Twisted MixTape: Talkin' Beauty Baby

I missed Jen's party last week because there were just too many commitments and not enough hours. And I was gonna bow out this week too, but then she started tweeting "Come out and play," and well you know, I do hate to miss a party when there's good music. So here I am at 6:45 in the morning. For you Jen, for you.

The theme for the Twisted MixTape this week is Beautiful Songs. All righty then, that could be anything.

Let me start by saying, just because it's beautiful, doesn't mean it's happy. One of the most beautiful songs you will ever hear is a heartbreaking song of realization. Written by Eric Kaz and Libby Titus and covered over the years by Linda Rondstadt and Rosanne Cash among others. I first heard it by Bonnie Raitt, it was fabulous then and still is.

"If I could buy your love

Then I'd surely try my friend

And if I could pray

My prayers would never end

But if you want me to beg

I'll fall down on my knees

And ask you to come back

I'd be pleading for you to come back

I'd beg for you to come back to me"

So powerful, so sad, so Beautiful.

"Love Has No Pride"

Next up is a song I used in a blog a year or so ago. It's not fancy or complicated. It's just Beautiful. The band is Railroad Earth.

"Lovin You"

I first heard Judy Collins sing this song a very long time ago. Beyond her voice are the lyrics. Of course they were written by the incomparable Leonard Cohen, and they are Beautiful.

"Now Suzanne takes your hand 

And she leads you to the river 

She is wearing rags and feathers 

From Salvation Army counters 

And the sun pours down like honey 

On our lady of the harbour 

And she shows you where to look 

Among the garbage and the flowers 

There are heroes in the seaweed 

There are children in the morning 

They are leaning out for love 

And they will lean that way forever 

While Suzanne holds the mirror"

"Suzanne"

Tim Hardin wrote a song which became a Top Ten hit for Bobby Darin in 1966. As a thank you, Darin then wrote "Simple Song of Freedom" for Hardin, and it was equally successful. But the Hardin song is the one that fits in today. I've heard it done by Johnny Cash, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Led Zeppelin and, well there was even an entire album of covers of it released. Those who know me can guess who I've picked.

"If I Were A Carpenter"

Tomorrow being 9/11, and with this country thinking about dropping bombs again, I thought this would be the perfect song to end a Beautiful list. John said it best.

"Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace..."

I'll be slithering back to my dark hole now. See you all soon.