Songs That Have Made Me Cry (or at least well up a little bit)
I’m admittedly a pretty emotional guy. I’ve been known to cry at movies. And yes, there are songs that have moved me too. Not like the waterworks were flowing or anything, but definitely a little extra moisture in the eyes. It’s weird, I’ve recently noticed a common theme amongst most of the songs that have moved me. I won’t mention it though. The list should make it obvious.
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (Band Version – NOT Joan Baez) – Robbie Robertson’s fictional telling of the death of Virgil Kane’s younger brother during the South’s last stand. “You take what you need and you leave the rest, but they should never have taken the very best”.
Independence Day – Bruce – Sorry Dad, I must be on my way. “They ain’t gonna do to me what I watched them do to you”.
Outfit – Drive By Truckers (Jason Isbell) – Just the opposite of Independence Day. Dad tells his son not to let himself turn out like he did. “And don’t let me catch you in Kendale, with a bucket of wealthy man’s paint”.
You Were Never Any Good With Money – Martin Simpson, MS is a magical guitar player who’s released albums in countless genres. Here he’s back to his British folk roots. The song is a beautiful telling of his father’s life. “You were never any good with money, you couldn’t even hold a job” . . . . “You taught me how to love a song and all you knew of nature’s ways. The greatest gifts I’ve ever known and use them everyday”. Powerful stuff.
No Time to Cry – Iris Dement. The singer’s father dies but she’s older now and she has no time to cry. “There’s bills to pay, and songs to play and a house to make a home. I guess I’m older now and I’ve got no time to cry”.
Grateful for Christmas – Hayes Carll. Hayes is an awesome Texas singer songwriter, to me a direct descendant of the great Townes Van Zandt. In Grateful for Christmas he sings about Christmas as a child, as a teenager and as an adult. The differences are poignant.
Thanksgiving – Mary Gauthier – Few writers do dark like Mary Gauthier does. In Thanksgiving, MG sings about the indignities that the prison puts visitors through as they wait on line to get in. ("My grammy looks so old now, her hair soft and white like the snow and her hands tremble when they frisk her from her head to her toe. They make her take her winter coat off, then they frisk her again. When they’re done she wipes their touch off her dress, stands tall and heads in. It’s Thanksgiving at the prison, surrounded by family . . .”)
Ok, so the common thread should be obvious.
So what do you think of the list? What songs move you? Any themes in particular? Go to chat and let us know. Thanks.
- Alan Like Music