Self-released, digital
Through no fault of his own, Vermont folk singer and songwriter Dana Robinson has backed himself into a corner. A fine, thoughtful, lyrical and melodic craftsperson, Robinson, on his new album, The Sound of the Word, is nonetheless asking something almost unimaginable in the world today.
He wants us to slow down and … listen. That is, listen to this complete, 10-song recording — and take it all in with a most unlikely premise: that to do so is a rich, rewarding exercise. So, power down the iPhone, forget the memes and TikTok and Instagram videos, and absorb The Sound of the Word.
The album kicks off in homage fashion as Robinson covers the 19th-century British agricultural protest tune “The Farmer Is the Man That Feeds Us All.” The song has emerged in several iterations over the years and, despite (or because of) our sophisticated times, resonates more than ever. Robinson’s pure tenor earnestly shares the message over a tight, simple arrangement with a bit of a Delta blues feel.
It’s a fine way to start, not just because of the lyrical insight but also because the song introduces Robinson’s trusted core of backing musicians. They include drummer Ezra Oklan, bassist Mitch Barron and keyboardist Michael Hartigan. Robinson himself plays a range of instruments, from electric and acoustic guitars to banjo and mandolin to fiddle and viola. His wife, Susan, with whom he often performs as a duo, turns up on backing vocals. Robinson self-produced the recording in his home studio, along with engineer Jeremy Mendicino and mastering by Lane Gibson.
I’ve never been privileged to see Robinson live, but I hope this unit accompanies him on a regular basis. There’s a distinct and comfortable familiarity to the sound, which is particularly fun given that Robinson’s songwriting gleefully flutters from string-band and archival country to pure folk and Cajun.
Further highlights include “Raspberry Cane,” anchored by jaunty fiddle runs that would be welcome at a Louisiana crawfish festival. Lyrically, though, Robinson describes with proud appreciation the natural beauty of Vermont and explores what it means to work the land with a sense of duty and awe.
“Hog of the Forsaken” sounds like latter-day Steve Earle — if he’d used a Ouija board to hire Jim Seals to provide vocals on the track. That’s a good thing. Also from the “vocal chameleon” department, Robinson’s “Without Changing Our Ways” channels Cat Stevens in a tune that attests to the satisfaction of living life according to a set of rough-hewn and honest principles.
“Dandelions” and the amusingly titled “Springtime, Etc.” also resonate in a big way, and the set-closing traditional instrumental “Billy in the Lowground” should be Robinson’s encore tune at any show.
Perhaps, with The Sound of the Word, Dana Robinson didn’t back himself into a corner after all. Maybe that’s right where he wants to be. Do yourself a favor and spend some time there.
The Sound of the Word is available at danarobinson.bandcamp.com. Robinson plays the Community Coffeehouse Concert Series at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in St. Johnsbury on April 10.
This article appears in Money & Retirement Issue • 2026.
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