Tift Merritt: "Traveling Alone" Live On Soundcheck

(Download/stream the full session: wny.cc/YxcMrG) North Carolina native Tift Merritt plays the title track from her latest album, Traveling Alone, on "Soundcheck With John Schaefer" at WNYC in New York. (She composed some of the record at a piano at City Winery, a downtown eatery and nightclub located across the street from our studios.) She's backed here by guitarist Eric Heywood.

[@CrabbyGameGuy]

The world would be a better place if there were more Tift Merritts in it.

[@Abdullmajed-SA]

True

[@jaytoepfert6776]

Tift is one of the Greatest of these days right along side the the Great songwriters present and one's past.

[@megancatalina]

I closed my eyes and almost fell asleep, this is so beautiful

[@coberholtzer08]

One of the finest songs/performances I've ever heard.

[@planetaryfizz424]

Tift Merritt is the soundtrack if you too are traveling alone. The late Kate Wolf was one of only a few, like Tift, that can conjure up a tear outta thin air. Thanks Tift, I too travel alone. It is my therapy for life. The place I come to terms with all in life that has no answer. "I bring her questions and concerns... the road gives me, answers in return." (sjc 97') Be well my fellow traveler. -P.F. Reno

[@edmerritt6039]

Great song, Cousin!

[@davidscott7626]

Her voice just is so soothing, much like Alison Krause. Truly an underrated & mostly unnoticed phenomenal talent.

[@123sheepdip]

Just bought the 3 vinyl album box set "Traveling Alone". Absolutely brilliant.

[@eprohoda]

good night,htat is perfect ~

[@Zekedog1]

Wonderful voice... great guitaring... love your song & lyrics

[@dominicspurrier2983]

channeling the spirit of Sandy Denny is what I can hear! fantastic.

[@patriel4208]

Sandy Denny, as in the Battle of Evermore? Wow...cool.

[@paulmatschull1923]

I think she's got some way to go before she gets anywhere near Sandy Denny.

[@jesseilnicki8474]

I play this beautiful ❤️ Song this evening at my Protection Masonic house friends own.. honourable. . I will pay you Royal tea. Thank you so much.

[@garyturner1463]

This morning, if it all was gone, funny thing, it wouldn't phase me none. Might feel like I just got home. See, I always had a taste for traveling alone. Only get this one time round, better speak up straight, better speak up proud. Good Lord, if he's not at home, well, I always had a taste for traveling alone. Oh If I had a son, I would make him laugh, I would teach him something. I'd say, Son, you gotta hold your own, and it's good to have a taste for traveling alone. Oh If I had a love, I would say, Man, got to keep up. Got to lay down, baby, feed my soul, 'cause you know I got a taste for traveling alone. Oh If I had a song, I would sing it now, wouldn't take too long. I'd sing, Goodness is a real bare bone, and it's what you do when you're traveling alone. Down south, baby, in the heat, I was raised up right, I was raised so sweet. Sweetness ain't gonna get you home. You're bound to get a taste of traveling alone. I know that the world is mean, I know it don't care, I been around, I seen it. It's like a pretty girl who don't even know. I guess everybody here is traveling alone. Cigarettes and a pick up truck, I'm gonna leave this town now, I got to press my luck. Ocean gonna break so slow. You know, I always had a taste for traveling alone.

[@judsonclayto7813]

she's solid here... so is dude... been trying to figure out which songs of hers that i know... I've found a lot of new-to-me great stuff...

[@sharrison56]

Can't wait to see you in Atlanta next month!

[@alanhepple8856]

beautiful song tift is wonderful

[@PaulLangan1]

Tift Merritt and husband, lead guitarist and quiet gentleman, Eric Heywood

[@patriel4208]

So awesome!

[@christinemitchell2258]

Awesome Song!

[@martha-mj3ul]

This morning, if it all would go Funny thing, it wouldn't phase me none Might feel like I just got home You know I always had a taste for traveling alone Only get this one time round Better speak up straight, better speak up proud Good Lord, if he's not at home Well, I always had a taste for traveling alone Oh, If I had a son I would make him laugh, I would teach him something I'd say, "Son, you gotta hold your own And it's good to have a taste for traveling alone" Oh, If I had a love I would say, "Man, got to keep up Got to lay down, baby, feed my soul 'Cause you know I got a taste for traveling alone" Oh, If I had a song I would sing it now, wouldn't take too long I'd sing, "Goodness is a real bare bone" And it's what you do when you're traveling alone Down south, baby, in the heat I was raised up right, I was raised so sweet Sweetness ain't gonna get you home You're bound to get a taste of traveling alone I know that the world is mean I know it don't care, I been around, I seen it It's like a pretty girl who don't even know I guess everybody here is traveling alone Cigarettes and a pick up truck I'm gonna leave this town now, I got to press my luck Ocean gonna break so slow You know, I always had a taste for traveling alone

[@leahcorey2772]

so stunning

[@AliceInPantera]

Such a talent :)

[@MrCntryjoe]

Grandpa worked in the coal fields near Black Star, Ky. Left there in the middle of the night, heading north, to get away from the co. Store. Wlked to Il. To start working in another mine. Wasn't long he'd had enough. Started a cafe folks loved the food. Fried chicken and apple pie, tenderloin's. There is more to the story, just ask?

[@jimp7907]

J Merritt What an incredible insight offering. So so much ,would like to here some more, please? Thank - you!

[@MrCntryjoe]

jim p gr dad was mad as hell the night he lost his son, the co doc was drunk and wouldn't come. he was buried in a cemetery in Alva, Ky. the one the flood took all the graves, grandpa and grandma never knew, don't think they ever went back. and the heartache killed my grandma. somewhere near the west side of black mt. way up in thise hills. where my heart still lives. grand dad didn't take it well, beat that doc near to hell.

[@jimp7907]

J Merritt The loss of a child in the family is truly a heart-breaking thing. And when those you rely on let you down, anger is understandable. I'm glad that the flood tragedy was never brought to the knowledge of your grandma & grandpa. Moving on in life is difficult enough. The Heart is a tender thing. It knows where it belongs. Both here on Earth and when it seeks those in the Heavenly realms. It finds its' way. It is a mystery, but the Heart knows best. Hope the Doc learned his lesson. Thank-you for this J Merritt. Take good care. Jim P.

[@buggsduck3207]

also we will see you and Mary in jax,fl sunday, bring it on!

[@logana.childers4003]

TALENTED

[@gckelly68able]

Aye !

[@stevehardy3553]

A voice like buttery hopeful heart ache

[@mr.bojangles9589]

Open E tuning. Great song.

[@dayswellmade]

Does anyone know the tuning/chords for this? I can't quite work it out - is it Open G or something?

[@ShannonLeeAcoustic2112]

sounds like she might have her guitar tuned a little differently...

[@mlaforce321]

Its definitely in a different tuning. G would be higher than the standard E, but this sounds lower... like open D perhaps

[@buggsduck3207]

love this song ! is your guitar tuned to the chord of D?

[@dantheman1624]

Tift is always great....

[@mlaforce321]

It has to be something like that because of the tone and she mutes the top and bottom string and plays the other strings open for a chord.

[@mr.bojangles9589]

I think open E.

[@peterluff7422]

Guitar players help ..... Is this played in open D tuning? I'm crap at tuning by 👂 And sounds like her other guitar player is playing standard tuning ????

[@myenglishprofessor9189]

Correct

[@jesseilnicki8474]

I love covering this beautiful song on my guitar, reminds me of my illuminati lying politician ex-wife with human trafficking friends leave me for dead again in New Mexico. thank you.

[@mr.bojangles9589]

Ok then!