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26:18-19 – Just as damaging as a mad man shooting a lethal weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”

We’ve all met the person who says something mean or cruel or false and then retracts it with a “just kidding.” Don’t be that person. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t let your friends get away with this behavior either. They will benefit from a friend who calls them on saying “just joking.”

27:14 – If you shout a pleasant greeting to your neighbor too early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse.

I knew it was in the Bible. This is exactly how I feel in the morning before the coffee and the Mt Dew kicks in. I try to be pleasant but neutral is usually the best I can muster.

29:7 – The godly know the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care to know.

Care for those who are not as fortunate as you. Today!

29:27 – The godly despise the wicked; the wicked despise the godly

Make sure you know which you are.

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9. Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry

This is the original rock and roll song from which came all other rock music. Listen to the guitar riffs, the rhythms, the lyrics. This one song influenced everyone who came after from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin to U2.

8. More Than a Feeling – Boston

Speaking of guitar riffs…if you have ever sat down with a guitar and couple friends and started to play this song then you instantly know why it’s on the list…and between the ‘staches and the ‘fros this is absolutely the best of late 70s pop.

7. The Entertainer – Scott Joplin

Rag time was the original American pop music of the twentieth century and there was no ragtime composer greater than Scott Joplin (with all apologies to Joseph Lamb and James Scott). One of the great things about The Entertainer is that it easily transfers over to other instruments (while this is true of most Joplin music do to the simplistic left hand it is especially true of the Entertainer). Some would argue that the Maple Leaf Rag is better and they may be right, but there is a special place in my heart for The Entertainer.

6. Yesterday - The Beatles

The best of the Beatles. Paul was a musical genius. The only question is why isn’t this song higher. My answer is that it is too simplistic compared to the songs ranked above this one. Of course, it’s deconstructed nature is a part of its greatness.

5. White Christmas – Irving Berlin

This song first appeared in “Holiday Inn” a great movie with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. It was a huge hit and so Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye made the post WWII movie “White Christmas” (also a great movie). This song is Irving Berlin’s masterpiece and captures the atmosphere of Christmas like no other secular song.

4. Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan

One of the most hated songs ever when it was first released this epic poem about alienation and the associated feelings of anger captures the essence of rock in the second half of the twentieth century (which is one of the reasons it was hated by the folk community). With it’s length and lyrical depth this song probably did more to expand the range of popular music than any other song.

3. Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

Without Like a Rolling Stone there would have been no Stairway to Heaven. This and my number 2 song are pretty much tied in my opinion, but I grew up with the song at number 2 so it gets top billing. Stairway to Heaven is the greatest song like the Lord of the Rings is the greatest book. There are imperfections but it doesn’t matter. It’s just so majestic and right.

2. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

I have never gotten tired of listening to this song. In fact most days it plays on a continuous loop in my head. It is the Johnny B Goode of the late twentieth century. There is no post-Nirvana rock that has not been influenced by this song. Kurt Cobain’s death (April 5, 1994) was on of the most disappointing days in my life. He had the opportunity to be in the class of musicians with Bob Dylan, and Paul McCartney, and Jimi Hendrix. Unfortunately it was not to be. This is a great song. It’s been covered by many but nothing is like the original.

1. Non Je Ne Regrette Rein – Edith Piaf

The greatest song of the twentieth century was sung in French by Edith Piaf. How can you listen to this song and not feel moved. You don’t even have to understand French, although I think the words are just as powerful.

There are lots of songs that didn’t make the list that could have, but that’s the problem with compressing a century down to 10 songs.

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