I mentioned Mary Gauthier before in an El Diablo Forum thread. Here is the allmusic.com summary -
http://wc08.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?...vfqxqtjldae~T1 - If I knew how to assign names to links, I would be a better poster.
As I mentioned when discussing Lucinda Williams, I like singers who are real and raw. Someone else in this thread complained about singers being off key - - Although I also enjoy natural, pure singers, I really look more for heart and guts. Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash are good male examples.
Gauthier has battled a drug/drinking problem and served time in prison. In my opinion, that type of background is usually indicative of a good singer/songwriter.
Here is a link to a very long interview of Mary Gauthier:
http://www.puremusic.com/maryg1.html
Link to "Mercy Now", with images of the New Orleans disaster in the background -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TC_EGcswWaw A wonderful song that is appropriately coupled with one of the worst, continuing tragedies in American history.
Here is a live version of "I Drink" -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7m-vSBcMEkg
Some very good, simple lyrics in the chorus to "I Drink":
Fish swim
Birds fly
Daddies yell
Mamas cry
Old men
Sit and think
I drink
Gauthier is a great songwriter. The interview I linked mentioned her opening on a tour for John Prine, who is an unbelievable songwriter. I am using that as an excuse to mention one of my favorite two lines in any song - "Sam Stone" by John Prine:
There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes,
Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose.
Here is a link to Prine singing "Sam Stone" -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5OwEyXFhZ9g
If you want to get one CD as an introduction to Mary Gauthier, go with Mercy Now.