Dink's Song

When it comes to movies, we are, of course, devout Coen brothers fans, starting with their masterpiece, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” from two decades ago. There Joel and Ethan Coen incorporated a wise and loving treatment of American roots music of the 1920s and ‘30s, a period obviously dear to The Flood’s heart as well. More recently, the Coens turned again to folk music, this time in an extraordinary 2013 film called “Inside Llewyn Davis,” set in one winter’s week in 1961 Greenwich Village. A highlight of that funny, sad movie is when Oscar Isaac, playing the title role, performs a moody rendition of “Fare Thee Well,” also known as “Dink’s Song.” That moment especially resonated with all folk music fans, because most of us learned that song from the 1960s recordings of the late folk genius Dave Van Ronk, whose work seems to have inspired this film in the first place. Dear Dave. They didn’t call him “the mayor of MacDougal Street for nothing. Here’s The Flood’s take on “Dink’s Song” from a recent rehearsal.