It is generally thought that many artists live with certain monetary restrictions. While blessed with amazing natural talents that can inspire, lead, and move us, the financial structure in their lives is a stark contrast to those talents. On the other hand, our government has at its disposal countless (so it seems) billions of dollars in federal funding (that would be the very taxes associated with living in this land of the free and the home of the brave) to use in most any frivolous means chosen.

Perhaps its just coincidence, or maybe not. While artists spend their lives creating inspiration on an oft-times limited budget, our government spends all of its efforts in an arena of futility. In moon country, singers and songwriters inspire us to contemplate, to daydream, and to fall in love. Our government spends countless millions of United States dollars to crash rockets into the moon, for the purpose of determining, not whether the cow can jump over the moon, but whether there is enough water on the moon to sustain a population with very limited intelligence.

Here, a variety of recording artists bring us ten great songs about the moon.

1 - Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” is one of the great contemporary love songs where the moon plays a leading role.  

2 - “Moon River” won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1961 and a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1962, becoming Andy Williams‘ theme song.

3 - “I Wish I was the Moon” by Neko Case shows the style that has made her such a versatile talent. Her cross-over talent ranges from indie rock to punk to country, giving little room for doubt in her ability to inspire many.

4 - Formed in 1959, The Marcels name originates from a popular hair style of the era, the Marcell wave.  Their doo-wop cover of “Blue Moon” launched them to rock and roll stardom, reaching number one in both the U.S. and the UK.

5 - The 1969 hit “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival was one of the band’s early successes, helping launch their swamp rock career.

6 - Idaho native Josh Ritter’s music has received great success in Ireland and Scotland.  Clearly one of the rising stars in the folk music and ballads arena, his “Moons” takes first prize as the shortest moon song on this list.

7 - “Moon Shadow” was released in 1971, coming from the legendary Teaser and the Firecat album by Cat Stevens.

8 - One of rock and roll’s long lived super groups, Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk album went double-platinum (sales in excess of two million copies), yet the all-too powerful recording artist management group deemed it a failure. Regardless, “Sisters of the Moon” is a great rocker featuring that unmistakable voice of Stevie Nicks.

9 - Legendary Van Morrison released the Moondance album in 1970.  It was his third solo album and along with his Astral Weeks album is considered some of his finest work.  Released in 1970, it is #65 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 2003 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

10 - Maine gives us Patty Griffin, a stunning talent in the folk music genre, who won the Americana Music Association’s “Artist of the Year” award in 2007.  With a pristine voice belying a strong stage presence, her live performance of “Moon Song” rounds out this top ten list.