Hear Songwriter Darrell Scott’s Hopeful ‘Love Is the Reason’

At the beginning of the 2000s, Darrell Scott was making his name as a songwriter of idiosyncratic and uncommonly soulful tunes like “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” and “Long Time Gone,” later recorded by Travis Tritt and the Dixie Chicks, respectively. His instrumental talent also earned him numerous session and touring gigs, while his own recordings landed him a devoted following.

Scott’s forthcoming album Couchville Sessions (due May 13th) refers back to that time of growth with a bundle of songs that were written and recorded 15 years ago but edited and completed in recent months by Scott at his home on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau. Premiering today is “Love Is the Reason,” a graceful Celtic waltz about the lengths to which people go for family. “The broken spirit can get up and fly/when love is the reason,” Scott sings, ushering in the song’s optimistic, lilting instrumental refrain. 

“Couchville Sessions is my mix tape of life at the time: my adult children were young, my professional/musical life rising, my marriage needing attention and wanting more and my self getting lost in it all,” explains Scott of the album’s genesis.

In addition to originals like the groovy, come-as-you-are anthem “Down to the River,” Couchville Sessions includes Scott’s covers of Hank Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man” and Johnny Cash’s “Big River.” On release day, he’ll celebrate with a show at the Hamilton in Washington, D.C.