Tom Papa: The Importance of Strangers - April 18, 2020

Tom Papa reads an excerpt on grandparents from his book Your Dad Stole My Rake during our December 7, 2019 show. (originally from our December 7, 2019 episode) Find more about Tom’s Netflix special and his new book, You’re Doing Great!, at tompapa.com. Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times: livefromhere.org/give — Listen to our May 23 rebroadcast with Pixies, Black Pumas, Crooked Still, Freestyle Love Supreme, Aoife O’Donovan, and Tom Papa

This week: our Out In America correspondent Tom Papa heads to San Diego, where he visits an oceanfront bar, ponders ways to live a stress-free life, and chats with a business traveler from Queens named Gladys. (originally from our December 7, 2019 show) Find more about Tom’s Netflix special and his new book, You’re Doing Great!, at tompapa.com. Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times: livefromhere.org/give — Listen to our May 23 rebroadcast with Pixies, Black Pumas, Crooked Still, Freestyle Love Supreme, Aoife O’Donovan, and Tom Papa

Download Chris Thile’s Song of the Week for May 23, 2020: “How’s the Weather Where You Are?” (originally from our December 7, 2019 show) The band: Chris Thile, Aoife O’Donovan, Mike Elizondo, Chris Eldridge, Marcus Gilmore, Brittany Haas, Brett Williams. Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times: livefromhere.org/give — Listen to our May 23 rebroadcast with Pixies, Black Pumas, Crooked Still, Freestyle Love Supreme, Aoife O’Donovan, and Tom Papa — Lyrics: 1. Morse: A nibble! Lincoln: A bite! A reason to be thankful— M: —for another sleepless night But how best to set the hook? L: How best to reel him in? M: Hmm...what to send? L: Hmm...what to send? M + L: Not my name L: He’ll know it M: Rendering this another unclean slate L: Another couple hours answering for these Divided States M: And being the amplifier of this rift between Americans Won’t help me make a friend L: What to send? M + L: Hmm...what to send? L: What are the chances of this meeting? I won’t let it get away M: Who else will dance me through the dead of night unto the break of day? L: If I believed in God I’d ask him M: Father, tell me M + L: what to say To make a friend out of this stranger on the wire L: How’s the weather where you are? 2. M: It’s hot as stock in Western Union The air’s as thick as the brow of a grim patent judge L: Is that your field of law? M: Nice try. How’s the weather where YOU are? L: Hot as the barrel of a freshly fired cannon Air as thick as the skull of McDowell at Bull Run And the smoke rising up to the sky Over sons that were loved as much as mine was M: I’m sorry for your loss. L: I’m grateful for your ear I hope I haven’t scared you off M: Fellow stranger au contraire Any night you feel like hopping On this wire I’ll be here Waiting to ask you how’s the weather where you are L + M: How’s the weather where you are? M: Cold as the sweat I woke up in an hour ago L: Cold as each toe in each boot marching south through the snow M: Exactly further yet from their hearths and our peace Were I Abe I would bid each brave toe retreat* L: What of the war for freedom lost? M: I don’t believe it’s ours I hope that doesn’t scare you off L: Fellow stranger au contraire Any night you feel like hopping On this wire I’ll be here Waiting to ask you how’s the weather where you are ‘Cause you can learn a lot about someone from asking how they feel about the weather where they are

Download Chris Thile’s Song of the Week for May 9, 2020: “You’re Just Doing Your Job.” The band: Chris Thile, Anaïs Mitchell, Jon Cowherd, Eric Doob, Alex Hargreaves, Armand Hirsch, Chris Morrissey. (Originally from our November 23, 2019 episode.) Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times: livefromhere.org/give — Listen to our May 9 rebroadcast with Paul Simon, Vagabon, Anaïs Mitchell, Ryan Hamilton, Ron Funches & Holly Laurent — Lyrics: Here’s a song For the good folks who We pay to look for bombs In each other’s boots Sure this line is long Longer than my fuse But you’re just doing your job And what a job you’re doing For the put-upon Bearers of bad news Now and forever caught here Between us and our due As platinums golds and silvers Singing the Delta blues “I can’t believe it’s not in your Power to move me To the seat I want And just forgot to choose I know you’re doing your job But what a job to do” And for the mom Running stoically through Each kid-unfriendly gauntlet Doing the work of two ‘Til the boarding process Drops her off next to A childless man of business Whose cares are few Enough to voice his problems with Her toddler on fumes I heard her tell him off like “Who the hell are you To assess this job That you could never do Just put your headphones on” Then away we flew Then away we flew

Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton joined Chris Thile on our May 2 show to introduce their new podcast, Julie’s Library; share some movie recommendations; and chat about what makes them hopeful for the future. Listen to this extended version of the interview and find Julie’s Library wherever you get your podcasts! — Listen to our May 2 show with Sylvan Esso, Watkins Family Hour, Gaby Moreno, Josh Gondelman & more

Download "It's a Long Way Across the Wire," Chris Thile's Song of the Week from our November 16, 2019 broadcast. The band: Chris Thile, Aoife O'Donovan, Mike Elizondo, Eric Doob, Alex Hargreaves, Armand Hirsch, Gabriel Kahane. Please support Live from Here with Chris Thile to help us stay strong during these tough times livefromhere.org/give — Lyrics: Boy you’re gonna tire Yourself right out pretending That you can write a happy ending To this story by yourself ‘Cause it’s a long way Across the wire Ain’t no shame in falling Just in being ashamed of calling For a friend to come and help Yeah it’s a long way Across the wire And it’s been a bad day Boys you’re gonna tire Yourselves right out pretending That you can write a happy ending To this story by yourselves ‘Cause it’s a long way Across the wire Ain’t no shame in falling Just in being ashamed of calling For a friend to come and help Yeah it’s a long way Across the wire And it’s been a bad day But I bet it’ll get a little better Bet it’ll get a little better Boy let a buddy in I bet it’ll get a little better Whoop Let it get better Let everybody in ‘Cause buddy with everybody in I bet it’ll get a little better We ain’t gonna tire Ourselves out pretending That we can write a happy ending To this story by ourselves ‘Cause it’s a long way Across the wire Ain’t no shame in falling Just in being ashamed of calling For a friend to come and help Yeah it’s a long way Across the wire And it’s been a bad day But I bet it’ll get a little better Bet it’ll get a little better Boy let a buddy in I bet it’ll get a little better But I bet it’ll get a little better Bet it’ll get a little better Boy let a buddy in I bet it’ll get a little better Whoop Let it get better Let everybody in ‘Cause buddy with everybody in I bet it’ll get a little better

Tom Papa reads an excerpt from his book ‘Your Dad Stole My Rake’ on the importance of strangers in our lives and points out a few new groups of strangers (originally from our November 2, 2019 show). Find more about Tom’s Netflix special and his new book, You’re Doing Great!, at tompapa.com.

Tom Papa heads to Portland, Oregon during Halloween week, tries to determine who’s wearing a costume and who’s just “Portland,” and sets off on a quest with a local wizard (originally from our November 2, 2019 show). Find more about Tom’s Netflix special and his new book, You’re Doing Great!, at tompapa.com.

Comedian Tom Papa checks in from Out In ... his home with thoughts on how his daily routine has changed while he stays socially distanced due to Covid-19. Find more from Tom at tompapa.com. Listen to our brand-new #livefromhome episode now, with remotely recorded music from Chris Thile and our amazing band of Live from Heroes (Madison Cunningham, music director Mike Elizondo, Chris Eldridge, Jeremy Kittel, Trevor Lawrence Jr., and Brett Williams), along with #livefromhome Challenge performances from Rachael Price with Taylor Ashton, Theo Katzman, Louis Cato, Megan Burtt, Kayce Guthmiller, Laurens Joënsen, and Kaitlyn Kelly Faraghan. Plus: Mike Marshall joins Chris for a Bach birthday salute, Claire Coffee helps us celebrate Stephen Sondheim's birthday, and Bodine Boling encourages you to stay creative with an essay from Elizabeth Gilbert. Head to our YouTube channel for a few behind-the-scenes videos of the recording process.

Tom Papa reads an essay on what life is like with children from his book Your Dad Stole My Rake (originally from October 12, 2019). Find info about Tom’s books, his Netflix special, and his new YouTube baking show at tompapa.com.