If you’re reading this on the 4th of July, I wrote it yesterday.  I got myself into the Wasta 4th of July festivities clean up to my elbows, and I simply wasn’t going to have time to do a post today.  But thanks to the magic of technology, I can write something yesterday and have it come up tomorrow, so to speak.

But as I sat here yesterday (that looks funny when I write it) this is all I could come up with.  So here it is- five songs that I find very meaningful or well written.

The Star Spangled Banner- No I didn’t just add this one because it was the 4th of July.  Francis Scott Key didn’t write this as a song, only a poem.  Music was added later.  But he wrote it one night on board a ship as our capitol was being attacked by the British.  The words of the poem he meant very literally.  But, as with several songs on this list, he wrote something way bigger than that terrible night.  Although he meant it specifically, it is so universally beautiful.

Enter Sandman-  Say what you want about Metallica.  Some of it might be true, I don’t know.  What I do know is that lead singer and principal songwriter James Hetfield was raised a Christian Scientist, which has to be somewhat disturbing.  Enter Sandman is the most accurate depiction of childhood fear of the dark, which can be a huge obstacle in people’s lives.  While I bridle a little at the inclusion of the Bedtime Prayer, it fits too.  The song wouldn’t have been the same without it.

Love Hurts-  If you can find a version of this song that you can understand, (try EmmyLou Harris) it will blow you away.  Scrooge McRocker and Nazareth didn’t do it justice.  Songwriter Graham Parsons may not have even realized what he had written.  The older I get, the more this song means to me; “some fools speak of happiness, but they’re not foolin’ me…”  No sir, they surely aren’t.

You Look So Good In Love-  I love a good melody, which is why I love King George Strait.  In addition to that, this song is gorgeously simple and sincere.  “He must have stolen some stars from the sky, and gave them to you to wear in your eyes.”  I wish I could talk as pretty as that poor guy.

She Just Started Likin’ Cheatin’ Songs-  From the delightfully whimsical mind of Billy Jo Shaver comes this little gem, which always makes me laugh (this list was getting a little heavy)  “I don’t know if it’s the cheatin’ she likes, or just the melody…”  Brilliant.

So, in case you cared, there you go.  Happy 4th of July, everyone!