If Victoria Williams were a fictional character, she'd be right at home in a Tom Robbins novel.

It's not just because the folksinger appeared in the film Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - which kind of missed the point of the book, but that's another story.

She's just a fascinating person. Even a 15-minute interview made that clear.

In a languid drawl that betrays her Louisiana roots, Williams is on the phone from her home in Joshua Tree, California - talking about a three-legged squirrel she befriended, about life in the desert, about her love for Jesus. In other words, anything but the usual "plug-the-new-album-and-get-on-with-it" interview that hapless hacks in music journalism are usually subjected to.

Oh, yeah, the new album: It's called Water to Drink, featuring one of the most unique voices ever heard in folk music. A lazy yet evocative sound, it's the aural equivalent of molasses. She makes Rickie Lee Jones look like Madonna. Tracks range from old pop standards (a rather odd version of Young at Heart) to a charming musical tale called Grandma's Hat Pin. She plays tomorrow night in the Myer Horowitz Theatre with her husband, former Jayhawks member Mark Olson, as her opening act.

"I have to smile at that," Williams says. "But I'm going to sit in with him, I'm sure. By the time I'm there in Edmonton, it may all just be one big show. Once I start playing, I don't like to stop."

She has few complaints these days - save one: "I can't smoke the pot that's around these days. It's really too strong for me."

Before you get the wrong idea, she smokes pot for her health, which is legal in California. Williams suffers from multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which marijuana has been said to relieve.

"It helps so much," she says. "I had quit smoking marijuana for about seven years. When I was diagnosed with MS, I got all this mail, 'have you tried marijuana?' What it helps you do is to stretch when your body gets all tensed up."

Taking a little mild weed, especially grown for medicinal purposes, along with a daily injection of the drug Copaxone and Williams has gone three years without a hospital stay or need for a wheelchair. She's continued to make records the whole time.

Talk naturally turns to her Sweet Relief foundation, formed by Williams after an album of the same name came out in 1993. Acts like Pearl Jam, Lou Reed and Soul Asylum covered Williams' songs to raise money for her medical bills. The foundation continues to help musicians in health crises.

Health care happens to be a topic she's very passionate about: "I tell you: do not, no matter what anyone says, do not lose your health care system you've got up there. You all are really in a good position. America is so screwed up right now. I was just on that Politically Incorrect show the other night and I'm so mad at myself. I was up all night. Why didn't you say anything, Vic? I should've stood up for Ralph Nader and the Green Party. I had my chance. I just sat there and didn't say anything the whole time. I'm so mad. But I can't commit suicide over it. I guess I got nervous. It seemed like every time I thought of something I'd like to say, he was so quick on changing the topic. Everybody was pretty quick. And maybe I'm slow."

Given Williams' obvious earthy, left-wing bent, fans may be surprised that she's a Christian. Even more surprising is where it came from.

"I love Jesus," she says. "It took me a long time to get it. I was alone in my room and this really square preacher was on TV and all of the sudden it just got me: Oh, it's Jesus who I am so grateful to. I owe everything to Jesus!"

And who was this TV preacher?

"Oh, well ... he got in such trouble, afterwards."

Jimmy Swaggart?

She laughs, "Yes! But he got to me. Because when I was a child, I was raised in Methodist churches, but I never really had gone and accepted Jesus. And now, it's like wow, why doesn't everybody accept Jesus? - because he's right there for everybody. His word is so good. I do not like some of the things that are done in the name of Christianity, which is probably why I'm not well known for being Christian ... but it's helped me so much."