Helm, Levon - Anna Lee Lyrics

My name is actually Annalee

These 75 people are the reason I have ZERO faith in humanity.

this is haunting and beautiful...sad

Perfect

The true creator of The Band as well as the one who wrote the songs. Robbie Robertson is such a fraud.

Beautiful.

Some people obviously just trawl the net looking for things to dislike. Not worth the skin they're in.

Proper mountain music.

I loved is voice!! Not only that you know he was a good man. To me he was the Band . Liked the rest but man Levon stood out to me .

Levon is a bluegrass singer in the class of Ralph Stanley

Mere months before he'd lose his battle with throat cancer. I hope people realize what a catalyst for music that influenced the late 60s & 70s, Levon Helm was. He was the glue that held The Band together during the tough days. A kind man. A good man. A musician.

Levon had a wonderful voice I watch shooter just so i can hear him speak .

As soon as Larry Campbell pulls bow across strings you know you're in for something special. An epic performance by one of the greats. Levon did some of his best work in his last years. God bless you for the music you shared with us.

As a Southerner Im so glad to be from the part if the US that produced this music, thank you Lord!.

Cajunman Dick gday mate crocboy.here Aussie man this is the business bro ye

I am Canadian !!!
I am so glad this man came along to make 3 other Canadians famous !!!!
His voice is amazing !!!
THANK YOU MR HELM !!!

I love this man

It’s global mate hey

Stumbled on to this wonderful tune and Mr Levon Helm. I think I'll work on being a better human, go to heaven and listen to him serenade the angels and watch them weep.

It’s music like this that could save the world

Is there anything Larry can't do?

Awesome.
Levon had staggering talent.

I just don’t have words ...".,. F#$&&* unreal

Muslims want to erase this music from the earth.

Damn ! That's as American as it gets right there.

Which of the ladies is singing the coloratura bits, Amy or Teresa?

Tears roll down my cheeks everytime......................................

Laurenlyn Dossett, the writer of the song wrote an article in 2012 about writing the song and about her watching this very performance by Levon
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Listen now children, a story I'll tell..."

It seemed a good start: I needed to write an 18th-century death ballad, and I needed to do it fast. The writer Preston Lane and I were about to go into the rehearsals of our first Appalachian play, Brother Wolf. He had added a scene and suggested a lullaby's accompaniment, but I heard something darker.

I needed a name for my character, so I began with Rosalie, after my great-grandmother, who had been known for her singing. The name worked well, with the syllables rolling musically. But Rosalie is the name of one of my three daughters, and it seemed a bad idea to drown the kid in a ballad. I cast about for alternatives for a few minutes before landing on the similarly lyrical Anna Lee. I finished the song while sitting in carpool lines at my daughters' schools one afternoon.

"...of a woman they called Anna Lee."

Six months later, I was in New York for readings with the cast of Brother Wolf. Anna Lee now had a tender role in the play. During a break, the multi-instrumentalist and Bob Dylan sideman Larry Campbell found me and the show's fiddler, Riley Baugus, tuning our instruments in the stairwell.

"Who wrote the Anna Lee song?" he asked enthusiastically. "I am making a record with Levon Helm. Anna Lee is his old friend from ArkansasAnna Lee of 'The Weight.' It would be cool to bring her full circle on this record. Can I take the song to Levon?"

And that is how Miss Anna Lee introduced me to Levon Helm.

The introduction induced fortunate incidentstrips to Levon's famous Midnight Ramble in Woodstock; a Grammy for Levon's Anna Lee-inclusive album Dirt Farmer; a memorable night of Levon and his friends in Nashville, dubbed "The Ramble at the Ryman." Every time I saw Levon he asked about my children, teasing my husband to get me back home so I could keep writing songs.

Before the Ramble at the Ryman concert, I got to meet the real Anna Lee Amsden in Nashville; she was none too thrilled about being drown in a song and didn't mind telling me so. Still, that evening, I sat in the pews of the Ryman with my playwriting partner, Preston Lane. We listened, spellbound as Levon sang with an angel bandhis daughter, Amy Helm, and Larry's wife, Teresa Williams, singing harmony. Larry played the fiddle. They sang my words like a prayer, with Levon's voice pulling every ounce of emotion from each note, each phrase.

"I'll return to you dear, in the dimming of day
As the sparrow returns to her nest."

There was I time when I sang to my children constantly; I was their singer, free to sing them to sleep or into calm, whenever they needed it. As I was writing, I foolishly wondered if when they are old and I am gone, as Levon is nowthey would remember the voice that sang their lullabies. As it turns out, there are some voices we can never forget, voices that work their way into our hearts, brains and bones. And so I remember Levon, singing. Anna Lee has indeed come full circle.


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My mother sang to me from the time I was a baby. I could never forget that voice. She had a beautiful voice and was always singing around the house. She sang at church, at weddings and at funerals. There was always music in our house. Besides my faith, it is one of the most precious things my parents gave me.

great !!!

My hero! Always and forever! God must have needed a real musician in heaven!

Revisiting the music and the man.It transcends all.

Oh, yes. Incredible.

What is so incredible about Levon is how his singing bridges generations and musical genres. This is Americana past and present. Levon is such a vital part of our American musical history.

Levon, your music touched the core of our souls, penetrating our hearts...RIP...*!

Thank you Mr Helm for this wonderful song. R.I.P

Thanks Lavon...RIP...FOREVER....*!

This song is the greatest ever. Levon helms is the greatest

Rest in Paradise Brother Levon

God bless you Levon, we all miss you man.

you can not get any better than him

mighty fine.

Who are the girls? I know one of Levon's daughters performed with him.

A friend asked me to go to this show. I was having a reaction from some anti-depressant the doctor had given me for my nerve pain. I ended up in ER. I wished I had gotten out of my death bed and went. lol

Damnit play that fiddle

Good Lord.

I seriously doubt we will ever see the like of this man again. Such a genuine talent.

Im 34, never knew of the band until recently, and somehow Levon still touched my life. Not only his music but his personality. His great big smile and joking outlook on life. It's a shame he wasn't compensated fairly for his work in The Band (screw Robbie). In the end, what would that be worth considering most now know the truth about his musical prowess. Long live Levon Helm!

Levon always stood for a timeless kind of music, and so he has become timeless in turn.

He’s suck a great guy and a great singer

Levon, just an all time voice, truly one of the very best

Being from the smoky mountains in TN his voice really moves me. It reminds me of all the men I grew up around like my dad and grandpa's. Ole bluegrass and blues touches the soul! I'm so thankful men and artist of such talent and character like Mr. helm have graced this earth.

shatterstar 87 beautifully said only by gods grace could a boy from bottom of earth being Tasmania listen to and share such gorgeous peoples music

He was a real deal southern gentleman. This touches the soul.

I live in Morristown. Sounds just like a Sunday Morning gospel sound, but Levon made it to the big leagues.

Levon's one of my all-time heroes.  I had a bumper sticker made up with his name on it.  It now resides proudly on the tailgate of my truck.

TELL THE TRUTH!

I love him RIP

So serious d violin man😀😁

Arkansas must have magic in the air look at how many wonderful musicians came from there...Sooie Pigs!!!

In my young years and inexperience I somehow know and feel deep in my heart and soul that Levon has reached further than most artists, and stayed even more truer. Thank you for blessing us Levon!

Gives "what about young Anna lee...stay and keep Anna Lee company " from "the Weight" new meaning now.

Doesn't get much better than that!

Levons music makes me cry. I feel so much love soul and Spirit in every note. What he has left us will live forever.

never forget this guy. total roots. lets hope these songs are always remembered and sung with love n passion.

Camera Men are the best.

levon to me was a true gent and had a wonderful strong love for music he was simply one of the best even til the end.beautiful song and once again he gives it his all and very sick he was at this point.thank you so much levon you touched us all.rip.

Love this music, as an Englishman  sitting listening to this I am minded of the folk music of the north of England , also out into the Scottish Islands, perhaps that is the root of this style of music. Doesn't really matter where it comes from, it is so utterly beautiful.

i love this song because this song use my name in it

R.I.P levon thanks for the amazing music ! you will be remember forever

this beautiful song seems to me to have a Scottish/Irish ring to it,,,with a big of French Canadian thrown in ;-)

Ah Levon! You're the best.

just pure class Luv you `for every` Levon and The Boys xxx

Amazing !!!! Could make me cry.

I represent aprox 390,000 of the total views

My greatest privilege was working for this MAN !!!!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, the harmony is right on!!!!!!!! Miss you LEVON!

Sue hi darl ain’t it great Aussie man

Read about Butch Tucks today and had to find levon to gentle my soul.

beautiful amazing

I pray you sing with the Angels on high

Talented group, Levon in well, legendary!

Reconstruction post civil war music he was old when he recorded these versions.

Who knew Javier Bardem could also play the fiddle?!

When was this performance? Luv Ole' Levon!

Levon earned his wings.

...and this wonderful soulful voice didn't consider himself a vocalist.

Saw Levon at The Barn once, and on the road a couple times. Never saw a dude smile so much and play with any more joy, as he did in his later years.

That fiddle, oh, my. This soulful tune is hard for me to listen to sometimes. The melody haunts me for days.

reminds one of the skirl of the pipes, doesn't it ?

Levon is American music!

fiddle, lyrics, harmony. solid simplicity

best song ever

spechial singer

So glad I got to see Levon perform back in 94. Never another like him.

The fiddler is Larry Campbell. He played with Levon for years.

Does anyone know who exactly the fiddle player is? Thanks
Love cajun fiddle with a drawl and he's got it. It's part New Orleans Voodoo
Roger

+Roger Damphousse Larry Campbell

larry campbell!! and then teresa williams next to him and amy helm on the far right.

He looks like he should be on the movie set of Twilight.

the only song to date that has ever put a tear to my eye. RIP Levon Helm.

Larry sure can play that fiddle. If only Richard, Levon and Rick were still here

+thyamelate
Just wondering who is this Larry guy your talking about. What's his full name.
I like em lots but can't seem to remember where I saw him before. Thanks

@Roger Damphousse Larry Campbell is the dude playin the fiddle. He plays multiple instruments and served as band leader for Levon and he's produced a shit ton of records. He's got a lot of great music out there!
 

@thyamelate Thanks for the info. I've checked a few of his sites already and yes he is a bundle of talent. Appreciate it.

@Roger Damphousse My pleasure to help my friend. Being rich in music is such a great feeling, and it helps with the day to day. Enjoy what you find
 

God Bless You Levon and You'res!

Perfecta Combinacion ; la magia encantadora de l violin y la voz acompañada de pasion, para una bella cancion

This captures a centuries worth of music contribution ... Thanks Levon!

A full education to this generation of what music should be ....

Levon was the best he took me back to the years of my youth and the music that filled the hillcs and woods of northern Canada thank you.

ARKANSAS -Thank You Levon for your Great Music, You Enriched America with your Gentle ways and the Soul you put into all your songs...RIP...

+Randy Beard Johnny Cash, Al Green.....yeah. Thank you for recognizing our little state.

+Trey James Thanks from your neighbor state of Tennessee.

Oh man, this Jersey boy thanks Arkansas, these three are a hard act to follow, Country, Country Rock, & Soul. I am not much for Country, but what else can you say about Johnny, except much respect. A warm spot here for Levon, that made The Band's sound truly American. And to me I save the best for last, as no one has the Soul that Al Green has.

Arkansas is a place of magic. The north will ever have this beauty and passion.

Missouri girl LOVES Levon Helm!!!! You can feel the Arkansas mountains thru his music. RIP Levin. I know God loves having you home with Him.

Levon, One of the great soul singers of all time. He came back to his roots as he got older. His roots were what gave The Band its soul.

yeah, and Robbie's songs

Omg...I always Knew it...I always knew.

The fiddle background grabs me right by the Celt.