Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Jeff Tweedy's book World Within a Song

Jeff Tweedy:

World Within a Song

Here’s the description on Amazon of this book by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, full title World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music: “An exciting and heartening mix of memories, music, and inspiration from Wilco front man and New York Times bestselling author Jeff Tweedy, sharing fifty songs that changed his life, the real-life experiences behind each one, as well as what he’s learned about how music and life intertwine and enhance each other.”

“What makes us fall in love with a song? What makes us want to write our own songs? Do songs help? Do songs help us live better lives? And do the lives we live help us write better songs?”

I’ve provided the list here of the 50 songs Tweedy writes about. They are not ranked or listed in chronological order. They are simply listed in the order in which they appear in the book. It should also be noted that these are not necessarily songs Tweedy loves. For example, he despites “I Will Always Love You” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.”

Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations.


Spotify Playlist:

You can listen to all these songs via the Spotify playlist World Within a Song.


  1. Deep Purple “Smoke on the Water” (1973)
  2. Leo Sayer “Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)” (1974)
  3. Bachman-Turner Overdrive “Takin’ Care of Business” (1974)
  4. Bob Dylan “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” (1963)
  5. Paul McCartney & Wings “Mull of Kintyre” (1977)
  6. Aphrodite’s Child “Loud, Loud, Loud” (1972)
  7. Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now” (1968)
  8. Lene Lovich “Lucky Number” (1978)
  9. Patti Smith “Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)” (1976)
  10. Slovenly “As if It Always Happens” (1987)

  11. Over the Rainbow” (1939)
  12. The Clash “Death or Glory” (1979)
  13. The Knack “My Sharona” (1979)
  14. Randy Newman “In Germany Before the War” (1977)
  15. Abba “Dancing Queen” (1976)
  16. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “The Message” (1982)
  17. Volcano Suns “Balancing Act” (1985)
  18. Suicide “Frankie Tearrdrop” (1977)
  19. 10cc “I’m Not in Love” (1975)
  20. The Rolling Stones “Connection” (1967)

  21. The Undertones “Forever Paradise” (1981)
  22. Uncle Tupelo “Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down” (1975)
  23. The Replacements “God Damn Job”
  24. The Allman Brothers Band “Ramblin’ Man” (1973)
  25. The Minutemen “History Lesson Part 2” (1984)
  26. Television “Little Johnny Jewel” (1975)
  27. John Cage “4:33” (1952)
  28. Michelle Shocked “Anchorage” (1988)
  29. Otis Redding “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” (1968)
  30. Jimmie Davis “You Are My Sunshine” (1940)

  31. Dolly Parton “I Will Always Love You” (1974)
  32. Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive” (1986)
  33. Souled American “Before Tonight” (1996)
  34. Junior Walker & the All Stars “Shotgun” (1965)
  35. The Band “The Weight” (1968)
  36. The Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1960)
  37. Lynyrd Skynrd “Free Bird” (1973)
  38. Francis Scott Key (words), John Stafford Smith (music) “The Star-Spangled Banner” (1814)
  39. R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe” (1981)
  40. Ramones “I’m Against It” (1978)

  41. Rosalía “Bizcochito” (2022)
  42. The Beatles (no particular song noted)
  43. Arthur Russell “Close My Eyes” (2008)
  44. Patty S. Hill & Mildred J. Hill (songwriters) “Happy Birthday to You” (1893)
  45. Diane Izzo “Love Like a Wire” (2014?)
  46. Billie Eilish “I Love You” (2019)
  47. Velvet Underground “Who Loves the Sun” (1970)
  48. Herman’s Hermits “I’m into Something Good” (1964)
  49. Duke Ellington “I’m Beginning to See the Light” (1944)
  50. The Staple Singers “I’ll Take You There” (1972)

Resources/Related Links:


First posted 1/22/2024.

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