Tuesday, April 8, 2008

In Praise of a Song

"City of New Orleans" just finished playing on the radio.

How long have I been hearing that song? Decades, for sure. Lately, just a time or two a year at random intervals... somehow just the right intervals, too.

I love a song or story that can transport you instantly, can bring you right into the scene. Arlo Guthrie's perfectly imperfect voice invites you aboard, Steve Goodman's lyrics set the scene, and the arrangement gently rocks you down the rails.

I've given up on attempting to name a "Greatest Song" list of my own. What's greatest in one situation is often just good in another. But "City" always seems to make me stop what I'm doing and listen.

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