There are some artists that only come to you when you're ready. People had been talking to me about Laura Nyro for years, but I was more familiar with her songs that had become hits for other performers; see the Fifth Dimension in particular (Wedding Bell Blues, Stoned Soul Picnic). It wasn't until I was a little bit older, and ready to appreciate it, that I truly understood what a gifted songwriter Laura Nyro was.
American Dove never saw an official recording, but can thankfully be found as part of a live album, Spread Your Wings and Fly: Live at the Fillmore East, May 30, 1971. It's such an earthy, raw and passionate performance, in what is a beautiful statement about peace.
There's a strong anti-war message throughout American Dove: Nyro's saying that America is a dove, not an eagle. It's not an attack on America or its people so much as it is a celebration of a brilliant country, full of good people, who have the potential to be a force for peace ("spread your wings and fly, American Dove"). There's also a sweeping, majestic quality to the melody that reminds me of Bacharach – as you sing it, there's this sense of being airborne.
I performed American Dove on my first tour of the States, and it really captured my experiences of the country, and the brilliant characters I met. Nyro's appeal for peace is timeless, as is her songwriting – I'm thankful for her depth and for her passionate, timeless legacy.
• Rumer's album of cover versions, Boys Don't Cry, is released on Monday on Atlantic. We are live streaming her show at St James's Church, London, on Thursday from 8.30pm.
You can read the rest of Rumer's Old Music pieces here.
