"You at the Table" - Joy Oladokun (with Manchester Orchestra)

Top Five Songs that Make Me Cry (in no particular order):

1. “Cat’s in the Cradle” - Harry Chapin: duh, obviously (Ed. note: that album cover is rad)

2. “Country Roads” - John Denver: was a favorite of my dad’s

3. “Casimir Pulaski Day” - Sufjan Stevens: cancer of the bone

4. “Amsterdam” - Coldplay: that one’s tied to a specific (bad) time

5. “You at the Table” - Joy Oladokun (with Manchester Orchestra): oh man, let the blubbering begin.

I’m just going to refer to it as Joy Oladokun’s song from here on out because I don’t want to type that much, and it’s off their album Proof of Life, and you should really explore Oladkokun’s whole catalog, which is packed with fantastic songs. But “You at the Table?” That’s the one that will getcha. It’s not even one of them slow dirge-y sad songs that are hard to sit through. It’s catchy, and even has a beat drop mid-song. It’s the words, though, the beautiful, beautiful words and the way Joy sings them that will make you weep.

It’s a song about love and addiction and anger and rejection and isolation. Aww heck, I’m tearing up just writing this. But how can you not with lyrics like:

• I tried keeping every promise / And I've noticed that you notice that I don't keep my word / Swear I want to, swear I'm going to do better

• And, I'll take the blame for all the reckless sh*t I do / Just don't leave me alone

Depending on how you feel about crying in public, you may want to listen to this song alone.

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Stay cool. Have a great summer.
Class of ‘90 rulez.