"This song just never stops giving. Part cowboy troubador yipee ki-yay, part mariachi melody, it captured me first as a puerile fantasy. It was only this morning in the shower (I've been listening to it for years) that I recognized the unreliable narrator and had to wonder whether he was more creepy than charming."

"This song just never stops giving. Part cowboy troubador yipee ki-yay, part mariachi melody, it captured me first as a puerile fantasy. It was only this morning in the shower (I've been listening to it for years) that I recognized the unreliable narrator and had to wonder whether he was more creepy than charming."

""Papa used to tease me about it cuz deep down inside he was hurt cuz he'd done all he could." What's not to love about a song that's so Forrest Gump honest (no metaphor or allusion here) and so reverent and loving about what sounds like a shitty childhood? "

""Papa used to tease me about it cuz deep down inside he was hurt cuz he'd done all he could." What's not to love about a song that's so Forrest Gump honest (no metaphor or allusion here) and so reverent and loving about what sounds like a shitty childhood? "

"I looked this band up today, and all the buzz if from about a year ago -- why am I the last to know about Beirut? This song is beautiful, if perhaps a minute or two too long."

"I looked this band up today, and all the buzz if from about a year ago -- why am I the last to know about Beirut? This song is beautiful, if perhaps a minute or two too long."

""You're a pal." "You deserve it!" The verses are a dialog between two friends, at least one of whom is an angry loser, and maybe a few beers too far into a Saturday night. The execution is unique, and the song really captures some of the impotent angst of being an uncool kid."

""You're a pal." "You deserve it!" The verses are a dialog between two friends, at least one of whom is an angry loser, and maybe a few beers too far into a Saturday night. The execution is unique, and the song really captures some of the impotent angst of being an uncool kid."

"It's low brow, it's preachy, and just a little bit greasy. So why do I love it so much? It could be the "cha cha", or maybe just the fact that the artist's middle name is Guitar."

"It's low brow, it's preachy, and just a little bit greasy. So why do I love it so much? It could be the "cha cha", or maybe just the fact that the artist's middle name is Guitar."