Lonesome River Band has released “Walking Back to Bluefield,” a new recording of a Bob Amos song. It pairs a bright bluegrass arrangement with a hard-luck story.
Guitarist Jesse Smathers sings lead on the track. He found the song while searching for material for the band to record. A longtime fan of Amos and his work with Front Range, Smathers was drawn to the song’s backstep feel, reel-like melody and contrast between lively music and lonesome lyrics.
The story follows a man who loses both his job and his love interest. With little left to his name, he begins making his way home.
“Its ‘backstep’ and reel-like melody are as catchy as its lyric,” Smathers said. “It sticks with the classic bluegrass pattern of the happiest sounding songs having a lonesome lyric.”
Sammy Shelor’s banjo drives the arrangement. Smathers, mandolinist Adam Miller and fiddler Mike Hartgrove also take instrumental turns throughout the song.
Amos originally wrote the song with Vermont geography in mind. Smathers said the band later discussed how easily the story could fit closer to Lonesome River Band’s home territory.
In their version, the character loses his job at a textile mill in Burlington, North Carolina. He then heads toward Bluefield, West Virginia.
The change gives the older song an Appalachian frame without altering its basic story of bad luck, lost ground and the long walk home.
“Walking Back to Bluefield” is available now through Mountain Home Music Company. Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL also offer the song in Dolby Atmos.