These are the songs that when heard, I have to continue to listen to.....in no special order...

Irish Heart, English Blood - Morrissey - A good anthem.

Set 'Em Up Joe - Vern Gosdin - The quintessential honky-tonk drinking song.

There Must Be Someone (I Can Turn To) - The Gosdin Brothers - The quintessential honky-tonk lost love song.

Wishing All These Old Things Were New - Merle Haggard - The title says all that needs to be said. Aging and missing how things once felt.

Sunday Morning Coming Down - Johnny Cash version - My Dad told me this was viewed as one of the best songs ever written. For the longest time I didn't understand why. He's what pops into my mind when I hear it and then do agree with him.

Earlly Morning Rain - Gordon Lightfoot - Another song that makes me think of my father. One night, during a night of drinking, he played this for us - flawlessly. It was one of those moments you keep forever and want more of, even though you know you can't and to have too many, only dilutes the power of the ones you do have.

Again - Alice In Chains - The story of Layne Stayley is so sad. I can't recall for sure, it was probably both, but either SPIN (in it's good days) or Rolling Stone did a "last days of" piece on Stayley. He became a recluse hunting for that dope high he couldn't never get back and died alone, found afterward. Such a powerful vocal range.

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen - Growing up Queen was my favorite band. I still love Freddie. Every time I hear this song, it makes me think of my sister. I can still hear her singing along to this song.

Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul - This was one of my Mom's favorite songs and became one of mine as well. I remember how we'd take the back gravel roads to town in a 73 Ford Mustang that because of the rough road, you'd have to keep reaching up through the bottom of the dash to re-attach one of the speaker wires to the lone radio speaker.

Ramada Inn - Neil Young - To me, the song is a look back at a long life with recriminations of things in the past, but with hope for the future.

Turning Point - Turning Point - Live Version - The first time I heard this song, it hooked me.

How It Ends - DeVotchka - My interpretation of this song deals with the passing of my father.."you know how this ends"...

It's Alright - Steve Earle - On a morose note, Goodbye and Pilgram are wonderful songs by Earle, but I'm Alright is a pure rock song.

Jungleland - Bruce Springsteen - Younger, all Springsteen all the time was good for me, but it's changed now. Still, this is an operatic rock and roll song.

Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way - Waylon Jennings - Another rock song in spirit. The odd thing, seeing Jennings play it is like watching paint dry. In a way, it sadly reveals how parts of a song come together to form a surreal myth.

Lullabye - Billy Joel - This song is so painful to listen to anymore, but still reassures to a child that a parent is always there and if needed, just a plane ride way no matter where in the world the child is.

A Prisoner's Dream - David Baerwald - I picked this because while I can never quit listening to Secret Silken World or Why, this song resonates with me because it says to me that any human can dream, no matter how despicable the human is.

Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison. Such a great song.

Locked Down - Dr. John - An under appreciated song.

I Got Some Outside Help I Don't Need - B. B. King, with George Benson version -

Tell It To The Dust - Anders Parker - Reminds me of the time when a youth and of youthful friends.

Sadie (Live) - Hound Dog Taylor - A good, pounding blues song. I swear you can tell Hound Dog Taylor is tired drunk at the start and still kicks it out.

Mr. E's Beautiful Blues - Eels - A good anthem of it being a 'goddamned beautiful day'............even though shit is hitting the fan...

Bayou Drive - Clifton Chenier - Good zydeco music always makes me think of good music, the summer, eating too much and drinking too much and how you still want to move even with a bloated belly in the hot sun.

Why You Been Gone So Long - Johnny Darrell - a good sing along rough ballad.

I Love You So Much It Hurts - John Prine verson. Hurts to just listen to this song.

Are You Alright - Lucinda Willams.

Have A Drink On Me - ACDC - My sentiments to those that would have attended my visitation when I was a bit younger and when more of them were around.

Well, I could go on forever........