Thursday Thirteen, Special Tuesday Edition: Thirteen Songs I Find Meaningful

OK, here's a list (in no particular order) of songs that, for one reason or another, I find particularly meaningful. I do realize that some of these are silly, some cheezy, and some have really do redeeming value whatsoever.

1. "Birdhouse in Your Soul"--They Might be Giants. OK, I LOVE this song, and if you call my cell phone right now, you'll hear it instead of a ring. TMBG are just so smart and funny and hip and wonderful, to my way of thinking. And they make me think of college and Scott and Cort and Doug and Joy and even Cory, in a bitter-sweet way. And here's a little known fact about me: I love to soak in a bubble bath and sing TMBG at the top of my lungs.

2. "Sunday Morning Coming Down"--written by Chris Kristofferson and preformed by Johnny Cash.

3. "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"--this has always, always since childhood been one of my favorite hymns.

4. "Angel"--Aerosmith. This is quite possibly the cheeziest pop song ever written. And I recognize that musically it's pretty awful. But I love it anyway. I'm kinda embarrassed about how many Aerosmith lyrics I actually know!

5. "Both Sides Now"--Joni Mitchell. I've learned the hard way that one shouldn't listen to Joni Mitchell when depressed. But it seems so natural to do so.

6. "Just As I Am"--Another favorite hymn. Willie Nelson does a version on guitar that's wonderful. I really love Willie singing gospel. His "May the Circle be Unbroken" and "Where the Soul Never Dies" are just wonderful.

7. "God Only Knows"--The Beach Boys. According to my brother, this is one of Paul McCartney's favorite love songs. I have to confess that I think the Beach Boys are just loads of fun.

8. "Spirit in the Sky"--Norman Greenbaum. What's not to like. Seriously, when I go to meet my Maker, I want a wake with lots of beer and this song playing on a continuous loop.

9. "Standing Outside the Fire"--Garth Brooks. I have a theory that there's a Garth Brooks song for every occasion and every personality type.

10. "Fast as You"--Dwight Yokam.

11. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"--J.S. Bach.

12. "Countin' Flowers on the Wall"--The Statler Brothers.

13. "In My Life"--The Beatles. This may be my all-time favorite song ever. I just love it, always have.

OK, to keep it to 13, I had to cut some songs that I really love, like Jewel's "Jupiter" and a number of Tom Petty songs. I also cut Merle Haggard, which is kinda sad.