Eels Songs: My Top 10

As most of my regular readers know, I’m a huge Eels fan. I’ve written several articles about them, including Mark Oliver Everett: A Man Called E. I have to say it’s a must-read for anyone who likes The Eels or is merely curious about them. E is truly an amazing guy. I also had The Eels listed at #3 in my acclaimed All-Time Greatest Bands: My Top 10 blog, just below my beloved Beatles and R.E.M.

With this in mind, and after much deliberation and narrowing of my choices, I’ve whittled my list down to 10 songs. Click on the song title to give it a listen. You won’t be disappointed. Let us commence . . .

E’s Tune

A beautiful song that’s always struck a chord with me. The lyrics are both sad and hopeful. I love it and never get tired of hearing it.

Life’s just an ugly mess
The angry souls in such distress
Still there is a time when moments can be sweet
And it feels like someone’s smiling down on me . . .

Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues

This was actually a hidden track at the end of “Daisies of the Galaxy.” Probably E’s most well-known song, and I dare ya to resist the catchy melody.

The clown with the frown driving down to the sidewalk fair
Finger on the trigger let me tell you gave us quite a scare

Uh huh, God damn right it’s a beautiful day, uh huh.

Last Stop: This Town

Great, odd little song about dying and some other things. Very unique in it’s arrangement and sound. Classic E.

Why don’t we take a ride away up high through the neighbourhood?
Up over the billboards and the factories and smoke?
I’m gonna fly on down for the last stop to this town
I’m gonna fly on down and fly away on my way . . .

It’s a Motherf***er

Get past the title ya prudes, and appreciate this song for what it is –  a beautiful, hauntingly tragic song about lost love.

It’s a motherfucker
Getting through a Sunday
Talking to the walls
Just me again
But I won’t ever be the same
I won’t ever be the same . . .

Rock Hard Times

This song came along at a certain time in my life, and it felt like E was speaking for me. I still remember the first time I heard it. Great song, clearly written from the heart.

As if I cared ’bout the little minds
In the little heads of the herd
There’s nothing you could dream
Would be more absurd.
And everybody knows these are rock hard times.

You’ll Be The Scarecrow

This song is a message to a loved one, a message that E wants to convey before he passes away. Remember when Dorothy says to the Scarecrow at the end of The Wizard of Oz, “I think I’m going to miss you most of all”? That’s what the title refers to. Gorgeous song.

You were the special one
Something we shared
The one that I’ll miss the most
The one who cared

So when I come around for my goodbyes . . .
You’ll be the scarecrow.

 

Mistakes of My Youth

This song is a look back at one’s life and hoping it’s not too late to change. It’s incredibly touching and really hits home with me.

In the waning days ahead
I gotta look back down the road
I know that it’s not too late
All the stupid things I’ve said
And people I’ve hurt in my time
I hope it’s not my fate
To keep defeating my own self
And keep repeating yesterday
I can’t keep defeating myself
I can’t keep repeating
The mistakes of my youth . . .

Susan’s House

A narrative about a guy walking down the street and observing what all is around him – and much much more.

Going over to Susan’s house
Walking south down Baxter Street
Nothing hiding behind this picket fence
There’s a crazy old woman smashing bottles
On the sidewalk where her house burnt down two years ago
People say that back then she really wasn’t that crazy . . .

Souljacker, Part 1

Quite simply a song about killers. Pretty chilling lyrics actually, and it also happens to be a great rocker.

22 Miles of hard road
33 Years of tough luck
44 Skulls buried in the ground
Crawling down through the muck
Oh yeah . . .

Wooden Nickels

A pretty simple but lovely song about a lost love that never turned out the way it was supposed to. Who can’t relate to that?

And you may not think much of me now
But I think so damn much of you.

Don’t take any wooden nickels
When you sell your soul
A devil of a time awaits you
When the party’s over
You’re on your own . . .

Special mention must go to Novocaine for the Soul, Rags to Rags, Saturday Morning, Friendly Ghost, Fucker (not to be confused with It’s a Motherfucker), Let’s Ruin Julie’s Birthday, Lick Your Boots, Nowheresville, Little Bird, Ugly Love, and Where I’m Going.

Do yourself a favor and click on the links, man. Do it!