#259 (of 365) "Natural Light" Sun Kil Moon

Mark Kozelek has released 31 albums, first with the indie rock band Red House Painters (whose best song "New Jersey" almost made the cut for the list) and later with this band, who also have recorded many great songs but this is the only track of Kozelek's to appear on this countdown, and it's a cover song, one of a plethora that Sun Kil Moon has released. The original was written by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, the musical solo-project of musician Owen Ashworth, which ended in 2010. CFTPA also wrote many wonderful songs that nearly made the list ("New Year's Kiss", "Young Shields", "I Love Creedence") but this is also the only track written by Ashworth on the countdown. His own version appears on his final album, 2009's vs. Children, and it's quite strong, but for whatever reason, these amazing lyrics sung by the dark, deep vocals of Kozelek is the combination that gets both these forgotten indie rockers onto my countdown.

And these lyrics, in my estimation, are just about the most perfectly written short story in verse form that anyone has ever written ever.

I got some news on you from a friend.
You're in Charlotte again.
Teaching Spanish at high school.

He said you're going by Joy.
You cut your hair like a boy.
And you don't talk with your old friends.

I found a picture from before the fight.
We're in natural light.
And you're sitting on my lap like everything's alright.

I've walked around with you on my mind.
The names we used at the time.
You know, I've changed myself since then.

I've thought on things that we said.
What if we had the kid.
I guess he'd be fifteen.

I found a picture from before the fight.
We're in natural light.
And you're sitting on my lap like everything's all right.

"Natural Light" - Sun Kil Moon // I'll Be There (2010)