Today’s musical selection is from the Love For Levon:  A Benefit to Save the Barn, which you can read more about in yesterday’s post, here.

Wide River to Cross, written by Steven “Buddy” Miller and Julie Miller, is from Levon’s album, Dirt Farmer, which was released on October 30, 2007, and was Helm’s first studio album since 1982. It was produced by fellow ex-Dylan sideman Larry Campbell and by Helm’s daughter, Amy, both of whom also sing and play on the album. It won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album in February 2008.

Here it is covered by Roger Waters, G.E. Smith, Larry Campbell (fiddle), Amy Helm (backing vocals), Kenny Aronoff (drums), and Don Was (bass guitar.) I think Amy should have backed off a little on her backup vocals, as she drowned out Roger’s voice.  She has a wonderful and strong voice, but she needed to tone it down for this tune.

There’s a sorrow in the wind
Blowing down the road I’ve been
I can hear it cry while shadows steal the sun

But I cannot look back now
I’ve come too far to turn around
And there’s still a race ahead that I must run

I’m only halfway home, I’ve gotta journey on
To where I’ll find, find the things I have lost
I’ve come a long long road but still I’ve got some miles to go
I’ve got a wide, a wide river to cross

I have stumbled, I have strayed
You can trace the tracks I made
All across the memories that my heart recalls
But I’m still a refugee, won’t you say a prayer for me?
‘Cause sometimes even the strongest soldier falls

I’m only halfway home, I’ve gotta journey on
To where I’ll find, I’ll find the things I have lost
I’ve come a long long road but still I’ve got some miles to go
I’ve got a wide, a wide river to cross

I’m only halfway home, I’ve gotta journey on
To where I’ll find, I’ll find the things that I have lost
I’ve come a long long road but still I’ve got some miles to go
I’ve got a wide, a wide river to cross
I’ve got a wide, a wide river to cross

Songwriters: Julie Miller / Steven P. “Buddy” Miller