Rush - Red Barcheta

Everclear has several songs that are very personal about the lead singer's troubled early life and struggles as an adult.

Father of Mine is terrific:
Father of mine
Tell me where have you been
You know I just closed my eyes
My whole world disappeared
Father of mine
Take me back to the day
When I was still your golden boy
Back before you went away

I remember blue skies
Walking the block
I loved it when you held me high
I loved to hear you talk
You would take me to the movie
You would take me to the beach
You would take me to a place inside
That is so hard to reach

Father of mine
Tell me where did you go
You had the world inside your hand
But you did not seem to know
Father of mine
Tell me what do you see
When you look back at your wasted life
And you dont see me

I was ten years old
Doing all that I could
It wasnt easy for me
To be a scared white boy
In a black neighborhood
Sometimes you would send me a birthday card
With a five dollar bill
I never understood you then
And I guess I never will

Daddy gave me a name
Daddy gave me a name
Then he walked away
Daddy gave me a name
Then he walked away
My daddy gave me a name

Father of mine
Tell me where have you been
I just closed my eyes
And the world disappeared
Father of mine
Tell me how do you sleep
With the children you abandoned
And the wife I saw you beat

I will never be safe
I will never be sane
I will always be weird inside
I will always be lame
Now Im a grown man
With a child of my own
And I swear Im not going to let her know
All the pain I have known

Then he walked away
Daddy gave me a name
Then he walked away
My dad gave me a name
Then he walked away

My daddy gave me a name
Then he walked away

What about the Pina Colada Song, the stirring ballad about a man and woman who attempt to cheat on each other by placing anonymous singles ads? They answer each other's ad (apparently, they're the only ones who do) and boy, do they have egg on their faces. A touching musical delight.

If my conception of the afterlife is accurate, that song will play constantly throughout the eighth circle of hell, the future home of seducers, frauds and bad songwriters.

That song had a sweet chorus though. Those lyrics contained the risque line "if you like makin' love at midnight". That has always cracked me up, as though midnight is some late, rebellious hour.

Nothing good ever happens after midnight, so they had to hurry.

How could all of us overlook this classic?

It's easy for me...it's a big white box with nothing in it!

(youtube blocked at work)

A fair point. I've been partial to any hour between 1 and 24. But I'm also reminded of the video Landpoke posted of the guy singing about the impossibility of making sweet honey-dipped love all night long ("chafing").

Dude, I feel for you.

(It's The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace.)

The problem with Devil Went Down to Georgia, is that it should have been such an awesome song, but then they went and missed all the notes on the fiddle solo. It's really tough to listen to, and somewhat ironic given the storyline.

That Summer is first-rate, but you forgot Mama's in the Graveyard.

I thought about this one last night, but I thought with Fogelberg up I'd better quit while I was ahead.