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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

190-U2-Pride (In the Name of Love)

1984-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.09. Unbelievably the lyrics contain a glaring error. In reference to Martin Luther King’s shooting, Bono sings,’Early morning April 4,’when actually King was assassinated at 6.01.pm, the evening of April 4th, 1968. Bono who wrote the songs lyrics acknowledges the error, and in live performances he sometimes changes the lyrics to ‘Early evening.’

‘Pride (In the Name of Love’) was the first of two singles released from U2’s fourth studio Album ‘The Unforgettable Fire,’ from 1984, the lyrics were written by Bono, with all four band members receiving credit for the music. For the bands fourth studio Album U2 (see also best songs 766-320 and 84) wanted to pursue a new musical direction, and persuaded Brian Eno (see also best songs 766-302-118-109 and 57) to produce, in turn Eno brought Daniel Lanois with him to assist, Lanois (see also best songs 766) would go on to produce a further five studio Albums for U2.

U2 had first begun work on the song which would become ‘Pride (In the Name of Love’) during their 1983 ‘War Tour.’ Bono had initially intended the song to be about the American President Ronald Reagan’s (1911-2004) pride in America’s military power, but after reading the book ‘Let The Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King Jr.’, and a biography of Malcolm X, Bono began to ponder the different sides of the civil rights campaigns, the violent, and non violent. Bono decided to revise his lyrics to pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968.)

U2 became supporters of making ‘Martin Luther King Day’ a U.S. federal holiday, but then in 1987 when they took their ‘Joshua Tree Tour’ to Tempe, Arizona, they received death threats for supporting the holiday. Someone claimed that they would shoot Bono on stage if he sang ‘Pride (In the Name of Love,’) which the ‘FBI’ were taking very seriously. U2 went ahead and played the show, Bono has said, ‘During ‘Pride,’ I was singing the third verse, ”Early morning April 4, a shot rings out in the Memphis sky.” I just closed my eyes and sang, and when I opened my eyes, Adam (Clayton) was standing in front of me.’

‘Early morning, April 4, shot rings out in the Memphis sky. Free at last, they took your life, they could not take your pride. In the name of love, what more in the name of love?’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


191-Michael Jackson-Billie Jean.


1983-Number 1 single.


Best Bit-At 3.30. Up until this song came about the most famous Billie Jean was a 39 time Tennis Grand Slam titles winner.


‘Billie Jean’ was written by Michael Jackson, (see also best songs 812-511-249 and 137) and produced by Jackson, and Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-812-511-703 and 357.) ‘Billie Jean’ is Michael Jackson’s best selling single worldwide, with sales in excess of 10 million, and was the second of seven singles released from his sixth studio Album ‘Thriller’ from 1982, which is currently the best selling Album of all time, with sales in excess of 70 million worldwide.


The lyrics to ‘Billie Jean’ describe a woman who claims that the songs narrator is the father of her newborn son, which he denies. The idea for the song came from Jackson’s own personal experiences of when he used to tour with his brothers. He has said that many groupies would claim that the Jackson brothers were the father of their children. The song was also inspired by letters Jackson had received in 1981 from a woman claiming that he was the father of ‘one of her twins.’ The woman continued to send him more letters including a parcel containing her photograph, and a gun, this disturbed Jackson to the extent that he suffered nightmares. Jackson later discovered that the woman had been sent to a psychiatric hospital. Michael Jackson has said,’There never was a real Billie Jean. The girl in the song is a composite of people my brothers have been plagued with over the years. I could never understand how these girls could say they were carrying someone’s child when it wasn’t true.’


Michael Jackson performed ‘Billie Jean’ on the television special ‘Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever,’ which was broadcast on May 15th, 1983. The performance is considered a watershed moment in Jackson’s career, as he performed on the programme in celebration of ‘Motown Records’ 25th anniversary, the label having been first launched in 1959. Jackson wore black trousers, leather penny loafers, a black sequined jacket, and a single white rhinestone glove. During the songs instrumental interlude, he performed a move that many believe sealed his status as a Pop icon. Jackson glided backwards to perform the moonwalk, before he spun on his heels and landed. It was the first time Jackson had performed the moonwalk in public, it is said that he had practised it in his kitchen prior to the show (see also best songs 581.) At the time Jackson stated that he was disappointed with his performance on the evening, but after all the accolades he later received it is said that he felt better in retrospect. Jackson received a phone call from his childhood idol Fred Astaire (1899-1987) (see also best songs 385) who commended him, while another childhood idol Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990) (see also best songs 567) who had also been impressed, was given by Jackson the black sequined jacket he had worn during the performance.


‘People always told me be careful of what you do, and don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts. And mother always told me be careful of who you love, and be careful of what you do, ’cause the lie becomes the truth.’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


192-Ike & Tina Turner-River Deep-Mountain High.


1966-Number 3 single.


Best Bit-3.03. Phil Spector was a perfectionist and made Tina Turner sing the song over and over for several hours in the studio until he thought he had the perfect vocal. Tina Turner has said,’I must have sang that song 500,000 times. I was drenched in sweat. I had to take my shirt off and stand in my bra.


‘River Deep-Mountain High’ was co-written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, (1940-2009) (see also best songs 820-331 and 262) and also the songs producer Phil Spector, (1939-2021) (see also best songs 820-782-737-262-127-91 and 20) and appears on Ike & Tina Turner’s sixth studio Album of the same name from 1966.


Phil Spector had seen Tina Turner (see also best songs 752 and 485) perform live, and was so impressed with her voice that he wanted to record her with the ‘Wrecking Crew,’ (see also best songs 978-846-811-744-672-660-527-486-262-202-197-180-127 and 71) and use his ‘Wall of Sound’ production technique. Spector struck a deal with Ike Turner, (1931-2007) and Ike & Tina’s manager Bob Krasnow to buy the duo out of their contract with ‘Loma Records’ for $20,000 (around $170,000 today.) Spector who was so confident of the songs potential also invested a then unheard-of $22,000 (around $185,000 today) in the production, and the required 21 session musicians. Spector saw this recording as the pinnacle of his career, and considered it his best ever work, so when the song stalled at Number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, he was shell shocked, and left the music business for over two years, with many pointing to this song not living up to his expectations, as a main contributor to the downward spiral in Spector’s mental health. ‘River Deep-Mountain High’ was however very successful in Europe, where it reached Number 1 in Spain, Number 3 in the UK, and Number 9 the Netherlands. A cover version by the post Diana Ross era Supremes and the Four Tops, taken from their joint 1970 Album ‘The Magnificent 7’ is the most successful version in America, where it made Number 14 on Billboards Hot 100 chart in 1970.


In Ike Turner’s opinion on why the song failed to chart in America he has said,’If Phil had released the record and put anybody else’s name on it, it would have been a huge hit, but because Tina Turner’s name was on it, the white stations classified it an R&B record and wouldn’t play it. The white stations say it was too black, and the black stations say it was too white, so that record didn’t have a home.’ Although many other records also had mixed black singers with a white Pop sound, in 1966 the ‘Civil Rights Movement’ was encouraging African Americans to take a pride in their own culture, and ‘River Deep-Mountain High’ was out of step with that movement. That is a possible explanation, with the timing just being wrong.


‘When I was a little girl, I had a rag doll, only doll I’ve ever owned. Now I love you just the way I loved that rag doll, but only now my love has grown.’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


193-Miracles-The Tracks of My Tears.


1965-It became a hit in the UK when re-issued in 1969, when reaching Number 9.


Best Bit-At 0.01.’Luther croons, Sly’s the original, James screams, Marvin was the only innovator, but nothing can compare when Smokey sings.’


The Miracles were formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1955, and remained active until 1983. Two of the original founders reformed the group with new members in 1993, and this group were active until 2011, in total there have been 16 band members come and go. The original, and what some would call the classic lineup of the Miracles were William ‘Smokey’ Robinson Jr., Ronald White, (1939-1995) Marv Tarplin, (1941-2011) Warren ‘Pete’ Moore, (1938-2017) Bobby Rogers, (1940-2013) and Claudette Rogers Robinson.


Smokey Robinson, Moore, and White, had been singing together since the age of 11, and would be joined by Claudette Rogers the future wife of Smokey Robinson in 1957, Claudette is the sister of Sonny Rogers, (1939-1995) who was a band member when the Miracles were called ‘The Matadors’ before 1957. Marv Tarplin became a band member in 1958, having impressed Smokey Robinson after auditioning with the ‘Primettes’ (later the Supremes) at Motown Records. The Miracles discography consists of 25 studio Albums released between 1961-1978, and 57 singles issued between 1958-1978. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 30 of their singles have made the top 40, with two of those making Number 1, while in the UK they have achieved seven top 40 hits, with ‘Tears of a Clown’ reaching Number 1 in 1970.


‘The Tracks of My Tears’ was taken from the Miracles ninth overall Album ‘Going to a Go-Go’ from 1965, the first of their Albums credited as ‘Smokey Robinson & the Miracles,’ and was co-written by Smokey Robinson, (see also best songs 1031 and 309) Warren Moore, and Marvin Tarplin. The songs famous intro was written by Tarplin who has stated that the inspiration came from the Harry Belafonte song ‘The Banana Boat Song’ (see also best songs 390.) Smokey Robinson who wrote the songs lyrics has said he was looking in the mirror one day and started thinking,’What if a person would cry so much that you could see the tracks of their tears in their face.’


‘The Tracks of My Tears’ has also been a hit for others. In America Johnny Rivers took his version to Number 10 on Billboard in 1967, while in 1975 the song was covered by Linda Ronstadt who reached Number 25. In the UK, the English Pop duo ‘Go West’ made Number 16 with their cover in 1993.


‘People say I’m the life of the party, ‘Cause I tell a joke or two.Although I might be laughin’ loud and hardy, Deep inside I’m blue. So take a good look at my face, You see my smile looks out of place. If you look closer it’s easy to trace The tracks of my tears.’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


194-Elvis Presley-Can’t Help Falling in Love.


1962-Number 1 single.


Best Bit-At 1.05. In the late 1960’s, and during the 1970’s, this was the song that Elvis Presley would nearly always finish his concerts with. It is also the very last song he ever performed live, which was at his concert in Indianapolis, at Market Square Arena, on June 26th, 1977.


Elvis Aaron Presley (see also best songs 954-664 and 442) was born on January 8th, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, United States, he died on August 16th, 1977, at the age of 42, with the immediate cause of death being given as cardiac arrest. Elvis Presley is without dispute the most famous name Popular Music has ever produced, and I can confidently state that they will still be speaking his name in 1000 years time. Elvis Presley’s has sold in excess of 500 million records, making him the best ever selling solo artist of all time, with his discography including 23 studio Albums, 18 soundtrack Albums, 13 compilation Albums, and eight official live Albums. During his lifetime he issued 117 singles, and there have since been a further 24 posthumously released. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 18 of his singles reached the Number 1 spot, although ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ only made Number 2. While in the UK, by the end of the 20th Century both Elvis Presley, and the Beatles were both tied with a record 17 Number 1 hits each. In 2004 ‘RCA Victor’ re-issued many of Elvis’ 1950’s, and 1960’s songs, with three of them reaching the Number 1 spot in the UK, they were ‘Jailhouse Rock,’ ‘(Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I,’ and ‘One Night,’ which had all previously also been UK Number 1’s.


‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ was co-written by Hugo Peretti, (1916-1986) with his cousin Luigi Creatore, (1921-2015) who wrote the music, and George David Weiss (1921-2010) (see also best songs 767) who provided the lyrics. Peretti and Creatore would go on to own part of ‘Avco Records’ in the 1970’s, and then establish ‘H&L Records,’ taking ‘The Stylistics’ (see also best songs 765) with them. Other notable lyrics written by Weiss include,’Lullaby of Birdland’, (1952) ‘What a Wonderful World,’ (1968) and ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ (1961.)


‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ was written for the 1961 movie ‘Blue Hawaii’ starring Elvis Presley in his fourth feature film, the song is track 5, on side 1 of the ‘Blue Hawaii’ soundtrack Album. In America it is the second best selling soundtrack Album of the 1960’s, behind ‘West Side Story,’ also from 1961. In the film Elvis Presley actually sings ‘Cant Help Falling in Love’ to the grandmother of the girl who he is dating.


The song has also been successful for others. In 1993 the British Reggae/Pop group UB40 spent seven weeks at Number 1 on Billboard, and it also topped the chart in the UK. Other hit versions of the song include Andy Williams, who reached Number 3 in the UK in 1970, and The Stylistics, whose Disco version made Number 4 in the UK in 1976.


‘Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you. Shall I stay would it be a sin, If I can’t help falling in love with you’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


195-Impressions-People Get Ready.


1965-It has never charted in the UK.


Best Bit-At 1.54. In the words of George Michael,’Because I gotta have faith, faith, faith, I gotta to have faith, faith, faith.’
From a religious point of view the songs lyrics encourage believers to hang on to their faith as a peaceful afterlife is promised, it also promises that those that have done wrong will be punished. The Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. named ‘People Get Ready’ the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights Movement in America, and often used the song to get people marching, or to calm and comfort them.


The Impressions who were initially called the ‘Roosters’ were formed in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, in 1958, they remained active until 2018, with 12 different members coming and going. The original lineup of Sam Gooden, Jerry Butler, Richard Brooks, Arthur Brooks, (1932-2015) Curtis Mayfield, (1942-1999) and Fred Cash were inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ in 1991. The Impressions released 20 studio Albums between 1963-1981, and 78 singles between 1958-1987. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 17 of their singles reached the top 40 with ‘It’s All Right’ in 1963 charting the highest at Number 4. While in the UK their only charting single was ‘First Impressions,’ which got to Number 16 in 1975.


‘People Get Ready’ which is also the title track of the Impressions fourth studio Album from 1965, was written in 1964 by Curtis Mayfield, (see also best songs 719) and produced by Johnny Pate. ‘People Get Ready’ is a Gospel inspired track, and was written by Mayfield at a time when his writing was displaying a growing sense of social and political awareness, Mayfield has said,’That was taken from my church, or from the upbringing of messages from the church, like there’s no hiding place and get on board, and images of that sort. I must have been in a very deep mood of that type of religious inspiration when I wrote that song.’


In 2000 the British music magazine ‘Mojo’ asked a panel of 20 songwriters including Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, and Hal Blaine’ to choose the greatest songs ever, and People Get Ready’ was in that top 10. The song has been covered many times, most notably by Bob Marley, (see also best songs 618 and 56) who recorded an interpretation as ‘One Love/People Get Ready’ in 1965, and again in 1977 for his Album ‘Exodus.’


‘People get ready, there’s a train a comin,’ you don’t need no baggage, you just get on board. All you need is faith, to hear the diesels hummin,’ don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord.’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


196-Leonard Cohen-Suzanne.


1967-It has never charted in the UK.


Best Bit-At 1.00. By 1967 Leonard Cohen had become disillusioned with his lack of financial success as an author and a poet, so he decided to go to America to pursue a career as a Folk music singer/songwriter, and for that we all say ‘Hallelujah.’


Leonard Norman Cohen was born on September 21st, 1934, in Westmount, Quebec, Canada, he died on November 7th, 2016, at his home in Los Angeles, at the age of 82, with leukemia being a contributing cause. Leonard Cohen was one of those rare musicians, in that he came to recording later in life. Where as many singer/songwriters have given their best by the age of 30, Cohen didn’t record his first Album until the age of 33, that first Album was ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen,’ which features ‘Suzanne’ as track 1, side 1, on the Album. Many of the tracks on the Album had been written as poems many years earlier including ‘Suzanne,’ and many music critics agree the Album is among his greatest works. In total Leonard Cohen issued 15 studio Albums between 1967 through to the posthumous release ‘Thanks for the Dance’ in 2019, there are also eight official live Albums, and four compilation Albums available. Cohen also released a total of 44 singles between 1967-2019, with his only charting single being ‘Hallelujah,’ reaching Number 17 in Canada, Number 36 in the UK, and Number 1 in France.


‘Suzanne’ started out life as a poem which Cohen had written in 1966 about a platonic relationship he had had with Suzanne Verdal. Leonard Cohen has said,’I wrote this in 1966, Suzanne had a room on a waterfront sheet in the port of Montreal, everything happened just as it was put down. She was the wife of a man I knew, her hospitality was immaculate.’ Suzanne Verdal has also offered her recollections,’ Leonard was a friend of my husband, Armand. We were all hanging at the same places in Montreal. By 1965 I had separated from Armand and was living with our little girl. Leonard would come over and I would serve him jasmine tea with mandarin oranges, and light a candle. We were never lovers of the flesh but on a very deep level we were. I had the opportunity more than once, but I respected his work and what he stood for so much, I didn’t want to spoil it. Also, Leonard is an incredibly sexual man! He’s very attractive to women, and I didn’t want to be just one of the crowd.’


In ‘Suzanne’ Leonard Cohen reminisces of the times he and Suzanne Verdal spent together by the harbour in Montreal, and the walks that they would take around Old Montreal past the church of Note-Dame-Bob-Secours, where sailors were blessed before heading out to sea. The songs second verse speaks of Jesus, and how he would watch over the sailors at sea. In my opinion, here Cohen is making a comparison between his love for Suzanne, and the love Jesus has for all the people.


‘And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind, and you know that she will trust you, for you’ve touched her perfect body with your mind.’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


197-Glen Campbell-Rhinestone Cowboy


1975-Number 4 single.


Best Bit-At 0.53. Some artists who have made the wearing of Rhinestones on their stage attire famous include Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond and Liberace, although of course Neil Diamond felt much more comfortable in blue jeans.


Glen Travis Campbell (see also best songs 846) was born on April 22nd, 1936, in Billstown, Arkansas, United States. In 2010 Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and became a patient at a long term care and treatment facility in 2014, he died on August 8th, 2017, at the age of 81.


Glen Campbell began his professional musical career in 1960 as a session musician in Los Angeles, playing with a group of studio musicians who would later become collectively known as ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ (see also best songs 978-846-811-744-672-660-527-486-262- 202-197-192-180-127 and 71)) Campbell played on hundreds of recordings, including the Beach Boys 1966 classic Album ‘Pet Sounds,’ where he played the guitar, and Banjo. Campbell also had his own television show on ‘CBS,’The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,’ between 1969-1972. He made 11 appearances in films between 1965-1997, most notably playing the character ‘Le Boeuf’ in the 1969 movie ‘True Grit’ starring John Wayne. Glen Campbell released 60 studio Albums between 1962-2018, and 115 singles between 1958-2017, with 21 of those songs reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles chart, with two of those tracks making the Number 1 spot. In the UK eight of his singles have made the top 40, with three of those songs reaching Number 4, in total Glen Campbell has sold in excess of 45 million records. The legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb (see also best songs 846-119 and 1) on Campbell’s death said about him,’Any guitar player in the world, from George Benson to Eric Clapton,’ added that Paul McCartney considered him among the best guitar players. “People will realise what an extraordinary genius Glen really was,’


Glen Campbell first heard ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ playing on the radio while he was touring in Australia. He identified with the songs subject matter, decided to learn it, and on his return to the United States he approached his record label ‘Capital’ and told them of ‘A great new song.’ The song he had heard on the radio was written and performed by the singer/songwriter Larry Weiss whose version had made very little commercial impact. The song is about a Country singer struggling to make it big, and it reflected Weiss striving to make it in a singing career. Campbell could also relate to the songs lyrics as his hits had dried up, with him not having a top 10 single since 1970.


Although Larry Weiss failed in his bid to be a famous singer he nevertheless had great success as a songwriter, with other notable successes being the co-writing with Scott English (1937-2018) of ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining,’ becoming a hit when recorded by Jeff Beck, and ‘Bend Me, Shape Me,’ a hit for both ‘The American Breed,’ and ‘Amen Corner.’


I’ve been walkin’ these streets so long, singin’ the same old song, I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway. Where hustle’s the name of the game, and nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain.’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


198-Eagles-Hotel California.


1977-Number 8 single.


Best Bit-At 4.20. A Five Star Hotel.


The Eagles (see also best songs 505) were formed in 1971 in Los Angeles, California, United States, and remained active until 1980. After the break up the former members all pursued solo careers, and then in 1994 Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B Schmit, Don Felder, and Glenn Frey (1948-2016) reformed, with Frey being quoted as saying,’We never broke up, we just took a 14-year vacation.’ At the time writing the Eagles continue to tour as Henley, Walsh, Schmit, and Vince Gill, who has been an official band member since 2017. The Eagles have released seven studio Albums between 1972-2007, and 30 singles, of which 17 have reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 chart in America, including five which have made the Number 1 spot. In the UK seven of their singles have made the top 40, with this song charting the highest when making Number 8 in 1977. The Eagles can boast of having the best selling ‘Greatest Hits 1971-1975’ Album in American history, with sales at around 38 million copies, and 40 million worldwide. They also have the second best ever selling studio Album in America with ‘Hotel California,’ having sold around 26 million copies in the States, and 32 million copies in total worldwide.


‘Hotel California’ was co-written by Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk who produced all of the bands studio Albums with the exception of ‘Eagles,’ (1972) and ‘Desperado’ (1973.) ‘Hotel California’ has become the Eagles signature song, with the guitar solo (from 4.20, until fade) being voted the greatest of all time by the British music magazine ‘Guitarist’ in 1998. The songs lyrics which were mainly written by Don Henley, and Glenn Frey have been studied endlessly by music critics and fans, and like many of the best lyrics the songs subject is open to interpretation, which is exactly what this countdown of ‘best songs ever’ is made for. In my opinion the most likely scenario is that the song is about materialism and excess. California is used as the setting but it could relate to anywhere in America. There are those who think the song is about drug use, and others have pondered if it is about the breakup of a romantic relationship.


Don Felder has offered an insight in to how the song came about, he has said,’Don Henley, and Glenn wrote most of the words. All of us kind of drove into L.A. at night. Nobody was from California, and if you drive into L.A. at night … you can just see this glow on the horizon of lights, and the images that start running through your head of Hollywood and all the dreams that you have, and so it was kind of about that … what we started writing the song about.’ Don Henley has also offered an explanation,’We were all middle-class kids from the Midwest. Hotel California was our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles,’ he also said,’It’s a song about a journey from innocence to experience.’


‘On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air. Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light, my head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night.’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


199-Johnny Cash-Don’t Take Your Guns to Town.


1958-It has never charted in the UK.


Best Bit-At 0.31. You’ve heard of a boy named Sue, well this ones called Bill.


Johnny Cash (see also best songs 857 and 428) was born J. R. Cash, on February 26th, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas, United States, he died on September 12th, 2003, of complications from diabetes, at the age of 71. With record sales in excess of 90 million, Johnny Cash is one of the best selling artists of all time.


Prior to finding great success as a singer/songwriter Johnny Cash had enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950, and after basic training he was assigned to service in Landsberg, West Germany where he worked as a Morse code operator, intercepting Soviet Army transmissions. During this time Cash created his first band ‘The Landsberg Barbarians.’ After four years service he was honourably discharged as a staff sergeant, and returned to Texas.


In 1954 Cash plucked up the courage to visit the ‘Sun Records’ studio, hoping to get a recording contract with the labels owner Sam Phillips. (1923-2003) He auditioned for Phillips by singing mostly gospel songs, only to learn from the producer that he no longer recorded gospel music. Phillips was rumoured to have told Cash to “Go home and sin, then come back with a song I can sell”, although in 2002 Cash denied that Phillips ever made any such comment. Johnny Cash got his contract and recorded just the one Album for ‘Sun Records,’ his 1957 debut Album ‘Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar. Cash then signed with ‘Columbia Records,’ but he had left several recordings in the Sun vaults, which Sam Phillips would release through until 1964.


‘Don’t Take Your Guns to Town’ was written by Johnny Cash, and produced by Don Law, (1902-1982) the song was the first single released from his second studio Album ‘The Fabulous Johnny Cash,’ from November 1958, his first Album for Columbia, he would stay with Columbia Records for the next 28 years. ‘Don’t Take Your Guns to Town’ tells the story of a young cowboy who ignores the pleas of his mother to leave his guns at home, and not to get in to a gun fight, he goes in to town, starts drinking, gets in to an altercation with a much older man, which leads to both men drawing their weapons, and young Bill being killed, with the words of his mother ringing in his ears, while he lies there dying.


Over the years Johnny Cash would often re-record his songs many times. In 1974 he recorded a more uptempo version for his 48th studio Album ‘The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me,’ which included very slightly different lyrics. In 1998 Cash performed the song as a duet with Willie Nelson for the Album ‘VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson,’ and in the early 1990’s Cash made a guest appearance on the children’s television programme ‘Sesame Street,’ where he performed the song with new child-friendly lyrics titled ‘Don’t Take Your Ones to Town.’


‘A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm. A boy filled with wanderlust who really meant no harm. He changed his clothes and shined his boots, and combed his dark hair down. And his mother cried as he walked out, ‘Don’t take your guns to town son, leave your guns at home, Bill, don’t take your guns to town.”