Host                            Jim White

White                         Well, “Goodnight, Irene” is about suicide. And when I saw it’s present and it’s in the story, I thought, “Well, here are people who are familiar with the issues that draw people to death.”  And if the specter of death is leaping around in your mind and you try to ignore it, it usually gets you. the way to not give it power is to acknowledge.  And it seems like, when Sylvie sings “Goodnight, Irene,” she is saying, “Yes, that’s always there. We won’t hide from it.”  

Tom Waits

Host                            “Goodnight, Irene” is a true American standard.  Hundreds of musicians have played the song, and dozens have recorded it over the past century. Here’s a version by Tom Waits to close the show.  Thanks for listening.