Karen Dahlstrom’s new song is poignant and musically striking in itself to be worth featuring here on Americana UK, even without the added attraction of Milk Carton Kid Kenneth Pattengale. But we bet you want to know how he got involved – well, what happened was that Karten Dahlstrom wrote the song at the Milk Carton Kids’ Sad Songs Summer Camp, and yes, that really is a thing and kudos to the MCK for embracing their melancholic reputation so warmly. Anyway, that’s where Karen wrote Last Of My Line, Kenneth Pattengale heard it (thus proving that the Sad Songs Summer Camp is not only a thing but the MCK are actively engaged with it) and was so moved that he agreed to contribute to the recording. And so he should, because Last Of My Line is a song that lays bare the mixture of emotions that are produced by not having children when one never planned to not have children.
Dahlstrom has shared her thoughts on the song saying “I never really thought about kids. I just assumed I’d have them someday. But as the years went on, biology and circumstance made the decision for me. I wrote the song I needed that I couldn’t find. I hope it finds the people who need it too.”
Last Of My Line is taken from the debut solo album from Karen Dahlstrom, called Love These Days, and it’ll be out on March 27th.
