Karen Dalton: Haunting, Earthy Beauty

Karen Dalton was a folk singer and musician who gained fame within the Greenwich Village Beat scene in New York City during the 1960’s. Known for her uniquely beautiful voice, Bob Dylan called her “his favorite singer.” Dalton’s voice was filled with an effortlessly bluesy weariness and is remembered as being raw, untamed, untouched. As a half-Cherokee mid-westerner with long black hair and a slender frame, Dalton was an earthy beauty who also played the guitar and banjo. Dalton was anything but typical and is remembered for her haunting melodies on such albums as It's So Hard to Tell Who's Going to Love You the Best (1969) and In My Own Time (1971).

KATIE CRUEL

When I first came to town
They called me the roving jewel
Now they've changed their tune
Call me Katie Cruel

Through the woods I'm going
And through the boggy mire
Straight way down the road
'Til I come to my heart's desire

If I was where I would be
Then I'd be where I am not
Here I am where I must be
Where I would be, I can not

When I first came to town
They bought me drinks plenty
Now they've changed their tune
And hand me the bottles empty

If I was where I would be
Then I'd be where I am not
Here I am where I must be
Where I would be, I can not

Written by Bert Jansch
Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group