"JERSEY GIRL" TOM WAITS (1980)

Inspired by Jeep’s “Reunited States of America” Super Bowl ad, this is my peek into America through a handful of songs. Each track is dedicated to one of the states. Here’s Part 5.

Springsteen made “Jersey Girl” famous through his frequent live renditions. Coming from a Jersey guy, in many ways it feels like a quintessential Boss anthem. But this song is written by Tom Waits and it belongs to Tom Waits. It’s the beauty and the beast. One of Waits’ most tender, beautiful songs. But it’s still emotionally delivered with that signature voice that sounds like he just rinsed his mouth out with a bucket of gravel. Without Waits’ gripping vocals, this song loses some of its swagger.

“Down the shore everything's all right. You with your baby on a Saturday night.”

"CONCERNING THE UFO SIGHTING NEAR HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS" SUFJAN STEVENS (2005)

Google says there was an actual UFO sighting in Highland five years before this song was released. Whether you believe that or not, “Concerning the UFO” is probably Sufjan Stevens at the height of his state project. One of the most imaginative vignettes on the Illinois album, there’s a quiet wonder to every musical layer—vocals, piano, flute, recorder. If you play the song outside at night, the music might be enough to help you imagine what the sighting could’ve looked like if it actually happened.

“Then to Lebanon, oh, God! The flashing at night, the sirens grow and grow (Oh history involved itself). Mysterious shade that took its form (or what it was!). Incarnation, three stars. Delivering signs and dusting from their eyes.”