13 Songs That Make You Feel Worse When You Hear Them - Part 2
The Beatles, "You Won't See Me" . . .
always. And I emphasize always, makes me think of single teen guys like I was at one time. Or maybe a single adult guy who has fell for this really hot girl. Talked to her once. On the phone. Set up a 'dream date' with her, and for no reason, she stands him up. No phone call of explanation. No letter of apology. Truth is. This is probably the ONLY Beatle song that I dislike.
"Graveyard Train"
by Creedence Clearwater Revival
is a 12-minute (or so) long song that is about one subject: DEATH. And written from a deceased person's viewpoint, this person who has crossed from this world to the next is singing his lonely. Haunting. Blues-saga about the Graveyard Train loaded with caskets. Yeah, John Fogerty and band. This is real way to pep-up any party. I pass.
"Tight Fittin' Jeans,"
by Conway Twitty
tells the tale, by a self-proclaimed "love god," Conway Twitty, about his character, (of course), visiting his favorite watering hole one night and in comes this gorgeous lady who is dressed fit to kill. Lonely (of course) and again, (of course), looking for Twitty's character that I am not sure is really Twitty's self-centered view of himself as he fulfills (of course), this rich girl, who by the way, is married, but not happy (duhhh!), and her fantasies about being (actual lyric) "a good ol' boy's girl," as the two guzzle beer and dance whatever dance is popular at this time and she leaves a fulfilled woman. Yeah, this happens every night. Somewhere in the United States. I am not, nor will I ever be, a Conway Twitty fan. Because no man, no matter how talented, cocky, self-confident, is always 'the man,' in all of the songs that he releases. This is the real world.
"Auld Lang Syne,"
by Dan Fogelberg
could easily be the anthem of lost (and accidentally) reuniting loves. Simple and realistically written, Fogelberg captures the essence of the loneliness his character feels as well as his "true love' has felt over the years since they parted after high school. I admit this to you. And before God Himself. As beautiful as the music is in this masterpiece song, I cannot. Will not listen to this song at anytime. Anywhere. Or anytime. It churns up too much personal pain for me. Need I say more?
"Don't Take Your Guns To Town, Son,"
by Johnny Cash
is one of the saddest songs ever released in Cash's early career. The song talks about a young man in the wild, western days, who was in-love with his guns that he wore with pride. Obviously the song is set on a Friday or Saturday evening and the young guy is getting 'duded up' to go to town for some fun, but his mother pleads, "don't take your guns to town, son. Leave your guns at home," but the head-long young man doesn't pay his mom any attention. And ends up dead. I found myself yelling at the radio (when I was younger) when this song came on, "do what your mom says, buddy!" Did he listen? Does any head-long young man?
"Crippled Inside"
by John Lennon
is found on Lennon's "Imagine" LP. It's a countrified, blues-guitar, piano, dobro ditty that is really a song telling off on hypocrites. And the hypocritical society they built across the world. Lennon's 'hook' lyric says it all, "one thing you can hide, is when you're crippled inside," which doesn't make sense, but after all, a song by such a genius as Lennon doesn't have to make sense. Why this song makes me feel worse when I (used to) listen to it, was it nailed a time in life when I had no direction. No goals. No ambition. I was content to just sit on the sidelines...no, that is way too corny. I was completely satisfied to just watch as my friends 'made it' bit in their chosen fields.
"Skid Row Joe,"
by Porter Wagoner
pulls no punches with the listener. Wagoner released a lot of narrative songs in his long and illustrious career in Country Music. But none more depressing. Heart breaking. And sent me on a "one way trip" to Bluesville, than "Skid Row Joe." Wagoner is very decisive in his description of "Joe," who lives on the streets. In the alley ways. And never complains for his lot in life. This song wrecks me inside. And out. Although I respect Wagoner's honesty in telling "Joe's" story, I guess that I am way too emotionally-weak to withstand the painful words coming from "Joe's" lips.
"Phantom 309,"
by Red Sovine
is also a touching narration about a local truck driver named, "Big Joe," who in a flash of a moment, became a local legend of folklore. Sovine, a master storyteller, tells the story of "Phantom 309," in first-person. He, Sovine, is the hitch-hiker going from the east to the west coast to find his fortune, but he meets with misfortune and is found walking in a cold rain when a truck stops to pick him up. "Big Joe," is driving his truck that is respectfully-named "Phantom 309," for as the hitch hiker later find out, is a mirage. And "Big Joe," is a ghost. "Big Joe," in a typical working day as a truck driver, topped a hill only to see a school bus load of kids at the bottom of the hill, stranded. And couldn't move. "Big Joe," on purpose, chose to wreck his truck, that he later named, "Phantom 309," to save the school kids. I cannot listen to this song without tears coming to my eyes. The LP with this song lies safely in my closet today. And always will.
"(Don't They Know) It's The End of The World,"
by Skeeter Davis
hurts me. Or once hurt me when I was accustomed to listening to Country Music Classic stations, something I don't do anymore. Davis's heart breaking song talks of, you guessed it, a lost love. Hers. She marvels at why the birds keep on singing. Why does the sky still turn blue? She asks, "Don't they know, it's the end of the world? It ended when you said goodbye," and her voice is so soft, yet pain-filled, that I got tired of piecing-back together my heart when I would hear this song for it reminded me, you guessed it, of 'some' girls in my past who loved to lead me on, and then, just leave. Oh yeah. Later, these same girls would see me and claim to be born again. Free of sin. Oh well. Guess my broken-heart never mattered anyway.
"Sunday Will Never Be The Same,"
by Spanky And Our Gang
starts off nice. Really nice. Then like an American dive-bomber from World War II, the theme of the song hits you like a run-away coal truck. The girl in this song is telling about how she and her lover would spend carefree hours on Sundays in the park--watching butterflies. Kissing. Holding hands. You know. The happy stuff. Poor girl. Next verse talks of the girl's lover disappearing. What pain this girl feels as she belts out, "Sunday Will Never Be The Same," and I agreed with her when I first listened to this song. So many girls vanished on me that I could write a song for every day of the week. Naaah. I do not promote self-punishment.
"The Pusher,"
by (John Kay) and Steppenwolf
from the first time I listening to this controversial song, (written by Hoyt Axton, by the way), really got to me. The controversy in this song arose from Axton using God's name in vain in the chorus of the song. Most FM rock stations refused to play this song, only the ultra-liberal stations who had nothing to lose. Drugs. And people who make and sell illegal drugs will always bother me. It's not myself I care about so much, but the innocent children and gullible adults who think that 'doing' drugs is cool. And an easy way to gain acceptance. The last time I listened to this song was in 1990. I've not missed it.
"See You In September,"
by The Lettermen
broke my heart in numerous pieces in 1967. And you would think that my world had ended. It did. I had found my first 'love,' and had corresponded with her throughout the fall and winter semesters at the high school we attended. But doggone it! Here came summer vacation. Long, heart breaker story short. She had her uncle to call me and tell me that it was over between us. Would you know it. A team of devil-possessed creatures took over the only rock and roll station for us teens in this era, WVOK, The Mighty 690, Birmingham. This song was popular on the day. Hour. And moment that my heart was broken by this low-life. Cowardess-of-a-girl. Since that time, Ive hated this song. With a fiery indignation. No more being taken-in with the Lettermen's suave. Smooth looks. Clean, shaven faces and gelled hair. I am now a wiser man in spite of the heart break in 1967. I'm still around, but where, pray tell, are the Lettermen? And for that matter, who really cares?
"Old Rivers,"
by Walter Brennan
is a sad song. A very sad song. Just like Porter Wagoner's narrative, "Skid Row Joe," this was Walter Brennan's, yes, the famous Hollywood actor, Walter Brennah's one and only song. If you can call it that. Brennan talked about a man named, "Rivers," in this depressing disc. Brennan, in first-person, talks about following "Rivers," around as a lad--bursting dirt clods behind "Rivers'" plow. "Rivers" had a mule named "Noah," but that's not important. Brennan as the kid, grew up and had left his country paradise for the big city and where he found is fortune. He received a letter from home, as you would guess, telling him about who and what had happened in his former home. The ending of the letter said, "guess you knew that 'Rivers' died," and that pretty much summed it up. I cannot listen to this song at the age I am now. The chorus, "one day soon. And it won't be long. I'll be walking among them clouds. In a place where there are no fields to plow," "Rivers'" motto for life, cut me like a Boston butcher's knife. And to think I used to love Walter Brennan as Grandpa McCoy on the Real McCoys.
This is the last, and hopefully all, of the songs that I want to write about that make me feel worse when I (used) to hear them.
From now on, and since it is the new year, 2012, I've made only one resolution: To only listen to songs that make me feel good. Positive. Happy. Light as a goose feather in a Kansas wind.
And to start with, I think I will find, "Mac, The Knife," by recording legend, Bobby Darrin. Compared to the songs on this list, and the one before, "Mac, The Knife," is a Broadway chorus designed to cast waves of happiness at me. And you.
THIS HUB IS DEDICATED TO:
catgypsy
one of the most-amazing writers I've found on HubPages. Actually ALL of My Followers, including catgypsy, are far-more talented than I will ever be.
catgypsy read my first hub, "13 Songs That Make You Feel Worse When You Hear Them," and said that she couldn't wait to read part two. So catgypsy, sit back. Relax and enjoy.
For almost eight months now, I just love to sit back and absorb the fantastic stories that come from the hearts, minds, and sharp imaginations of my followers.
MY FOLLOWERS, "you are an amazing gang of literary masters."
"Thank you, catgypsy, for the inspiration. I will not anyway soon, forget your kindness, selflessness and care for others."
