Dollar Matinee
Nanci Griffith · There's A Light Beyond These Woods [1990]
His memories all curled up inside
He was trying to remember
Was it August or September
He'd seen her for the last time
Heard that she'd become actress
Lord, she always had the prettiest face
And he stood with his hands
In his pockets and waited
For the dollar matinee
Lord, she's bigger than life on the screen
There's a laugh from the balcony, good Lord
And the sun will burn you and blind you
When you step back into the street
Theater, she smelled so familiar
She was a smoky old velvet delight
Yes, and he sat down front
Just like he'd always done
With his feet hanging out in the aisles
And he watched her with eyes disbelieving
Felt something like time on his brain
And he told himself
Don't you remember it's only
Just a part that she's playing
Lord, she's bigger than life on the screen
There's a laugh from the balcony, good Lord
And the sun will burn you and blind you
When you step back into the street
She stood by some window in Paris
While the captions translated the scene
Oh, and Ronnie stared back
At her body, breathed
"Christ, that's the first time I've seen it!"
Behind him the people were leaving
Well, the buses, they were humming outside
But old Ronnie never went
To the movies unless
He could stay and see it twice
Lord, she's bigger than life on the screen
There's a laugh from the balcony, good Lord
And the sun will burn you and blind you
When you step back into the street
Lord, she's bigger than life on the screen
There's a laugh from the balcony, good Lord
And the sun will burn you and blind you
When you step back into the street
When you step back into the street
Dollar Matinee
Nanci Griffith's 'Dollar Matinee' stands as a poignant song within her celebrated 1990 album, There's A Light Beyond These Woods. This recording captures the artist's signature ability to blend traditional folk storytelling with contemporary acoustic arrangements. The song reflects Griffith's deep engagement with narrative songwriting, a hallmark of her extensive discography that spans decades of influential work in the American folk and country genres. Released during a prolific period in her career, the track exemplifies her skill in crafting intimate, character-driven pieces that resonate with listeners through emotional authenticity rather than commercial spectacle. As part of a body of work that often explores themes of memory and place, 'Dollar Matinee' remains a testament to Griffith's enduring impact on the singer-songwriter tradition.