Dalton Carew - Layman's Lament | Valley Reels Presents

'Twas a cold and lonesome October night when in folksy pleasures did the Valley Reelers Three delight!

This month we shot Dalton Carew's song "Layman's Lament" in the freezing cold at our local Byward Market parking garage, right here in the heart of downtown Ottawa. When Dalton's not behind the camera working on this channel, you can regularly find him here busking folk songs old and new, well into the wee morning hours.

A true folk musician, Dalton got his start writing by reimagining traditional songs, though he is in no way a traditionalist. While he maintains a close tie to the old roots of the tradition, he never shies away from adding modern ideas, structures and sounds. The result is an exceedingly authentic folk music, steeped in the sensibilities of the past while telling stories from the modern age.

"Layman's Lament" is a song about trying to keep up with the times. It's all too easy to get spread too thin these days trying to find a way to make things work. Dalton captures this idea throughout the song with line after line of beautiful poetry, but I think it's summed up best in the last verse: "I cannot say for certain / that I'll sleep when I'm dead."

Dalton plays a 1934 National Resonator guitar, in an exceedingly rare 14 fret neck model. The twang (and visual beauty) of this relic serves to complement the power and poise of his distinctive tenor voice.

Until next time! Dalton, Ethan and Charlotte