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Song Stories

“Rainy Night in Georgia”

Brook Benton | 1970

This tale of what it feels like when the whole world is raining and there's no warm place to find became a smash for Brook Benton in 1970, eight years after Tony Jo White penned it. White’s inspiration? "I knew about rainy nights in Georgia because I drove a dump truck for the highway department," he said. In naming it one of the 500 Greatest Songs of all time, Rolling Stone praises "Benton's intimate baritone set over crying violins, crashing horns and dolorous organs and guitars."

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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