Ready for The Times

To Get Better: As recorded (last year) by Nefesh Mountain, one of the finest Jewish bluegrass bands out there. Husband-and-wife team Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff are the principal members. 

Wikipedia tells us:

Doni Zasloff grew up in Washington, DC and Philadelphia, and earned a degree in musical theater from Brandeis University. She began writing her own songs while teaching at her daughter's synagogue preschool, eventually forming the Mama Doni Band, which won the Simcha Award at the 2008 International Jewish Music Festival.

Eric Lindberg grew up in Brooklyn but often visited his father's family in Georgia, where he developed an appreciation for bluegrass music. He began playing guitar at the age of 10, inspired by blues musicians like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. He also cites Pat Metheny and Bela Fleck as influences on his work. He has a degree in jazz performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

The two began writing music together in 2010, originally for Zasloff's career as "Mama Doni", but found that the mashup of Jewish liturgy and bluegrass melodies worked. At the same time, the two became a couple and eventually married. [They recently welcomed baby Willow to the family.]

On YouTube, Doni and Eric wrote:

Dear friends and loved ones, 

Fall is upon us. The trees are turning, the winds are picking up, change is in the air, and the New Year is here... 🍂inspiring us to set out into the wild to record our version of this beautiful song “Ready For The Times To Get Better”.

As the Jewish Calendar brings in the New Year we are filled with hope for the days to come. L’Shana Tova to those who celebrate, and for all of us may the coming months bring more love and a willingness to change for the better.

This song was inspired by the beautiful voice and guitar playing of the great Doc Watson. We learned this song years ago after hearing it on a few Doc Watson live recordings but rediscovered it sometime during these past 6 months of isolation, falling back in love with the words and his haunting way of singing it.

Ready for The Times to Get Better

Allen Reynolds

I've got to tell you I've been rackin' my brain

Hopin' to find a way out

I've had enough of this continual rain

Changes are comin', no doubt

It's been a too long time

With no peace of mind

And I'm ready for the times

To get better

You seem to want from me what I cannot give

I feel so lonesome at times

I have a dream that I wish I could live

It's burnin' holes in my mind