Cramming it all in

[Geoffrey de Ste. Croix]

I’m trying to think of another song that crams so much into three minutes and does it so well as The Highwayman, written by Jimmy Webb and sung by The Highwaymen. Death, the notion of Christian resurrection, sin, redemption, Buddhist reincarnation, 18th century crime, perishing on ocean galleons, the carnage of the Hoover Dam’s construction and space travel.

Even in Webb’s formidable canon, it stands out as an extraordinary piece. Any other songs out there packing a whole lot into little?

[Come along, Min]

Cramming it all in

I've the top of my sleepy head no, but that's a great track I've heard before but not really listened to until now.

[Max Payne]

Cramming it all in

It's the end of the world as we know it by REM?

[Crusoe]

Cramming it all in

We Didn't Start The Fire.

[Jah Womble]

Cramming it all in

This classic from 1974:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91U0gTY1PKk

Or maybe this cracker from 1995:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WiTksgYm2g

[adams house cat]

Cramming it all in

'Life Is A Rock'. Forgot who did it.

[Jah Womble]

Cramming it all in

Reunion. (Try clicking my first link in the previous post.)

[danielmak]

Cramming it all in

There's a lot of death in that Highwayman song. Too band the production is so cheesy (esp. given the amazing artists).

But for pure depression, I'd go with:

Townes, Marie

or

Springsteen, The River

[Sam]

Cramming it all in

A lot of it is perhaps between the lines, but 'What's Happening Brother' by Marvin Gaye, for me.

Frankly I had to spend a couple of minutes thinking about which track from What's Going On worked best for this thread. The title track and 'Inner City Blues' are almost as fitting (but both over the 3 minute mark).

[treibeis]

Cramming it all in

'King of the Cops' - Billy Howard

(McCloud, Columbo, Cannon, Steve McGarrett, Ironside, Kojak, Stavros)

[Benjm]

Cramming it all in

Can't add another song, but Jimmy Webb's own version of The Highwayman is brilliant.

As is his Galveston. Not necessarily better then Glen, but a very different take.