“Ballad of Mott the Hoople” – Mott the Hoople

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Many rock bands and performers (if they’re around long enough) record a “life is hell on the road” song. Some are sublime (Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page,” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Lodi,” GWAR’s parody “The Road Behind”). Some are ridiculous (Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” … as if there was any doubt).

However, my favorite is Mott the Hoople’s “Ballad of Mott the Hoople” which contains one of my all-time favorite lyrics about not only the quest for fame, but life itself: “I wish I’d never wanted then what I want now twice as much.” That’s deep. From Mott the Hoople’s 1973 album “Mott.”

“I Wish I Was Your Mother” – Mott the Hoople

I’ll quote Greil Marcus on this one: “(Lead singer Ian) Hunter must have smiled when he saw the punks of the late seventies reach the audience he was sure had to be out there somewhere – smiled, and wondered if anyone remembered ‘I Wish I Was Your Mother,’ a shatteringly beautiful horror story that no punk has ever touched on record, though Sid Vicious may well have lived most of it out.”