Friday Five: Bones

There are 206 bones in an adult human body, and probably an equal amount of songs about bones in my music collection. Here are five favorites, best enjoyed with a tall glass of milk.

5. Hoyt Axton – “Boney Fingers”

A Top Ten hit for Axton in 1974, this song is mighty depressing: “Work your fingers to the bone and what do you get? Boney fingers.” Good thing it’s catchy. not that that’s much comfort when your car won’t run, the fire won’t start, and your distal phalanges are wrecked. But maybe things will get a little better. Just kidding. They probably won’t.

 

4. Porter Wagoner – “Bones”

“Bones, we’ve been a long way together, and not once have you let me down/Why, Bones, you’ve probably walked me over the place we’ll sleep in the ground.”  I guess that’s comforting, but it’s not like Bones had any choice in the matter.

 

3. Randy Travis – “Diggin’ Up Bones”

This single from Storms of Life was Travis’ second No. 1. It’s a good reminder that broken relationships are a lot like the film trope of the Native American burial ground: disturb them at your own risk.

 

2. Patty Loveless – “Jealous Bone”

Being born with a jealous bone sounds better than being born with a vestigial tail, but not by much. At least doctors can remove the latter.

 

1. Guy Clark – “Bag of Bones”

“This old bag of bones ain’t really me/There’s a lot more standing here than what you see.”  That’s something to think about when your joints pop and creak and old injuries act up when it rains.