iPod meme redux

A few people commented and/or e-mailed regarding last Friday’s iPod meme list. For those still wondering, here’s a list of the bands and songs and how they ended up on my iPod.

1. Carrie, darlin’, Carrie. Carrie Brown I cried. If I can’t marry Carrie Brown, believe I’d rather die. Believe I’d rather die, boys. Believe I’d rather die

Carrie Brown by Del McCoury Band and Steve Earle — It’s Steve Earle gone bluegrass and off The Mountain album that my friends, the Reillys, gave me for my birthday in December 1999. The album pretty much set up the next five or so years of my music listening and is still in regular rotation

2. A memory of a miner, who dragged himself to work, worked himself to death, workin’ for someone else.

Shaky Ground by Uncle Tupelo — This is off the acoustic album the boys from Illinois put together back during my college years. I don’t think there is another album I have listened to more times from beginning to end.

3. Midnight from the Inside Out by the Black Crowes — I will never be ashamed to say I like the Black Crowes. I’ve always wanted to see them live. Now, I’m going to in October.

4. This song is sung for anyone that’s listening. This song is for the broken spirited man.

Life Worth Livin’ by Uncle Tupelo — Off the No Depression album, and one of the songs that made the Americana/progressive country/Alt-country movement. A lot of you are fans of Wilco and Son Volt. You don’t know what you missed 15 years ago when Jeff and Jay were playing together.

5. I’m a fool to want you, such a fool to want you, to want love that can’t be true.

I’m a fool to want you as played by The Jody Grind — An old standard, in this case performed by the now defunt Jody Grind duo. I fell in love with the lead singer when she opened for They Might Be Giants (also seeing them next month) back in the early 1990s. Somebody once told me the girl died in a bus crash, but I later learned that to be false. She’s still singing, although never found much big time success.

6. Jack Can’t Cook, Jack Can’t Cook, Jack Can’t Cook, Jack Can’t Cook, you can’t tell the story by the cover of a book, so don’t judge Jack, ’cause Jack Can’t Cook.

Jack Can’t Cook by Eddie From Ohio — My favorite New Folk band from Virginia wrote this as a poke at Jack Kent Cooke. I’ve said it before, even if you don’t like folk music, you should see Eddie From Ohio play live once. It’s just too fun.

7. Brett is in the bathtub making soup for the ambassadors. I am in the hallway singing to the troubadours.

Bathtun Gin by Phish — This is a live show from Charlotte given to me by my buddy G-Rob. Not my favorite song, but still in the rotation.

8. A man stood in the shadows, his face was dripping sweat. He took a break from running, but wasn’t done yet.

Running for his Life by Yonder Mountain String Band — My buddy Uncle Ted turned me onto YMSB a few years ago and rounded out my collection of newgrass bands. I still owe him for this one. If you like newgrass and don’t know YMSB, for your sake, find two or three albums today.

9. If the rainbow was a roller coaster, I could ride it for free.

Rainbow Rollercoaster by Acoustic Syndicate — Among my favorite bands to see live, Acoustic Syndicate played this live version at their farewell show a couple years back. Word is they are playing together again, but I haven’t seen them since. I hope to be able to soon.

10. Meet me down on the railroad track, wear your hair high like a haystack, jump on in boxcar number nine, he’ll take us out past the county line.

This Town Ain’t Cool by The Cigar Store Indians — Rockabilly from Crab Apple, Georgia. I’ve seen this band more times than I can count, and certainly more times than I remember.

11. Oh, can you hear me? Oh, can you, can you hear me? I have come from the grave, I have spared no shame.

Can You Hear Me by The Grievous Angels — One of the bands I listened to during my All Alt-Country All The Time phase. It’s not Sleeping in Bayou (With a needle and a spoon), but it reminds me of years gone by.

12. When I was a child, my family would travel down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born. There’s backwards old town that’s often remembered, so many times that my memories are worn.

Paradise by John Prine — Say no more. No, really, if you don’t like this song, shut up. Say no more.

13. Now here we go dropping science, dropping it all over, like bumping around the town like when you’re driving a Range Rover.

Sounds of Science by The Beastie Boys — I’m not much for the hip-hop/rap scene, but I’ve always had a thing for Paul’s Boutique. Reminds me of my buddy Marty and rolling around in his broken down car back in college.

14. I never shoulda drank that tequila. I should’ve stayed with the beer. I took the first shot and like it or not, I couldn’t stop ’til I landed right here.

The Tequila Song by Allen Ross — This guy was a bar singer in Springfield, MO and performed regularly at my favorite and` now defunt dive Culleys. I asked my wife to marry me while Ross was singing. Ross performs from time to time with a guy named Hank Rotten under the likely name “Ross and Rotten.” They play Sturgis and show up on biker bar jukeboxes. If you’ve heard me play guitar in the past ten years, you probably heard me do more than one of Ross’ songs, including “Harley in the Rain.”

15. Where did your long hair go? Where is the girl I used to know? How could you lose that happy glow?

Caroline, No by the Beach Boys — I grew up listening to the Beach Boys. No reason not to have Pet Sounds on my iPod, right?

16. (No lyrics) “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Let’s leave this one as obvious as it is, k?

17. When this war is over, it will be a better day. When this war is over, it will be a better day, but it won’t bring back those poor boys in their graves.

When this War is Over by Clapton and Cale — First song I heard from the duet album was one that sounded like Widespread when I first heard it. Bought it. Like it. Etc.

18. The thrill is gone. The thrill is gone away.

The Thrill is Gone as performed by Garcia and Grisman — I like Jerry Garcia and Davis Grisman together a lot. This song got a lot of play. The rest of their work on the album is a lot better in my opinion.

19. A long time forgotten, her dreams just fell by the way and the good life he promised ain’t what she’s livin today.

Good Hearted Woman as performed live by Yonder Mountain String Band — I’ll listen to Willie Nelson whenever and for as long as you want me to. I also don’t mind good bands covering him. So, thereya go.

20. Got a tow from a guy named Joe. Cost $60, hope I don’t run out of dough. Told me about a sex offense put him three days in jail. I’m stuck in Indianapolis, hope I live to tell the tale.

Indianapolis by the Bottle Rockets — Jay nailed me on this one. This song is too fun for anyone to dislike, even when sung by me after I’ve had way too much to drink.

Labels: Music