The Glorious Church of Jay Farrar welcomes you!

Hello. I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time to tell you about my church, the Glorious Church of Jay Farrar. Can I come in? Yes? Oh, that's great. Yes, I'd love some tea -- thanks! What a lovely home you have. Really like that afghan.

I joined the Glorious Church of Jay Farrar a little later than many folks. I didn't know the gospel of Uncle Tupelo until after their demise. Imagine, those great miracles going on and me being completely oblivious! I know, it was terrible. Those were dark days for me. Days before the light of public radio and other mediums of non-Top-40 listening had reached my soul. But then I was saved -- praise Jay! -- and Son Volt played a large part in my salvation.

Their kick-ass live shows got me going to church -- usually in a bar or small listening room -- regularly. And each time I would find my very body expressing my joy -- ecstatic dancing, arm waving, screaming "woo!" That's how powerful it is to be in the presence of the Jay. And he is not a Jay who leaves you burdened with unanswered questions: There is plenty of gospel to be pored over, meanings to be pondered, some mystical riddles to devote oneself to untangling.

Mind if I have a little more tea? That's really delicious. Thanks! So probably my favorite gospel from the Jay is "Medicine Hat" -- a hymn from the book of "Wide Swing Tremolo." Ha, yes. I remember listening to "Medicine Hat" once in the car in early 2003, in that tense time just before the start of the war in Iraq, and hearing these lines from our Jay:

There will be layers of means to an end Drawn out days before resolution Dregs will rain down from all directions There will be right, there will be wrong

Drop of a hat and it's already started
Just like that and the deed is done
What'd I'd give for that hat to be medicine
The time is now to be on the run.

Yeah, I know. DAMN. Right? And this hymn, of course, was written well before 2003, so Jay is not only our savior, but also a prophet! And damn can he wail on a guitar.

And recently -- praise Jay! -- the benevolent Jay has given us even more gospel to guide us. "Okemah and the Melody of Riot" features an all-new (except for the Jay, of course) Son Volt, but somehow they retain the same sound, the same vibe -- without one little bit making you feel like you just bought the same gospel twice. It's definitely a great leap forward -- one that doesn't in any way diminish the amazingness of any of the earlier great leaps forward. Each time I listen to "Okemah" I pick out some new line that makes me gasp, that opens my eyes to the sweetness of reality when you let the Jay into your life. And if ever I'm too lazy (or the speakers in my car too shitty) to listen closely to the lyrics, I can just jam out to the bitchin' guitar riffs. The Jay forgiveth my sloth and celebrateth my rocking out.

Ah well, I've taken up enough of your time, I'm sure -- but would you allow me to pray with you, that you, too, shall see the light of the Glorious Church of Jay Farrar and follow its beacon into coolness? Yes? Great -- oh, and thanks again for the tea. OK:

O Glorious Jay, O most exalted One, we pray to you that you will continue guiding us with your wisdom and surly yet charming example. We pray that you will tour heavily, spreading your Word and your Love and your extreme coolness. I would like to add a special prayer that you tour in Japan, where many millions can benefit from your Light and perhaps be saved from j-pop and terrible American pop music imports. Also, I haven't been to a show in a real long time. Ahem. We pray that you will one day work out your shit with the rest of the real Son Volt and maybe record a true reunion album with those guys, because they are, after all, high priests in your church. Which is not to diminish the importance and mighty rockin'ness of the new lineup -- we're just saying. We even dare to pray that perhaps one day you will also work out your shit with Mr. Jeff Tweedy and favor us with an Uncle Tupelo reunion, but we realize we are lowly and have not earned, through good works and complete devotion to your Glorious Church, the right to ask such a thing. In Jay Farrar's Glorious Name we pray: Hells yes.