Jamie

"Hometown" Songs

I am looking for some songs about artists hometowns ..... any suggestions?

Views: 723

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

mariePermalink Reply by marie on September 1, 2009 at 3:36pm
denton fabricsPermalink Reply by denton fabrics on September 1, 2009 at 4:24pm
Our Town by Iris Dement works with any small town. And the Standells "Dirty Water" is the unofficial anthem of Boston.
Sandy HerderPermalink Reply by Sandy Herder on September 1, 2009 at 10:18pm
The Rural Alberta Advantage has a new album, Hometowns, which is full of songs about, well . . . hometowns.
RudyjeepPermalink Reply by Rudyjeep on September 2, 2009 at 5:07am
"Hometown Songs" reminds me of an event I went to years ago. It was a fireworks display meant to honor the 175th anniversary of the town (I won't say where). The Fireworks display was coordinated to music meant to be relevant and uplifting. Two of the songs were Jackson Brown's "For America" and Bruce's "Born in the USA", both of which are positive "rah rah" songs like REM's "The One I Love" is a sweet love song. The real kicker though was "My Little Town" by Simon and Garfunkel. I turned to a friend after hearing "Nothing but the dead and dying back in my little town" and said "are we being intentionally insulted"? Obviously the songs were picked because of the titles by someone who never really listened deeply.

Oh...back to the original post.....The Standells "Dirty Water", though, if I remember correctly they weren't from Boston. My favorite song about a hometown is "Poughkeepsie City of Sin" by Batteries Not Included - an ode to Poughkeepsie New York. It's a great novelty record that rhymed city with G. Gordon Liddy.
TruersoundPermalink Reply by Truersound on September 2, 2009 at 6:16am
Todd Snider has a few: Rose City Blues about his former hometown of Portland, and East Nashville Skyline, Nashville, Devil You Know, and From The Rooftops about his current hometown of Nashville (specifically East Nashville)
RockyMountainHiwayPermalink Reply by RockyMountainHiway on September 2, 2009 at 9:25am
David ShawPermalink Reply by David Shaw on September 2, 2009 at 11:10am
Neko Case's song(s) about Tacoma.

Shelby Lynne's "Where I'm From" and her sister's song about Alabama.

Gram Parsons's "Hickory Wind"....
AbbiPermalink Reply by Abbi on September 2, 2009 at 5:22pm
Neko only sings "Thrice All American" and "South Tacoma Way" in Tacoma. Those songs are so good, I'm almost willing to fly all the way to Tacoma to hear her sing them in person.
T HanssenPermalink Reply by T Hanssen on September 3, 2009 at 10:22pm
I am guessing on this one, but I think it is a hometown song - anyway it is great: Paul Kelly - "From St. Kilda To Kings Cross

None of these others below are Alt-Country/Americana, but these are all cool songs, IMHO, by artists that are about their hometowns.

Thin Lizzy - "Dublin"
Guided by Voices - "Dayton, Ohio - 19 Something and 5"
fIREHOSE - "O'er the Town of Pedro"
The Clash - "London Calling"
Dire Straits - "Tunnel of Love"
Mark W. LennonPermalink Reply by Mark W. Lennon on February 10, 2010 at 12:58pm
Hey, I am pretty late on this, but I just saw it...check out my song "My Hometown" on my page :D
Hal BogerdPermalink Reply by Hal Bogerd on February 10, 2010 at 6:45pm
John Mellencamp vs. Lou Reed

Small Town (John Mellencamp)
Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Prob'ly die in a small town
Oh, those small communities
All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity
Educated in a small town
Taught to fear Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another born romantic that's me

Small Town (Lou Reed)
There is only one good thing about small town
You know that you want to get out
When you're growing up in a small town
You know you'll grow down in a small town
There is only one good use for a small town
You hate it and you'll know you have to leave
StinaPermalink Reply by Stina on February 14, 2010 at 4:28am
Ryan Adams has covered his hometown in one way or another manytimes over the years. I say that some of his Whiskeytown songs have been mentioned. "Jacksonville City Nights" has a couple - most strongly, and notably - "The End"

I don't know the sound of my father's voice
I don't even know how he says my name
But it plays out like a song on a jukebox in a bar
In the back of my head till it's weary and mushy
And in the cotton fields out by the house where I was born
The leaves burn like effigies of my kin
The trains run like snakes through Penacostal pine
Filled up with cotton and fine sloe gin
Oh Jacksonville, how you burn in my soul
How you hold all my dreams captive
Jacksonville, how you play with my mind
Oh my heart goes back, suffocating on the pines
In Jacksonville
The End, The End, The End

All the cars are lined up on a Saturday night
With the sky full of nothing but moon
And I lose my reflection in the bottles of wine
Till the morning comes down and I ain't nothing but you
Now the diner in the morning for a plate of eggs
The waitress tries to give me change I say, "Nah, it's cool. Just keep it"
I read up my news, I start thinking about her
And I wonder if anybody here besides me has got any decent secrets
Oh Jacksonville, how you burn in my soul
How you hold all my dreams captive
Jackson-hell, how you play with my mind
Oh my heart goes back, suffocating on the pines
In Jacksonville
The End, The End, The End

RSS

Sponsors



If you enjoy this site please consider helping us with a small donation!

Don't like PayPal? Mail a check to: No Depression, PO Box 31332, Seattle, WA 98103

Notes

FAQ

Created by No Depression Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06pm. Last updated by Kyla Fairchild Jul 6, 2011.