Today is a short one since I am busy packing a preparing for the big move to Crofton. Next week I promise a longer list of tracks and some more Guest Musak Tracks. This weeks installment is made up of four songs that I feel are particularly well written.
Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YDb1mZxQRk
This song is great because of the story around it. Leonard wrote this song about the late great Janis Joplin. It is filled with a mix of loving admiration and bitter self loathing.
Bob Dylan - Ballad of a Thin Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8HrA2T3lI4
So many great Bob Dylan songs it was hard to choose just one. I will leave the explanation of this songs lyrics up to Zimmy himself. When asked in 1965 who Mr. Jones is he said, "He's a pinboy. He also wears suspenders. He's a real person. You know him, but not by that name... I saw him come into the room one night and he looked like a camel. He proceeded to put his eyes in his pocket. I asked this guy who he was and he said, "That's Mr. Jones." Then I asked this cat, "Doesn't he do anything but put his eyes in his pocket?" And he told me, "He puts his nose on the ground." It's all there, it's a true story."
Don McLean - Vincent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dipFMJckZOM
I have never been a huge Don McLean fan. Many will remember Don McLean for his song 'American Pie' but I have always found 'Vincent' to be his true masterpiece. He captures all of the beauty and tragedy of Van Goghs existence.
Warren Zevon - Lawyers, Guns and Money
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5puAN1PGQw&feature=related
I first heard of Warren Zevon through the writings of Hunter S. Thompson. Warren had met Hunter on that fateful vacation to Kuai and although I can't find any evidence to support the theory I have always thought that this song has to have been inspired by that psychedelic snow-leopard from Kentucky.
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