I guess I wouldn't have gotten so carried away with this list if you hadn't hit my soft spot - this kind of song has always suckered me in. I'm really a happy guy, though. These are ones from my collection. There are probably lots more, but if they grab me, I grab 'em. The 1 to 5 scale is how they hit me - I'd be interested in your comments.

Tearfully.......Tiger


The Randall Knife - Guy Clark
I put this in a special category, 'cause so many people have mentioned it. This song must be heard live to be properly awed, although the CD version is fine. Guy unplugs his guitar and moves to the front of the stage (or whatever) to sing solo, as close to the audience as he can get. You'll not hear a footfall or a tinkling ice cube during this song, I gar-own-tee it. It's difficult to express the feelings (maybe 'thunderstruck'?).

Industrial Strength Tear-jerkers (4 Stars)
And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
No Man's Land
The Old Man
The Massacre of Glencoe
The Wind that Shakes the Barley
Deportee

3-Star Lachrymators
Old Shep
The Dutchman
The Faded Coat of Blue
Tecumseh Valley
Annie's Going to Sing Her Song
There Were Roses

I Think I Can, I Think I Can (2 Stars)
Cornflower Blue
Ballad of Springhill
Urge for Going
Another Time and Place
I Wonder if They Ever Think of Me
He Was a Friend of Mine
Lili Marlene
The Rose
Cindy's Cryin'
Fort Worth Blues
For the Sake of the Song
The Town that I Loved So Well
Streets of London
Vincent
Old Uncle Ned
Danny Boy

I Get Misty (1 Star)
Loch Tay Boat Song
Till We Meet Again
Lovely Derry On The Banks Of The Foyle
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Long, Long Time
Seven Spanish Angels
Just a Country Dream
Macushla
Mother Machree
On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away
Me and Bobby McGee
Green Green Grass of Home
Shifting Whispering Sands
Ballad of Ira Hayes
Adelita
Turning Toward the Morning
Three Score and Ten
Coward of the County
Bird on a Wire
Coat of Many Colors
Darling Nelly Gray
What's Your Mamma's Name
Where the River Shannon Flows
Wild Montana Skies

Not sad, but teary anyway
Christian Island
Amazing Grace
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Morning Has Broken
Song for the Mira
Roseville Fair
Island in the Sun
The Mary Ellen Carter

Just can't leave out my teen tragedy medley
Ebony Eyes
Teen Angel
Patches
Tell Laura I Love Her
Running Bear