Nanci Griffith “The Loving Kind”

I know Nanci Griffith has a passionate political point of view on a number of topics. But for better or worse, when I think about Nanci Griffith, only one image springs to mind.

I saw her in the late 90s, on the short-lived, but really well thought-out Newport Folk Festival traveling show. The folks from Newport Folk tried to package Newport-like artists, and send them on a Lollapalooza like journey across the country. It only lasted one year, and I’m not sure how a line-up like Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Wilco and many more, failed to bring folks through the gate, but it was the only year the show happened.

Anyway, at some point in the show, Nanci launched into an angry rant, aimed at Bob Barr and other Republicans, who, at the time, were pressing the Monica Lewinsky case, comparing those Senators, to Joe McCarthy’s shouting, “I have these names on a list!!!”

Nanci Griffith has done tremendous work with organizations like Adopt-A-Minefield, Journey Of Hope and the Vietnam Veterans Of America Foundation. She deserves a spot in my mind closer to those worth groups, instead of Clintonian silliness and partisan hoo-hah.

Let me start today, with this song.

The title track from Nanci’s latest album, The Loving Kind, refers to Loving v.Virgina, the 1967 landmark civil rights case that ended the ban on interracial marriage. Richard and Mildred Loving were an interracial couple who were forced to leave their home state of Virginia because of the local Jim Crow laws preventing marriage between the races.

A couple of weeks ago, a Louisana Court Judge refused to marry a couple, allegedly because the man and woman were of difference races.

In response, Nanci has made her song “The Loving Kind” available for free download on her website. Get it here.

And see sing eloquently on another social issue, here.

Buy "The Loving Kind”