Harlem River Blues, a soulful and captivating song by Justin Townes Earle, explores the deep emotions and struggles of the human experience. Released in 2010 as the title track of his album, this song delves into themes of loneliness, despair, and the search for solace. With its haunting melodies and poignant lyrics, Harlem River Blues resonates with listeners and offers a profound reflection on life’s complexities.
We threw a curve ball at Justin Townes Earle. Despite his five albums full of well-loved songs, we asked him to play new material for this Tiny Desk Concert; songs we hadn’t yet heard. Earle’s new album Single Mothers comes out this week, and here he performs two tracks from that record: “White Gardenias,” his nod to Billie Holiday, and "Burning Pictures."Based in Nashville, Earle is a strong lyricist with a father, Steve Earle, who similarly finds strength in perfectly crafted words. The younger Earle is on tour now, playing old and new songs, so here’s a taste of his sharp songwriting to tide you over until he comes to your town. --BOB BOILEN