UNSPEAKABLE:
The Collected Lyrics of Joe Henry, 1985–2020

I found it surprisingly emotional to gather these songs ––to consider them now as a unified body of work. Every one of them, after all, and for a time in my life, was my all-consuming occupation, carrying within it not only my aspirations for it as a singular incantation, but standing each to represent a pilgrim’s progress: the state of my so-called artistry, for better and worse, richer and poorer. Until the next one came along.

The most startling thing for me to witness now from this vantage point is how uniformly these songs all grapple with the things I am still speaking to: our shared humanity as it is thrown into relief by both hope and suffering, and the redemptive power of love over every aspect of our lives.

What else is there? This is not to say I think I’ve been writing the same song over and over again but, rather, within these themes, every experience can ultimately be framed, held, parsed, and swallowed; understood.

I offer up this volume for posterity, yes, but also as my compass blade going forward toward the work that is yet mine to do. And i do so most decidedly with love and gratitude.

Peace to all.

Joe Henry
Harpswell, Maine

Unspeakable: The Collected Lyrics of Joe Henry, 1985–2020, is a compilation of lyrics that, when “raised by the waters of melody,” created a body of work that established the American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer as an American creative force. The volume features lyrics to 182 songs from Henry’s fifteen albums produced between 1985 and 2020, and nineteen additional songs written for, and with, other artists, such as Roseanne Cash, Mose Allison, and Billy Bragg. The volume also includes 18 black-and-white photographs made by the artist during this same time period.

Printed on natural matte art paper, and bound in deep green cloth with a black quarter binding, Unspeakable is published in a first edition of 1,000 copies.

A special edition of 250 copies, numbered and signed by the artist and presented in a custom cloth slipcase, is also available.