Working on a Song

 Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell, 259 pages.

Hadestown is a musical that's lived half a dozen lives, and in each of them the show changes. More than any other show I can think of, it's hard to identify a canonical version of Hadestown, as the tracklist changes often and the lyrics constantly. Mitchell traces the show's whole journey from conception, to concept album, to travelling concert; Off-Broadway, to Broadway, to London, with detailed annotations on every song and the journeys they went on from iteration to iteration. 

This is a really interesting look into the song-writing process, but also a look at show development and creative collaboration in a decade-long project. I listened to the audiobook, which I think really heightened the experience, as it is read by Anaïs Mitchell herself. She sings many verses, and overall it feels very personal and enriching. I'm not sure there's much here for anyone who's not a fan of the show, but it is a must-listen for fans.