Jason and JTE covering the Replacements

[tinnitus photography]

This is a cool find:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSIrReTFJDo

[Clams]

This is a cool find:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSIrReTFJDo

Good one. JTE's shirt cost more than his guitar

[brettac1]

I was there.

[tinnitus photography]

This is a cool find:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSIrReTFJDo

Good one. JTE's shirt cost more than his guitar

lol i finally got your comment.

I read the post from Justin's widow on "When We Were Close" and this is a good piece:

https://tigerbeat.substack.com/p/when-w ... son-isbell

[pearlbeer]

I read the post from Justin's widow on "When We Were Close" and this is a good piece:

[/quote]

I read that as well, and thought it would be an interesting topic of discussion for 3DDs. JTEs widow talks about how hurtful it is to hear the song and that it mentions she and her daughter personally. (there isn't any mention of names)

JTE was one of those that I can remember the moment I heard the news, when and where I was. I wasn't particularly surprised by his passing, but was surprised by how hard it hit me. I always enjoyed his music and live performances. It was just such a complete bummer (and remains so today).

IMO - rereading the lyrics, to me it seems like a heartfelt, sort of self-searching song. I can imagine JTEs family's pain, and get not wanting to be reminded of it, but I guess I just don't see the "in your face" kind of references she's talking about. Either way, her pain is real. I'm still sad about JTE today. Not defending Jason, but I do think it's a well written song and I've had those experiences too - it could have been you or me...but for some damn reason, it wasn't me this time...I bet we've all been there at same damn point or another.



For reference, here are the letter and lyrics to the song...

Thoughts on a “tribute song” and suggestions as to what should be considered.

We understand that Jason Isbell’s song “When We Were Close” may have not been intended to be a tribute song, per se, but I (Jenn Marie Earle, Justin’s widow) want to offer my thoughts on what I feel, personally – since both myself, and mine and Justin’s daughter, Etta, were both mentioned/referenced in the song – it is our right to share our insight and feelings about it. I also feel that, as the keeper and protector of Justin’s legacy, that it is my responsibility.

During an interview this week, Jason shared why he wrote the song (this is, to our knowledge the first time he has addressed it publicly). Here is what he said: “When We Were Close, that song was one of those where I had to say, how many victims [will there be] if I tell the truth, how many victims if I don’t. And then you make that choice. You know, because the song has to exist, you know I don’t know why but I decided on that a long time ago because that’s what I do, that’s who I am. So you know, usually if you tell the truth, you make less victims than if you don’t.”

Being the said “victims” he is speaking of, I felt that in response, it is time to share my feelings on this song, the impact it has had on us, and why we had such a strong, visceral, and extremely painful reaction to it that has continued now, almost a year later since it’s release last June.

If you are not familiar, here are the specific lyrics to the song that were the most painful (for obvious reasons):

“I saw a picture of you laughing with your child, and I hope she will remember how you smiled. But she probably wasn’t old enough, the night somebody sold you stuff that left you on the bathroom tiles. Got a picture of you dying in my mind with some ghosts you couldn’t bear to leave behind…It’s not up to me to forgive you for the nights that your love had to live through, now you’ll never need to look me in the eye.”

It is important to me for everyone to understand, that Justin and Jason were estranged (after a difficult falling out) for years before he died. Jason stating that the song “had to exist” seems very inappropriate and hard to comprehend from my viewpoint when you take that into account. Especially mentioning our daughter (a complete gut punch, something Justin would have no doubt been extremely upset about)…and then immediately following Etta’s mention with grotesque graphic details of his death that 1. were absolutely unnecessary 2. were not released to the public (and the details were incorrect) 3. that it is not “his truth” to share, being completely removed from the situation for years up to Justin’s death. It was really no one’s right except for mine, which I did share immediately following the dreadful news, at a time when I could barely think, much less handle the public, but I knew it had to be done. For his fans, and as a warning to others so that he did not pass in vain.

I did not receive a compassionate warning ahead of the song’s release (we found out about the song, when this page was tagged in posts about it the day it came out). While it’s not mandatory that he give me a heads up, considering it’s about my husband and mentions myself, and especially my daughter, it would have been a respectful thing to do, so that we weren’t completely blown apart when we heard it as it was celebrated as a new release.

Soon after, he was made aware that the song was extremely painful (an absolute trauma trigger) and we hoped the message was taken to heart (although he did not acknowledge it) and we hoped to move on and try to forget about it. However, we learned (due to being tagged in posts, etc) that he was opening most shows with it, and then to our complete shock he chose it as the song to play on Jimmy Kimmel on the first show back after the writer’s strike, undoubtedly to a massive audience – putting the song front and center. ‹That was one of the most painful moments following, because it was clear then that he did not care that this song was traumatizing to Justin’s loved ones and was actually pushing the song above all of the others on the album. He could have chosen any other song.

Also, on top of this, he is profiting off of it which I don’t think I need to go into why I have such strong negative feelings about that.

Since that time, I, as well as others have reached out to him personally, in an emotional plea to try to make him understand the trauma it has forced on our daughter (she has asked to hear it and it has lead to moments that I can’t bear to share), something she will deal with for the rest of her life. He has not responded, and then made the aforementioned statement, making it clear that he understands there are living, breathing victims. One of which is our innocent daughter.

Also, I want to take this opportunity to thank the many people all around the world that have shared their tribute songs to Justin with us. There have been such beautiful, heart-felt songs created in his honor, so we know the difference between what Jason wrote and what a real tribute looks like, because none of the others have kept us up at night or sent our daughter into tears. He did not have to write this song, it did not have to exist, but if he really felt that it was necessary, a heads up beforehand would have been greatly appreciated. Also, even though he has finally acknowledged that there are “victims,” he has still not so much as texted me an apology and I just can’t wrap my head around why someone wouldn’t extend that simple and small act of kindness. We deserve that at the very least. We’ve been through the unimaginable and certainly didn’t need this on top of it, but an apology would have been some sort of consolation at least.

– Jenn Marie Earle




I got a picture of us back when we were close
Before we had somebody picking out our clothes
But you always dressed in your Sunday best
Even when we didn't have nowhere to go
I got a picture of us playing in a bar
And your shirt cost more than your guitar
But you played so heavy, and you always let me sing a couple
Even though you were the star
I was the worst of the two of us
But Rex's Blues wasn't through with us
You were bound for glory and grown to die
Oh, but why wasn't I?
Why wasn't I?
I saw a picture of you laughing with your child
And I hope she will remember how you smiled
But she probably wasn't old enough, the night somebody sold your stuff
That left you on the bathroom tiles
Got a picture of you dying in my mind
With some ghosts you couldn't bear to leave behind
But I can hear your voice ring, as you snap another B-string
And you finish off the set with only five
And for a minute there, you're still alive
I was the worst of the two of us
But Rex's Blues wasn't through with us
You were bound for glory and grown to die
Oh, but why wasn't I?
Why wasn't I?
It's not up to me to forgive you
For the nights that your love had to live through
Now you'll never need to look me in the eye
I am the last of the two of us
But the Fort Worth blues isn't through with us
You've travelled beyond the Great Divide
Oh, but why haven't I?
Why haven't I?