For a few years now, I have been trying to decided what the greatest songs ever written are. I am not shooting for a top 100 or throwing out honorable mentions, just a top 5. Along with that, I don’t think a list like this could ever stay the same, it will change over time. But here are my current top 5, Lyrics included if the song is not an insturmental. Of course I realize no one is goignto agree with me, this is more of a personal list, but I want to throw it out there. There is no reason for the order of this list, though number one I do think, takes the cake.
1. Sam Cooke- “A Change is Gonna Come” The music, the voice, the lyrics; it does not get better from this. Beyond the fact that this song is obviously about civil rights it echoes further into an everyday fear we may all have. There is not one person this song does not speak to. I mean, the opening verse alone should shake your very being.
I was born by the river
In a little tent, and o
just like that river
I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long long time coming, but I know
A change is gonna come, oh yes it will
It’s been too hard living
but I’m afraid to die
’cause I don’t know what’s up there
beyond the sky,
It’s been a long time coming, but I know
A change is gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep tellin me
don’t hang around
It’s been a long time coming, but I know
A change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
and I say brother help me please
But he wind up knocking me
back down on my knees
There have been times that I thought
I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long time, but I know
A change is gonna come, oh yes it will
2. Love- “You Set The Scene”- Love as a whole, is a band that too many people have forgotten about or just plain don’t know. This song is taken from their masterpiece of an album, “Forever Changes” which is the greatest album to ever come out of the 60’s; period. At first the lyrics may not make much sense, but stay with it if they don’t. The accompanying music just doesn’t get any better. A chilled acousitc guitar heavy verse that builds into a closing no one could forget.
Where are you walking,
I’ve seen you walking.
Have you been there before?
Walk down your doorsteps,
You’ll take some more steps.
What did you take them for?
There’s a private in my boat,
And he wears pins,
Instead of medals on his coat.
There’s a chicken in my nest,
And she won’t lay,
Until I’ve given her my best.
At her request she asks for nothing,
You get nothing in return.
If you want, she brings you water,
If you don’t, then you will burn.
You go through changes,
It may seem strange. Is
This what you’re put here for?
You think you’re happy,
And you are happy.
That’s what you’re happy for.
There’s a man who can’t decide
If he should fight,
For what his father thinks is right.
There are people wearing frowns,
Who’ll screw you up,
But they would rather screw you down.
At my request I ask for nothing,
You get nothing in return.
If you’re nice, she’ll bring me water,
If you’re not, then I will burn.
This is the time and life that I am living,
And I’ll face each day with a smile.
For the time that I’ve been given’s
Such a little while.
And the things that I must do,
Consist of more than style.
There are places that I am goin’.
This is the only thing that I am sure of,
And that’s all that lives is gonna die.
And there’ll always be some people,
Here to wonder why.
And for every happy hello,
There will be good-bye.
There’ll be time for you to put yourself on.
Everything I’ve seen needs rearranging,
And for anyone who thinks it’s strange,
Then you should be the first,
To want to make this change.
And for everyone who thinks that,
Life is just a game
Do you like the part you’re playing?
I see your picture,
It’s in the same old frame.
We meet again.
You look so lovely,
You with the same old smile,
Stay for a while.
I need you so, oh, woh, woh, woh.
And if you take it easy,
I’m still teethin’.
I wanna love you, but,
Oh, woh, woh, woh, woh, woh, woh. [Echo.]
This is the time and life that I am living,
And I’ll face each day with a smile.
For the time that I’ve been given’s
Such a little while.
And the things that I must do,
Consist of more than style.
There’ll be time for you to start all over.
This is the time and this is the time.
And it is time, time, time, time, time,
time, time, time, time… [Echo.]
3. Neil Young- “From Hank to Hendrix” Yes, it is a heart breaking song, but it does it so well. Again, even if you don’t like the song, it is very easy to connect with what the man is saying. Very calm song with a nice burst of energy for the chorus that doesn’t disband from the rest of the song, too much; the pefect jolt or the pleading essence of the words.
From Hank to Hendrix
I walked these streets with you
Here I am with this old guitar
Doin’ what I do.
I always expected
That you should see me through
I never believed in much
But I believed in you.
Can we get it together
Can we still stand side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
From Marilyn to Madonna
I always loved your smile
Now we’re headed
for the big divorce
California-style.
I found myself singin’
Like a long-lost friend
The same thing that makes you live
Can kill you in the end.
Can we get it together
Can we still stand side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
Sometime it’s distorted
Not clear to you
Sometimes the beauty of love
Just comes ringin’ through.
New glass in the window
New leaf on the tree
New distance between us
You and me.
Can we get it together
Can we still walk side by side
Can we make it last
Like a musical ride?
(I could ony find a video for the acoustic version of the song from MTV unplugged which I am actually not that familiar with. So do yourself a favor and hunt down the original from the album, “Harvest Moon” as well)
4. Leonard Cohen- “Field Commander Cohen” There are so many great Leonard Cohen songs, as there are with all the artist I mentioned so far/will mention. This song is a very subdued soft toned wonder that still builds in sound beyond what one might think is possible. Listen to it with some headphones on with your eyes closed and you will be transported away into the most relaxing and brilliant plane of existence there is.
Field Commander Cohen, he was our most important spy.
Wounded in the line of duty,
parachuting acid into diplomatic cocktail parties,
urging Fidel Castro to abandon fields and castles.
Leave it all and like a man,
come back to nothing special,
such as waiting rooms and ticket lines,
silver bullet suicides,
and messianic ocean tides,
and racial roller-coaster rides
and other forms of boredom advertised as poetry.
I know you need your sleep now,
I know your life’s been hard.
But many men are falling,
where you promised to stand guard.
I never asked but I heard you cast your lot along with the poor.
But then I overheard your prayer,
that you be this and nothing more
than just some grateful faithful woman’s favourite singing millionaire,
the patron Saint of envy and the grocer of despair,
working for the Yankee Dollar.
I know you need your sleep now
I know your life’s been hard.
But many men are falling,
where you promised to stand guard.
Ah, lover come and lie with me, if my lover is who you are,
and be your sweetest self awhile until I ask for more, my child.
Then let the other selves be wrong, yeah, let them manifest and come
till every taste is on the tongue,
till love is pierced and love is hung,
and every kind of freedom done, then oh,
oh my love, oh my love, oh my love,
oh my love, oh my love, oh my love.
5. Charles Mingus- “Fables of Faubus” It is tough to really round out this list. But this is one song that no matter how many times you hear it or whomever is trying to put their spin on it; yo have to listen. Slow build start that pops right into the meat of the song. It will make some dance it will make some move and some groove. The version I put the link to is that of The Mingus Big Band, which really takes the song to new heights and cooks it.
That is it for now. Maybe I will come back in a few months and revise if I feel like it. Or maybe I will expand to make an ultimate 100 list of some sort. What are your thoughts? Anyone want to throw some ideas out there?
Amazing you could narrow it down to 5! Not easy and extremely commendable sir! 🙂