
Lucinda Williams’ “Lake Charles” was first written in 1998. At its heart, it is melancholic and nostalgic. The song was originally written for her ex-boyfriend, who had passed, but still tugged at her emotionally.
In the hands of Dean Johnson, a Seattle-based singer-songwriter who has been charming audiences with his warm and honest rawness for some time now, the ballad takes on a more folk-ish sensibility. Whereas the original had more of a forward-moving rhythm (and a strong and obvious backbeat), this cover is decidedly pared down. But the most notable part of the performance is his voice, which ebbs and flows like the ocean. Even from the first note, which is more of an emotive vocal crack, down to the affecting harmonies at the end, this is one you’ll want to add to your next pensive playlist.
Surprisingly, the artist never planned for this cover to be released, posting on Instagram, “This was recorded in my bedroom around 2011. Sorry to anyone offended by my lyric alterations, I never intended you to hear this recording”