my careless contagion

Follow me by John Denver was released in 1970, a full seven years before I was born and 50 years from writing this post. Some songs are timeless. This is one of them. Written about his first wife, Annie, John Denver penned a simple folk song that continues to make sense today. At least to me. I admit I have odd taste in music, but this one seems to have universal appeal. It is, of course, a love song. And people will always fall in love. The lyrics are below. *** It's by far the hardest thing I've ever done To be so in love with you and so alone Follow me where I go what I do and who I know Make it part of you to be a part of me Follow me up and down all the way and all around Take my hand and say you'll follow me It's long been on my mind You know it's been a long, long time I've tried to find the way that I can make you understand The way I feel about you and just how much I need you To be there where I can talk to you When there'...

Making Believe is a cover song by Social Distortion (formed in 1978) on their Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell album (1992). It was written by Jimmy Work and was originally recorded by Kitty Wells and released in 1955. This song has been covered many times over the years. I liken music to a living thing, and living things have DNA. If you could look at Social Distortion's DNA, you'd see a lot of country music in there. Country music is basically folk music, so this further cements my theory that punk rock or hardcore is folk music as well. A lot of themes pop up in folk music. There are the murder ballads. There are the lost loves. There are the drinking songs. This song is about a lost love.  Mike Ness, Social Distortion singer, revealed a lot of his influences not only through his principal band but also through his solo work. His two solo albums, Cheating at Solitaire and Under the Influences, both released in 1999, show a rich body of influence on his punk rock mus...