So: death

I have this sorta-Eastern philosophical view that we should think about the fact that we're going to die, that nothing is permanent, etc--rather than trying to not acknowledge death like most of us do in the West.

So I'm making a playlist about death. I mostly want songs about the singer contemplating their own death, or the fact that everyone is going to die. I don't really want songs about other people who have died or are going to die (although I have a few of those in my first stab at a playlist). Being an atheist, I don't want songs about heaven or becoming a spirit or whatever, but I do have two great songs with a "pushing daises" theme: Belly's "Feed The Tree" and Camper Van Beethoven's "Flowers." The songs don't have to be dark--see the excellent "I'm Gonna Die" by Future Wife.

Anyone have any suggestions? Here's my first draft of a playlist:

Playlist: Death 20 songs, 1:20:32.968017578125 total time, 124.9 MB

Title Artist Album

O Death Camper Van Beethoven Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart

A Skull, A Suitcase, And A Long Red Bottle Of Wine Robyn Hitchcock Invisible Hitchcock

Ocean Breathes Salty Modest Mouse Good News For People Who Love Bad News

Where Do You Go When You Die? Robyn Hitchcock Storefront Hitchcock

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out The Smiths The Queen Is Dead

(Don't Fear) The Reaper Blue Oyster Cult The Essential Blue Öyster Cult

Feeling Yourself Disintegrate The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin

Try Not To Breathe R.E.M. Automatic For The People

The Ledge The Replacements Pleased To Meet Me

Johnny's Gonna Die The Replacements Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash!

Let Me In R.E.M. Monster

Hurt Johnny Cash American IV - The Man Comes Around

Do You Realize?? The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

The Mercy Seat Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Tender Prey

Asleep The Smiths Louder Than Bombs

Pennyroyal Tea Nirvana In Utero

Feed The Tree Belly Star

Flowers Camper Van Beethoven Key Lime Pie

I'm Gonna Die Future Wife We're Gonna Die

Johnny Cash, "25 Minutes To Go."

Oh man, I haven't heard "Feed the Tree" in years. I had that CD somewhere, and I loved that song.

I'll think about this tommy, but I'm not sure I have a lot self-focused songs -- more stuff like "People Who Died" by Jim Carroll, etc.

• We're All Gonna Die - The Verlaines - Some Disenchanted Evening
• We're All Going to Die - Malcolm Middleton - A Brighter Beat
• We're All Going To The Same Place - Boyce & Hart - The Songs Of Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart

I'll have more soon.

Vic Chesnutt - Flirted With You All My Life

• Bad Religion - We're Only Gonna Die - How Could Hell Be Any Worse
• Destroy All Monsters - You're Gonna Die - Bored

Thanks, guys--I've listened to and downloaded a lot of these.

I kinda wanna stick "We're Only Gonna Die", "You're Gonna Die", "We're all Going to Die", "We're All Gonna Die" and "I'm Gonna Die" all together in the playlist, but I'm not sure if that'll work.

The Vic Chesnutt song is just lovely. I like "25 Minutes To Go" but I'm not sure that'll work here.

Anyone listen to the Future Wife song I linked to? I think that's my obsession song of the moment.

Amy, I can post "Feed the Tree" to Buffistarawk if you want.