Roman Candle Magazine

R.I.P. David Berman

I’ve found myself listening to the Silver Jews a lot over the last year or so. It’s rare I take much notice of lyrics, but David Berman’s words always stood out as something worth listening to. Funnier than any so-called ‘comedy music’, with more potent imagery than most films, his songs were filled with strange American characters that could have been ripped out of the pages of a William Faulkner book.

Not many other songwriters would sing about people wearing duct tape shoes and belts made from extension cords.

It seems that being so sharp must take it’s toll.

Here’s a video of the final Silver Jews show.