I feel around and find you are/
No longer where you used to be.
“Song to Keep You Company” by Bridget St John is a folk song in every sense of the word. There is no chorus nor even a refrain. Folk has no need for that, though it does use it sometimes. St John uses a fairly standard picking pattern, and her guitar playing is average, but she sings with such passion that this song cannot be ignored.
But what exactly is she singing about in “Song to Keep You Company”? That is a tougher question to answer. I believe she is contemplating an ex, thinking about their time together. Her emotions toward him (her?) are bittersweet. There were lies and fights but there was love too. In some way, her memory is all that exists of her ex, and she feels a sweetness in that. She has a control over what memories she can choose to recall. Perhaps today she will choose to remember the days that he surrounded her with love.
Bridget St. John is one of my favorite discoveries from this process. She is amazing! I can’t believe I had never heard of her before. She is an amazing artist. She, Judee Sill, Sia and Ritchie Valens have been the biggest surprises for me. Prior to doing this list I would have guessed they would have exactly one song on this list. They have several (I won’t spoil it for you).
Song to Keep You Company Lyrics
Days dissolving in throw my mind
I feel around and find you are
No longer where you used to be
Escaping in the mist of memories
Remembering what was before
You blistered words and whispered lies for anyone
They’re dead and gone
I’m moving on to you
Images of you appear
And though you lead today
It seems you’re nearer now,
More real, you are part of me
I’ll count the days and keep their songs
Accept the love you offer to surround me with
And anything you ask of me
I’ll give
Written by Bridget St John
