This article is classified "Real"
Throughout the ages, wanderers have sung, whistled, hummed, or otherwise
attempted to carry a tune in hopes of making their journey more pleasant.
There have even been legends that certain songs will in some way magically
aid a wanderer (i.e., quickening the healing of injuries, making him more
brave in battle, enabling him to "walk" after having visited a pub, etc).
Attempts to dispel this fallacy were hindered considerably by the
introduction of the "Bard's Tale" (TM) saga.
At any rate, it is quite true that a good song will make the hardships of
travel somewhat more bearable. With this in mind, I have taken it upon
myself to list ten of my favorite traveling songs. These songs were chosen
for their high ratings in three important areas. These are as follows:
1) Is it a good song?
2) Is it lyrically pertinent to the traveling motif?
3) Does it have a catchy tune that can easily be
sung, hummed, whistled, or de-dum-da-dumed to?
With that, I give you the Top Ten Traveling songs:
10) "Like A Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan
This is a wonderful little song about what it is like to be
without food, shelter, and friendship. It is quite
depressing, but this gives the added advantage of making
people feel sorry for you. If you're lucky, you might even
get someone to provide you with food, shelter, and friendship,
thereby saving you from one of the horrors of modern life:
work.
9) "Wherever I May Roam" by Metallica (Hetfield/Ulrich)
This is a great metal song that speaks of independence and
pride. This is a good song to sing when you're feeling lonely
and you'd prefer not feeling that way. It is a good way to
convince yourself that you don't need anyone's help.
8) "Keep The Customer Satisfied" by Simon and Garfunkel
This song is about the world being against you. It is a good
song to sing when you want to arouse pity in someone. But use
caution, the song is a bit on the whiny side and may have the
reverse effect on some people.
7) "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas
It is a wonderful motivational song. If you feel like you
can't go on, then sing this.
6) "Fly By Night" by Rush (Lee/Peart)
If you screwed up in the place that you're at or you want to
start your life anew, this is the song to sing while you're
running away.
5) "Cloudy" by Simon and Garfunkel
This is a great happy-go-lucky wandering song. If you have no
place to go, you like it that way, and you're wandering anyway,
then you are in the proper state of mind to sing this song. It
is a wonderful way to be.
4) "Going To California" by Led Zeppelin (Plant/Page)
Hey, it's Zeppelin. Need I say more?
3) "Graceland" by Paul Simon
This is a song for those that are searching for some primal
truth. It is believed that no one, not even Paul Simon,
understands this song to any great degree, but that is exactly
what makes it so valuable for those searching within even as
they search without.
2) "The Gold It's In The..." by Pink Floyd (Waters/Gilmour)
This song expresses perfectly a state of mind. It embodies the
essence of the traveling spirit. The destination doesn't
matter so much as the journey.
1) "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" by Eric Idle
This song delivers a very important message -- a message that
should never be forgotten if you intend to enjoy life to the
fullest. Besides, it's funny as hell.
Well, there you have it, the Top Ten Traveling Songs according to me.
Happy singing! (Oh, and try not to annoy too many locals while you're
passing through....)