Click on the above link to take you to an NPR interview with Iris.
Iris DeMent is an American singer-songwriter and musician. DeMent’s musical style includes elements of folk, country and gospel.
DeMent was inspired to write her first song, “Our Town,” at age 25 by a drive through a boarded-up Midwest town. The song lyrics came to her “exactly as it is now,” with no need for re-writing, and she realized then that songwriting was her calling. “Our Town” was played during the closing scene for the final episode of CBS’s television series Northern Exposure.
I will be including Iris in Women Music March next month. That post will have more info about her in it. Today I want to focus on her fifth album, Sing the Delta, released in 2012. Wikipedia says it was her first original material in sixteen years.
The album’s material has strong ties to DeMent’s upbringing. According to DeMent, Sing the Delta is a reference to the Arkansas Delta, a natural region in the State of Arkansas and where her family lives. She says of the title track:
And that was that part of the country, the Arkansas Delta. … A lot of what I had stamped on me — musically, Sunday-dinner-wise, religion and everything else — was a direct outgrowth of that.
Commenting on the sixteen-year wait between new material, DeMent has stated in an interview that she has come to terms with the fact she doesn’t write new songs very often.
I finally made peace with that. It took me a long time, but I finally have fully accepted I’m not in charge of that. So I just made the decision to live my life.
So you’re heading down a southern way
Passing through the delta some time today
In my mind pictures line the walls
Of a place I used to know and vividly recall
I love you so much and you sure sing good
It would mean so much to me if you would
Sing the Delta a love song for me
It’s the land where the cotton used to grow
That owns a piece of my heart and soul
It’s where my people on both sides going back
Eked out a livin’ farmin’ and fillin’ cotton sacks
Dad took us west when I was a little child
But it’s in my blood, flowing strong and wild
Sing the Delta a love song for me
Sing the Delta a love song for me
Lay it down on that river, Let it roll on out to sea
The Delta lived in my mama’s voice and in her hands
It’s a language my spirit understands
Sing the Delta a love song for me
You give it all just the way your daddy does
You both got your demons but they’re cloaked in love
And I know that life’s puttin’ your callin’ to the test
But you’ve got something that sets you right up ‘long side the very best
So take that heart good as heaven every made
And that voice that lays like August in the shade
And sing the Delta a love song for me
Sing the Delta a love song for me
Let it rock that old cradle and roll on out to sea
I’ve been east, I’ve been west and north
From that sweetness I just can’t ever divorce
Sing the Delta a love song for me
Songwriter: Iris Dement
Glyn is the host of Mixed Music Bag. Glyn says:
The final February MMB. Find a band or solo singer that starts with the letter C or D
Tao Talk 
I’ll definitely check out that link and I kind of lost interest in her as you pointed out since her last album. You might know of this song with John Prine. One of my favourites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, I am, Randy. It’s the first song I heard of hers (and Prine’s.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a great song!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very lovely music.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you like it. She’s a talented person.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I first heard of her not long ago when I posted that song with her and John Prine. I loved her voice in that…it’s different and I really like it….Randy posted it below…
This is great…I want to hear more from her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have this album but haven’t listened to it much, sorry to say. I will be though before picking one for her WMM day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I fell in love with her voice…I like different…and she is different.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Max, you can feel her genuine affection for her home along the delta. Yes, she is different and in a good way <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I totally agree….you said it right…she is geniune.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like her voice and her song, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do too, Miriam. Thanks for giving her a chance :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Lisa! Thank you for the introduction. ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
If not for Northern Exposure and your post today, I would not know of Iris Dement. Well done, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nancy did you hear they are streaming NE with its original music on Prime now? I never knew her song closed the series until I wrote this up. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I heard that about NE but I wasn’t familiar with her music until now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A new name and voice to my ears. Her voice is somewhat unique.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is, almost on the verge of whining, sort of like Emmylou Harris. Better combined with other voices, imo.
LikeLike
“Let the Mystery Be” is one of my all-time favorite songs. Great choice (as always). (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
:) <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
I first came across Iris DeMent one year ago when I featured a song from her then-new album “Workin’ On a World.” I just looked at the post, which notes she was the youngest of 14(!) children. A bad childhood experience as a 5-year-old delayed her music journey until 1986 when she was 25. Looking forward to learning more about her in your upcoming WMM post! :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christian, do you mind if I put a link to your post in my write up on her? Sounds like you found some good info.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, here you go. I included DeMent in one of my weekly new music reviews at the time, so it’s not a dedicated post: :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Christian :) Almost a year ago to the day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
she’s good I like her style!
LikeLiked by 1 person
:)
LikeLike