"But a little bit of soap will never erase the pain in my heart and my eyes as I go through the lonely hills."
The Jarmels- A Little Bit of Soap
When all your faith has been stomped and pulverized, at least John Hiatt will give it the ol' college try to take you back to church.
John Hiatt- Have a Little Faith in Me
"I gave you my heart, but you wanted my mind..." There is no pleasing someone who's love is the choking kind.
Mavis Staples- The Choking Kind
I must have listened to this song a thousand times when we met. Because that's what you made me feel; this soul deep love bullshit. And to think it was all a mean-spirited joke. And now all the children scream for Alex Chilton
The Box Tops- Soul Deep
And while we're strolling down memory lane, here are a couple more lame tunes that remind me of that sandalwood-scented time; the memory of which is well-worn and threadbare by now.
The Casinos- Then You Can Tell Me
The Duprees- You Belong To Me
The memory of that night first we met, was one of my most prized possessions. Now I can barely bring myself to think about it, and when I do I don't even know what to feel. You even took what little illusory romance I had left.
Merle Haggard- My Favorite Memory
"The Taker," written by Shel Silverstein, is a tune about an slick conman who takes advantage of a naive girl just to watch her break. Juxtaposed with "We Had It All" about losing the greatest thing ever clutched in hand and all that's left is memories. It's like Waylon knew all the while...
Waylon Jennings- The Taker/We Had It All
This song came on the radio one afternoon after it all started to fall apart. I thought it meant I should keep trying, but we all just see what we want to see. It's all neural garbage. "I am a vessel that's empty and useless. I am a bad seed that's fell by the way...You are my last hope, don't turn me away."
Dolly Parton- The Seeker
It's hard to forget the crushing contempt I felt for you at that Lyle Lovett concert that August night after it began to undeniably unravel. The heat and humidity were no match for the fire that burned inside of me; searing and seething toward the next seat over.
Lyle Lovett- I Can't Love You Anymore
Another adult contempo artist I always put on when I'm feeling sullen: Chris Isaak. "No, no no. Don't put on your depressing music. Come on." Fuck you. I'll listen to what I want.
Chris Isaak- I Wonder
More music to loathe. How dare I leave unsanctioned music playing in the kitchen, like an animal! Of all the dirty, rotten tricks; barely audible Tom Waits playing three rooms away is right up there with torture and genocide.
Tom Waits- Back in the Crowd
And this is a tune for those who look down on all the Wristcutters of the world. "Why don't you just get drunk like everyone else." Fuck off, you ape.
Gogol Bordello- Through the Roof 'N' Underground
Maybe the only cool thing you ever turned me on to... I guess it wasn't a total waste.
James Booker- Too Much Blues
I think this is a nice piano lead-in to yet another Tom Waits tune. Just the fuck-you cherry on top.
Tom Waits- Please Call Me Baby
And then there are times, when a sad song just isn't quite sad enough. So I have to rubberband back the other way to get to that deep corner of pain I seek.
Darlene Love- Today I Met the Boy I'm Going to Marry
And here is a haunting tune performed by The Cramps via Ricky Nelson, just in case you were feeling too upbeat.
The Cramps- Lonesome Town
And Tom Waits' truest sentiment... "I always play Russian Roulette in my head."
Tom Waits- A Good Man is Hard to Find
