Road To Corinth” is the newest track to be released by indie singer-songwriter Hilary Cousins. The driving folk-rock song was written and composed by Cousins who is also the producer of the track. The single was mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Pete Yorn) and Ben O’Neill (Moby, Chris Isaak, Lindsey Buckingham), mastered by Calbi/Ferrone at Sterling Sound (Arcade Fire, War On Drugs, Kacey Musgraves) and recorded at studios in Brooklyn NY, New Haven CT, and Los Angeles CA. Contributing musicians include Paul “Binzer” Brennan (Waterboys, The Frames, Little Matador) on drums, and Tony Ungaro (Joe Jackson, Marshal Crenshaw) on bass and guitars.
“Road To Corinth” stands apart from standard pop-rock songs in two ways – in its compositional structure, and in the source and message of the lyrics. The song is composed in the ‘strophic’ form. It doesn’t have a traditional chorus. Instead, the song consists of one musically repeating verse, with different lyrics in each verse. This form, used effectively by prominent singer-songwriters of the last 50 years (Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, and Jack White to name a few), creates urgency and focuses the listener’s attention on the narrative and message. Cousins’ track starts with a solitary, lilting electric guitar riff. Finger-picked acoustic guitars come in next, establishing the chords and melody. As the song unfurls, it builds in intensity. Each time the verse comes back around, more energy is introduced – the groove of the live drums, then percussive electronica loops, then intricate counter melodies from guitars and keyboards. The arrangement builds continuously until the track reaches a rousing crescendo comprised of Cousins’ soaring vocals along with explosive drum fills and electric guitar feedback.
“Road To Corinth” also stands apart from typical pop-rock songs in its lyrics. The song is not literally about the city in Greece. Rather, the lyrics borrow phrases and images from one of the most famous pieces of spiritual literature – chapter 13 of St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians. The narrator of the song is on a journey seeking insight and meaning in a fractured world. He asks reflective questions and reports on the charlatans, tycoons, and intolerant people he encounters along the way. Like other pop-rock songs that borrow directly from religious texts (“40” by U2… “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Byrds… “Rivers of Babylon” by The Melodians), “Road To Corinth” lifts inspiring language about spiritual love found in an ancient text in order to fashion a contemporary experience that resonates with today’s listener.
The journey and road motifs used in the lyrics do not describe a specific destination. They are symbols for choosing a path; for following a way of life where love and peace are the highest values, not false knowledge or material riches. In this way, perhaps, the narrator/singer is trying to amplify the message in the famous letter to the Corinthians – about faith, hope and love. A message that listeners are evermore hungry to hear given the dark, oppressive climate spreading across American society in 2025.
https://soundcloud.com/hilarycousins/corinth2025mix5b-m2/s-xpJuWRNVN0k?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=79cd50990c4744fa81723af3751f1460
