One of three dozen sea chanteys and waterlogged ditties on the Johnny Depp-produced comp Son of Rogue's Gallery, this was likely written by French-Canadian explorers – about the river or the Native American father of "Sally," no one is sure. It gets a boozy, phlegmy, deeply soulful reading from Waits, with some delicate electric guitar from Keef. Pirates can be gentle, too.

“Time to Pretend”

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”