One Track Mind: Livingston Taylor - "Grandma's Hands"
Published February 16, 2007
Grandma's hands Used to hand me piece of candy Grandma's hands Picked me up each time I fell Grandma's hands Boy, they really came in handy She'd say, "Matty don' you whip that boy What you want to spank him for? He didn' drop no apple core" But I don't have Grandma anymoreIf I get to Heaven I'll look for
Grandma's hands
Withers' version was already simply arranged, employing just a bluesy electric guitar, bass, and drums behind his voice. But Liv decided to go all a cappella with it, and going the gospel choir route was an inspired choice as the Grandma of this song was a religious woman who "clapped in church on Sunday morning" and "played a tambourine so well." Livingston belts out the lead vocal with so much divine exhilaration you'd swear he grew up in a Southern Baptist church. At less than a minute and forty-five seconds, it sets a new record for being the shortest OTM song. Short, but oh so sweet.
Whenever a friend is grieving over the loss of their grandmother, I quote them the lyrics to "Grandma's Hands." And if I get to pass along the song itself, it's gotta be Livingston Taylor's uplifting version. You can't go home no more, as they say, but music like this can bring you back there in your mind.
Listen: Livingston Taylor "Grandma's Hands"
"One Track Mind" is a more-or-less weekly drool over a single song selected on a whim and a short thesis on why you should be drooling over it, too.
- One Track Mind: Livingston Taylor - "Grandma's Hands"
- Published: February 16, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Pop, Music: Folk
- Part of a feature: One Track Mind
- Writer: Pico
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Comments on this articleComments
Not being serious enough is probably the best explanation for why Liv never became a big star. Although, that never stopped Jimmy Buffett from becoming one. But I'm kind of glad it worked out this way; with the pressure of producing a hit record long behind him, Livingston pretty much just plays what he wants. Which is just what I want to hear from him.
Pico, thanks for dusting off this track, one that had definitely slipped through the cracks for me. As a younger sib myself, I always felt special affection for Liv. Even on that first album, he had a wry humor that JT wouldn't acquire for decades. Plus he had a tentative, delicate quality that wasn't nearly appreciated enough back in the 1970s -- Liv was "emo" long before the term was invented.
I once wrote a paper, for a creative writing course in college, comparing Livingston's and James' performance styles. Even back then, in the late 70s and 80s, I found myself more drawn to his personal, intimate style than to James's (although I've long considered JT a favorite, too). I've seen Liv perform "Grandma's Hands" several times in concert -- it is a great fit with his personality and stage show.
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ya, this is a great song. i've often wondered why Livingston never became as famous as his brother. maybe he seemed less "serious" or somthing (with songs like "Pajamas" for instance).
still & all, he puts on a great show too. seen him several times.