Willie Sings "Moonlight in Vermont"

Willie Nelson has called "Moonlight in Vermont" his favorite song, and the power and beauty of his rendering of it on his game changing, breakthrough record, Stardust, attests to his affection for this great standard. In fact, when listening to this record recently it struck me that this, and not the title track, is the true heart and artistic pinnacle of the album. Which is saying something. This song is famous for having no rhymes in the verses. Written by John Blackburn (lyrics) and Karl Suessdorf (music), this circumstance unlfolded like this: "After completing the first 12 bars of the lyric," said Blackburn,  "I realized there was no rhyme and then said to Karl, 'Let’s follow the pattern of no rhyme throughout the song.' It seemed right." Some have likened the verses to haiku. Also interesting is that the bridge, or B section, doesn't resolve but leads in an open-ended manner into the next verse. Those who are truly accomplished know how to break the rules and make it work.

As for the record itself, it sold millions, even while striking many as a novelty. A country singer performs the Great American Songbook? Get out. But Willie, like everyone in the first part of the 20th century, grew up listening to every kind of music. Radios were king, and they would broadcast every genre from coast to coast. I was recently reading an interview with Bob Dylan, and he emphasized that it would be impossible to overstate the power of the radio in this days to shape and inform the musical taste of a nation. In addition to listening, Willie also performed every style of music growing up. Just listening to his early hits lets you know how important the old standards were to him. Consider a song like "Crazy." If someone said that was composed by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, you wouldn't even blink. So, with Stardust, Willie was only doing what came naturally to him, which of course is his M.O. And in following his heart and his ear, Willie opened the door for all manner of pop stars having a go at the standards. I'm all for it, since these songs are central to American aesthetic tradition. As I've written before on this site, I like Boz Scaggs' efforts in this arena. So tasteful and sensitively sung. 

What more can I say than, Thank you Willie!

Moonlight in Vermont

Pennies in a stream
Falling leaves of a sycamore
Moonlight in Vermont

Icey finger waves
Ski trails on a mountain side
Snowlight in Vermont

Telegraph cables, they sing down the highway
And travel each bend in the road
People who meet, in this romantic setting
Are so hypnotized by the lovely . . .

Evening summer breeze
Warbling of a meadowlark
Moonlight in Vermont

Telegraph cables, they sing down the highway
And travel each bend in the road
People who meet, in this romantic setting
Are so hypnotized by the lovely . . .

Evening summer breeze
Warbling of a meadowlark
Moonlight in Vermont

You and I and moonlight in Vermont