This Bitter Earth

Written by Clyde Otis

This blog is going to be short and sweet and little different, it’s about a song I love, it was one of my late husband’s favorites, he was very much into real jazz, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, etc the list goes on…

The original song This Bitter Earth was sung by Dinah Washington and written by Clyde Otis in 1960… it’s a poignant and a very emotional and introspective song, It deals with themes of love, life hardships, and the strength of the human spirit.. through its beautiful lyrics, it explores the highs and lows we all go through, and the transformative potential that lies within… just the first few lines, It refers to the fact, what good is love that no one shares, A world filled with pain and disappointment. It reflects on the bitterness and despair of love that is not shared and goes unreciprocated .. Highlighting the struggle and futility in a lonely existence…

The song is a metaphor of life, the feeling of insignificance, and not being able to appreciate the beauty and experience the joy of life… The speaker senses, self doubt, and uncertainty, questioning their own purpose in an indifferent world… the song suggests life can be uncaring, and emphasizes on the nature of life and rapid passage of time…

Cherish the present moment and not take time for granted.. amidst desolation, there is a hope in the power of connection and finding solace and companionship in another person, it reflects the longing for a meaningful.relationship that alleviates the bitterness of the earth .. This leaves room for optimism, despite the loneliness and pain there is possibility of redemption and transformation… we can let go of bitterness, through love and connection. The restlessness of the human spirit rises above adversity.

Overall, “This Bitter Earth” speaks of the human experience, of pain, the search for meaning, the complexities of love, the nature of existence, and belonging for connection in the world that is bitter and cold…

The one song you’ll be listening to is the newer version, played differently with the violin in the background it’s emotional and beautiful, the violinist is Max Richter, and the singer is Joy Denalane, you can also listen to the original sung by Dinah Washington on UTube..