Now that playlists are a major part of this blog I get to do the fun stuff – making the playlist!
I grew up as an only child. And while I had a close knit neighborhood of friends to play with, along with school friends,, at the end of the day you‘re alone. After I created this playlist I realized that may have affected me more than I realize!
Here is what Chatptl AI generated when asked to write briefly about each song….
Songs That Move Me About Loneliness and Alienation
1.“Hello in There” – John Prine
A tender, bittersweet ballad about aging and loneliness, John Prine’s “Hello in There” invites listeners to notice and connect with the elderly, whose rich lives and stories often go unseen. It’s a compassionate reminder of our shared humanity.
2. “Willard” – John Stewart
This gentle folk song by John Stewart paints a portrait of a small-town character named Willard, using vivid storytelling and evocative imagery to capture themes of isolation, change, and quiet resilience in the face of life’s hardships.
3. “Flower Lady” – Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs’ “Flower Lady” weaves together brief vignettes of urban characters who pass by an old flower seller, highlighting social indifference and lost human connections in modern life. It’s a melancholic, poetic critique of urban alienation.
4. “Streets of London” – Ralph McTell
A classic folk anthem of empathy, “Streets of London” draws attention to the unseen struggles of the homeless and lonely, reminding listeners that there’s always someone carrying a heavier burden than their own.
5. “Louise” – Paul Siebel
This haunting, sorrowful ballad tells the story of a marginalized woman named Louise, capturing the cruelty of society’s indifference and the quiet tragedy of a life dismissed. Siebel’s songwriting is stark, empathetic, and unforgettable.
Songs That Move Me About Vietnam and Civil Rights
The last three songs all are about two of the aspects of the 60s and 70s that affected all of us who grew up in those years. First the Vietnam War and then the fight for Civil Rights. When I first heard “Jimmy Newman” on Tom Paxton 6 I had never heard a song so gut wrenching !
I never heard “Birmingham Sunday”!until I heard Anne Hills and Tom Paxton sing it on Under American Skies . And when I heard it in 2001 it certainly brought back memories of the fight for Civil Rights and that tragic event.
The playlist closes with a powerful Civil Rights anthem that is still appropriate for today! Hopefully, we call ALL overcome some day! I don’t think there is a more moving song than this we you are with a group of people singing it!!
“Jimmy Newman” – Tom Paxton
Set against the backdrop of war, “Jimmy Newman” is a moving antiwar song in which a soldier gently tries to comfort his dying friend, Jimmy, with small talk and homefront memories. The understated delivery makes its message heartbreakingly powerful.
“Birmingham Sunday” – Richard Fariña (popularized by Joan Baez)(who was married to Joan’s sister Mimi)
A chilling ballad recounting the 1963 Birmingham church bombing that killed four African American girls, this song serves as both a historical narrative and a mournful call for justice in the face of racial violence.
“We Shall Overcome” – Traditional (adapted by Pete Seeger and others)
An iconic anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, “We Shall Overcome” is a simple, hopeful, and resolute song of solidarity and peaceful resistance, echoing the timeless human desire for dignity and equality.
I hope you enjoyed this playlist. I would love to hear about any songs that have moved you.
Here’s a Video that brings Streets of London to life. It’s will always be one of the songs that move me