[Pops]

Your personal theme song…

There are many threads here regarding the subject of PO songs – but which do you take to heart and act on?

Mine (sorry, youtube it yourself if you can't read):

The preacher man says it’s the end of time
And the Mississippi River she’s a goin’ dry
The interest is up and the Stock Markets down
And you only get mugged
If you go down town

I live back in the woods, you see
A woman and the kids, and the dogs and me
I got a shotgun rifle and a 4-wheel drive
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

I can plow a field all day long
I can catch catfish from dusk till dawn
We make our own whiskey and our own smoke too
Ain’t too many things these ole boys can’t do
We grow good ole tomatoes and homemade wine
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

Because you can’t starve us out
And you cant makes us run
Cause one-of- ‘em old boys raisin ole shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn

We came from the West Virginia coalmines
And the Rocky Mountains and the and the western skies
And we can skin a buck; we can run a crop line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

I had a good friend in New York City
He never called me by my name, just hillbilly
My grandpa taught me how to live off the land
And his taught him to be a businessman
He used to send me pictures of the Broadway nights
And I’d send him some homemade wine

But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
Id love to spit some beechnut in that dudes eyes
And shoot him with my old 45
Cause a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

Cause you can’t starve us out and you can’t make us run
Cause one-of- ‘em old boys raisin ole shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn

We’re from North California and south Alabam
And little towns all around this land
And we can skin a buck; we can run a crop line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

[snowshoegal]

Oh, Pops. There are just too many to list...

“Plan A” by Dandy Warhols

Must be some kind of planet
For all the people who can manage.
All of us who can handle it,
With all of this damage.

All of us, all of us sing about it. All of us, sing about it.

There must be some kind of message
Simple plot somehow impressive.
Anyone who can think of something
Come on now, just express it.

This is good for encouraging folks to be more self-reliant:
“Waitin' for a Superman” by The Flaming Lips

Asked you a question
I didn't need you to reply
Is it gettin' heavy?
But they'll realize
Is it gettin' heavy?
Well I thought it was already as heavy
As can be

Is it overwhelming
To use a crane to crush a fly?
It's a good time for Superman
To lift the sun into the sky

'Cause it's gettin' heavy
Well I thought it was already as heavy
As can be

Tell everybody
Waitin' for Superman
That they should try to hold on
Best they can
He hasn't dropped them
Forgot them
Or anything
It's just too heavy for Superman to lift

Is it gettin' heavy?
Well I thought it was already as heavy as can be.

For a laugh, and potential cautionary tale:
“When the Shit Hits the Fan” by The Circle Jerks
(from the classic LP "Golden Shower of Hits"!)

In a sluggish economy
Inflation, Recession,
Hits the Land of the Free.
Standing on an employment line.
Blame the government for hard times.

We just get by, however we can.
We all gotta duck when the shit hits the fan.

Ten kids in a Cadillac,
Standing in line for welfare checks.
"Let's all leach off the state."
"Gee the money's really great!"

We just get by, however we can.
We all gotta duck when the shit hits the fan.

Soup lines.
Free loaves of bread.
Five pound blocks of cheese.
Bags of groceries.

Social Security,
Has run out on You and Me.

We do whatever we can,
Gotta duck when the shit hits the fan......

(Ya gotta love the ‘jerks! )

[dinopello]

Ah, there are so many, tough to pick just one.

So here's a start:

Young at Heart - Sinatra

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you're young at heart
For its hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you're young at heart

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams
And life gets more exciting with each passing day
And love is either in your heart or on its way

Don't you know that its worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart
For as rich as you are it's much better by far
To be young at heart

And if you should survive to 105
Look at all youll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part
You have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart

And if you should survive to 105
Look at all youll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part
You have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart

[cynicalheretic]

Seriously, this song below

Lonely Day - System of A Down

Such a lonely day
And its mine
The most loneliest day of my life

Such a lonely day
Should be banned
This day that I can't stand

The most loneliest day of my life
The most loneliest day of my life

Such a lonely day
Shouldn't exist
A day that Ill never miss
Such a lonely day
And its mine
The most loneliest day of my life

And if you go, I wanna go with you
And if you die, I wanna die with you

Take your hand and walk away

The most loneliest day of my life
The most loneliest day of my life
The most loneliest day of my life
Life

Such a lonely day
And its mine
A day that I'm glad I survived

[PrairieMule]

Jefferson Starship's Find A Way Back

Its been a long, long road
Since I packed up and left on my own
And I carry a heavy load
Just try n get back to her heart

I sure aint got no home
I seem to find love where I ramble
And when its time to go
I hear that voice again... sayn

Chorus
Find your way back...
Find your way back to her heart
Find your way back...
Find your way back to her heart

Leave a message with the rain
You can find me where the wind blows
The snow across the pain
And the frost upon the heart

(you got no place to be
Still you wonder where youre goin)
And why I had to leave
I hear a voice... it says to me

Repeat chorus

I know its too late now
But, I wish I could go back in time
And start all over somehow
And get it right from the start

[WisJim]

the Rolling Stones the chorus of "You can't always get what you want"

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need

[lawnchair]

Uncle Dave Macon, 1927

I'm gonna sing you a brand new song
It's all the truth for certain
We can't live high if we get by
And get on the other side of Jordan

Refrain:
Oh pull off your overcoat and roll up your sleeves
Jordan am a hard road to travel
Pull off your overcoat and roll up your sleeves
Jordan am a hard road to travel I believe.

The public schools and the highways
are causing quite an alarm
Get a country boy educated just a little
and he won't wanna work on the farm

Now I don't know but I believe I'm right
the automobile's ruined the country
Let's get back to the horse and buggy
and try to save a little bit of money.

I know a man an evangelist
his tabernacle's always full
The people come from miles around
just to hear him shoot the bull

You can talk about your evangelists
you can talk about Mr. Ford too
But Henry's shaking more hell out of the folks
than all the evangelists do.

[Aaron]

Mason Profit

TWO HANGMEN
© Terry Talbot

AS I RODE INTO TOMBSTONE MY HORSE HIS NAME WAS MAC
I SAW WHAT I’LL RELATE TO YOU GOIN’ ON BEHIND MY BACK
IT SEEMS THE FOLKS WERE UP IN ARMS
A MAN NOW HAD TO DIE
FOR BELIEVING THINGS THAT DIDN’T FIT
THE LAWS THEY’D SET ASIDE

IT SEEMS HE WAS A SIMPLE MAN AS BEST AS I COULD SEE
HE WAS AN EXCECUTIONER, A HANGMAN JUST LIKE ME
I GUESS THAT HE’D SEEN LOOPHOLES FROM WORKIN WITH HIS NOOSE
HE’D HUNG THE WRONG MAN MANY TIMES TO COVER UP THE TRUTH

HE’D TALKED TO ALL THE PEOPLE FROM HIS SCAFFOLD IN THE SQUARE
HE TOLD THEM OF THE THINGS HE’D FOUND
BUT THEY DIDN’T SEEM TO CARE
SO WHAT IF SOMEONE HAD TO DIE
TO KEEP -A RICHES IN THEIR HANDS
THEY LAUGHED AT HIM AND WALKED AWAY
HE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND

AND SO THE HIGH SHERIFE CAME AROUND
HE SAID HE’D HAD ENOUGH
HE’D MAKE THE HANGMAN SHUT HIS MOUTH
AND PUT AN END TO ALL THIS STUFF
HE FINALLY ARRESTED HIM
AND THEN HE SENT FOR ME
TO HANG A FELLOW HANGMAN
FROM A FELLOW HANGMANS TREE

IT DIDN’T TAKE THEM LONG TO TRY HIM
IN THEIR COURT OF LAW
HE WAS GUILTY OF HONESTY
A CRIME WORSE THAN ALL
THEY SENTENCED HIM TO DIE
SO THE SEEDS OF THOUGHT CAN’T SPREAD
AND INFECT THE LITTLE CHILDREN
THAT’S WHAT THE LAW HAD SAID

SO THE HANGIN’ DAY CAME ROUND
AND HE WALKED UP TO THE NOOSE
I PULLED THE LEVER BUT BEFORE HE FEEL I CUT HIM LOOSE
THEY CALLED IT ALL CONSPIRACY AND THAT I HAD TO DIE
SO TO CLOSE OUR MOUTHS AND KILL OUR MINDS
THEY HUNG US SIDE BY SIDE

AND NOW WE’RE TWO HANGMEN HANGIN FROM A TREE
THAT DON’T BOTHER ME AT ALL

[Zardoz]

Jackson Browne's "The Road and The Sky":

When we come to place where the road and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide.
They told me I was gonna have to work for a living
But all I want to do is ride.
I don't care where we're goin' from here,
Honey, you decide.

Well I spend my time at the bottom of a wishing well.
I can hear my dreams singin' clear as a bell.
I used to know where they ended and the world began
But now its gettin' hard to tell.
I could be just around the corner from heaven or a mile from hell.

I'm just rollin' away from yesterday
Behind the wheel of a stolen Chevrolet.
I'm gonna get a little higher
And see if I can hot-wire reality.

Now can you see those dark clouds gathering up ahead?
They're gonna wash this planet clean like the Bible said.
Now you can hold on steady and try to be ready
But everybody's gonna get wet.
Don't think it won't happen just because it hasn't happened yet.

I'm just rollin' away from yesterday
Behind the wheel of a stolen Chevrolet.
I'm gonna get a little higher
And see if I can hot-wire reality.

[DavidFolks]

The Impossible Dream (The Quest) Lyrics by Joe Darion

To dream the impossible dream ,
To fight the unbeatable foe ,
To bear with unbearable sorrow ,
To run where the brave dare not go ,
To right the unrightable wrong ,
To love pure and chaste from afar ,
To try when your arms are too weary ,
To reach the unreachable star ,

This is my quest, to follow that star ...
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ...
To fight for the right, without question or pause ...
To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause ...

And I know if I'll only be true, to this glorious quest,
That my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm,
when I'm laid to my rest ...
And the world will be better for this:
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

[Choon]

Heard this from Clerks 2, now I can't get this out of my head.

Talking Heads - (Nothing But) Flowers
Here we stand
Like an Adam and an Eve
Waterfalls
The Garden of Eden
Two fools in love
So beautiful and strong
The birds in the trees
Are smiling upon them
From the age of the dinosaurs
Cars have run on gasoline
Where, where have they gone?
Now, it's nothing but flowers

There was a factory
Now there are mountains and rivers
you got it, you got it

We caught a rattlesnake
Now we got something for dinner
we got it, we got it

There was a shopping mall
Now it's all covered with flowers
you've got it, you've got it

If this is paradise
I wish I had a lawnmower
you've got it, you've got it

Years ago
I was an angry young man
I'd pretend
That I was a billboard
Standing tall
By the side of the road
I fell in love
With a beautiful highway
This used to be real estate
Now it's only fields and trees
Where, where is the town
Now, it's nothing but flowers
The highways and cars
Were sacrificed for agriculture
I thought that we'd start over
But I guess I was wrong

Once there were parking lots
Now it's a peaceful oasis
you got it, you got it

This was a Pizza Hut
Now it's all covered with daisies
you got it, you got it

I miss the honky tonks,
Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens
you got it, you got it

And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention
you got it, you got it

I dream of cherry pies,
Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies
you got it, you got it

We used to microwave
Now we just eat nuts and berries
you got it, you got it

This was a discount store,
Now it's turned into a cornfield
you got it, you got it

Don't leave me stranded here
I can't get used to this lifestyle

[Plantagenet]

Louie Louie


Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go

Fine little girl waits for me
Catch a ship across the sea
Sail that ship about, all alone
Never know if I make it home

Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go

Unh Unhy Unh

Three nights and days I sail the sea
Think of girl, constantly
On that ship, I dream she's there
I smell the rose in her hair.

Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go

Unh Ungh Ungh unh-uh

Okay, let's give it to 'em, right now!

GUITAR SOLO

See Jamaica, the moon above
It won't be long, me see me love
Take her in my arms again
Tell her I'll never leave again

Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go

Uhg uh huh unggg do it baby

Let's take it on outa here now
Let's go!!

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Choon', '
')If this is paradise
I wish I had a lawnmower
you've got it, you've got it

[strider3700]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXtiGeOs ... ed&search=

See the animal in his cage that you built,
Are you sure what side you're on?
Better not look him too closely in the eye,
Are you sure what side of the glass you are on?
See the safety of the life you have built,
Everything where it belongs
Feel the hollowness inside of your heart,
And it's all...right where it belongs

What if everything around you,
Isn't quite as it seems?
What if all the world you think you know,
Is an elaborate dream?
And if you look at your reflection,
Is it all you want it to be?
What if you could look right through the cracks,
Would you find yourself...find yourself afraid to see?

What if all the world's inside of your head?
Just creations of your own
Your devils and your gods all the living and the dead
And you're really all alone
You can live in this illusion,
You can choose to believe.
You keep looking but you can't find the woods,
While you're hiding in the trees

What if everything around you,
Isn't quite as it seems?
What if all the world you used to know,
Is an elaborate dream?
And if you look at your reflection,
Is it all you want it to be?
What if you could look right through the cracks,
Would you find yourself...find yourself afraid to see?

[Pops]

Cool stuff folks!

I like ole Blue Eyes, Uncle Dave and
We do whatever we can,
Gotta duck when the shit hits the fan......

The Two Hangmen is pretty dark – a nice storyline tho.

I didn’t keep good count but I must say there must be half of these personal theme songs that come to a bad end.

Dang, I thought there might be more folks who had something that inspired them to do more than grieve, moan and die.

Here is one I posted before, kinda thinking that a theme song should be sorta positive:
Everything's Okay
-- Jr. did this one too, but I anin’t sure if he wrote it:

I went to the country just the other day
To see my Uncle Bill and sorta pass the time away
I asked him how he'd been since at last I'd passed his way
He rubbed his chin and here's what he had to say
My wife's been sick and the young'ns too and I'm durn near down with the flu
The cow's gone dry and the hens won't lay but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The hogs took the cholera and they've all done died
The bees got mad and they left the hive
The weevils got the corn and the rain rotted the hay
But we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The porch rotted down that's more expense
The durned old mule he tore down the fence
The mortage is due and I can't pay but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The cow broke in the field and ate up the beans
The durn rabbits they got the turnip greens
And my mainlaw just moved in to stay but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
My land's so poor so hard and yeller
You have to sit on a sack of fertilizer to raise an umbrella
And it rains out here nearly every day but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The well's gone dry and I have to tote the water
Up from the spring about a mile and a quarter
My helper he quit for lack of pay but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The house it leaks it needs a new top when it rains it wets everything we got
The chimney fell down just the other day but we're still a livin' so everything's okay

The corn meals gone and the meat's run out
Got nothin' to kill to put in the smokehouse
The preacher's comin' sunday - to spend the day
But - we're still a-livin' - so ever'thing's okay.

The canned stuff's spoiled - else the jar's got broke
And all we got left is one old billy goat
We're gonna have a new baby about the first of may
But - we're still a-livin' - so ever'thing's okay.

My crop it rotted - in the ground
I asked for another loan but the banker turned me down
But - we're still a-livin' and we're prayin' for better days
So - after all, ever'thing's in purty good shape.

[PenultimateManStanding]

Wow, that's a good one strider. I've had people tell me to stop thinkiing about murdering my kids because I post that Dylan song about Hollis Brown. They don't get it.

[kpeavey]

Blue Oyster Cult: Don't Fear the Reaper

[wisconsin_cur]

I see the bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin.
I see bad times today.

Chorus:
Dont go around tonight,
Well, its bound to take your life,
Theres a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Chorus
All right!

Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like were in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.