A Conversation with Sarah Harmer (continued)

PM: How did the great Dolly Parton song, "Will He Be Waiting For Me?" happen to jump into the set for the record?

SH: Well, I can't remember how I got The Grass Is Blue, but just somehow I got a copy of that a few years ago, and loved it, as a record. And then when I decided to do the I Love the Escarpment Tour, which took place last June, and I was getting the players together, I was burning some discs for everybody, with some of my own songs and with some covers. And I just threw that one on--I threw, actually, another Dolly Parton song on there from that record. I can't remember which one it was, off the top of my head now. But Jay Euringer, who plays bass, he said, "Oh, I like that song, but what about that 'Will He Be Waiting For Me?'  And I thought, "Oh, yeah, I love that one, too."  So we just learned it so that we could add it to the show, because it's always good to learn new songs.

PM: Sure.

SH: We had mandolin, and it seemed kind of appropriate instrumentally. And then, once we did it live, it was one of our favorites of the set to play, because there's lots of tight harmony singing, and it just cooks along, it seemed to really work well. So we just thought we'd record it. And then we liked it, so there it was.

PM: Have you ever done any gigs with her?

SH: No.

PM: She's remarkable. I've never gigged with her, but I've stood next to her on stage, side stage, a couple of times. And she's tiny, in a way. And yet, the power that's coming off her body is just unbelievable. She's one of those incredibly magnetic people that just seems like they're from another planet. Like I hear that Bill Clinton is, they say, like, "Yeah, well, he's just kind of a guy until you're right next to him, and then his personal power is so intense that you really can't believe it."

SH: Whoa.

PM: But she's like that.

SH: It's not surprising, just by the songs that she's written and the player that she is. And as far as the musicianship goes, I saw her play this past summer, and it was great to see her jump around from banjo to electric guitar to autoharp to tin whistle. And just the fact that she actually sent me a fax--did you--

PM: Oh, that's a beautiful story. Let's tell that in the interview, yeah.

SH: Yeah. Well, there's a Canadian awards called the Junos. And on the day that the Juno nominations were announced, my manager, Patrick, called me. And he's a really easygoing guy, but he was not happy. And he was saying, "I can't frickin' believe it. You didn't get nominated," or whatever. And I'm saying, "Oh, that's okay." And then he says, "But there's a little silver lining."

[laughter]

SH: "You got a fax today from someone very special." And I was like, "Really?" And so, yeah, she sent this really nice fax from her office in Nashville. And it just said--we have the same publicist--

PM: Who?

SH: Mark Satlof, at Shore Fire. I mean, he's the main guy, I think, there. But she said, "Mark Satlof gave me a copy of your CD. And I always like it, and am honored, when people cover one of my songs. I thought your version of 'Will He Be Waiting For Me?' was just beautiful. It blew me away. Love, Dolly."

PM: Too cool.

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