Nobody has mentioned *Frankie And Johnny *yet? It has it all: true love, betrayal, discovery, revenge, and retribution.
Jaimie Brockett — The Ballad of the US Titanic
Jerry Jeff Walker — Mr Bojangles
LA Countyhttp://www.metrolyrics.com/la-county-lyrics-lyle-lovett.html by Lyle Lovett.
“Tamlin” – Current 93
The Flower of Northumberland. Here’s a version sung by Kat Eggleston: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni3CTxCblZA.
My contribution–BOC’s song about a drug deal gone bad, “Then Came The Last Days Of May”
“Me and My Uncle”
“Gilgarra Mountain” (aka “Whiskey in the Jar”)
Paul Kelly does a lot of good ones - I prefer Deeper Water and How to Make Gravy (actually in the form of a letter, but it’s close enough) to To Her Door.
But I think his best by a country mile is his cover of Hot Chocolate’s (no, really) It Started with a Kiss. It’s a song that actually uses his thin, croaky voice to convey a level of emotion that the original disco track completely erased from the lyrics.
Tickin’ Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Please have a listen if you’ve never heard the song. You won’t be disappointed. (I don’t think.)
Second favorite: Tennessee Plates by John Hiatt.
I like everything of Paul Kelly’s but my favorite today is Bradman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeG8hqQw1U8
Bradman is Australia’s Babe Ruth - simply the greatest batman ever.
Boz Scaggs - Lido Shuffle