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Greatest Crime Songs

By Mahons On August 17th, 2012

I D0n’t Like Mondays could be in anyone’s top ten.  I’d suggest the following additions (not in any order):

1. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads

2.  Long Black Veil – Chieftans version with Mick Jagger

3.  Gallows Pole – Led Zepplin.

4. Folsom Prison – Johnny Cash (who made a career of crime songs including Deliah, San Quentin, Streets of Laradeo etc).

5.  I Shot The Sheriff – Bob Marley

6.  Tom Dooley – Kingston Trio

7. I Fought The Law – Bobby Fueller (and the fantastic Clash version).

8.  Mack The Knife- Bobby Darin version

9.  Chain Gang – Sam Cooke

10. Bad Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce

See also Springsteen’s Highway Patrolman, Whisky in the Jar and Jailbreak by Tin Lizzy and the Fields of Athenry by nearly everyone.  Feel free to discuss or add others.

Posted in ATW |

51 Responses to “Greatest Crime Songs”

  1. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 11:33 AM Said:

    I like this

    How about ” Delia’s Gone “, again, by my man Johnny Cash.

    These are some lyrics

    At one show, he said ” it’s not an anti woman song, it’s an anti Delia song “

  2. The Troll, on August 17th, 2012 at 11:37 AM Said:

    good list, except I prefer Claptons version of number 5

  3. The Troll, on August 17th, 2012 at 11:47 AM Said:

    I always liked this one, a little bit cornbread but good. I was surprised when I realized it was done by a comedian from the Carol Burnet show
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6-4N0IPVh8

  4. FewsOrange, on August 17th, 2012 at 11:51 AM Said:

    Goodbye Earl – Dixie Chicks

  5. bigjockcanoe, on August 17th, 2012 at 11:52 AM Said:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0fT9BHpImI

    delilah

    sensational alex harvey band.

  6. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 11:56 AM Said:

    The wonderful Tex / Mex crime of passion song

    El Paso, by my man Marty Robbins

    and don’t you dare forget ” Mama Tried ” written and performed by the very great Merle

  7. The Troll, on August 17th, 2012 at 12:09 PM Said:

    here’s couple of goodones

    shakedown
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk-W_i7Z59I

    Smugglers Blues
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0_Viz7BA6U

  8. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 12:09 PM Said:

    I’ve always loved ” Whiskey in the Jar “.

    I liked that the fact that the Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead would occasionally sing it, and thought that the Metallica version was interesting and good.

    But my preference is it performed in the original Irish folk way, as done by my master Luke Kelly and the Dubliners, here.

  9. The Troll, on August 17th, 2012 at 12:12 PM Said:

    take the money and run, Gimmie some water, etc etc we could be at this all day.

    Hell all month if we include rap

  10. The Troll, on August 17th, 2012 at 12:17 PM Said:

    not that there was ever a good rap song made, just the topic fills them

  11. Emerald Pimpernel, on August 17th, 2012 at 12:34 PM Said:

    Locked in the trunk of a car by the Tragically Hip

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6yD92BLKt0

  12. Seimi, on August 17th, 2012 at 12:41 PM Said:

    The Green Green Grass of Home, by Curly Putman Jr, performed by too many to mention, though John Ottway and Wild Willy Barrett’s version is good :)

  13. MourneReg, on August 17th, 2012 at 12:59 PM Said:

    Not about a specific crime per se but The Boys from the County Hell by the Pogues is a classic. I love the line:

    Me Daddy was a Blueshirt
    My Mother a madam
    My brother earned his medals in My Lai in Vietnam

  14. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 1:03 PM Said:

    Holy cow, never heard of that one.

  15. The Troll, on August 17th, 2012 at 1:11 PM Said:

    a little boot legging
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvaEJzoaYZk

  16. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 1:36 PM Said:

    Wanabee – The Spice Girls

    That song itself was surely a crime ;)

  17. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 1:56 PM Said:

    The Boys from the County Hell ( hat tip MournReg )

    On the first day of March it was raining
    It was raining worse than anything that I have ever seen
    I drank ten pints of beer and I cursed all the people there
    I wish that all this rain would stop falling down on me

    And it’s lend me ten pounds, I’ll buy you a drink
    And mother wake me early in the morning

    At the time I was working for a landlord
    And he was the meanest bastard that you have ever seen
    And to lose a single penny would grieve him awful sore
    And he was a miserable bollocks and a bitch’s bastard’s whore

    And it’s lend me ten pounds, I’ll buy you a drink
    And mother wake me early in the morning

    I recall that we took care of him one Sunday
    We got him out the back and we broke his fucking balls
    And maybe that was dreaming and maybe that was real
    But all I know is I left the place without a penny or fuckall

    And it’s lend me ten pounds, I’ll buy you a drink
    And mother wake me early in the morning

    But now I’ve the most charming of verandahs
    I sit and watch the junkies, the drunks, the pimps, the whores
    Five green bottles sitting on the floor
    I wish to Christ, I wish to Christ
    That I had fifteen more

    And it’s lend me ten pounds, I’ll buy you a drink
    And mother wake me early in the morning

    And it’s lend me ten pounds, I’ll buy you a drink
    And mother wake me early in the morning

    The boys and me are drunk and looking for you
    We’ll eat your frigging entrails and we won’t give a damn
    Me daddy was a blue shirt and my mother a madam
    And my brother earned his medals at My Lai in Vietnam

    And it’s lend me ten pounds and I’ll buy you a drink
    And mother wake me early in the morning

    On the first day of March it was raining
    It was raining worse than anything that I have ever seen
    Stay on the other side of the road
    ‘Cause you can never tell
    We’ve a thirst like a gang of devils
    We’re the boys from the county hell

  18. Pete Moore, on August 17th, 2012 at 2:47 PM Said:

    “Delilah” is often sung to get the crowd up at some sports and other gatherings. I’m sure most people dont realise the happy little number is about jealousy, betrayal and murder.

  19. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 2:54 PM Said:

    Pete

    How can anyone sing along with that rousing number and NOT know what it’s about. The lyrics are hardly obscure ?

  20. Pete Moore, on August 17th, 2012 at 2:57 PM Said:

    Colm -

    Most people sing one line from it.

  21. MourneReg, on August 17th, 2012 at 3:04 PM Said:

    Isn’t it about Weetabix?

  22. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 4:07 PM Said:

    Pete

    True – and they’re usually drunk when doing so !

  23. mairin2, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:08 PM Said:

    Anything by ABBA is a crime song or a crime on songs or something like that.

  24. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:09 PM Said:

    That gets the prize as No. 1 comment of the week.

    The competition is hereby closed.

  25. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:24 PM Said:

    mairin and Phanton share the Gold medal for musical tone deaf philistinism !

  26. mairin2, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:28 PM Said:

    Bah! I held a one-woman protest when as a perk for work well done my business unit went to see “Mama Mia”…gag me!

  27. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:30 PM Said:

    mairin

    Were you protesting because you wanted to see it twice ? :)

  28. mairin2, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:42 PM Said:

    Not a chance! I went for the dinner before the show and said my good nights! The only argument I got in while in Sweden last year was because I refused to go to an outdoor restaurant because some musician was touted as having performed with ABBA. Nope, not interested! And I embarrassed myself because I professed the only good ABBA song was 99 Red Balloons…and of course, that was bot by ABBA. You can have them all to yourself!

  29. mairin2, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:45 PM Said:

    The perk wasn’t the film (though I like Meryl a lot), it was the play on Broadway…not even the bright lights could tempt me…not a chance!

  30. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:49 PM Said:

    mairin

    I recognise the signs. You are in the closet. You are still in a state of deep denial. One day you will wake up and burst into song “SO I SAY THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC…. and you will open your windows and let the neighbours hear you playing Abba GOLD at full blast..

    I don’t want to out you before you’re ready, but I’ll be here for you when you feel the time is right.. ;)

  31. Aileen, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:53 PM Said:

    I LOVED the Mama Mai show! Went with work colleagues but we were up in the Gods and every so often I was convinced I was going to fall forward out of my chair. I found myself clinging on, a the end when everyone was up out of their seats and dancing in the aisles, it was basically everyone but me. Apart from the panic attacks and associated nausea, it was a great show!

    Re crime songs, I liked Bonnie and Clyde. I could enjoy it without guilt as it wasn’t on the side of the bad guys!

  32. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:54 PM Said:

    Aileen

    That reminds me … Ma Baker by Boney M, that’s a great crime song !

  33. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 8:58 PM Said:

    Aileen

    Is Bonnie and Clyde a song ?

  34. Aileen, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:01 PM Said:

    Colm

    The B&C song was where I think I first heard he phrase “pushing up the daisies”. It is cliched now but was a great phrase when you first hear it.

    Preferred Ra Ra Rasputin… Brilliant to dance to. The lyrics didn’t matter. A song that bypassed the brain and just goes straight to the limbs for a bit of flailing.:)

  35. Aileen, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:04 PM Said:

    Colm!!!!

    You pretending to be too young!

    Georgie Fame

    Bonnie and Clyde were pretty looking people
    But I can tell you people they were the devil’s children

    (they weren’t pretty looking)

  36. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:08 PM Said:

    Aileen

    Sorry, I have never heard of that Georgie Fame song. I wonder what Mairin thinks of Boney M ?

  37. Aileen, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:14 PM Said:

    Colm

    I haven’t worked out posting links on IPad but it’s on YouTube!

    Just having another listen

    “they used to laugh about about dying
    But deep inside them they knew
    That pretty soon they’d be lying
    beneath the ground together pushing and pulling to welcome the sun and the morning moon? (not sure I heard the last lyrics properly

  38. Aileen, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:22 PM Said:

    OT

    Just catching a very sad programme about a transsexual paratrooper.

  39. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:31 PM Said:

    That sounds like the thing that the BBC would find the most compelling story evah.

  40. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:34 PM Said:

    Aileen

    Well I have just had my musical education expanded. Just heard it on You Tibe. It does sound vagulay familiar melody wise but I can’t say I instantly remember it. I’m surprised it was a No 1 song though.

  41. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:34 PM Said:

    Phantom

    Don’t you go catching David’s BBC paranoia disease now !

  42. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:37 PM Said:

    On a related note, some version of the Village People is still around. They’re playing at this new casino they put up by JFK Airport. Not sure if they have any paratroopers in this incarnation though!

  43. Aileen, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:48 PM Said:

    Phantom

    Don’t know about the BBC but I’m finding it facinating and poinient. (S)he has been rejected by parents and erstwhile colleagues. I dn’t really understand the gender alignment thing. The one thing that really confuses me is that (s)he is commenting that his girlfriend couldn’t really accept it. Why would she be elected to? Or would, say, a bisexual girlfriend not mind if her boyfriend became her girlfriend?

  44. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:48 PM Said:

    Phantom

    Go on, jump up on the stage and have a photo taken – we can have a competition here on ATW to spot the fake Village person ;)

  45. Colm, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:50 PM Said:

    Phantom

    If the girlfriend started out falling in love with a man, could that love really transfer to the same person now as a woman ?

  46. Phantom, on August 17th, 2012 at 9:53 PM Said:

    Dunno.

    Cheers, let the weekend begin, all

  47. mairin2, on August 17th, 2012 at 10:20 PM Said:

    Aileen, my co-workers had the same experience here. They were sitting in the ‘nose bleed’ section and took their lives in their hands (so they say) to sing and dance along.
    Colm…no closet here…they hurt my ears!

  48. Mahons, on August 18th, 2012 at 12:00 AM Said:

    Goodbye Earl is terrific.

    I forgot Midnight Rambler by the Stones.

  49. Colm, on August 18th, 2012 at 12:12 AM Said:

    How familiar are our American regulars with Boney M ?

  50. Seimi, on August 18th, 2012 at 9:08 AM Said:

    Copperhead Road, Steve Earle.

  51. Aileen, on August 18th, 2012 at 9:23 AM Said:

    Colm

    You on commission for BM?

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