Songs 7-14

Most of these are longer, story songs.

7. Roads to Moscow – Al Stewart
A twist ending that is no twist ending if you know your history. I didn’t know my history the first time I listened to this song. I went back to the books to learn about this period of time. And still the ending haunts me.

8. If I Wrote You – Dar Williams
Sometimes I can explain the importance of a song with no problem. Sometimes I could explain, but choose not to. Sometimes the words to explain aren’t there. This song is a combination of the last two reasons.

9. Lies – Stan Rogers
If I were given the task of defining love using just one song, this would be the song.

10. Waterline – Jon Flynn
Jon Flynn is a local singer/songwriter who has begun to find some national attention. His children’s songs are cute and whimsical. His adult songs often use allegory to make a point. The “Waterline” in the title refers to the fact that when a wooden boat burns, it can only burn to the waterline. What looks like a total loss from the shoreline might reveal something precious hidden safe below the burn line.

11. Cold Missouri Waters – by James Kellaghan as performed by Cry, Cry, Cry
Based on a true event that is explained in detail here.

12. Eye of the Hurricane – David Wilcox
David Wilcox maintains that this is a story about drug addiction and nothing more. He might have written it, and he might be the one singing it, but he’s still wrong.

13. The Kid – David Wilcox, written by Buddy Mondlock
I suppose I should have put Mondluck’s version in here, but it’s Wilcox’s tht I turn to. Or sometimes Cry, Cry, Cry’s. The song is on the list because it gave me justification for my own daydreams.

14. The Highwayman – Phil Ochs
I don’t even want to hear about Loreena McKennitt’s version. It’s Phil Ochs’ version that made the poetry live for me, made me feel the poem. I knew the poem, had to read it in junior high and didn’t think much of it one way or the other. This was the song that taught me poetry.