Poor Little Rich Boy: A Playlist for Being Broke

When I say “playlist,” do not fret.  For those who don’t have a way of listening to music– like me– printing out lyrics works.  You just have to recall the tune.  Tapping your feet is very helpful.

So it goes:

1.  “Do I Disappoint You“  — Rufus Wainwright

“For just being human?” the rest of the chorus goes.  My other favorite lines are, “Why does it always have to be chaos? / Why does it always have to be wanderlust? / Sensational / I’m gonna smash your bloody skull.”  Those are among many.

2.  “Smile” — Nat King Cole

This is a hard one to listen to: “Hide every trace of sadness / Light up your face with gladness / Although a tear may be ever so near / That’s the time you must keep on trying / Smile, what’s the use of crying? / You’ll find that life is still worthwhile / If you just smile.”

3.  “It Don’t Worry Me” — Barbara Harris, Nashville

You can’t find the lyrics to this one anywhere, so I took the liberty of transcribing them:

The price of bread

May worry some

But it don’t worry me

Tax relief

May never come

But it don’t worry me

Economy’s

Depressed, not me

My spirit’s high

As it can be

And you may say

That I ain’t free

But it don’t worry me

They say this train

Don’t give out rides

But it don’t worry me

And all the world

Is taking size

But it don’t worry me

Cause in my empire

Life is sweet

Just ask any boy

That you might meet

Life may be

A one way street

But it don’t

Worry me

Refrain, x5, interspersed with such interludes as, “I ain’t gonna be worried,” “No, not me,” “I got a smile on my face,” “You can’t stand my smilin’,” “The song, the song say,” “I’m gonna walk with my head held high,” “It ain’t easy,” and “I’ve done my cryin’!”

The song’s got soul.

3.  “Sonnets/Unrealities XI” — Bjork

“It may not always be so,” Bjork owns in the first line, but “If this should be, I say, if this should be, / You have my heart / Send me a little word / That I may go unto her, and take her hand/ saying / Accept all happiness from me / Then I shall turn my face / And hear one bird / sing terribly afar / in the lost / lands.”

If you aren’t too that point of generosity, acceptance, or resignation, one, try reading Walt Whitman, or, try these lines first: “In such a silence / as I know / Or such great writhing words / as uttering overmuch / Stand helplessly before the spirit / at bay.”  There’s a little more pathos, a little more conflict there.

4.  “I’m Still Here” — The Follies

Strong woman after strong woman has covered this song, and it’s still good, every time.  One of my favorites is Shirley McClain’s version in Postcards from the Edge, a wonderful Meryl Streep movie– one of those where she really proves she can sing beautifully– written by none other than Carrie Fisher.  It’s her life story.

“Good times and bum times

I’ve seen them all

And my dear,

I’m still here.

Plush velvet sometimes,

Sometimes just pretzels and beer,

But I’m here.”

5.  “Proud Mary” — Tina Turner

Sometimes all you can ask is, “Big wheel keep on turning.”

6.  “The Boho Dance” — Bjork

Now this is a killer.  Bjork covered this Joni Mitchell for a whole album of covers, including, if I remember correctly, the likes of  a Prince remix, among other greats.

Joni Mitchell, while I don’t prefer her voice, knows how to write a song.  I’ve come back to this one for years, and I’ve already made many references to it on this blog.  My newest favorites lines are, “  Nothing is capsulized in me / On either side of town / These streets were never really mine / Not mine / These glamour gowns.”

You try dressing for a riot.

7.  “The Times, They are A-Changin’ ” — Bob Dylan

Well this one’s just essential.  My new favorite lines, “Your sons and daughters / Are beyond your command / Your old road is / Rapidly agin’ / Please get out of the new one / If you can’t lend a hand.”  I dare you to read some daddy issues into those.

8.  “Paper Bag” — Fiona Apple

“I got to fold cause these hands are too shaky to hold,” that sweet, angry Pagan princess says, “Hunger hurts, but starving works, when it costs too much to love.”

9.  “American Beauty” — Annie Lennox

I know, I know, Neil Young wrote this one, but I am simply more familiar with the Annie Lennox version.  And c’mon, she is extraordinary.  I always thought it be such a great Mother’s Day present for my friend Stephanie and I to take our moms to an Annie Lennox concert.

“Don’t let it get you down / It’s only castles burning / Find someone’s who’s turning / And you will come around.”  It was in the film American Beauty, too– it has the titular line.  (This whole “turning” business is connected to the word volta, my all time favorite.)

10.  “Better Version of Me” — Fiona Apple

Another fucking Fiona Apple?  Yeah, you doubters.  This ones kinda self-explanatory.  “Here it comes.”

11.  “A Good Man is Hard to Find” — Tom Waits

I always thought this song should end a Woody Allen movie: “How far from the gutter / How far from the pew / I will always remember / To forget / About you.”

12.  “Big Guns” — Rilo Kiley

13.  “Rise Up” — Daisy May

14.  “The Party’s Over” — ?

15.  “Waters of March” — Simon of Simon and Garfunkel

16.  “There’s No Place Like Home (for the Holidays)”

17.  “Stormy Weather” — Martha Wainwright

18.  Mickey Rourke’s swan-song speech at the end of The Wrestler

19.  “Natural’s Not in It” — Gang of Four

20.  “Wise Up” — Aimee Mann

21.  “Unison” — Bjork

22.  “Both Sides Now” — Joni Mitchell  (You might start crying at the line, “So many things I would have done” — that or shout in your head, “And I would have appreciated so much more than those fuckers! For clouds, read: economic circumstances, getting sick, finding yourself trapped with that fucking idiot… the possibilities are nearly endless.”

23.  “Cover Me” — Bjork

24.  “Extraordinary Machine” — Fiona Apple

(“Nobody’s Off the Hook” — Rufus Wainwright; “Knife Chase” — Tom Waits (cuz you can’t afford no cab no more; your ass is walkin’!); “What’s New for Fall?” — Bright Eyes)

I’ll flesh this out later, duh.