all three ae on my iPod. They're good songs.

I'm so listening to the band when I get in my car tomorrow.

The criteria: the problems of a few little people, or some other small subset of society, don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy category, no matter how disastrous their outcome.

But this is our hill. And these are our beans.

Disco Inferno
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
The Saints Are Coming

Not sure why we'd include the first two, but I do know firsthand that the "Watchtower" one was exactly the turning where BSG went from "great Sci-Fi show" to "most ill-conceived unplanned morass of plot-free dreck of all time."

MmmCrime: I'm so listening to the band when I get in my car tomorrow.

The multi disc player in my car has only ever had The Last Waltz in it.

Collapse(Post Amerika)

I'll bet you think this song is about you.

New York Mining Disaster 1941
Space Oddity
99 Luftballons

unlikely: but I do know firsthand that the "Watchtower" one was exactly the turning where BSG went from "great Sci-Fi show" to "most ill-conceived unplanned morass of plot-free dreck of all time."

It really bothered me, too.

So...Bob Dylan is a Cylon, huh?

But seriously, where TFA gets the idea it's about "disaster" is even more retarded.

What line in that song could possibly evoke that sentiment?

It was supposedly inspired by a conversation between Dylan (the Joker) and Allen Ginsberg (the Thief)

At least that's the story I'm sticking with. Ginsberg had a way of smoothing over anxieties, and the Thief kicks ass in that respect...

Surprised they didn't go with Smoke on the Water when I saw Deep Purple on there. Also, this list fails hard for not including Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

What about Blue Oyster Cult's Godzilla? ;)

So the kids they dance and shake their bones,
And the politicians throwin' stones,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.

Dark Star

Louisiana 1927.

Miami 2017.

I would vote for Gilbert O'Sullivan and Alone Again Naturally

and

Chuck Mangione and the Children of Sanchez

Lesser known outside Canada, 'Nautical Disaster' by the Tragically Hip.

/kicking it off our pantleg

Not released as a single, but "Two Suns in the Sunset" by Roger Waters, I mean Pink Floyd, on The Final Cut fits.

the rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in
gives way and suddenly it's day again
the sun is in the east
even though the day is done
two suns in the sunset
hmmmmmmmmm
could be the human race is run

Roblmw241: Also, this list fails hard for not including Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

I came in here to say that, too.
There's also a log of great old folk songs about mining disasters. Branch out, people!

And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Is one of the saddest songs evar

great old folk songs about mining disasters. Branch out, people!

Trainwrecks too. Murders too.

There is a whole genre of folk music that are 'murder ballads' and they all involve drowning or stabbing or shooting your girlfirned/fiance/wife.

Sun God: I'll bet you think this song is about you.

"The singer's pretending this song's for me"

For a personal tragedy song, I would like to through out there "Banks of the Deep End" by gov't mule

That article is a disaster.

/You're doing a heck of a job there, Subbie.

zymurgist: So the kids they dance and shake their bones,
And the politicians throwin' stones,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.

Full of hope, full of grace is the human race
But I'm afraid we may lay it all to waste

I don't get how Watchtower is a disaster song.

they forgot the post-apocalyptic longing for malls, 7-11, and dairy queen of the talking heads "(nothing but) flowers".

that song is hilarious, and great.

Doom & Gloom (Early Songs Of Angst And Disaster 1927-1945) (p)

Great album... great label.


/link is hot, like the... ohhh, the humanity!!!

"The Wreck of the Old 97"

and "Rock and Roll Records (Ain't Sellin' This Year)"

Spade: I don't get how Watchtower is a disaster song.

The "riders approaching" are those of the apocalypse.

I nominate Caroline Spine's "Sullivan (new window)" about the eponymous family being wiped out onboard the USS Juneau in WWII.

februarymakeup 2009-01-13 11:03:36 AM
"The Wreck of the Old 97"

"HEY STEVE, YOUR WAAAAY BEHIND THE TIMES!"

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is one of my favorites IF it is sung by Levon Helm of the Band. Link (new window)

I saw Levon Helm at this year's Wanee Festival and was sorely disappointed he didn't sing that song.

The problem with this list is that there's no description of what the "disaster" song is about. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot is easy to figure out. Most of the songs on that list seem to be just theme songs for an appropriate disaster when it happens, not about anything specific.

I'd have included (since we're including folk groups) Chad Mitchell Trio's version of Mighty Day, which is about the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Had it in my CD player when I went to New Orleans for Katrina recovery.

Dorf11: Lesser known outside Canada, 'Nautical Disaster' by the Tragically Hip.

/kicking it off our pantleg

It predated the actual disaster, but New Orleans is Sinking (especially the live version with "the whale story" that gets most of the radio play) deserves an honourable mention.

//yeah, that song basically vanished from the radio after Katrina for a while

And yeah, instant fail for not picking "Smoke on the Water" or Edmund Fitzgerald.

Is losing a war really a disaster? I mean it's a great song, but, really, a disaster song?

"Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" belongs on the list.

"Here Comes the Flood"?

dogdaze: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is one of my favorites IF it is sung by Levon Helm of the Band. Link (new window)

I saw Levon Helm at this year's Wanee Festival and was sorely disappointed he didn't sing that song.

I was hoping to hear Dixie when I saw him this past summer as well -- then again I would've preferred only Band songs, but was pleased with the 6 or 7 he played in an hour long set.

Also, my contribution to the list: Talking Heads - Life During Wartime.

"Red Rain"- Peter Gabriel

februarymakeup: "The Wreck of the Old 97"

I thought that was just called "Blood on the Coal"

Wooden Ships

No "30,000 Pounds of Bananas?"

Awesome three-disc box set. Turn out the lights, settle in with a bottle of Scotch and realize your life isn't so bad after all.

Nick Cave - Murder Ballads...the cd is more about murder and less about disaster, except on a few songs about mass-murder. It's a great (and somewhat depressing) album.

factoryconnection: Spade: I don't get how Watchtower is a disaster song.

The "riders approaching" are those of the apocalypse.

Wrong. There are four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (The bible, Revelation 6) but the song says that "two riders were approaching". Which is definitely a reference to Nite Owl and Rorschach riding across Antarctica.

How about U2's Sunday, Bloody Sunday?

Lyrics refer to both the January 30, 1972 incident in Derry, Northern Ireland, and the November 21, 1920 day in Dublin during the Irish War of Independence.

unlikely: februarymakeup "The Wreck of the Old 97"
I thought that was just called "Blood on the Coal"

Different songs. Although there are about ten different versions of "... ol '97."

BTW, Charlie Louvin has an album out now of "Disaster Songs and Murder Ballads."

Depressing stuff. I love it.

Would "Iron Man" and "War Pigs" fit this list?

Big Bad John by Jimmy Dean Link
At the bottom of this mine lies one hell of a man

After the Goldrush by Neil Young Link
flying mother natures silver seed to a new home in the sun

factoryconnection: The "riders approaching" are those of the apocalypse.

Feh. There aren't enough of them to be riders of the apocalypse. (What, Famine and Pestilence fancied a quiet night in?) Far more likely is this from Isaiah 21:

And he saw a chariot [with] a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, [and] a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:

And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, [with] a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

There's lots more stuff about eating someone else's food and wine, and barefoot servants too, in Isaiah. Enough for a whole book, in fact.

Also add Frank Black's "St. Francis Dam Disaster". It's about the, um... Saint Francis Dam Disaster (new window).

gwowen: Feh. There aren't enough of them to be riders of the apocalypse.

Totally. TFA is out to lunch on that one.

"Watchtower" is more about uncertainty and anxiety than "disaster."

"Sullivan" by Caroline Spine

wiki- Link (new window)

Roblmw241: Also, this list fails hard for not including Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

This

Dorf11: Lesser known outside Canada, 'Nautical Disaster' by the Tragically Hip.

and that