John Wesley Ryles - Kay

Superlative Tear-Jerker

By Steven Honse  Sep 14, 2007 | 1 out of 1 found this Kay review helpful

Pros: Touches the heart and makes the listener feel his humanity

Cons: So poignent it can make you feel sad for days

Kay is utterly effective in making the listener feel and rediscover his humanity. It is clear, the cab driver has every reason to feel bitter towards Kay. He spent every last cent to move her to Nashville, only to be abandoned when she finds success ...His adoration and love for her is unaffected. The cab driver's saintly absence of ill will validates his humanity and gives the tune context. If you listen closely, this song hurts. Some of the listeners pain comes from empathy with the passenger's woes, but most of the pain comes from feeling how all this affects the cab driver. He is literally "Living as he's dying, staring out at music city from his cab." I cry when I hear how the driver found "Three rose petals on the seat fallen from the bouquet Jimmy took to June" and how "Jim kept mumbling through his teardrops, God she'll leave this world with flowers in her room." Witnessing that would make anyone's heart break, but this is not just anyone, this is a man who has no capacity to hate and is cursed with immeasurable empathy and kindness. I would hate Kay for him, but that would be contrary to the artist's message. Read more Less