Music for a going-away party?

January 22, 2009 8:23 PM

Need music for a going away party.

Title says it all. I'm hosting a party for a good friend who's moving away. Nowhere exotic (Washington DC).

Song recommendations?

Thanks Mefites!

posted by mikeand1 to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

goodbye stranger
posted by BrnP84 at 8:28 PM on January 22, 2009

MOVE ON UP BY CURTIS MAYFIELD IS THE BEST SONG
posted by jeb at 8:44 PM on January 22, 2009

I just did one of these, although mostly focused on local bands. I think the way to go is mix songs from the departure and destination cities, although DC makes that somewhat hard. Here are some of the more generally applicable ones.

Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason
Steve Earle - Another Town.
The Pogues - Streams of Whiskey
Tom Waits - Old Shoes
Townes Van Zandt - Pancho and Lefty
Hallelujah the Hills - Wave Backwards to Massachusetts (if you're in Massachusetts)
posted by allen.spaulding at 8:46 PM on January 22, 2009

Response by poster: He (it's a man, if that makes any difference) is leaving from California (SF Bay Area).
posted by mikeand1 at 8:54 PM on January 22, 2009

DISAGREE. CURTIS MAYFIELD - WILD & FREE.
posted by pilibeen at 9:03 PM on January 22, 2009

Another Pogues possibility: Sally MacLennane
posted by lovermont at 9:40 PM on January 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

The Magnetic Fields have a song called Washington, D.C. you could use. Also, John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a good going away song.
posted by you zombitch at 9:48 PM on January 22, 2009

In My Life by The Beatles. It's cliche for a reason.
posted by thebergfather at 10:01 PM on January 22, 2009

Going Away Party by the late Cindy Walker jumped to mind, what with the title being in your subject line. You can find some recent versions by both Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel. Just make sure you follow it with something uptempo, it's a real sweet heartbreaker.
posted by quarterframer at 10:11 PM on January 22, 2009

Manthem-Bouncing Souls
Brother-Murder By Death (NOT A DEATH METAL BAND-REALLY!)
Last Night in Town-Lucero
Way Back Home-Bob Crosby (Yeah I just finished playing Fallout, wanna make something of it?)
Massive Nights-The Hold Steady
We Laugh at Danger (And Break All the Rules)-Against Me!
or
Sink, Florida, Sink-Agasint Me!
Green Light, Yellow Light, Stop-Whatever It Takes
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 11:12 PM on January 22, 2009

RUSH - Fly By Night
posted by ChickenringNYC at 11:29 PM on January 22, 2009

The Smiths - London
The Proclaimers - Letter From America
2nding Sally McLennane
posted by Jakey at 2:48 AM on January 23, 2009

Leaving on a Jet Plane, covered by a number of artists
Na Na Hey Hey, also by many artists
Hit the Road Jack, preferably by Ray Charles but many other versions out there
Jet Airliner by Steve Miller
posted by TedW at 8:42 AM on January 23, 2009

The foot-tapping country swing of Fuck This Town is #1 on this AV Club list, scroll down a bit for the audio flash player.
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:49 AM on January 23, 2009