“I take pride in the fact that I can walk away from things. My willingness to walk away has protected me, I realize that now. Being able to walk away from sessions, from poetry, from dreams of being a poetry professor.”

American musician, singer-songwriter and poet

David Cloud Berman was an American musician, singer-songwriter, and poet. He founded the indie rock band Silver Jews and remained its only constant member, alongside Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. Berman worked across music and poetry, and Silver Jews became the project most closely associated with his name. His writing and lyrics are linked to the same dry, observant sensibility that shaped his work as a poet and songwriter.