The most adorable voice I’ve heard in country music is back once again with a beautiful ballad called Dimming of the Day. The song was written by the English singer-songwriter Richard Thompson and first recorded with his then-wife Linda Thompson on their 1975 album Pour Down Like Silver.
Alison Krauss & Union Station released their version of Dimming of the Day on their 2011 album Paper Airplane. The English folk and Celtic vibes are strong here, not only in the lyrics – where love and nature are closely tied – but also in the melody. It’s a song about love, longing, and quiet dependence, with a narrator who feels fragile and worn down (“This old house is falling down around my ears”) and who needs their lover close as the day fades into night.
I’ve never heard the slide guitar sound so perfectly matched to someone’s voice as I have with Alison’s music – and once again on Dimming of the Day. That combination evokes such ache and tenderness – it’s so deeply affecting. I’m a latecomer to Alison Krauss, but when I first heard her sing, it was love at first listen – just so pure and authentic. Just about everything I’ve heard from her has gone straight into my music library project, so I’ve had some catching up to do.
The song has been covered by more artists than you can poke a stick at. So many, in fact, that a large portion of the Wikipedia page is devoted to listing versions – including those by Mary Black, Emmylou Harris, and David Gilmour, to name just a few. Richard and Linda don’t exactly get their just due there.
[Verse 1]
This old house is falling down around my ears
I’m drowning in the fountain of my tears
When all my will is gone you hold me sway
I need you at the dimming of the day
[Bridge]
You pull me like the moon pulls on the tide
You know just where I keep my better side
[Verse 2]
Now days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonny birds have wheeled away
I need you at the dimming of the day
[Bridge]
Come the night, you’re only what I want
Come the night, you could be my confidant
[Verse 3]
Now I see you on the street in company
Why don’t you come and ease your mind with me?
I’m living for the night that we steal away
Oh I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day
References:
1. Dimming of the Day – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Oh, my… that is gorgeous. I haven’t listened to a lot of Alison Krauss, but am familiar with this song, though I canny recall whose version I’ve heard. Hard to top the folk and Celtic vibe in the song; that’s always a winner. It’s a lovely piece, and I hear what you mean about the guitar complementing her voice. Wow. Nice find, Matt.
Always feel like I’m onto something if you like it too lol Thanks sir.
Drop all tools if you haven’t heard ‘I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby’ with Jerry Douglas.
Ha! I enjoy being introduced to new-to-me things. There’s so much out there it would be impossible to find it all on one’s own.
“Drop all tools,” I love that! Reminds me of a chap I met in the early ‘80s, who introduced me to the term “tool-push” as a worker’s term for the shop foreman.
I liked this one, too. The high tone of her voice reminds me a little bit of Nanci Griffith. Here’s one of my faves or hers, if you don’t mind me filling up your comments section.
‘Drop all tools’ may be more Australian slang. ‘Tool Push’ is a good tradie one.
I haven’t heard much from Nanci Griffith, but I really liked her rendition of ‘Boots of Spanish Leather’ at Bob’s 30th Anniversary concert.
Thanks for the link to her lovely ‘Late Night Grande Hotel’. She has a classical, elegant aesthetic to her – real looker. She sounds so similar (in this song) to another singer of her ilk. I listened to it twice – so it might come to me. Arghh, don’t ya hate that!
Oh, I know what you mean about trying to identify a singer from their similarity to one in front of you. It’ll come to you, maybe in the middle of the night! LOL
“Spanish Leather” is another very fine one of hers; a poignant ballad. “Late Night Grande Hotel” has always been a stop-what-yer-doing-and-dance song for us.
I love learning about regional slang. My cousins are from Liverpool, UK so on adult visits to them there, they introduced us to Cockney rhyming slang. Very amusing.
After another attempt – Got it Steve!!!
Listen to who she sounds just like at 0:40 in her video – in that line specifically????? I’ll give you a few minutes to listen to it lol
I’ll be back…lol
Ooooh, that passage… goosebumps!
It brings to mind something else for me, too, though I canny call it up at the moment. I will anxiously await your follow-up, LOL – though I may be slow responding as we look after our youngest grandson ono Thursday afternoons.
No problem. Enjoy your time with your grandson.
You know who, at least to my ears Nanci sounds just like here (drumroll)……
Stevie Nicks
I probably got the ilk part wrong, but the voice – My golly.
Well, yes, I do declare, she does indeed sound a lot like Stevie there!
Oh, that’s a relief.
It’s unreal, how similar they sound in voice (in this song and Mac’s Silver Springs), both great artists in their own right.
Listen to Stevie Nick’s voice in Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Silver Springs’ – it’s uncanny.
I will give that a play later on… looking forward. Cheers!
Listening to that song (another great one) I do hear a bit of a resemblance in their voices though Stevie’s is a fair bit lower and huskier.
Thanks for taking the time to listen. We can agree – that’s another great song. I appreciate you outlining what you found distinct between the two voices. I agree about the huskiness of Stevie’s voice, although I hear much more commonality between the two in those songs. But hey, that’s why we’re here – to exchange ideas about music – and it’s great having someone to bounce ideas off. Thanks, Steve.
My pleasure, always up for listening to something good! Definitely there is commonality in those two songs, regardless of the differences I heard.
You have an uncanny way of connecting different pieces by even the merest threads within them, as has happened several times recently. I find that helpful as it opens my mind up to hearing music differently and gaining more out of it.
I mean’t the commonality in the vocals between the two singers in those songs rather than the songs themselves. But I think we’ve covered all that – well and good and basically beg to differ – but that’s fine lol
Your sentence: ‘You have an uncanny way of connecting different pieces by even the merest threads within them’ made me laugh. That’s the polite way of saying…well, umm (fill in the blank) ROFL.
I’m going to keep my suppositions more to myself in future. lol But at least it has served as a way on these occasions to hear more music. You gotta look at the upside, yeh..as you have done lol Honesty is the most important thing. Being straight-up.
I’m sorry, yes, the voices, not the songs. The rest of my comment was meant to compliment your powers of observation and what you glean from listening to various musicians as those truly brought out similarities, like in another discussion around Mark Knopfler. So apologies if that didn’t come across accurately. I’ve appreciated the pieces you’ve shared in such discussions and would welcome them again.
Haha, ‘my powers’ – The force is strong with that one. Thanks so much for the lavish compliment friend. That’s so nice of you, and your encouragement to keep sending em on through. Giddy up!
You’re welcome, mate, and may the Force be with you!
Now that’s a rabbit hole of movie folklore right there. Thanks man.
Haha, no kidding. Vader might say, “the comment thread is long in this one.” Cheers, man.
Yeh, no matter – ‘I sense the good in you Steve’ lol
Aw, thanks mate, I guess my compatriots Sloan wee accurate with their hit “The Good in Everyone,” a jingle-ish track to end the week with. https://youtu.be/25EPR8zhxwA?si=PSHtKHp2W0yJSMJz (the song doesn’t start until two minutes in, I guess the lads were good and laid back that day, lol).
Feliz Saturday to you, Steve. That’s a very nice, compact power pop rocker – much enjoyed!
Feliz Saturday to you as well, Matt! I am glad you enjoyed it. It was adopted as the theme for a variety talk show by the popular Canadian broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos, aka Strombo. Catchy little tune.
Have a great Saturday, sir!
I gather the broadcaster has Greek family origins lol
Very supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Catchy song indeed – that was fun.
LOL yes, he does. I have to look up the spelling every time! Fun is good.
Strombo works well.
Necessity is the mother of invention!
I never met a mother called ‘necessity’ ;-P
You replied to this comment.
Very funny song especially Johnny’s version in the prison. Geez he killed it didn’t he?
Back to the golf – you got me in an ad. Haha.
He did indeed.
Haha.
Thanks for highlighting it – I’d completely forgotten about it. I really should do something on it.
My pleasure, and that sounds like a plan.
While you try and think of any name that comes mind from that part (and the song moreover)…
That’s so sweet how you guys dance to Late Night Grande Hotel.
Linguistics although never my strong suit is one I’ve become more curious about in recent years especially after learning Spanish and becoming quite fluent.
The dialects in England are crazy different despite it being such a small country. The comedian Dylan Moran does such a funny bit on it – despite him being Irish.
Yeah, that song is a long-time fave.
That’s impressive becoming fluent in Spanish.
I’ve always loved Alison Krauss. I mean ~ how can anyone NOT love her?
Yes! Alison’s got the whole package – not only a gorgeous singer, but a real stunner and a wicked violinst lol
Her rendition of ‘Down to the River to Pray’ is something else.
“Blue & Lonesome” is my favorite.
Oh wow, I love that short-cropped hair look in the live performance of Blue Lonesome. Alison’s a stunner and has such a homely charm about her.
The first girl I ever kissed was called Mandy, and she was the spitting image of her. I even sent photos of the two side by side – everyone agreed, the resemblance was uncanny. I digress…
Good song, Polly – thanks.