stoutfellow | Playlist 5

Grabbing for a better mood...

500 Miles, Peter, Paul and Mary. One of the archetypal songs of loneliness.
Follow Your Daughter Home, the Guess Who. I've decided that this must be satiric; it purports to be advice for the worried father of a teenage girl, and it's quite funny in its own way.
World of Light, America. What can I say about America that I haven't said before?
Glory Days, Bruce Springsteen. I've gotten to the age where I can take this song with humor and a definite dash of rue.
Jailhouse Rock, Elvis. Silly, but a rocking good time.
Mercedes Benz, Janis Joplin. I love the intro ("a song of great social significance") and the coda ("That's it", with that little giggle).
Let's Stay Together, Al Green. Green isn't that well known any more, I don't think, but he had a good voice. This one's a nice, mellow piece of soul.
Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin. "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose..."
Change of Heart, Cyndi Lauper. A hard-driving song of love and determination.
Give Me The Reason, Luther Vandross. Vandross died a little while back - just before I discovered him - and I really like his voice and style. His voice is smooth and passionate; this one's unusual, the flip side of a "take me back" song - give me a reason...

I have to give an honorable mention to the Eagles' Take It To The Limit, which was popular with young mathematicians in the '70s and '80s, especially when teaching L'Hospital's Rule. (In-joke there...)