The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress

If I have to compile the top 50 favourite songs throughout my life thus far, this song will be prominently included in that list. The first time I heard it was from Charlie Haden and Pet Metheny’s album – it was so poignant, so beautiful … it capture my melancholy so perfectly.

The song was written by Jimmy Webb in the 70’s and it has been sung by so many singers. The best-known version is probably Linda Ronstadt’s. My favourite is actually Tom Wopat’s – when I heard his version, I was blown away – his gravelly voice creates a sensation of vulnerable masculinity. It’s quite a pity that I can’t find any YouTube video of Tom Wopat’s version – his album The Still of the Night is truly a gem.

 

The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress

See her how she flies
Golden sails across the sky
Close enough to touch
But careful if you try
Though she looks as warm as gold
The moon’s a harsh mistress
The moon can be so cold

Once the sun did shine
Lord, it felt so fine
The moon a phantom rose
Through the mountains and the pines
And then the darkness fell
And the moon’s a harsh mistress
It’s so hard to love her well

I fell out of her eyes
I fell out of her heart
I fell down on my face
Yes, I did, and I — I tripped and I missed my star
God, I fell and I fell alone, I fell alone
And the moon’s a harsh mistress
And the sky is made of stone

The moon’s a harsh mistress
She’s hard to call your own.