I’ve always liked That’ll Do (closing titles theme from Babe: Pig In the City; performed by Peter Gabriel}
A kind and gentle heart
Can make a gray sky blue.
And a task that seems impossible
Is quite possible for you.
He’s a keeper.
…yes, baby, I’ve been drinking.
Shouldn’t come by, I know.
But I found myself in trouble, darlin’,
and I had no place else to go.
Got some whiskey from the barman,
got some cocaine from a friend,
and I had to keep on drinking
'til I was back in your arms again.
Well, I’m guilty. Yes, I’m guilty,
and I’ll be guilty for the rest of my life.
How come I never do, all those things I’m supposed to do?
And everything I try to do never comes out right?..
Bonnie Raitt recorded this on her live album, and I hunted down the Randy Newman songbook so I could see how he wrote the piano part.
He is an amazing songwriter. Love that guy!
His musical version of Faust , placed in 1990 South Bend, Indiana, is great stuff. The album (with Don Henley, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor) is quite the kick, and a pretty interesting take on our society (Faust signs the deal with the Devil without reading it, as he ‘doesn’t like to read on his own time’. Ouch. Working with teens, I have heard that very phrase many, many times).
“Why do they always laugh at my mighty sword?”
(From: A Wedding in Cherokee County)
I love you all more than I can say. 
Would you like to come over for tea?
“Cleveland, city of light, city of magic
Cleveland, city of light, you’re calling me…
Cleveland, even now I can remember
Because the Cuyahoga river goes smokin’ through my dreams.”
Awesome song (unless you’re from Cleveland 
His film work is pretty good too.
He’s been nominated for an Oscar 14 times, but has never won surely some kind of record.
The man is simply a genius.
Are all his songs as irritating as that ‘left foot right foot’ song from Family Guy?
I’ve been a Randy Newman fan since I first saw him at The Main Point in Bryn Mawr, PA. I had the privilege of going in cold, having never heard him before. He opened with “Lover’s Prayer.” and continued with what was “Randy Newman Live.” He was the headliner with an opening act by a fellow named Ralph McTell (whom I went to see). I admit, I didn’t quite get it until about the third song, and from that point on I was sold, and have been to see him on every occasion I could make.
It’s notable that he steps onto the stage in such a humble fashion, not appearing to know that he’s Randy Newman. Also worthy of note is that, in general (unless you’re a Randy Newman fan), people don’t even know they’re listening to him, with snippets appearing in commercials from songs like “You and Me,” “Love to See you Smile,” “Dayton Ohio 1903,” et. al.
Mr. Newman, I thank you.
I played my Sail Away LP just yesterday.
Me. I love Randy Newman.
MiM
I’ve loved Randy Newman since 1968, when I heard “Just One Smile” on Blood Sweat and Tears’ first album, Child is Father to the Man. What a great song!
Then, in 1970, Warner Reprise put out The Big Ball, which included Randy Newman doing “Mama Told Me Not to Come.” Of course, Three Dog Night had already had a huge hit with it, but Newman’s version was completely different. I immediately picked up a copy of 12 Songs and have been a fan ever since.
I heard Newman being interviewed on the Bob Edwards radio show a few years ago. Talking about other composers, he said “Irving Berlin was the greatest Jew since Moses. He wrote songs about the two biggest Christian holidays and made one of them a fashion show, and the other a weather report!” ("Easter Bonnet "and “White Christmas.”)
He is so clever!
Yeah, it’s lonely at the top.
All the applause,
All the parades,
All the money that I have made.
Yeah, it’s lonely at the top.
I’m not a big fan, but I can definitely recommend Nilsson Sings Newman.
As much as we might wish it never happened, he did win, for the worst song he ever wrote. Typical, they gave it to him to make up for not giving it to him for “When She Loved Me”.
And the best part about listening to Randy Newman - you can leave your hat on!
If, for nothing else, he is one of America’s greatest songwriters simply because of “Sail Away.”
I remember the shock I felt when I understood what that song is about.
I hear there’s a big nasty redhead that loves him.
The Lord can make you tumble
The Lord can make you turn
The Lord can make you overflow
But the Lord can’t make you burn