Song of the Day 4/16: Ralph Stanley, “O Death”
If Donald Trump gets his way, this will become the new national anthem. The Appalachian folk song dates back to the 1920s, but it only got wide exposure when the…
Song of the Day 4/15: Warren Zevon, “Life’ll Kill Ya”
If Warren Zevon were still alive, he'd probably re-title this one "Trump'll Kill Ya," but the real reason I thought of it is this line in the first verse: You…
Song of the Day 4/14: XTC, “Mayor of Simpleton”
Donald Trump proclaimed himself King of America yesterday. He's really just Mayor of Simpleton. This Andy Partridge song was on the 1989 LP "Oranges and Lemons." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Da9sc6YDBo
Ernest Hemingway on American Fascism
Because I took no books with me on what I thought would be a three-week trip to Paris and Barcelona, I've been passing the time by reading old books online.…
Song of the Day 4/13: UFO, “Doctor, Doctor”
UFO was one of the earliest British bands to earn the label "heavy metal," forming in 1968, the same year as Black Sabbath. They never managed to score a hit…
Song of the Day 4/11: Louis Armstrong, “Go Down Moses”
This song seems appropriate considering that not only is it Passover, we're also afflicted by a ruler deaf to the pleas of the people. Louis Armstrong recorded it in 1958…
Song of the Day 4/10: Emma’s Revolution, “From a (Social) Distance”
Married couple Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow formed Emma's Revolution, named for activist Emma Goldman, in 2001 as a folk music project in the old folkie tradition, meaning social activism…
Song of the Day 4/9: John Prine and Marianne Faithfull, “This Love Is Real”
The roll call of the stricken continues. Marianne Faithfull has been hospitalized in London with covid-19 since late last week. She recorded this with John Prine for his 1995 LP,…
Songs of the Day 4/8: John Prine, “Please Don’t Bury Me” and “When I Get to Heaven”
John Prine has been writing about his place in the afterlife throughout his career, starting with "Please Don't Bury Me" from 1973's "Sweet Revenge" LP. “That song was originally about…
The Economy Won’t Go Back to ‘Normal’ Any Time Soon
Many conservatives seem to think that once we pass the peak of the pandemic, The Economy (Peace Be Upon It) will reopen and things will go back to "normal" so…
Song of the Day 4/7: Stevie Wonder, “Superstition”
We didn't realize it when this song was released on "Talking Book" in 1972, but it was warning us about the coronavirus. Don't believe me? Then explain these lyrics, which…
Song of the Day 4/6: Uncle Tupelo, “We’ve Been Had”
From the last album before their breakup, back when Jeff Tweedy was still in touch with his punk roots. This was mostly a swipe at their old record company, which…
Song of the Day 4/5: Broadway Cast of “Assassins,” “Everybody’s Got the Right”
Offered without comment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHCgjmueEgY