Leslie Jordan has delivered what may be the most impactful song I've listened to in a long while. "Elegy" is a beautiful new single inspired by a three-line poem that her estranged grandfather wrote following his brother's car crash.
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I don't know where to begin, really. Leslie Jordan has been embarking on a concept album based on her grandfather's journals, writings, and poems that were recovered following his death. She went from never having met him to uncovering every facet of his troubled mind.
"Elegy" is based on a three-line poem her grandfather wrote for his brother after his death. Although Jordan's grandfather always resented his brother, the poem, also titled "Elegy," shows his attempt at mourning.
With this heart-haunting context in mind, I implore you to listen to and labor over every word that Leslie Jordan sings.
You can listen to "Elegy" below. It's also out on streaming platforms now.
Leslie Jordan Uncovers Her Estranged Grandfather Through Music
Leslie Jordan shared with WOC more about "Elegy" and the story behind her grandfather.
The singer explained that her grandfather held resentment for his brother for many reasons. A primary factor was that his brother was married to the love of his life. However, his brother then got into a car accident in his 40s.
"[the crash] seemed to affect my grandfather in profound ways," she explained. He wrote a short poem, which read:
"In all this incredible tortoise world
Nothing was so unmistakable
As my brother's handwriting."
"This said a few things to me. The title reveals that this must have been his attempt to lament the death of his brother. And the last line reveals the intimacy they must have shared at one point in their life."
There is so much more to this story that the album, The Agonist will uncover. It's scheduled to release on April 25.
I can't stop listening to this song. The more I consider the history of her grandfather, the more I latch onto the words. Leslie Jordan delivers stunning vocals that channel the unbridled emotions of her grandfather into a steady stream of mourning, loss, and grief.
TLDR; it's a beautiful song that sits right in the pit of your soul.
