Saturday playlist: Theme music

Dear readers:

If you have come here expecting my rambling thoughts on Mike Post or the theme from”The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” you’ll have to forgive me. Today’s theme-song list contains the music I’d use were I to have my own radio program.

I got the idea while listening to The Majority Report. Sam Seder’s web-based political radio show is unabashedly progressive — and it flat out rocks, with theme music from The Clash, The Pixies, The Stokes, Gang of Four and others.

The other bit of inspiration are two songs on my theme list that were released this year. The first is Billy Bragg’s “Handyman Blues,” which my wife will attest to as the perfect description of my approach to home projects.

Don’t be expecting me to put up shelves or build a garden shed
But I can write a song that tells the world how much I love you instead
I’m not any good at pottery so let’s lose the ‘t’ and just shift back the ‘e’
And I’ll find a way to make my poetry build a roof over our heads

I know it looks like I’m just reading the paper
But these ideas I’ll turn to gold dust later
Cause I’m a writer not a decorator

I’m not your handyman

The other, from Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell needs no explanation other than to say that I’m a bit of a coffee-holic:”Black Caffeine.”

The list:

• The Tuff Darts, “All for the Love of Rock ‘n’ Roll” from the CD Live from CBGB’s, including the stage announcement, which was the theme from my college radio show.
• The Clash, “Revolution Rock,” which seems like a good name for a lefty talk and music show.
• Steve Earle, “The Revolution Starts Now.”
• Elvis Costello, “Lip Service,” which goes out to the Democratic Party (“Lip service is all I ever get from you”).
• Bob Dylan, “Political World.”
• Manu Chao, “Politik Kills.”
• Billy Bragg, “Handyman Blues” and “There is Power in a Union.”
• Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, “Black Caffeine.”
• Gang of Four, “Guns Before Butter.”
• Leonard Cohen, “Democracy”
• American Graveyard, “Common Ones,” a populist anthem that deserved wide play.

So, dear readers, what are your theme songs?