David Ramsey

About

David Ramsey, a contributing editor to the Oxford American, last wrote for the magazine about Hank Williams. You can follow his current work at his Substack blog/newsletter, Tropical Depression.

Articles

Some Like It Extra Hot

By David Ramsey

The Perfect Man

By David Ramsey

I Will Forever Remain Faithful

By David Ramsey

Ode to Miss Pussycat's Puppets

By David Ramsey

Prayers for Richard

By David Ramsey

Issue 95, Winter 2016

Still Around Here

You ought to hear CeDell Davis play it.

By David Ramsey

Issue 98, Fall 2017

Honky-Tonk Man

The songs live on as family legend, but I never heard them myself; for all of his acidic bravado, Mr. Chuck could be shy around new people. I think the only time I ever heard him sing was when I...

By David Ramsey

Issue 99, Winter 2017

Tuned Up in the Spirit

On a hot June Sunday morning in a little country church by the North Fork of the Kentucky River, I sat among one hundred fifty or so Old Regular Baptists joined in song.

By David Ramsey

Issue 107, Winter 2019

Like a Shovel and a Rope

It becomes one voice, Shovels & Rope, the distinctive sound of the two of them singing together.

By David Ramsey

Issue 111, Winter 2020

Lingering Could Be Your Doom

By David Ramsey

Issue 115, Winter 2021

Can't You See That I'm Lonely?

I’m not going to tell you a story about the first time I heard “Rescue Me” because I don’t remember ever not knowing the song.

By David Ramsey

Issue 119, Winter 2022

I Ain't Got Nothing But Time

The lilt and longing in Hank’s voice. The freakish adrenaline in his delivery. His rubbery tenor, the way the tune yo-yos up and down like something about to snap.

By David Ramsey

Issue 123, Winter 2023

Blood Harmony

From the very beginning, her silence was hiding somewhere in the song.

By David Ramsey

Issue 123, Winter 2023

A (speculative, partial, oversimplified) Murder Ballad Family Tree

By David Ramsey