WHAT SONG TOUCHES YOUR HEART THE MOST?


DON'T DIVORCE a song from the perspective of a child https://youtu.be/FFbSR5OLcQs
michaelel
Sing My Songs To Me / For every Man
Jackson Browne.
Shades Of Gray - The Monkees
Always and Forever - Heatwave
Unfortunately this was the theme for my ex-girlfriend in my youth rather than my lovely spouse of decades.
George thorogood - “Oh what a price”
 wanted at my wedding, but it would have pee-o’d many people,

  Harry Chaplin - nbrainfart, the Father ,son. Song. 

 Judas Priest, rock a-rolla, sad wings of destiny and defenders of the faith full albums

 Many songs by crossfire, Spartan warrior, Samson, Saxon, Tank, Raven, Motörhead, Riot, and a few of the greatest metal releases...
dark Angel - darkness descends.
slayer - hell,awaits
Exodus - bonded by blood
Bathory - first 6 full length albums. Onslaught - the force

 lots more...........


   Trouble
KMFDM - don’t laugh, they have some great stuffs. 
Dar William's "When I was a Boy"
Mary Chapin Carpenter " John Doe number 24"
Lori McKenna "Lorraine"
Marc Cohen "True Companion"
Nina Simone/Jeff Buckley "Lilac Wine"
’I Can’t Stop the Rain’ Lowell George from his solo album -Thanks I’ll Eat It Here.
’Little Wing’ Jimi Hendrix- Axis Bold as Love.
’Albatross’ (Peter Green’s) Fleetwood Mac- Pious Bird of Good Omen
Shania Twain - You've Got A Way 
When you connect with a woman on an emotional level/mutual understanding and respect, that is one one the most beautiful things in the world.

Speaking of divorces - always get a prenuptial agreement! 
Else your system and everything you love will be taken away in the event of a divorce. I am fortunate to have done this. Family courts always give women the benefit of the doubt. You must not trust lawyers/courts.
"God Only Knows". Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, sung by The Beach Boys; Carl Wilson the melody, the others the harmonies in the choruses and the lovely counterpoint at the song’s conclusion and fade-out. The vocals and orchestration tend to mask the song’s superb chord progression, one of the best ever written.

There is a YouTube video in which a pianist sits at his keyboard, methodically leading the listener through the song’s structure, the unaccompanied piano revealing the majesty of the very sophisticated chordal relationships and movement throughout the song.


"What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted". Written by William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser, and James Dean (a different JD ;-) , sung by Jimmy Ruffin (Joan Osborne does a great version in the documentary about The Funk Brothers, the Motown Records house band). The song’s chord progression is simply astounding, absolutely glorious.

The song features a fantastic electric bass part played by a master of the instrument, James Jamerson, Jr., the player Paul McCartney credits with opening his eyes to the potential of the instrument. Listen for Jamerson’s fantastic use of inversion at various points in the song. Hair raising!


"A Whiter Shade Of Pale". Music by Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher, lyrics by Keith Reid, performed of course by Procol Harum. A fantastic song in it’s own right, raised to another level by Fisher’s employment of a J.S. Bach motif at the song’s beginning (as well as later in the song), as much of a hook as is the song’s melody.

Fisher left the group after their third album---A Salty Dog---his departure imo marking the end of their greatness. In his absence, guitarist Robin Trower moved to the front of the stage, turning Procol Harum into just another British Blues band. IMO. To hear more of the kind of music heard on the first three PH albums, look for Matthew Fisher’s two solo albums on RCA (1st) and A&M (2nd). Pretty darn good.


"The Weight". Written by J.R. Robertson, performed by The Band. Unique in having three lead singers: drummer Levon Helm singing the first verse, pianist Richard Manuel the second, bassist Rick Danko the third, and all three the fourth in harmony. The song has been recorded by dozens of others, none coming close to this original version.

The song is also notable for Levon Helm’s remarkable drum part, one that sent shock waves through the drumming community, having a huge impact on many players. Both Jim Keltner and Steve Jordan cite that part as a game changer.


I’ll close with "No Time To Cry". Written and sung by an Angel sent from Heaven: Iris Dement. I learned of Iris from Merle Haggard, who also recorded the song (his version pales in comparison to hers). This song is the most deeply moving of any I have ever heard. Heartbreaking, a shattering experience. I can’t play another record after listening to this masterpiece of a song.

The song is found on Irises second album, My Life. Released by Warner Brothers records on CD only in 1994, My Life was finally issued on LP in 2013 by Plain Records. If you missed it back then, copies go for $60-$80 on Discogs and ebay, and is well worth that price.



“Now That Weren’t Not a Family”, by Canadian singer Lisa Brokop.

In the mid-90’s, I had gone through a painful divorce and then I heard this song — It tore me up.

https://youtu.be/2kx4edfl3GY
Marc Cohn - True Companion
Almost 20 years of marriage and our song still yanks at my heartstrings.
In no order:

  • Promises - Eric Clapton
  • Comes a Time - The Dead
  • Walls - Tom Petty
  • Songbird - Fleetwood Mac
  • Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisly ft. Alison Kraus
  • Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
  • So Far Away - Dire Straits

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There are so many that do that these days, but these especially come to mind:
"Halleluiah"-KD Lang from Songs from the 49th Parallel
"Into the Mystic"- Van Morrison from Moondance
"Hurt"-Johnny Cash from  American IV: The Man Comes Around
"Joan of Arc" Jennifer Warnes from Famous Blue Raincoat
"Silent Night"-Gary Karr & Harmon Lewis from We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
"Amazing Grace"-Laura Love from Octoroon
If you see her say hello - Dylan
Heaven - Talking Heads
Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
Miracle - Willy DeVille

The First Time, a love song written by Ewan McCall in the 50s for Peggy Seeger(Pete's half sister) the woman he lived with for over half a century.

The Crucifixion by Phil Ochs, an allegory of the life and death of John Kennedy. The version by Jim(Ochs college room mate) and Jean is especially moving. 
Another vote for Keep Me In Your Heart - Warren Zevon.  Especially when you read up on the circumstances under which he wrote it.  
I have a few to contribute and three were already mentioned.
IZ (Israel, Over the rainbow/what a wonderful world)

Peter Gabriel, Biko

Diana Krall, Case of You (I like this version over Joni Mitchell’s original)


Loreena McKennitt, Dante’s Prayer

Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms

At a funeral a few years ago, a retired insurance agent sang Israel’s version of ‘Somewhere/What a wonderful world’ accompanied by his son on guitar. A dark and somber day seemed more survivable. For me, though, ‘I Surrender’ by David Sylvian expresses every nuance of this emotion. 
My answer will depend upon the mood I'm in when asked. . . 
. . . and, furthermore, there are many ways of being "moved". 

I have to assume that the guy in the car next to me in bumper-to-bumper freeay traffic who's got all the windows rolled down and a high-wattage system detonating a single bass note over and over and over is feeling "moved" just as I'm feeling "moved" to wish that a dump-track bust through a guard-rail on the over-pass above us and squash him. 

 Some people may be most "moved" by music that affects them, physically (like the guy in my example, above) while others may be most moved in a more intellectual manner admiring the complex harmonic structures of Classical music or Bebop while still others may relate most of all to the intensity of emotion of a Mariachi, Flamenco or Blues tune. . . 


Natascha - William Royal    Tikva Records T-29
Glick - Leo Fuld   Tikva Records T-27
Schumann - Mondnacht, Moonlit Night   Roberta Peters RCA LSC 2379
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aek7kXgohhU 
R. Strauss - Morgan, Morning   same LP as above 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imcN59vq2KY&list=OLAK5uy_lYR4cCBCWcQtQkfw-iSPdqEHdqJux7DHM&i... 
Giordano - La Mamma Morta (Andrea Chenier) - Claudia Muzio  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxVZL_frj20 


With opera and classical vocal-100s of arias and songs
Shenandoah, Harry Belafonte
Fields of Gold, Eva Cassidy 
You Don’t Know Me, Ray Charles
I Will Remember You, Sarah McLachlan
O! Ma Charmante, Gottschalk
Agnus Dei, Samuel Barber

I give up. The list is endless, as it should be. 
There are too many to list.   Here are a few that came to my mind:

Wasted on the Way - Crosby, Stills, and Nash
Running on Empty - Jackson Browne
Against the Wind - Bob Seger
The River - Bruce Springsteen

Level 42: It’s Over
Bread : The Guitar Man
The Beatles: A Day In The Life
The Tubes : Don’t Want To Wait Any More
( not in that order )
You look wonderful tonight- Clapton!
Whenever I hear this song I imagine old slowhand sitting on the bed after the party, drunk, slurring out the words: "Darlin', you look like George Harrison's wife..."
Tommy Makem's The Butcher Boy... beautiful Irish ballad, his tenor voice modulating old style...  traditional, very sad...  but indeed beautiful.  
Dying to live - Edgar Winter & the White Trash. Really elicits emotion and even more so on a high res system.

I don’t want to miss a thing - Aerosmith

Neither one of us - Gladys Knight & the Pips

Sweet Child of Mine - GnR
Many awesome songs mentioned there.
Of a more contemporary nature-
Ellie Goulding's cover of "Your Song"
Coldplay "Yellow"
U2 "With or Without You"
Absolutely no consistent theme here. Instead, just a stream of consciousness list of tracks that bring the "feels".

  • Pergolesi - Stabat Mater
  • Clogs - Thom's Night Out
  • So Will I - Hillsong
  • Current 93 - Skull of My Father
  • American Football - Never Meant
  • Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy Jr.
  • Portishead - Roads
  • Rachel's - Second Self-Portrait Series
  • Jets to Brazil - Sea Anemone
  • To Build A Home - The Cinematic Orchestra
  • Rival Schools - Wring It Out
  • Blackbird - The Beatles
  • Curs in the Weeds - Horse Feathers
"nana" by Manuel de Falla-

NANA [Manuel De Falla]
Duérmete, niño, duerme, [Go to sleep, boy, sleep,]
Duerme, mi alma, [Sleep, my soul.]
Duérmete, lucerito [Go to sleep, little star]
De la mañana. [Of the morning.]
Naninta, nana, [Lulla, Lullaby]
Naninta, nana. [Lulla, Lullaby]
Duérmete, lucerito [Go to sleep, little star]
De la mañana. [Of the morning.]
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Note- in this context, "Nana" means "Lullaby"


I asked my wife and she said Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads.  I think I'm  in trouble.
Too many to list but here's a few off the top of my head
1. One More Night - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. Just a Ghost In This House - Allison Kraus
3. Body on Body - Jewel
4. Harvest Moon - Neil Young
5. With God On Our Side -  Bob Dylan
6. When I Get To Where I'm Going - Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton
7. Who You'd Be Today - Kenny Chesney
8. Remember When - Alan Jackson
9. Peace In The Valley - Elvis Presley
10. Taps - Any military bugle player version preferred