It’s bugging me because I feel like there are a bunch of songs in this style and I can’t think of a darn one of them. :smack:
I know…that’s the thing that’s bugging me, too! I know I could make a huge mix, if I could only think of them! I feel like I need to go through all my old CDs from the 90s & look at the song lists, to jar my memory, but I haven’t had a chance to do it.
I think it owes a lot to the Beatles. It reminds me of early McCartney contributions like:
Blackbird
Eleanor Rigby
Here, There, and Everywhere
I’ve Just Seen a face
You Won’t See Me
etc.
Josh Radin has several songs like this too. I think To be with You by Mr. Big might’ve been like that too, but can’t remember off hand.
Definitely want to second “Rabbit Fur Coat,” as well as the rest of that Jenny Lewis album. The whole thing is wonderful.
Bright Eye’s “First Day of My Life.”
You might want to try putting “Hey there Delilah” into Pandora to see what they come up with. They will have a WIDE variety of similar songs (US only I think).
Yeah, that’s a powerful song with some powerful vocals. But I get what you’re saying about the sound. Although mostly acoustic, it isn’t stripped-down and bouncy enough.
In that case, how about Pearl Jam’s “Soon Forget” (which on the CD cut sounds like just Eddie Vedder and a ukelele)? Here’s a live version with Jack Johnson.
Great idea! Thanks!
To go even more old-school, there’s the live performance of “Swan Swan H” by R.E.M. from the Athens, Georgia: Inside Out album. It’s about as stripped down as R.E.M. gets. Musically, that is.
Several songs off of Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged, including “About a Girl” and the cover of Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World.”
Funny story…I just put the Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) into Pandora.com, and the first song they played was…Hey There Delilah! 
Old School: Simon and Garfunkel: Mrs. Robinson.
–E Sabbath
Also
Simon and Garfunkel’s The Boxer, and I am a Rock
A few that might hit the spot…
“Blue In The Face” by Alkaline Trio
“The Lowering (A Sad Day In Greenvilletown)” by The Avett Brothers
“I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” by Colin Hay
“Angeles” by Elliott Smith
“Razor” by the Foo Fighters
“Always & Never” or “Wake Up” by Coheed & Cambria
“The Engine Driver” by The Decemberists
“Such Great Heights” by Iron & Wine
“The End of an Anchor” or “Dusk and Summer” by Dashboard Confessional - or for that matter, a lot of Dashboard’s earlier work.
I was thinking that the closest S&G song to what I am going for is Bookends Theme. But now I am thinking of pulling out my S&G albums! 
I heard the song for the first time this morning, remembered this thread, and thought I’d suggest “Ramona” by Guster.
Of course, I’m always looking for excuses to suggest “Ramona” by Guster. 
“America” is pretty good for the optimistic “I’m going to make it” vibe.
Well, if you’re willing to go really old school, then Joni Mitchell fits the bill. For example, her original version of Big Yellow Taxi.
Eva Cassidy: “Fields of Gold”, “Songbird”, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, and “Time After Time”.
That song is a sobfest for me. Beautiful.