Top 5 On Friday - Smart Songs

Last Days of Tecumseh - Grant Lee Buffalo
From which I learned about the Shawnee warrior chief, though I'm not sure what the song has to do with him.

Letter to Lily St Cyr - P.G. Six
In which I learned that Lili St Cyr was a 1940's burlesque stripper. I real surprise to me as the music suggests nothing of the sort!

John Hardy - Martin Simpson
I remember my brother having the Manfred Mann version of this song in the 60's. It was only when listening to Simpson's version that I looked into the story of Hardy's crime and punishment. There's so much outrage these days at songs of crime, hate, murder and gun culture, yet here's an example from the 19th century. Of course it does dwell more on the consequences of such actions but you can't help feeling the song has a little hero worship in it

Epistle to Derroll - Donovan
In which I learned about Derroll Adams and his influence on Donovan and so onto my own primitive clawhammer guitar picking.

Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled - Porcupine Tree
In which I learned of Marshall Applewhite, Heaven's Gate and the lengths people will go to to prove to themselves that that must be more to life.

I'm no smarter perhaps, but no less curious about the inspirations behind the music I listen to.