The Great Dying is the musical identity of singer-songwriter Will Griffith. His new album, A Constant Goodbye, is poised to offer a notable continuation of his distinctive “dark country.” Growing up in Cleveland, Mississippi, Griffith’s musical roots are deeply entwined with both the raw energy of punk house shows and the authentic traditions of Delta juke joints like Po’ Monkey’s. His early experiences at these venues have clearly shaped his approach to music, blending gritty, emotional ballads with high-energy rockers.
The album builds on the foundation laid by debut Bloody Noses & Roses, but with added layers of country mixed with influences from The Replacements and alternative rock providing a fresh twist. The arrangements promise to be diverse, featuring wall-of-sound effects, flange-bass, and fiddle — all anchored by barebones acoustic guitar and heartfelt vocals.
Premiering exclusively on American Blue Scene is “Hurt Me” from the upcoming album. Here Griffith develops a winning formula, tapping into the classic country sound with twangy vocals perfectly complemented by warm, honky-tonk instrumentation. Will Griffith recalls coming up with “Hurt Me” while slinging drinks at Oxford, MS tavern Proud Larry’s. It was a rough Monday afternoon in 2019 with Lyle Lovett’s Guy Clark tribute comp playing on repeat with Rodney Crowell, Willie, Emmylou, and Prine.
His mood was a heavy weight, a creative urgency driving him to scribble lyrics down amidst bar chatter and the clinks of glasses. His loneliness was suffocating and made him feel like “a soggy ghost of a person.” But on this night, as he walked down HWY 6, he was determined to break free from the cycle of despair by pouring the pain into a song. He recalled the swift creation of “Writing a Song in Blue Ink”—a tribute to David Berman that had emerged the day Berman’s passing was announced. That song proved to be a beacon in the storm, and now he hoped for the same from “Hurt Me.” He sent the demo off to collaborators before going dark for a spell.
Musically ‘Hurt Me’ is firmly late 60’s Buckaroos. The inspo track used in the studio was ‘Tiger By The Tail.’ Will’s vocal delivery can remind one of Merle Haggard or a young Steve Earle doing his best Hag. All the track needed to be the gem it became was the off the cuff guitar solo played by Craig Pratt. Producers had a piano track recorded.
Dial Back Sound owner Matt Patton (of the Drive-By Truckers)
Classic country keys seemed a bit much and perhaps a bit uptown for this 2 minute and 53 second ramble through paranoia and resentment. Pratt’s solo romp edged on abandon yet maintained the control necessary to make the cut. There’s not a moment of comping in the notes you hear.
Dial Back Sound will release A Constant Goodbye on August 30th, and fans can look forward to the video for the first single, “Truck Stop.” Following the release, Griffith will hit the road with dates stretching from Mississippi up the East Coast, culminating in a more extensive North American tour as summer turns to fall.
This tour will be an opportunity for fans to experience the new album live and see the evolution of Griffith’s “dark country” sound in action.
