Tis A Song, A Sigh Of The Weary

Stephen Foster wrote this song in 1854. He had separated from his wife, his dear friend Charles had recently died and his muse was slipping away. He would die 10 years later, alone and broken by sorrow. It is not his most famous or best-loved tune, probably because his heartache is so audible. I first heard it sung by Mare Winningham (of all people) in the movie Georgia . It remains one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and I'm wearing out Nanci Griffith's cover. If you have 99 cents to spare, pick it up on iTunes. You may be glad you did.