This is such a poignant and heartbreaking song, delivered so simply and honestly that it gets me every time. I usually listen to this one on repeat.
For those who may not know the story, the album this song comes from, Mermaid Avenue: Complete Sessions, is the boxed set version of a multi-album endeavor to set unheard lyrics of folk singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie to music. His daughter approached Billy Bragg with the collection of lyrics after hearing him play a Guthrie tribute concert, and Bragg recruited the band Wilco to join him in the effort of writing music to accompany the lyrics and record them. Three Mermaid Avenue albums were the result, one a collection of B-sides. The albums have a few beautiful moments. This song was one of the B-sides, and it’s my favorite of them all.