The Civil Wars
I’m of two minds when it comes to the breakup of The Civil Wars. On one hand, the news of the duo of John Paul White and Joy Williams going their separate ways was not exactly surprising. The band took a hiatus in 2012 before the release of their second — now final — album, due to undisclosed inner turmoil. White and Williams couldn’t even go on the press tour for their sophomore album together, so it’s clear the discord was significant.
But the announcement that The Civil Wars is no more is still painful, mainly because there’s no one out there to fill the void. The band’s folksy tunes combined with their out-of-this-world harmonies made for a countrified version of the film Once. Any music lover can appreciate The Civil Wars because what White and Williams did together was simple, beautiful and unique. The duo’s work garnered four Grammys, including Best Folk Album in 2012 and Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2012 and 2014.
Yet somehow, I’m okay with knowing it’s unlikely I’ll ever hear new music from The Civil Wars again. Maybe it was the inevitability of the decision, but I also can appreciate the band’s fascinating arc. For one, the irony of disharmony in a band called The Civil Wars is not lost on me. And the fact that two individuals who, for whatever reason, didn’t get along could create something so special together is a very compelling piece of this story. The unclear terms of The Civil Wars’ dissolution only adds the duo’s mysterious nature.
I first came across The Civil Wars at the 54th Grammy Awards show. White and Williams immediately grabbed my attention by breaking up the monotony of the program with an impromptu, a cappella performance of “Barton Hollow” before introducing Taylor Swift. It didn’t take long before I listened to a few of The Civil Wars’ songs and downloaded their first album Barton Hollow, a perfect introduction to the folk duo that earned rave reviews from critics.
The Civil Wars had tremendous success on the charts as well, with both of its albums entering the U.S. Billboard digital charts at No. 1. The duo also released a four-song EP Between the Bars in 2013 that featured a hauntingly beautiful rearrangement of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
But behind the perfectly matched vocals of The Civil Wars, it became clear what was brewing within the band was less charmed. In November 2012, the duo announced the cancellation of a tour of the U.K. and Europe after only a month, citing “internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition,” according to Billboard.
Still, they went ahead recording their second album, The Civil Wars, despite the discord. Williams, who promoted the album without White, told The New York Times in August 2013 she hadn’t spoken with White since they finished the album. In addition, White accepted the band’s 2014 Grammy alone and didn’t mention Williams in his speech.
The songs themselves added to the mystery. The Civil Wars, which debuted in the top spot of the Billboard 200 chart, fueled speculation as to the nature of the disharmony between Williams and White. The lead-off single, “The One that Got Away,” depicts a taboo affair with lyrics like, “I never meant to get us in this deep/ I never meant for this to mean a thing.”
Of course, it’s just a song, but the temptation to typify the music of The Civil Wars as art imitating life is impossible to ignore. Many of the duo’s songs deal with love and heartbreak, and subbing context into the music makes the tunes that much more interesting.
After news of The Civil Wars’ breakup, White and Williams each released separate statements announcing the decision.
“I am saddened and disappointed by the ending of this duo, to say the very least. [White] is a tremendous musician, and I will always be grateful for the music we were able to create together,” wrote Williams.
White’s statement rang true to the fascinating nature of the duo: “I would like to express sincere thanks to all who were a part of the arc of The Civil Wars — from the beginning, to the end and all points in between.”
To thank fans, The Civil Wars released one last piece of music, a cover of the Pine Ridge Boys’ “You Are My Sunshine,” which perfectly encapsulates the narrative of the folk duo. As the sweet tones of White and Williams’ voices complement each other and describe how “you make me happy when skies are gray,” I’m amazed the two can so convincingly perform together when the sentiment of their music so wholly conflicts with the internal struggles of the band.
It’s an age-old story — infighting in a band that makes fantastic music. So many renowned groups from the Beatles to the Spice Girls have been through it, and The Civil Wars is only the latest enthralling case. But damn, did those harmonies sound good.
