Three reasons to live
Friday, 6/6/25 edition
Hello readers and Happy Friday! Here is a brief list of things going on in the world that are NOT abysmal and do not suck!
1) Introducing: PRICE WATCH!,
in which we follow the one and only Ms. Margo Price, who grew up in rural-ass western Illinois!
(and because she is an incredible singer/songwriter, duh!)
Price, a critically acclaimed artist based in Nashville—but who grew up in the country (just like me!) outside a tiny Illinois town—announced the upcoming release of a new song, “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down.” And from the sounds of it, it will be layered with the levels of badass-ery that Price has come to be known for, both in her writing itself, and in her outspokenness as woman in society and in the music industry. We’re talking:
respect for artists who came before her, (Dolly, Willie)
subject matter (abortion, addiction, sexism, just to a few from her past work)
recording/playing live with living legends (Rodney Crowell, Mike Campbell)
sense of social justice, (see: all previous songs, all previous press and social media).
“I hope this song sparks unity and action for those facing oppression and hardship. I wrote it as a battle cry for the downtrodden—a reminder to keep going, even when the world tries to grind you down. It was recorded at the historic RCA Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee—the same room where Dolly Parton cut her working-class anthem “9 to 5.” This song was written by me, Jeremy Ivey, Rodney Crowell, and Kris Kristofferson.”
See what I mean? LAYERS!
(Read more on Margo’s own Substack.)
I can’t wait to hear the lyrics on Tuesday and be able to sing along to a new, Price-penned rallying cry.
2) A wellspring of creativity and beauty right here on this rotten thing called the internet: Commonplace Book Club.
Author Jillian Hess has a participatory creative act—a collection of inspiring quotes—going for the month of June. If you’re not familiar with the concept of commonplace notebooks, here are some of her suggestions for what to keep your eyes and ears open for—to then record in your own commonplace notebook, or add to her reader chat for the CBC:
-A study in a single author (like Mary Oliver or Seneca)
-Writing out first lines from your favorite books
-Sharing quotes from newsletters on Substack
-Sharing quotes from overheard conversations
-Sharing your own illustrations/collages/photographs of favorite authors
As a lifelong diarist, reader, and writer, I’ve always loved to note and save inspiring quotes, and/but, have done so in random notebooks and journals scattered through my apartment. Since I decided to participate in Hess’s thread, it’s not been difficult to participate for lack of ideas, but because of self-imposed overwhelm, which is often (these days always) the case with me. I experience too many things in one day that I read or hear or notice that I want to write down. Including new quotes I learned of right there in the chat itself. (It’s a loooooooop….oop oop oop…)
But just as I hoped, the guideline of noting and writing down one thing daily for 30 days is helping with the blocking-of-self-from-action by overthinking. ALMOST. (I’ve already missed days.)
By the way, a somewhat unexpected source of joy from this experiment: seeing people’s handwriting. (And watercolor art, collage, etc.)
Here’s one from the author herself that I loved—and which of course now I want to add to my own commonplace book:
“I am sure that some are born to write as trees are born to bear leaves. For these, writing is a necessary mode of their own development. If the impulse to write survives the hope of success, then one is among these.” —C.S. Lewis, Letters
(Learn more about Hess's club, if you’d like). I’m going to try to remember to share my own entries in Notes.
3) P.A.B.’s Unite!
Would you to like to do your chores this weekend while dancing around the house feeling like a tough,
smart,
funny,
cool
and tough (did I say that twice) chick? Even if you are not even close to being any one of those things?
OF COURSE you would!
In college, my best friend Jane and I would make mixtapes of songs by women fitting that description, which we christened as “punk-ass bitches.” Just in case that’s not clear, that moniker could not have been more of a compliment! (The name would be bestowed on the likes of Liz Phair, L7/Donita Sparks, Hole/Courtney Love, and so many more.)
And one of those tapes I distinctly remember labeling (because they needed titles!) as Punk-Ass Bitches Unite!
So, if today was still, let’s say, approximately 1996…
…. and I still smoked Marlboro Lights,
… and lived in a dorm room with a spraypainted-on rug that Jane extracted from a dumpster,
…and still drove a giant Crown Vic with a full ashtray and a tape deck playing a mixtape…
A SONG LIKE THIS WOULD BE ON IT!
“catch these fists” - Wet Leg
sample lyric:
“This always happens late at night
Some guy comes up, says I'm his type
I just threw up in my mouth
When he just tried to ask me out”
(See another modern-day sassy and genius piece of female songwriting, “Messy” by Lola Young.)
And now back to the current-day, midlife reality of needing to clean crusty stuff out of the fridge and attempt to actually fold the clean clothes (which Lola admits to forgetting, too) :
If you take my advice and decide to crank this song while you’re cleaning, send me a pic or a vid and I’ll add it to my reader chat!
Thanks for being here, and until next time!
-Alison
Click one of the buttons below and let me know what you liked? It means everything! (needy by true)
YOU JUST READ THIS POST PAYWALL FREE, wasn’t that noice? But why not buy me a coffee at the neighborhood cafe where I write?
Proud member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Check out a recent issue here.
Girl!!! Margo is from my neighborhood … give or take 17 miles. Great post! You made me smile! See you soon????
Love this! Needed something positive to read today, for sure.