“Going to France” imagines a typically magical vacation spot as a threat.

Track: “Going to France”
Album: Unreleased

For any long-time readers, you may be tired of me going outside of the song for a story, but I simply must for “Going to France.” The only performance of this one was in 1992 at a concert I have talked about extensively through this project. The electric guitar on this song was played by Ian D. Smith, who has other credits on Shrimper and similar projects and supposedly was in a band with John Darnielle previously. He has a common enough name that it’s tough to quickly find any information about him beyond that, which I am taking on faith as listed as true on the original wiki. I’ve talked before about how it is frustrating to contribute to the “truth” of some of these things without knowing, but I just don’t see what benefit there would be to saying those basic details if they aren’t true.

The guitar sells this one. It’s a screamer, which is fun, as is the subject flip of the idea that “going to France” as a duo could be a threat rather than a reward. Our narrator says they don’t break their promises, so you are going to France with them despite this argument or frustration or whatever else we’re supposed to superimpose onto that electric guitar. That central joke is enough to sustain this one.