A Keepsake of Loss and Liberation: Frank Watkinson’s Haunting Rendition of "Take It With You"
A folk song that travels the bittersweet highways of memory and goodbye.
Frank Watkinson’s rendition of Take It With You, penned by songwriter Cameron Winter, is a quiet storm of heartbreak and resolve, cloaked in his signature acoustic simplicity. The song, delivered with Watkinson’s weathered voice and delicate guitar picking, evokes a sense of wandering solitude and emotional finality. Through its melancholic lyrics and stripped-down instrumentation, Take It With You paints a poignant picture of love lost, the passage of time, and the emotional artifacts we leave behind. (91.3 FM WBNY Cameron Winter Interview June 2024)
A Traveler’s Map of Letting Go
At its heart, Take It With You is a map of emotional terrain, charting paths of physical travel and inner disconnection. The opening verses conjure images of restless movement—east to the edges of the map, west like a pioneer, and south to where “the chocolate trees grow.” These geographical references aren’t just markers of distance; they symbolize the futility of escaping the ache of a broken bond. Each direction taken is another step away from the past, yet no journey can outrun the lingering pull of memory.
The imagery takes a stark turn when the narrator commands the departing lover to “Cowboy north till you reach the Dakotas” or “pan gold in Sarasota.” These lines, rich with Americana, underscore a desire to sever ties completely. The refusal to allow return—“Just don’t come back”—is not an act of cruelty but one of self-preservation, an assertion of boundaries that shields the narrator’s fragile sense of healing.
The Keepsakes of Memory and Grief
The refrain, “I found a keepsake of you / Take it with you when you leave,” is a masterstroke of emotional complexity. Keepsakes, often cherished for their sentimental value, here become burdens—unwelcome reminders of what once was. Watkinson’s delivery of these lines is imbued with a resignation that suggests the weight of holding on is too great to bear. The repetition of this refrain, accompanied by understated guitar chords, gives the song its emotional anchor, as though each word is etched with the bittersweet knowledge of love’s impermanence.
A Home That’s No Longer Here
The second verse crystallizes the theme of irrevocable change:
“If you’re aching to come home, remember / It’s not here anymore.”
The home, once a shared sanctuary, now exists only as a ghost of its former self. The lines suggest not just the physical absence of the lover but the emotional hollowing of a place once filled with warmth. The narrator does not offer reconciliation or hope for return but a stark reminder that some chapters, once closed, cannot be reopened.
Loving From Afar, Forgetting Up Close
The final verse delivers a devastating conclusion:
“You can love me from afar if that’s what puts you at ease / But you won’t be on my mind.”
Here, Watkinson captures the essence of emotional liberation—the act of letting go, even as love lingers in the shadows. The narrator grants their former partner the freedom to carry memories but denies them the ability to occupy their thoughts. It is both an act of mercy and a declaration of independence, a quiet triumph over heartache.
Frank Watkinson’s Folk Alchemy
Watkinson’s interpretation of Take It With You transforms Winter’s lyrics into a deeply personal narrative. His voice, fragile yet resolute, imbues the song with an authenticity that is impossible to ignore. The unadorned production—just voice and guitar—ensures that every word resonates, unclouded by unnecessary embellishments. Watkinson’s ability to convey vulnerability without sentimentality makes this song a standout in his catalog of introspective folk ballads.
Summary: A Masterpiece of Melancholy
Take It With You is a masterful exploration of love, loss, and the inevitability of moving forward. Cameron Winter’s lyrics offer a universal story of heartbreak, while Frank Watkinson’s rendition gives it a soul-stirring intimacy. The song’s interplay of geographical escapism and emotional reckoning reflects the complexity of human relationships—how we navigate grief, cherish keepsakes, and ultimately learn to let go.
Through its simplicity and emotional depth, Take It With You reminds us that while we may carry pieces of the past, we must leave the heaviest burdens behind. In Watkinson’s hands, this song becomes not just a farewell but a quiet anthem of resilience.
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Take It With You
You can walk as far east as the map goes You can walk out west like a pioneer You can sail down south and watch the chocolate trees grow But you can’t stay here Cowboy north till you reach the dakotas Ride the highways in a Cadillac You could make a fortune panning gold in Sarasota Just don’t come back I found a keepsake of you By the window in the kitchen Take it with you when you leave If you ever get the ache some cold December To knock again upon your old front door If you’re aching to come home, remember It’s not here anymore Your traveling companion can be memories You can lie awake with thoughts of simpler times You can love me from afar if that’s what puts you at ease But you won’t be on my mind I found a keepsake of you In that old wardrobe in the cellar Take it with you when you leave
NOTE: Cameron Winter's Take It With You is featured on the album Heavy Metal, set for release on December 6 via Partisan Records and Play It Again Sam.
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