Sturgill Simpson’s “Jupiter’s Faerie” Might Be The Saddest Track He’s Ever Put Out

Johnny Blue Skies' new album, Passage Du Desir, has really stuck with me. Anybody else feel the same way? It's been on a pretty consistent loop through my speakers since it debuted last Friday, and though the whole album is an absolute triumph - and a very welcome return of Sturgill Simpson underneath a different name - there's one song that's immense sadness and hopeful beauty has stood out above the rest, in my personal opinion. "Jupiter's Faerie." If you've cued up the album, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm trying not to overhype Passage Du Desir, since the fact that I listened to it all the way through the first time while on a lawnmower (as Sturgill likely intended) could definitely skew my experience towards the positive side. I've gone back to a number of the tracks on the project, like "Scooter Blues" and "Swamp of Sadness." It's not exactly a country album, but it's not exactly rock either. It's once again a cosmic take on music from Sturgill, and the spaced-out song I've listened to and thought about the most is the soul-crushing tune "Jupiter's Faerie" - which personifies melancholy. Like a lot of the other songs in Johnny Blue Skies "debut" album, "Jupiter's Faerie" toes the line between hopelessness and hope. Those feelings are juxtaposed as clear as can be in the song, which tells the story of a person who waited too long to reach out to an old friend or love interest, and eventually found out that they no longer had the chance to say goodbye... seemingly due to suicide. The verses, led by soft piano, unspool the somber tone and story. It's when the chorus kicks in that hopeful energy bursts into the song in place of the sadness, and a comforting-deflection-of-a-thought is belted out as if to clear the storms of despair: "I hear there's faeries out on Jupiter And there was a time that I knew one But today I'm feeling way down here on Earth Crying tears of love in the light of mourning dawn" As you can see, it's a devastating run of lyrics, especially for those of us who have lost someone and only wish they could have said one more thing to them. And if you thought the repeated, anthemic chorus was heartbreaking, just wait until you see the bridge: "One more glass of wine for a love so true Then another and another, for today one just won't do There's no happy endings, only stories that stop before they're through" All in all, it has to be one of the saddest, intricate, most alluring songs that Sturgill/Johnny has ever penned. And though it's dark, and paints a picture of the illusion and distraction of procrastinating the grieving process, the seven minute ballad just might be one of my favorite songs Simpson has ever put out. It's certainly my favorite Johnny Blue Skies song. "Jupiter's Faerie" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKjxrlC-teA Did you make it through without crying? Didn't think so. It was nice to see that a lot of people on social media are experiencing a similar trance at the hands of this song. Many Sturgill Simpson/Johnny Blue Skies fans have been happy to share that "Jupiter's Faerie" has officially taken the number one spot in their personal sad song rankings: