Certain Songs

If ever there was an album that I was destined to love, it would be Steve Earle's new 'Townes.' A total can't miss for me! I mean, one of my favorite living singer/songwriters recording an album of one of the all time great singer/songwriter's songs - perfect.

And to me, it is perfect. Earle's road weary voice(and I use that as an absolute compliment) breathes new life into the lyrics of Townes Van Zandt - lyrics which were already pretty amazing to start with.

Steve Earle - 'No Place To Fall' MP3

I was under the weather and bed-ridden for most of Sunday, hence I missed the Academy Awards - which is no great tragedy. The sad part was that during my sick day on Monday I was flipping around aimlessly on the television, looking for something - anything to hold my attention until the medicine kicked in and knocked me out - and I somehow ended up on one of those red carpet round table discussion shows.

You know the ones...were four or five inane people over analyze every little detail of a celeb's outfit. I was so mad that it was on, and even madder at myself for not being able to turn it off. Is there anything more frivilous or ridiculous than high fashion? I think not. I think Lester Bangs said it best : "Style is originality; fashion is fascism.The two are eternally and unalterably opposed."

This entire fiasco reminded me of one of my favorite Gram Parsons song...here is the Chris Hillman/Steve Earle version.


* Chris Hillman/Steve Earle - 'High Fashion Queen' MP3

Only eight days til the election. Finally. I don't know about the rest of the universe, but as a guy living in a swing state, it can't come soon enough. The endless barrage of negative ads and robo-phone calls are enough to make anyone take up communism. I kid, of course. It's the best kind of stress to have I guess, and I am very proud that I live in a country where I get to elect my leaders. The system is broken, we know that, but you vote and you complain, and that's how change happens. If you don't vote, you forgo your right to complain about anything...ever.

So, to usher in the excitement of election day...I am going to post a favorite 'new protest song' a day until the 4th. George W. Bush has absolutely made a royal mess of things over the last 8 years, but the one bright spot...if you were a music lover - lots of great politically feuled angst ridden tunes!

Today's entry is courtesy of the great Steve Earle:

Steve Earle - 'Rich Man's War' MP3

If you read this site, hoping to see your name... - m4w

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Reply to: pers-820404379@craigslist.org ^[?]
Date: 2008-08-30, 10:22PM EDT


then you are like me. In my moments of greatest despair, I turn to things like song lyrics to look for wisdom. I turn to the "Missed Connections" forum on CraigsList to look for hope. I turn inward to look for strength, because I have no "special someone" to look outwards at.

Sometimes you can feel yourself on the edge of greatness. You grasp and grasp, and hope and pray that it doesn't slip away. This is one of those things. This post. With it starts my relationship with you: the person who reads this, hoping it's about her. It is. I'm hoping you'll respond, so that this doesn't slip away. If you're like me, then you might not even read it to begin with. Maybe the title didn't "grab" you enough, maybe it looked too long to muddle through when you clicked it, or maybe you think I'm a raving lunatic, a loser, or just not your type. But if you DO read it, and it catches you in the right mood, and if you're as hopelessly romantic as I am, then you might write back. I hope I'm in the right mood when I read it.
I am a lonely wretch.

Know what I did tonight? I wrote on a friend's FaceBook wall. I haven't talked to her in over a year, probably. She's married, but I told her that I was thinking about her the other day, and that she's beautiful. It's funny how I can scoff at FaceBook, but doing something so simple can make me so happy. I want someone of my own to tell such things to. Not someone else's wife.

Last week, as I was talking to someone online (probably someone I met on a dating site) they told me that it was refreshing to hear from a guy what I'd just said: I'm tired of being alone.

You can tell me that 1 and 1 make two, and that you have to live for yourself before you'll find anyone else, but the fact of the matter is that I believe that, instead of 1 and 1 making two, I'm looking for my other half. I wish I knew where you were. I know you're out there, dammit. Somewhere. Please write me back. I'm not suicidal, so don't get all worried, but sometimes it feels like I'd be much better off living for someone else than for myself. It's a little sad, but there ARE things I'll do for someone I care about, but not do for myself. I just wish I had the person to do them for. That could be you.
If anyone actually writes me back, and responds to this, it might encourage me enough to write again. I'm not particularly artistic, actually, but I think that posting this is "me needing an outlet." I mean, I can appreciate art, but I'm not much for making it. this is what I can manage. To you, I hope, it's art.
I am a: lonelywretch

******

"I turn to the "Missed Connections" forum on CraigsList to look for hope" ... that MAY in fact be the saddest thing I have ever, EVER read. I think of all the Missed Connections sub-genres on Craigslist, the 'late night rambling/cry for helps' are my favorite to read...and the most heart breaking.

Steve Earle - 'Lonelier Than This' MP3


"

I am always fascinated and intrigued by seeing what song a director picks to play as the credits roll in his movie. I have never written a screenplay, or even come close, but I have had the Sparklehorse song "Sick Of Goodbyes" pegged as tune I want playing when the movie I never make fades to black and those credits start rolling.

I watched 'The Diving Bell And The Butterfly' last night and the song attached to this post by the late great Joe Strummer was the fade to black song...great choice I thought.

My other all time favorite is Steve Earle's "Pilgrim"(also attached) in the Laura Linney/Mark Ruffalo movie 'You Can Count On Me'...how about you? Any memorable credit rolling songs that you can think off? Or maybe a song that should be?

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - 'Ramshackle Day Parade' MP3

Steve Earle - 'Pilgrim' MP3

Sparklehorse - 'Sick Of Goodbyes' MP3

I love Steve Earle. Such an incredible songwriter. This bittersweet tune was 'hidden' on his mostly protest themed album, "The Revolution Starts Now" released a few years ago during the peak of the Bush incompetency.

I been watchin’ you watchin’ me
I could feel your eyes from way across the room
But now that I’m holdin’ you close I can see
Ain’t no way I’m gonna get around you
I won’t tell you I don’t need you tonight
I won’t pretend I ain’t burnin’ inside
Your skin glowin’ soft in the silver moonlight
The shadows where the promises hide
The bittersweet taste of your kiss
It’s all more than I can resist

If you’re thinkin’ ‘bout breakin’ my heart
You might as well just pick up your little black dress and go
Somebody else already tore it apart
And I thought you should know

Maybe this is all that you want
Maybe you’re just as lonesome as me
A shoulder that you can cry on
A warm safe place you can be
Someone to call in the middle of the night
When the ghosts in your bedroom won’t rest
Two arms to hold you tight
I promise that I’ll do my best
To give you everything I got to give

Steve Earle - 'I Thought You Should Know'

I got to the Steve Earle party really late. When my mind and ears finally opened up to the 'alt country' sound(I hate that term, but it is easy and I am lazy) in the mid 90's Steve Earle was already well into an amazing career. 'Transcendental Blues', which was released in 2000, was the first Steve Earle record I ever bought. I loved it SO much...i remember making copies for ALL of my friends...most of who dismissed it as country and never gave it a a second spin. Their loss. I dove into Earle's back catalog
almost immediately, and he has been one of my favorite artists ever since, up to and including this year's "Washington Square Serenade."



So many great tunes on 'TB'. 'Lonelier Than This' is one of my all time favorite tracks of his, 'Galway Girl', 'Everyone's In Love With You', 'Over Yonder', and the title track are all favorites of mine too. Just a great collection of songs...and one that I still listen to all the time.

5_OverYonder_Jonathan_sSong_.mp3

_08_LonelierThanThis.mp3

_02_Everyone_sInLoveWithYou.mp3

This is what being in love sounds like.

After listening to SO many great Steve Earle albums inspired by heartache and lost love, it is beautiful to here this gorgeous duet with his wife, Allison Moorer.

Steve Earle is one of my all time favorite songer/songwriters. And lucky for us, he produces as much quality as he does quantity.

Here is a Tom Waits cover that is the last track on his beautiful new album, 'Washington Square Serenade'