1969 Song of the Day is–“Across The Great Divide” by The Band. Robbie Robertson wrote “Across The Great Divide” and it is the lead off song on The Band’s The Band album. Richard Manuel is the lead singer on the song. The Band was blessed having three great singers- Manuel, Levon Helm and Rick Danko. “Standing by your in pain, a pistol in your hand”- so begins one of the greatest albums ever made. The singers wife Molly has a gun pointed at him and he is trying to convince her to put it down and to ‘try and understand her man” The song comes off an optimistic song- even though the gun was pointed at him. The whole album feels like a trip back to a much earlier time. The Band album as a whole feels like a great lesson in American history.  A great opening track which set the tone for this great album and draws you in. {Not to give anything away- but at the end of the year when I make my greatest albums of 1969 list- I figure The Band- The Band will make the grade.}