Father John Misty — “Ballad of the Dying Man”

Father John Misty is understandably a polarizing figure. He’s kind of like a folk music troll—a modern embodiment of the traveling bard, but one who gets to your town and makes a mockery of your scene. But at the same time, it’s hard to doubt the sincerity of his music, which is often preachy about the many failings of humanity. In “Ballad of a Dying Man,” it’s almost as if Josh Tillman is envisioning the death of his own jeering persona. Whatever his intentions on this song, he’s produced a melodically dynamic and truly beautiful ballad for a man checking his phone with his final breath.

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