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Jennie's Gone Down (single)

by Cat Martino

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about

“Last May (2009), I woke up to read a story on NPR about Jennie Hodgers, a woman who changed her identity to Albert Cashier to fight in the Civil War,” says Martino. “Her story was so compelling, I went straight with my morning coffee to my guitar to write her life song.”

The song opens with a psycedelic bluesy-folk feel. “I wanted to aurally capture morning mist and smokey gun barrels.” We hear a tenor guitar, wrapped in organ, a banjo, and then the confessional voice remembering. The choruses of harmonizing delayed voices are the angelic ghost of the woman Jennie left behind in becoming Cashier.

Jennie’s gone down below
Her blue vest’s last brass button she’d sewn
Her feather white skin now no man will know

“It seems this was a more exciting life for her, like first women of rock n’ roll. Her options were limited; Stay in one place and raise a family, or see the country, earn a monthly wage, and have voting rights. My 1934 Martin guitar gives me the freedom Cashier got from holding that rifle”.

By the 2nd verse, Hodgers turned Cashier speaks to his General:

Dear General, the homefront was dull / As good as I am, as any Gentleman
I traded my finger prick, to burn out the wick / The thimble thumb stifled, now triggers my rifle

Last is a chorus of echoing La’s in the gentle hint of campfire or tender barroom singing amongst the soldiers, amidst the loneliness and sirens singing of women gone.

“I read on NPR that Cashier was found out in a Veteran’s hospital while having some late life dementia. This song comes from the perspective of that moment, a delirious confession from a hospital bed. Cashier is filled with love, but secrets and regrets too, a very human story. He begins telling the tale to this nurse, and becomes so nostalgic the lines blur and thinks he is on the field with soldiers again, or writing a letter to the General.”

“I related to the tale, as my first tours were with Joe and Robin Bennett from Oxfordishire (from Dreaming Spires and Truckfest). Then straight to opening with Mark Gardener (from Ride) for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, where I was the only woman touring with 17 men. I was well respected musically. I loved bein one of the boys, and doin it well, the thrill of being on the road and seeing the country. Since then I’ve traveled with countless amazingly talented women as well...”

lyrics

Those were the days, the front lines a haze
All men were dear out on the frontier
Call me Cashier, Albert you hear
That is my name,
Come sing it again.

Jennie's gone down below
Her blue vests last brass button she'd sewn
Her feather white skin now no man will know

Dear General, the homefront was dull,
As good as I am as any gentleman.
I traded my fingerprick, to burn out the wick.
The thimble thumb stifled now triggers my rifle

Jennie's gone down below
Her blue vests last brass button she'd sewn
Her feather white skin now no man will know

credits

released May 20, 2010
Musicians: Cat Martino & Jack Petruzzelli.

Recorded & Mixed by Matt Boynton / Vacation Island Recording

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Stranger Cat Brooklyn, New York

NPR- "The New York native has previously appeared as a member of Sufjan Stevens' and Sharon Van Etten's bands, but is poised to release a sophomore album next year that has the potential to make her a star in her own right. Full of gorgeous, overlapping vocal loops, the album is a beautifully melodic piece of art dressed up for 2012". --Clare Flynn ... more

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