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Jason Isbell — Cumberland Gap
Album: The Nashville Sound
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 608









Released: 2017
Length: 3:12
Plays (last 30 days): 0
There's an answer here, if I look hard enough
There's a reason why I always reach for the harder stuff
It wasn't my daddy's way
He was down in the mines all day
I know he wanted more than mouths to feed and bills to pay

Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole
Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole

I ain't cut out for war, unless I know what I'm fighting for
And there's nothing here but churches, bars, and grocery stores
Ain't much money in the old-time mandolin
So I cash my check and I drink 'til I'm on my ass again

Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole
Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole
Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole

Remember when we could see the mountain's peak?
The sparkle off the amphibole?
Like a giant golden eagle's beak
Now they say no one wants the coal

I thought about moving away
But what would my mama say?
I'm all that she has left and I'm with her every day
As soon as the sun goes down
I find my way to the Mustang Lounge
And if you don't sit facing the window
You could be in any town

Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole
Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole
Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole
Maybe the Cumberland Gap just swallows you whole
Comments (21)add comment
Jason Isbell after he's had a couple of cups of coffee; rocking and great!

Love the delay on his voice, it adds a lot to the song.
Listening to this song, thinking of the girl, and what she once said.
 snakechaser wrote:
This song came on RP while I was driving in Cumberland Gap, TN last weekend. Surely the namesake for the song. Still...not my favorite Jason Isbell song. 
 
Does it have to be?

The Jason Isbell NPR Tiny Desk Concert is amazing...
Is this any relation to Lonnie Donegan's excellent record of the same title? 
Tony Jory, London, England
Wow, what an album! This Guy is really amazing, thanks RP for keeping it interesting. 
 Vakse wrote:
Go see Jason Isbell if you get the chance....
he puts on a vivid show. 

 

Vivid!!

Go see Jason Isbell if you get the chance....
he puts on a vivid show. 
Hey BillG, you said "listen out for some great guitar playing on this Jason Isbell track".

Well I pricked my ears up and listened especially hard and I don't know what you are talking about.

Now... the following track... John Hiatt "Wrote it down and burned it" really did have some special guitar playing.

Have you got you comments and playlist out of sequence? 
Oh yeah! Digging this... loud. Again. 
Yes! Thank you for playing this again, Bill. I haven't fallen in love with a song this way since, for example, R.E.M.'s "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville." Or maybe Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over." Meaning... I could play "Cumberland Gap" until the freakin' record itself broke. But by not downloading it/buying the CD, I'm thus required to wait on RP to play it for me. So I won't burn it out by too much self-play. 
 mattcol99 wrote:
anyone hearing touches of "The Gaslight Anthem" ?

 
no



anyone hearing touches of "The Gaslight Anthem" ?
 horstman wrote:
So I like this song plenty but that is not the reason for my comment. My comment comes as a combination of my love of Radio Paradise coupled with my premium subscription to Spotify. I can now use Radio Paradise as a tool to preview unknown artists, and then find their music on Spotify and play all of their published work.

I recommend this pairing as it will fulfill your musical lust like none other. The word of Horstman!

 
I heartily agree.  One problem, though, in that I find that I am enjoying the RP mix more and more to the point where I rarely use Spotify at all these days ...  Especially as the sound quality is so crummy mostly.
So I like this song plenty but that is not the reason for my comment. My comment comes as a combination of my love of Radio Paradise coupled with my premium subscription to Spotify. I can now use Radio Paradise as a tool to preview unknown artists, and then find their music on Spotify and play all of their published work.

I recommend this pairing as it will fulfill your musical lust like none other. The word of Horstman!
This song came on RP while I was driving in Cumberland Gap, TN last weekend. Surely the namesake for the song. Still...not my favorite Jason Isbell song. 
 pilgrim wrote:
Managed to see him in Austin last week - pretty dang good and this was a standout. Also did a blistering cover of Whipping Post for a finale

 
Saw them last month in Raleigh and they also closed with Whipping Post. I highly recommend catching them live if you can
great artist that Jason, awesome band too (their Whipping Post must be killer : )
Managed to see him in Austin last week - pretty dang good and this was a standout. Also did a blistering cover of Whipping Post for a finale
I like what I've heard from this album.
I like Isbell the more I hear him.