Buried Treasure: Alison Krauss Sings “Can’t Find My Way Home”

When I was a kid I was obsessed with the movie 1969. Critically panned but, to a young man’s mind, critically flawless, it had Kiefer Sutherland, Robert Downey Jr., and Winona Ryder in it. They spend their time arguing with their parents, living in a van, and trying to decide what to do about the draft. It’s worth a look on Netflix, if you don’t mind ultra-cheesy endings.

It also had a great soundtrack (one of the first CDs I ever bought, actually): Jimi Hendrix’s incendiary version of “All Along the Watchtower.” Canned Heat’s flute-laden feel good anthem “Going Up The Country.” The spine-tingling, rebellious yell of the Animals’ “When I Was Young.” I even liked Jesse Colin Young’s somewhat sappy “Get Together” (later parodied by Nirvana on “Territorial Pissings”) and the Pretenders’ cover of “Windows of the World,” though it always sounded out of place (it was recorded in the late 80s).

But there were two tracks I was absolutely obsessed with. The Zombies’ sultry, organ-drenched “Time Of The Season” captured such a mood, one that I couldn’t define but wanted to feel all the time. To me, it would top the list of great make out songs. I put it on every mix tape I ever made for the next 10 years.

Then there was Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home,” an acoustic ballad with a haunted, aching melody, and incredibly effective finger-picking provided by Mr. “Layla” himself, Eric Clapton. It can be taken as either a weary spiritual ballad, or a veiled reference to being blitzed off your face.

I was trying to learn how to play guitar at the time, and I would have given anything to be able to play like that. I still would.

Recently I found a great cover of “Can’t Find My Way Home” performed by bluegrass great Alison Krauss. Why don’t you tune in, drop out, and take a listen? The ending isn’t cheesy at all.