Watch out, the world's behind you

Today isn't Sunday and it's definitely not the morning. This song is still awesome.

Watch out, the world's behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
It's nothing at all

If I was my heart, I'd rather be restless

This song got me through a tough time. I hope you're at peace now Ms. Winehouse.

Pour myself over him
Moon spilling in
And I wake up alone

My eyes they saw a better day

I love cover songs. I think my first favorite was Rufus Wainwright's cover of Hallelujah, which I heard way back in 2001 (before ad nauseam covers became a indie music artist rite of passage). Something like 45% of my music collection is made up covers.

Bob Dylan covers are popular because while no one can dispute he is one of the best songwriters of all time, his voice isn't always the... nicest? (Personally, I love his 60s and 70s work, but don't dispute his voice has only gotten worse over the years).

That's definitely not a problem for Ms. Chan Marshall.

The trail is dusty,
The road it might be rough,
But the good road is a-waitin'
And boys it ain't far off.

My baby's gone with the wind

For a northern-bred, bleeding heart liberal, I seem to have an odd obsession for all things Southern. Whether it's my favorite baseball team, one of my favorite movies, or a favorite TV show, I'm probably a poor excuse for a Yankee. Lynyrd Skynyrd is really far from my favorite 70s rock band, but this song is awesome. And really, better than Free Bird in my opinion.

Train roll on many miles from my home,
See, I'm riding my blues away.
Tuesday, you see, she had to be free
But somehow I've got to carry on.

Can I hold it for a week

I fell in love with the band Low in the most un-hipster way possible. I heard one of their songs on Dawson's Creek.

This song only has 5 lines.

On the step you handed me
Pieces of the plan

But at night it's a different world

I grew up listening to oldies, so most of the songs I associate with my childhood are of the British Invasion, Motown, and other 1960s musical trends. I didn't live in city, but I did live in a place where it regularly hit the upper 90s, plus 70% and above humidity. I suppose I should be grateful for dry heat?

As a teenager, I more regularly associated this song with the opening scene of the 3rd Die Hard movie.

And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city

There was a dream and one day I could see it

I'm not sure how I feel about this sort of 'folk renaissance' that's going on in music right now. On one hand, bands like The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons are awesome and deserve all the publicity and accolades they get. On the other, you know this is going to lead to teenyboppers thinking they are so hip for listening to them and all sorts of imitators that are only half as decent. Still, I suppose anything that gets people to listen to folk music is a good thing.

This is one of my favorite videos of all time.

When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it.

Never been a sinner, I never sinned

You gotta love a fake gospel song written by a Jew. I think it's the guitar and instrumental parts that make this song so cool. I remember thinking it was weird when I heard this song was on the first Rock Band game, but it definitely makes sense.

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best.

It's the way of history

"Ain't Got So Far to Go" is a song by David Byrne, originally released on the 2004 compilation album Future Soundtrack for America. It was released just a couple of months before the 2004 election. The first two tracks (this song and OK Go's cover of "This Will Be Our Year") are so incredibly hopeful. I remember driving down the street blasting this thinking Bush's days in office were numbered. No way would this country be stupid enough to "elect" him a second time. Boy, was I wrong.

This song has a lot of Biblical overtones that I think work well with it's overall message. I do like the YouTube video (the only version I could find of this song) which matches the song with images of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Much more fitting than what happened back in '04.

Oh the water's rising
How will we get to the other shore?
Many hearts are broken
But we ain't got so far to go
No we ain't got so far to go