Jeff Tweedy’s “Jesus Wept”

Crikey, it’s been almost 14 years since I last wrote here about the great and underrated Jeff Tweedy. As time chugs along, the presence of Jeff’s music – both solo and with Wilco – are like an ever present, familiar, warm blanket. And since NPR posted this short & sweet set back in early 2018, I’ve kept coming back time and again to this 3 minute masterpiece mid-set.

It’s “Jesus Wept,” a poignant, beautiful acoustic ballad he wrote for Mavis Staples’ 2013 album One True Vine (which Jeff produced). The subject is loss, and it hits in such a unique and powerful way. Tweedy’s wordsmithing has always left me in awe, and this tune is no exception.

My throat quits when I try to say / How I long for the day / How I wish there was a way / I could see you again

or the chorus:

Side streets I have worn
Through late summer storms
I should have told you
I could live without you
But I don’t want to

Bless that man, and how lucky we are to have him around singing his songs.

So, this is from NPR Music’s 10th Anniversary Concert, which took place December 2nd, 2017 (seems like ancient history after all that’s happened since). The venue is the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. (where I saw one show – Mike Watt’s fireHose in 1991! but I digress).

The video below picks up at 7:56 – the start of “Jesus Wept.” By all means, watch it. I’ve wanted to share this for a long time. C’est magnifique.