Dan Bern is a hero.
Dan Bern - “Jerusalem”
In an evening full of remarkable and unusual events, I found myself in a backyard on a hill with three musicians and guitars. This is not to say that all of the musicians were guitarists but the talent pool was deep. One young man remarks about how he only knows two songs… but they are both in the same key and use the same chord progressions. During a brief silence he begins to strum. Slowly and hesitant at first but as his confidence increases so does his ability. He begins to sing…
“…When I tell you that I love you, don’t test my love. Except my love.”
There is something about the song that sucks you into this convoluted tale about love (or a lack thereof), religion and olives. It is so heartfelt and real that it makes you wonder if perhaps it isn’t a work of fiction but a real, true life story and Bern actually has come to save us all from ourselves.
Bern’s bio proclaims, ”He’s frequently been compared to Bob Dylan, because like the young Dylan, he’s funny and smart and has a regally Semitic nose.” And I couldn’t agree more.
