Tara "Sister Grace" Montague is a real person who actually existed when I went to college in Atlanta. Nobody called her that and it's not her real name; she was way too nice to mock or doxx. If anyone on earth is the true reincarnation of benevolent Christ Jesus, it's her. Last I checked she was dedicating her body and soul to the work of the Lord in some foreign land -- I have conflicting feelings about that, but I figure on the whole she's doing good.

She taught me about grace when she thought I needed it, and that was the kindest thing anybody's ever done for me, even if it missed the mark. Tara, I love you and I wish you the best, but some of us are supposed to live in our dark little holes. And for those of us in that cohort, rejoice: there's always Western Massachusetts. Nos misera.

#rock #acoustic #guitar #lofi #twotakes #irecordedthevocalsandtheguitarseparatelyandthende-essedthevocalsthatsit #canitstillbelofiwhenide-essedthevox #guywithguitar

Old lines can be made new again -- I've had "I guess I don't particularly care about the faith" in my pocket since before Covid. I was having a conversation with a friend in which we were discussing an obviously bad-faith take that I thought was stupid no matter what the intent was, he said it sounded like a Hold Steady lyric, and I've been sitting on it ever since. And, of course, credit to Billy Joel for the whole thing about Catholics and starting late.

Inspired by: "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby", Counting Crows "Hot Soft Light", The Hold Steady

Her name was Tara Montague, But everybody called her "Sister Grace" She had a habit of starting right past you, She'd never look you in the face I guess she'd seen it all From when she learned the score On the nails outside of Calvary A couple thousand years before I'd want to be on her side of the war

She walked me through the parts that I hate With the dead or dying sons Said it's freedom from the weight of it all It's a sacrifice of love Then the clouds parted, And God spoke down Opened up his heart to me And turned my life around - Nah, I'm kidding, man. I wished her well, and then I walked away and drowned.

And if you're comin' on to me, Well, man, I'd like some privacy I got an anxious pair of hands And a green chip for sobriety.

It's funny how nobody believes In this thing you call the scene And everybody's speaking in tongues And you all know what they mean If angels were miraculizing Down in College Park I just don't think the focus would be Patronizing all your sh*tty art. This ain't a movement, man, you're just a bunch of narcs.

And I don't let myself capitulate You Catholics all start much too late If you wanna save this soul, Man, you're gonna have to amputate. I guess I don't particularly care about the faith I expect a little bit of condescension in the first place 'Cause I don't trust the people of King James.