Here is another deeply emotive and brilliantly-crafted song from Michael Weston King. This year, King had planned to release another My Darling Clementine album with his wife Lou Dalgleish. However, as has been well-documented on AUK and elsewhere, their beloved granddaughter, Bebe, was amongst the children killed in the Southport massacre. Under the weight of their grief, the couple channelled their feelings instead into different musical projects.
Nothing Can Hurt Me Anymore is the second single from King’s new album, which is a sensitive, heartfelt response to the tragedy. King’s voice, deep and resonant – a beautiful instrument, delivers his words with such honesty. His words are poetic reflections on life and loss and are disarming in their authenticity: “Once I thought I saw her // Standing on the tow-path // Watching swans a-swimming // As they ran over the water // As I lamented for her // She was safe inside the whiteness // Now, nothing can hurt her anymore.” That subtle change in the lyrics from me to her is heart-wrenching. King’s slow, lilting voice moves in timeless melody over the lush instrumentation.
The accompanying video was filmed and edited by John Humphreys in Berriew, Mid Wales, around King’s home. Artfully-shot in sombre shades of black and white, the video captures the mood of King’s lyrics, especially when we see images of the teddy in different locations.
Nothing Can Hurt Me Anymore is the title track from Michael Weston King’s brand new album, just released on CRS / Continental Record Services. The subject matter is, of course, so raw but King’s musical response to unimaginable grief is a triumph. King shares: “To be honest, it was almost impossible to write about anything else. I hope I am creatively exhausted on the subject.” Indeed.
