Shamelessly soul-bearing hit songs -- by dudes -- that are not shameful attempts to woo a woman

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Inspired by the "Living Years" thread. Are there any other hit songs like this (and I'll take a loose definition of "hit) in which a guy sings emotionally and "honestly" about something not in any way related to romance?

"Tears in Heaven," comes to mind.

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

a change is gonna come

― peter smith (plsmith), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

"Cat's In The Cradle"

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

father and son

― peter smith (plsmith), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:23 (twenty years ago)

(haha I remember watching a friend of mine implode onstage while singing lead on "Cat's In The Cradle" with an a capella group. He sang the last verse something like "I saw my dad/The other day/And I've forgotten all the words/But that's okay/Doo doo do dooo doo/*shakes head, shrugs*". Best rendition of this song ever.)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

I'd say that sounds like a vast improvement on the original, since it eliminates the conclusion of the song.

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

Genesis 'Mama' ?
Phil Collins 'In The Air Tonight'
Genesis 'No Son Of Mine'

not sure why Collins sprang to mind so readily.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

I'm going to be buried in an avalanche of abuse for this nomination but....

"Under the Bridge" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:28 (twenty years ago)

"Heroin" by the Velvet Underground

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:28 (twenty years ago)

I GAVE MY LIFE AWAYYYYYYYYYYY

― peter smith (plsmith), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

It's ok, sometimes I also feel like my only friend.

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

"I Can't Drive 55" by Sammy Hagar

LOCK THREAD!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

Duh! How could I forget:

America We Stand As One

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

"Sailing" by Christopher Cross

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

"I SHED THE TEAHR"

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

Dylan to thread. Esp. "My Back Pages."

Also the late Warren Zevon, "Keep Me in Your Heart For Awhile."

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

I would never call anything Dylan did "shamelessly soul-bearing," nor Lou Reed.

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

"MacArthur Park"? "American Pie"?

― Dominique (dleone), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

Dock Of The Bay!

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:33 (twenty years ago)

"Hurt." Johnny Cash version, anyway.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

Actually, I guess you could say "Folsom Prison Blues"

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

"My Way"

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

Ha! If by "soul-bearing" you mean "exposing the hollow nothingness that now exists where a soul once was"

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:42 (twenty years ago)

I would never call anything Dylan did "shamelessly soul-bearing," nor Lou Reed.

B-b-b-b-b-but Hurting, Heroin is Lou's life AND his wife!!!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

"Behind Blue Eyes" by the Who

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

U2 - "One"

― Ian Riese-Moraine eats nation-states for breakfast! (Eastern Mantra), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:53 (twenty years ago)

I knew Bono was going to creep up here somewhere. Where's Stipe, he's surely guilty of this too, no?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

Can someone tell me the name of that Stain'd song?

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

"It's Been A while"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

Indeed.

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

Flipper, "Life"

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Monday, 27 June 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

was "take me home, country roads" (john denver) a hit? because that was about west virginia and was nothing if not impassioned.

― The Landlord's Daughter (The Landlord's Daughter), Monday, 27 June 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

What if these shamelessly soul-bearing songs (which aren't blatant attempts to woo a woman) are actually attempts to woo women through the bearing of their soul?

The chicks love that shit.

― peepee (peepee), Monday, 27 June 2005 15:34 (twenty years ago)

'crossroads' bone thugs n harmony
'it's so hard to say goodbye' by uh boys 2 men?
that early 90's r&b stuff is full of these types of songs.

― tylero (tylero), Monday, 27 June 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

Bridge over troubled water.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Monday, 27 June 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

"Glory Days."

― mike a, Monday, 27 June 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

Nirvana "Pennyroyal Tea"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 27 June 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

Ween "Push The Little Daisies"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 27 June 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

Where's Stipe, he's surely guilty of this too, no?

everybody hurts

― Sym Sym (sym), Monday, 27 June 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

It's not a hit yet, but we all know it will be: The White Stripes' "I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)".

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 27 June 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

"'Til I Die."

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Monday, 27 June 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

"I Just Wasn't Made For These Times"

― JAS, Monday, 27 June 2005 16:36 (twenty years ago)

"Still the Same" --Bob Seger

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Monday, 27 June 2005 16:39 (twenty years ago)

peepee OTM.

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 27 June 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

"My Mind is Playin' Tricks on Me" -- Geto Boys

― Big Loud Mountain Ape (Big Loud Mountain Ape), Monday, 27 June 2005 17:22 (twenty years ago)

"Lights" --Journey. Definitely an example of a 'shamelessly soul-baring song (which isn't a blatant attempt to woo women) that actually attempts to woo women through the baring of their[?] soul.' That's a mouthful.

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Monday, 27 June 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

"Love Like Blood" by Killing Joke (hey, it was a hit, y'know).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 18:27 (twenty years ago)

I would really like to know how "One" isn't a woo attempt.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 27 June 2005 19:36 (twenty years ago)

Wu-Tang - "I Can't Go to Sleep"

― Cheek0 (Cheek0), Monday, 27 June 2005 21:02 (twenty years ago)

Is "Ben" by Michael Jackson a song about romance?

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Monday, 27 June 2005 21:05 (twenty years ago)

Magnetic Fields - "I Thought You Were My Boyfriend"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 27 June 2005 21:11 (twenty years ago)

oh, I missed the "not related to romance" part

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 27 June 2005 21:12 (twenty years ago)

Pete Shelley, "Homosapien"

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 27 June 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

"Good Day" - Paul Westerberg

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 27 June 2005 21:27 (twenty years ago)

"I Have Forgiven Jesus," even by Morrissey's standards.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Monday, 27 June 2005 21:47 (twenty years ago)

I would really like to know how "One" isn't a woo attempt.

b/c the lyrix are ostensibly written for Bono's father?

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Monday, 27 June 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

You mean Yahweh?

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

"Father of Mine" - Everclear.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

"Say It Ain't So" - Weezer.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

What if these shamelessly soul-bearing songs (which aren't blatant attempts to woo a woman) are actually attempts to woo women through the bearing of their soul?

The chicks love that shit.

-- peepee (citywideva...), June 27th, 2005.

This did occur to me when I thought of the thread. I think "Living Years" is a good example of one that probably cannot be construed as trying to woo a chick though -- unresolved relationships with dead parents just usually aren't good pick-up devices.

Then again, neither are dead sons, but I don't know if I'd put it past Clapton ...

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:10 (twenty years ago)

The same thought occured to me as I started thinking about "Father Of Mine" and "Say It Ain't So" ... still not sure where I'm at on that one. But, right now, to my mind, the fact is that neither of these songs will bring a woman to her knees like 'Let's Get It On' will, and that is the litmus test right there.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

Flaming Lips - "Waitin' For a Superman", "Suddenly Everything Has Changed"

― Cheek0 (Cheek0), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:16 (twenty years ago)

"Father of Mine" - Everclear

Impossible to take seriously due to unfortunate direct reference:

http://pc59te.dte.uma.es/cdb/series/warner/bitmaps/syljr.jpg

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:25 (twenty years ago)

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH!!!!! Roger, I'd never thought of that until now..

"ohhhhh the shame".

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

Hahahahahahahahahaha

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

Copycat.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 27 June 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

But, right now, to my mind, the fact is that neither of these songs will bring a woman to her knees like 'Let's Get It On' will, and that is the litmus test right there.

-- VegemiteGrrl (sharonjo...), June 27th, 2005.

Actually, it just occurred to me that a good litmus test might be, "Do you imagine that many people make out to this song?"

And it also just occurred to me that a lot of people probably DO make out to Tears in Heaven. Maybe it's some kind of unconcious "we need to make another baby" thing (runs away covering head with arms)

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 27 June 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

Eww. Making out to 'Tears In Heaven' makes me gag a little.

The theory might work though, as I can see making out to 'Say It Ain't So'...but it might be a little on the Freudian side to go making out to 'Father of Mine'. Just a thought.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 27 June 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

The Kinks - "I'm Not Like Everybody Else"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 00:20 (twenty years ago)

(the "hit songs" portion of the thread parameter seems to be lost on many of the above songs...)

Live - "Lightning Crashes"

― PB, Tuesday, 28 June 2005 00:20 (twenty years ago)

I swear that there's people out there who think TearsInHeaven is a courtin' song. At least slow dancin'.

― peepee (peepee), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 01:18 (twenty years ago)

I'm pretty sure when people listen to Wish You Were Here, they just hear "blah blah blah blah blah blah How I wish, how I wish you were heeeeeerre you were heeeeeerrre, we're just two lost souls blah blah blah blah blah ..."

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 01:26 (twenty years ago)

Ian Hunter - Ships (which was a hit for Barry Manilow)
The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

― jim wentworth (wench), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 02:11 (twenty years ago)

Michael Martin Murphy - "Wildfire" ... still can't quite figure out the chronology on this one.

Henry Gross - "Shannon" ... is the tree reference supposed to clue us into Shannon's doggie status?

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

i think the idea of "Heroin" as the skull under the skin of all phil collins songs is INSPIRED

alex roolz on this thread

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

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