Ryan Edward Kotler
- R.A.G.
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Ryan Edward Kotler’s “In My Time of Constant Sorrow” unfolds like a candid journal entry set to music, its spare arrangement pulling listeners into a world steeped in folk tradition. Kotler grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey, steeped in the work of Leadbelly, Bob Dylan, John Prine, and Simon & Garfunkel. That decision manifests here as a refusal to hide behind studio gloss. The song is based on the same melody Woody Guthrie used for his 1913 Massacre and that Bob Dylan later used in “Song for Woody,” and Kotler even addresses Dylan by name in the lyrics. Yet the narrative is his own: he contrasts encounters with powerful figures—senators, businessmen, kings—with the liberating simplicity of a “pauper’s life” and ultimately resolves to “trade sorrows for joy”.
Instrumentation is deliberately minimal. Reviewers note that the track relies on a single acoustic guitar, harmonica and a weary vocal, evoking a 1960s folk club. The guitar’s simple strum functions more as a frame than a focal point, while the harmonica provides color and grit. That rough‑hewn sound isn’t accidental: the lo‑fi, home‑recorded quality feels both fragile and intentional, encouraging listeners to concentrate on words and emotion rather than production gloss. Bored City observed that the track feels like listening to a harmonica‑backed performance in a coffeehouse, with “simple but effective” guitar and vocals that blend “sorrow and hope”. As an artist who first released a covers EP and then singles rooted in folk and blues, Kotler draws on that experience to keep things unvarnished yet purposeful.
Lyrically, the song reads like a dialogue with mentors. Kotler thanks Guthrie and Dylan in his notes and addresses “Bobby Dylan” directly in the song. But he uses that framework to explore his own journey: he surveys the influential people he’s met, reflects on societal pressures, then chooses a path of humility and connection. Critics highlight how clearly each line is delivered, lending the song a weight that lingers after the music ends. There’s no grand crescendo; instead, the track moves through a series of quietly potent images, its steady guitar and purposeful harmonica punctuating moments of resignation and resolve.
This understated approach mirrors Kotler’s broader mission. He has said he writes music to survive and isn’t interested in “selling plastic”. That philosophy aligns with a tradition of folk musicians who prioritize storytelling and authenticity over sheen. A separate review of his covers EP celebrated his ability to keep songs unpolished and faithful to their roots; “In My Time of Constant Sorrow” extends that ethos to his own material. By turning a traditional melody into a vehicle for personal reflection, Kotler shows that simplicity can still resonate when paired with sincerity.