest. Bless Gillian Welch.
Yeah, the soulless Nashville machine has turned a lot of people off of traditional-flavored music. Oh well.
I love Gillian. And the guitar licks on this song. To me her voice just sounds heartfelt. Got this cd, and must get some more.
I love this. Gillian Welch is a great southern-twisted siren. Reminds me of the best of the O Brother soundtrack.
dixiedeb wrote:
Well said. She is a real American treasure.
Cheers Deb- Many Thanks.
Good, good song.
MiketheKnife wrote:
I worked for a country radio station in a small town in VA (circa 1991) & actually got in trouble for playing k.d. lang on the air- (and I come from a line of moonshiners in case I need any dirt road cred)- if this track was in the studio then, I would have played it 3x/day. There is good & bad. Formlaic Nashville pop is crap- but here is still good Americana out there that redeems the rest. Bless Gillian Welch.
Well said. She is a real American treasure.
This is a first for me. I'm really liking the sound. Thank you.
This album can also be found on eMusic. Not sure if that helps our red assed friends to the North or not, but it's an option. I'm also not sure how to get RP a commission from eMusic.
Yeah!! sweet voice makes me tingle all over...but give that lady some proper nutrition...
Her sweet voice makes me weak in the knees. Ouch. Damn, she can write and play, too. Cool, cool woman.
This is a lovely album. I clicked through on Amazon to purchase this as an MP3, but alas, it is restricted to the US only. Amazon can kiss my red Canadian ass. (what's up with the smileys? it feels like 1999 in here)
One of the finest. Play more, please.
I worked for a country radio station in a small town in VA (circa 1991) & actually got in trouble for playing k.d. lang on the air- (and I come from a line of moonshiners in case I need any dirt road cred)- if this track was in the studio then, I would have played it 3x/day. There is good & bad. Formlaic Nashville pop is crap- but here is still good Americana out there that redeems the rest. Bless Gillian Welch.
I do not like country music therefore I do not like this music, I do not like country music therefore I do not like this music..........damnit it's not working. I don't mind this at all.
Guess I'm a country boy at heart. Love this stuff.
Sorry, I just don't like country music.
unbelievable! i was just thinking how similar gillian and ben harper could sound in their homages. right on!
Is she related to Neil Young!!
Wisecrowe wrote:
I'm in love with her, completely taken by her. She's the best!
wally42 wrote:
I see that the small minds have been posting comment to this song. Gillian is one of the most highly admired and respected songwriters of our time. Her style is rootsy and pure. She was one of the sirens in Oh Brother. Her live perfomances with David Rawlins are a treasure. What is wrong with you people? FYI The Nashville Bluegrass Band does a great version of this. FYI She was one of the sirens in Oh Brother along with Emmy Lou Harris and Allisoun Krauss
As someone who just gave this song a one, I have to say "Lay off" people. It may not be your thang (it sure isn't mine) but some seem to be pretty passionate about it. Mutual respect. That said: "small minds?" WTF friend? Just because slide guitar and twang give me the willies doesn't mean you have to get all personal about it. MUTUAL respect.
blech! C&W on RP. Neyt! No! Nada!
Shesdifferent wrote:
There is too much of this style of country on RP
Any country is too much country...
kmh wrote:
too twangy for me

It may be a bit twangy, but genuine.  I like it.
too twangy for me
Love her. Love this song! More please.
Sounds like country music to me, the ultimate oxymoron.
Bizzarefall wrote:
Agreed... I am going to shed a tear in my beer if the end of the song 'aint near... (in my best twangy old timey country voice)
Its actually just bad. I believe its the third time I've ever muted RP.
Mmmm...... oh my yes.......
I'm in love with her, completely taken by her. She's the best!
madaxeman wrote:
Fantastic.She just keeps getting it right.More please.
I'm with you, and all those who appreciate Gillian Welch. Great stuff!
Fantastic.She just keeps getting it right.More please.
I see that the small minds have been posting comment to this song. Gillian is one of the most highly admired and respected songwriters of our time. Her style is rootsy and pure. She was one of the sirens in Oh Brother. Her live perfomances with David Rawlins are a treasure. What is wrong with you people? FYI The Nashville Bluegrass Band does a great version of this. FYI She was one of the sirens in Oh Brother along with Emmy Lou Harris and Allisoun Krauss
tangent wrote:
icky!!!! This is an unhealthy mix of country and old fleetwood mac stylings. I don't like it whatsoever.
Agreed... I am going to shed a tear in my beer if the end of the song 'aint near... (in my best twangy old timey country voice)
Mindreading playlist strikes again! I had this song in my head this morning!
Shesdifferent wrote:
There is too much of this style of country on RP
I love this music!!
I like this. Sort of modern country. Good stuff. ">
This is cool. Nothing wrong with music with traditional influence.
icky!!!! This is an unhealthy mix of country and old fleetwood mac stylings. I don't like it whatsoever.
Shesdifferent wrote:
There is too much of this style of country on RP
No! Not enough . . . this is the good stuff.
There is too much of this style of country on RP
snurfer wrote:
oh no... no country please...
Ditto.
oh no... no country please...
dddenver wrote:
I uploaded it about a year ago, but it was rejected by Sir Bill (this was prior to the LRC). Perhaps we could get him to put it on the LRC to see how it does. I think it's a great tune as well.
Well, ddd, thanks for trying! Come 'on, Bill: give it another try?
The song isn't too country either. Not with that groove. Turn it way up. Patrick wrote:
You mean that the song is way too country for your taste. Gillian's from Manhattan. Not Kansas. Turn it up.
Dave Rawlings is da man.
netdiver wrote:
She is way too country for my taste
You mean that the song is way too country for your taste. Gillian's from Manhattan. Not Kansas. Turn it up.
She is way too country for my taste
Rockabobbie wrote:
What a talent. Got to see her a few timjes at the Cat's Cradle when I liven in Chapel Hill, NC. Nice to hear her on the RP rotation. Say, can anyone upload her tune with David Rawlings, "ELVIS PRESLEY BLUES?" Saw her do it a few times, then caught it on back porch music (local NPR show). All y'all RPers would D-I-G that cut.
I uploaded it about a year ago, but it was rejected by Sir Bill (this was prior to the LRC). Perhaps we could get him to put it on the LRC to see how it does. I think it's a great tune as well.
What a talent. Got to see her a few timjes at the Cat's Cradle when I liven in Chapel Hill, NC. Nice to hear her on the RP rotation. Say, can anyone upload her tune with David Rawlings, "ELVIS PRESLEY BLUES?" Saw her do it a few times, then caught it on back porch music (local NPR show). All y'all RPers would D-I-G that cut.
MORE GILLIAN! YAY!
What a clear, strong production this is! Just what great songwriting, singing and playing deserves of course.
man this chick is a tenor. but this are all right fer country music.
Oh, sister where art thou? Nothin' like that good ol' timey music!
Patrick wrote:
I loves it when the womenfolk set to a-singin' through their nose-holes...
aaaaahhh.... you bastard.... I sent coffee a-flyin' through my nose-holes!
Just saw Gillian and David at a festival. They did a cover of Radiohead's Black Star that was unbelievable. If anyone has a recording of her doing this song (don't know if it's on her newer albums or not) PLEASE upload it!
Ugh! No more country, please!
I've been waiting for months to hear some Gillian. Thanks.
I loves it when the womenfolk set to a-singin' through their nose-holes...
this kind of deversity makes this station great. keep it coming.
It's only English folk songs, Irish laments, black blues, mountain music, country, rock & roll - hell it's all the same and I like it!
The only classifications in music that count: Good and Bad. This rests comfotably in the former.
God, I love it when folks commence to a-singin' through their noses.
See - this type of mix makes RP great. More surprises like this great stuff.
Railee^!^ wrote:
Damn, that's almost country music Bill,.....BRAVO! When the rest of you kids grow-up you'll enjoy a little George Jones every now and then.
Yeeee Ha. Give her the gong.
Gillain Welch is great. She has an incredible voice. Railee sees this as almost country music, and I think it's more along the lines of old time bluegrass music with some modern instruments added. Whatever, it's great music.