Help me make a mix CD featuring my family's names!

Cafe Society
1

For Mother’s Day, I thought I’d make my mom a mix CD where the song titles include the names of my family members. In the past, I’ve given her mixes of her favorite songs, mixes of songs my parents listened to while they were dating, blah blah blah. She likes it when I make her mix CDs and listens to them all the time, so if I can make my mommy happy, I will. She gets as much a kick out of themed mixes as I do, so I feel safe with this idea. I’m going to toss in a few of her favorite songs, as well.

She likes folky '60s/'70s music (Peter, Paul & Mary; Janis Joplin; Simon & Garfunkel, etc.), early The Beatles but not The Beach Boys, Tom Petty, Sarah McLachlan, and a mix CD of Celtic music (Bill Jones, Heidi Talbot, Cathie Ryan, Meav, Niamh Parsons) that I made recently was willfully stolen by her. Electronica, hard rock, and heavy metal are right out, along with country pop. She loves Willie Nelson. Stuff like Willie, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams is good. Bob Seger is OK, too.

That aside, the names in my family are as follows: Mark, Rachel, Sarah, Brad, and Danny (Daniel). The cat’s name is Gus. I think I’ve got a handle on my own names (Sarah), but I’d like to avoid “Danny Boy” for my youngest brother. That would be . . . twee.

For anyone who can help, thanks!

2

Well, how about Elton John’s “Daniel”. Although it’s probably just as sad sounding as Danny Boy.

3

I suggest Kevin Ayers’ “Lady Rachel.” You can listen to a clip here.

4

not only features the name Gus but its about a cat named Gus…of course I have no idea if your mom would like the song.

5

How abut Bob Dylan’s Sara?

“…so easy to look at
so hard to define.”

6

I’m actually having a lot of trouble finding upbeat songs about a Daniel. He’s the baby and everybody’s favorite, so I’d rather not have the song be about him going off to war. At least the plane doesn’t crash in the Elton John song.

koeeoaddi, those lines would make my mom roll on the floor with laughter, as they fit my personality pretty dang well.

Thanks, guys!

7

Yeah, I found a Peter Paul and Mary song about a Danny. Major downer, makes “Daniel” sound cheerful and “Danny Boy” seem light-hearted.

Well, at least you don’t have a sister named Polly Von.

8

Ha! Or a brother named Edmund!

9

Elton John’s The Ballad of Danny Bailey is more upbeat, but the subject’s name is only ever mentioned in full, so that probably won’t work too well unless your surname also happens to be Bailey. Also, hearing about Danny being killed by “some punk with a shotgun” might not be terribly uplifting, despite the peppy tune.

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“What Sarah Said” - Death Cab For Cutie