Cover Me, The Henry Girls: Reason to Believe

The Henry Girls hail from a little village in Ulster, Ireland, but their music incorporates as much Americana influences as it does Irish.

Three multi-instrumental sisters with the last name of McLaughlin (they named their combo after their grandfather), The Henry Girls sing in gorgeous harmony and employ a wide range of instruments when recording and performing, both of which they’ve been doing for almost two decades.

Their 2014 album, Louder Than Words, won deservedly raving reviews for its original material, but tucked deep into the album was a single cover sure to delight Springsteen fans.

“Bruce Springsteen is undoubtedly one of the great songwriters of all time,” the trio told No Depression in a 2014 interview. “We decided to record ‘Reason to Believe’… [because] the song is very universal and contemplative, it speaks to a lot of people. It’s a haunting portrayal of people clinging to hope in the face of adversity. We were brought up in a rural part of Ireland where religion is very important; it passes along through the generations, often without question. The song resonates with us and so does it resonate with a lot of people who hear it. It’s a powerful song. Also, it is a fine piece of music, with a beautiful melody that lends itself so well to harmonies.”

The Henry Girls’ take on “Reason to Believe” is as understated as Bruce’s original recording, but where Bruce sings with a detachment and defeatism, The Henry Girls sing with optimism and resilience. It’s a different song as a result.

But as lovely as that studio track is, their live performances are even better. The Henry Girls cover Bruce in concert frequently, and a few of their “Reason to Believe” performances are available on YouTube. Here’s my favorite–a quiet, intimate, beautifully arranged version that takes flight at about the one-minute mark and never touches ground again.

Check out more music by The Henry Girls here.