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Thanksgiving, Vol. 4

  • Writer: jordannswright
    jordannswright
  • Nov 21, 2022
  • 5 min read

The season of thankfulness is upon us once again, complete with cool temperatures (yes, even in Texas), good food, and family/friend gatherings that are starting to look a little more like they did pre-2020. This season of life I'm in right now has me able to easily think of a million things to be thankful for, which in an of itself is something to be grateful about. I know that's not always the case for everyone, and that this time of year isn't always the easiest, but whatever walk you're in right now I hope you find at least one thing to give thanks for this week.


Without any further ado, here is our 2022 Thanksgiving playlist. As always, my full Thanksgiving "master" playlist can be found on Apple Music @audioaesthetics.


Lullaby of the Leaves by Anita O'Day (written by B. Petkere, J. Young)

Featured on O'Day's 1952 album The Lady Is a Tramp, this is a really cool jazz number that will class up your Thanksgiving gathering if that's the vibe you're going for. It has a little bit of a spooky vibe to it at first, but it's a nice number that calls to mind pictures of how beautiful trees changing color in the fall can be if you're lucky enough to live in a region where your trees do that (i.e. NOT Texas).

Cradle me where Southern skies/Can watch me with a million eyes/Sing me to sleep, lullaby of the leaves/Cover me with heaven's blue/And let me dream a dream or two/Sing me to sleep, lullaby of the leaves


I Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin (written by H. David, B. Bacharach)

Featured on her 1968 album Aretha Now, this is just one of many numbers where Aretha cements herself as absolute musical royalty. Her vocals mixed with the songwriting talents of Hal David and Burt Bacharach create something magical, and this classic tune is a perfect way to get into the mindset of being thankful for the special people in your life.

The moment I wake up, before I put on my makeup/I say a little prayer for you/And while combing my hair now and wondering what dress to wear now/I say a little prayer for you/Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart and I will love you/Forever and ever, we never will part, oh, how I love you/Together, together, that's how it must be, to live without you/Would only mean heartbreak for me


Hooked On A Feeling by Blue Swede (written by M. James)

Featured on Blue Swede's 1974 album Hooked On A Feeling, this song will surely get a laugh out of your Thanksgiving guests when they hear it come on and immediately lead to everyone singing along and having a great time. I'm not sure anyone really knows what's going on in Blue Swede's cover of this song, but it's so much fun, and Mark James's lyrics remind us again of the ones we love and are thankful for.

I can't stop this feeling deep inside of me/Girl, you just don't realize what you do to me/When you hold me in your arms so tight/You let me know everything's alright/I’m hooked on a feeling/I’m high on believin’/That you're in love with me


All the Meat and No Potatoes by Fats Waller (written by T. Waller, E. Kirkeby)

Released as a single in 1941, this is another jazz classic that will surely liven up your Thanksgiving dinner party. While I don't agree with Waller's stance on "no potatoes" (mashed potatoes are my favorite part of Thanksgiving), I do agree that this song is a lot of fun and features some really incredible jazz talent.

A man works hard then comes on home/Expects to find stew with that fine ham bone/He opens the door, then start to lookin’,/Says, "Woman, what's this stuff you're cookin’"/All that meat and no potatoes/Just ain't right, like green tomatoes/Here I'm waiting, palpitatin’/For all that meat and no potatoes/All that meat and no potatoes/All that food to the alligators, yes/Hold me steady, I am ready/For all that meat and no potatoes


Family Is Family by Kacey Musgraves (written by J. Osborne, K. Musgraves, S. McAnally)

Featured on her 2015 album Pageant Material, Kacey is never one to mince words about anything, and family is no exception. Whether it's the one you were brought into by blood or by choice, family is a centerpiece of Thanksgiving and while it can get messy either way, she hits the nail on the head by saying that you might look just like them, but that don't mean that you're exactly like them, but you do love them.

They're there for your first year, they give you your first beer/When you get your heart broke, they're there for your worst year/Don't get you at all, but your apple don't fall too far from 'em/They own too much wicker and drink too much liquor/You'd wash your hands of them, but blood's always thicker/You might look just like 'em, that don't mean you're like 'em, but you love 'em/Family is family, in church or in prison/You get what you get and you don't get to pick 'em/They might smoke like chimneys, but give you their kidneys/Yeah, friends come in handy, but family is family


Comin' Home Baby by Mel Tormé (written by B. Dorough, B. Tucker)

Released as a single in 1962, this is yet another jazz number to add to your classy dinner party playlist. Thanksgiving is one of the big "going home" holidays, and this fun, upbeat song with smooth vocals by Mel Tormé talks all about doing just that.

I'm comin' home, baby, now/I’m comin' home now, right away/I’m comin' home, baby, now/I’m sorry now I ever went away/Every night and day, I'm gon' stay/I’m comin' home, now/Comin' home, baby, now/You know I'm waitin' here for you/I’m comin' home now, real soon, you've been gone/Comin' home, baby, now, I don't know what I'm gonna do/I’m comin' home, I know I'm overdue/Since you went away, expect me any day now, real soon


Home by Tim McGraw (written by C. Wiseman, T. Mullins)

Featured on McGraw's 2002 album Tim McGraw and The Dancehall Doctors, this is one of those country songs that does a really great job capturing that nostalgic hometown feeling. For a lot of people, there's something so comfortable and familiar about coming back home, especially for the holidays, and this song's lyrics showcase that feeling in a really great way.

Mama's got her apron on standing in the kitchen/Cooking up my favorite dish, whatever she is fixing/Daddy's in a picture in a frame that's always sitting by the phone/Daffodils are popping up out behind the clothesline/Underneath that tree I planted when I was just a boy of nine/Man I never can believe just how much it's grown when I go/Home, back home/To the gentle place that held me close as I became a man/And the streets are all familiar and an old friend shakes my hand/And I feel fine, so fine/Yeah, knowing that this road I'm wandering on/From time to time, it always leads me home


However you're celebrating this year, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!

 
 
 

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