We drew inspiration from a number of songs on our journey around the world. Some inspired the planning, some make us reflect back on the trip. The travel theme on some of them will be pretty obvious.
The playlist was mostly set in stone once we returned – all of the songs were released before we traveled so the list is a bit of a time capsule – something we still go back to as a way of reminiscing. The songs themselves may not exactly capture our journey but they may give a glimpse about our trip and what we were thinking about.
It is worth noting that no ABBA songs appear on this playlist despite the fact that ABBA songs were a constant occurrence on the trip – a fact that led us to determine that hearing a song by this Swedish quartet turned any given circumstance into a “Sanctioned Event”. You can make your own ABBA playlist, you don’t need my help.
| Song | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hear Moonpools and Caterpillars  |  | Listen or Buy | On a train headed east of here Where I'll end up I'm not quite clear |
| Road To Nowhere Talking Heads  |  | Listen or Buy | Well we know where we're going But we don't know where we've been |
| Destination Anywhere The Commitments  |  | Listen or Buy | Destination anywhere East or west, I don't care |
| Banditos The Refreshments  |  | Listen or Buy | Well, give your ID card to the border guard Yeah, your alias says you're Captain Jean-Luc Picard Of the United Federation Of Planets 'Cause he won't speak English anyway |
| The Day We Caught The Train Ocean Colour Scene  |  | Listen or Buy | You and I should ride the tracks And find ourselves just wading through tomorrow You and I, when we're coming down We're only getting back And you know I feel no sorrow |
| See A Little Light Bob Mould  |  | Listen or Buy | As the years go by, they take their toll on you Think of all the things we wanted to do |
| Camera One Josh Joplin Group |   | It's funny how life turns out The odds of faith in the face of doubt |
|
| Get Off This Cracker  |  | Listen or Buy | Get off this Get on with it If you wanna change the world Shut your mouth and start this minute |
| It's All Been Done Barenaked Ladies  |  | Listen or Buy | It's all been done before |
| All Star Smash Mouth  |  | Listen or Buy | So much to do, so much to see So what's wrong with taking the back streets? You'll never know if you don't go |
| Change Your Mind Sister Hazel  |  | Listen or Buy | If you want to be somebody else Change your mind |
| Put the Message In the Box World Party  |  | Listen or Buy | See the world in just one grain of sand You better take a closer look Don't let it slip right through your hand |
| Stand R.E.M.  |  | Listen or Buy | Think about direction Wonder why you haven't before |
| Better Not Look Down B.B. King  |  | Listen or Buy | Better not look down If you want to keep on flying Put the hammer down Keep it full speed ahead |
| A Change Would Do You Good Sheryl Crow  |  | Listen or Buy | "Hello it's me, I'm not at home, If you'd like to reach me, leave me alone" |
| These Are Days 10,000 Maniacs  |  | Listen or Buy | These are days you'll remember Never before and never since I promise Will the whole world be warm as this |
| I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) The Proclaimers  |  | Listen or Buy | Da da da (da da da) Da da da (da da da) Da da da dun diddle un diddle un diddle uh da |
| Life Is A Highway Tom Cochrane  |  | Listen or Buy | There's a world outside every darkened door Where blues won't haunt you anymore Where the brave are free and lovers soar Come ride with me to the distant shore |
| When I Come Around Green Day  |  | Listen or Buy | No time to search the world around 'Cause you know where I'll be found When I come around |
| The Whole of the Moon The Waterboys  |  | Listen or Buy | I spoke about wings - You just flew I wondered, I guessed and I tried - You just knew I sighed - But you swooned I saw the crescent You saw the whole of the moon |
| Right Here Right Now Jesus Jones  |  | Listen or Buy | Right here, right now there is no other place I want to be |
| New York City They Might Be Giants  |  | Listen or Buy | 'Cause everyone's your friend in New York City And everything looks beautiful when you're young and pretty The streets are paved with diamonds and there's just so much to see But the best thing about New York City is you and me |
| Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) Green Day  |  | Listen or Buy | For what it's worth, it was worth all the while It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right I hope you had the time of your life |
| End Of The Line The Traveling Wilburys  |  | Listen or Buy | Well it's all right We're going to the end of the line |
Links to the songs go to the Digital Music section of Amazon, where applicable. I hoped to get the music sample widget included but Amazon had other ideas.