"It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)," by R.E.M. An obvious choice. I performed this once, and my audience was wildly impressed with me.
"The Afterlife," by Paul Simon. This is on his most recent album. Pretty dang catchy.
"Airline to Heaven," by Wilco (with Billy Bragg). I play this track off of Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2 as I drive away from every funeral.
"All That You Have Is Your Soul," by Tracy Chapman. Possibly my favorite of her songs--possibly the last thing I ever want to hear.
"All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands," by Sufjan Stevens. Winsome and melancholy--not a bad way to put a world to bed.
"Bad," by U2. Why not, really?
"Break It Down Again," by Tears For Fears. "Fast off to heaven, just like Moses on a motorbike."
"Bring On the Night," by the Police. "Time to kiss yesterday goodbye."
"Consider Me Gone," by Sting. A little jazz won't prevent an apocalypse, but it'll make it a little more snappy.
"Could Be a Lot Worse," by the Vigilantes of Love. All things considered, it probably could be.
"Dance Me to the End of Love," by Leonard Cohen. Or you could just listen to only Leonard Cohen.
"Dirt to Mud," by Paul Westerberg. This song ends mid-thought, which is probably how everything ends, come to think of it.
"Dog Days Are Over," by Florence + the Machine. I like it because it's accurate.
"Don't Dream It's Over," by Crowded House. I might pick the live one for this, because if it's over, it'd be nice if we all went out singing together.
"...Dust," by Elvis Costello. Nihilistic, atheistic. Given the circumstance, appropriatistic.
"The End," by the Beatles. Everyone wants the last word, but the Beatles might actually get it with this song.
"Final Hour," by Lauryn Hill. "Keep your eyes on the final hour." Not bad advice, actually.
"Glad Tidings," by Van Morrison. If you want a happy ending for the end of the world, this will make you smile as you fade away.
"Gone," by Ben Folds. If the end of the world were a break-up, this would make for a good break-up song.
"In My Life," by the Beatles. If the world is ending, everyone should look back at least once.
"Last One Standing," by Neil Finn. "Show what you're made of; surprise us both."
"Let It Be," by the Beatles. In the end, this one will beat out "Hey Jude" as the closer.
"Love This Life," by Crowded House. "Don't wait till the next one comes."
"The Luckiest," by Ben Folds. Hold someone close and tell them you're glad they existed.
"My Year in Review," by Bill Mallonee. Pensive, which I expect to be at the end of the end.
"O Come O Come Emmanuel," by the Civil Wars. It is Advent, after all.
"Out of Time," by Sam Phillips. A little dated, but hey, aren't we all?
"Redemption Song," by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Won't you sing with me?
"Sigh No More," by Mumford & Sons. Not a bad way of reframing an apocalypse.
"Sing Their Souls Back Home," by Billy Bragg. I want Billy Bragg in my last mix ever. You can't stop me.
"That I Would Be Good," by Alanis Morissette. One last prayer before we hit the road.
"True Love Will Find You in the End," by Mates of State. So say we all.
"Wanderlust," by Paul McCartney. "O, where did I go wrong, my love?"
"Wild Mountain Thyme," by Lucy Wainwright Roche. "Will you go, laddie? Go, and we'll all go together."
"I'm Gonna DJ (at the End of the World)," by R.E.M. These guys know how to jam when everything comes crashing down. This might be the first song of the rest of my life.
OK, that's my list. What's yours?
3 comments:
'Last Night of the World' - Bruce Cockburn
Oh, yeah, that's a good one.
I'd add in 'In this Twilight' by Nine inch nails. It's moody and contemplative of the sun going down for the last time.
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