The Civil Wars - "Dust to Dust"

I’ve written about the Civil Wars many times. Their voices like Oil and Water, came together and would never blend but would constantly create something beautiful, something ephemeral, and something temporary.

An Americana, folk, and country duo formed around guitarist John Paul White and vocalist Joy Williams, the Civil Warsmade a quick name for themselves with the release of a digital album, Live at Eddie's Attic, in 2009. The Poison & Wine EP followed later that year, and the duo partnered with producer Charlie Peacock to begin recording a full-length album in 2010. The result, Barton Hollow, was released in February 2011, topping the digital charts and cracking Billboard's Top 20 during its first week. Live at Amoeba appeared in the spring of 2012, and although rumors of a split for the duo circulated, two projects appeared in 2013, the soundtrack to the movie A Place at the Table, which saw the duo working with producer T-Bone Burnett, and a new full-length studio album, the self-titled The Civil Wars, which was released at the end of the summer. Although it debuted at number one and earned strong reviews, it proved to be their last. White and Williams issued a statement in August 2014 that they had "regretfully decided to permanently part ways."

In February 2014, White and Williams won their fourth Grammy, this time for the track "From This Valley" from The Civil Wars. It won for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

The Civil Wars announced that they would permanently part ways on August 5, and offered a free download of "You Are My Sunshine" as a parting gift. Williams wrote: "I am saddened and disappointed by the ending of this duo, to say the very least. JP is a tremendous musician, and I will always be grateful for the music we were able to create together." White's statement read: "I would like to express sincere thanks to all who were a part of the arc of The Civil Wars—from the beginning, to the end, and all points in between."

So, as a gentle reminder that things don’t always have to be forever to be beautiful, I choose The Civil Wars’ "Dust to Dust" as my, let the chips fall, let the cookies crumble, let the milk spill, song for a, choose now, choose your own heart, choose the love you already have inside, Thursday.