The pheromones were surely swirling, the neurons tap-tap-tapping for indie folk singers, Deb Talan and Steve Tannen on that illustrious evening in Harvard Square.  Each had a thriving career as an independent singer-songwriter-performer and although they’d never met, each was a huge fan of the other’s music.

Tannen, from New York City, later claimed to have played Talan’s solo album “constantly,” even singing along in harmony, while Talan, from Pelham, Mass (which borders Amherst) maintained that she was so captivated by Tannen’s music that she had “formed a kind of a relationship” with it. Then in 2001, Talan attended one of Tannen’s shows at Club Passim in Harvard Square and not only did they quickly become musical collaborators, they fell in love.

Now a married couple with two children, they regularly tour as a duo, calling themselves The Weepies.  According to Deb Talan it’s a name that was inspired by “…those old movies that were called weepies, where…if you needed a good cry, you could go and see one and bring your hanky and have a good time. And we want to provide that for people. We want to make music that touches them and moves them in that way, the place where tears come from, for joy and for sorrow.”

This seasonal song comes from their first album together, released independently (appropriately enough) at Club Passim in 2003.  Entitled “Happiness” the album was written and recorded in three weeks “in the white heat of their artistic and personal connection,” noted one reviewer, and though The Weepies wouldn’t land a record deal for another two years it sold more than 10,000 copies.

LISTEN TO TODAY’S SELECTION – Tuesday 18 December 

All That I Want

 Out in the harbor

The ships come in, it’s Christmastime

The kids all holler carols ‘cross the water

Stars that shine

 All that I want, all that I want

Above the rooftops

The full moon dips its golden spoon

I wait on clip-clops, deer might fly

Why not? I met you

 All that I want, all that I want

 And when the night is falling

Down the sky at midnight

Another year is stalling

Far away a good bye, good night

All that I want, all that I want, all that I want

So small a turning

The world grows older every day

An ache, a yearning

Soften when I hear you say

 All that I want, all that I want

 And when the cold wind’s blowing

Snow drifts through the pine trees

In houses lights are glowing

Likewise in your eyes that find me here

With all that I want

 Out in the harbor

The ships come in, it’s Christmastime

It’s Christmastime

It’s Christmastime