Right now, you would be hard-pressed to find a better songwriter than Gretchen Peters. Her willingness to sing about tough, somber subjects is a rarity in the industry, and on her new album, Dancing With The Beast (due out May 18), she continues to prove her mastery.
The first song released from the project, “Disappearing Act,” was written by Peters with the help of “several cups of coffee.” The song tackles the concept of death in a brutally honest way. A common perspective focuses on memories shared with the person who passed away, but Peters reminds us that those valuable moments are also what breeds sorrow later on. “Good things come, good things go, if it lifts you up it’ll lay you low,” she states in an almost menacing tone during the chorus.
Given that she’s a gifted writer, she fleshes out her point in a haunting story. You may notice the female narrator has had ups and downs in her life: she’s been married to her husband for fifty years, but she also lost him on Christmas Day, and she lost all three of her kids as well. Peters excellently reminds us that life can change in a split second, and we don’t all get to live until we’re old.
Pre-order Dancing With The Beast here, and be sure to check out Gretchen Peters on tour here.
Well deserved praise for Gretchen Peters. Every song is a masterclass in brilliant songwriting!