Song: Girl of the North Country
Album: Ice Caps: Peaks of Telluride
Performer: Sam Bush
Writer: Bob Dylan
Year: 2006

“Girl of the North Country” was a track on the 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. That’s the one with the iconic cover of Dylan in his suede jacket, a young Suze Rotolo on his arm. This has always been my favorite Dylan album. I’m not sure who I wanted to be more as a 14 year old… Dylan or the smart and beautiful Rotolo.

Anyway, I was giddy when I came across Sam Bush’s recording of this song. He recorded it as a part of his live album in 2000. I love it because it is not an over-arranged cover of the song. It’s just Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas (dobro) playing together. It stays true to Bob Dylan’s minimal accompaniment on Freewheelin’.

There’s really not much to say about this song apart from the fact that it is superior musicians paying tribute to a superior lyricist and folk artist.