Memorial Day brought a couple of songs vaguely connected to the old Decoration Day, as well a songs about soldiers’ graves and memorials, the nature of war and dying for one’s country. Two were from Springsteen, neither of which are on his current tour (though they could have been).
Birthdays were celebrated for country songwriting great Tom T. Hall, ciountry music pioneer Ernest “Pop” Stoneman, Tokens singer Mitch Margo and producer Norman Petty. Paul Weller was turning 68, UK Subs mainstay Charlie Harmer is 82. We heard 10 songs to mark the birthday of lyricist Hal David, but we reserved time to play another 10 songs to mark the 85th birthday Saturday of Bob Dylan.
We closed by remembering three who died last week: R&B’s Jimmy Hughes, Pink Floyd saxophonist Dick Parry and rapper Rob Base.
Here’s the archived show in three parts; the setlist follows:
Capital Radio May 25, 2026. 1 – 4:30 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com
- “Capital Radio Two,” The Clash
- “Decoration Day,” Drive-By Truckers
- “Decoration Day,” Sonny Boy Williamson II
- “Searching for a Soldier’s Grave,” Hank Williams
- “The Wall,” Bruce Springsteen
- “Near the Memorials to Vietnam & Lincoln,” PJ Harvey
- “Universal Soldier,” Donovan
- “One More Parade,” Phil Ochs
- “Day After Tomorrow,” Tom Waits
- “Last to Die,” Bruce Springsteen
- “Bring the Boys Home,” Freda Payne
- “Strawberry Farms,” Tom T. Hall
- “(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine,” Tom T. Hall
- “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” Jeannie C. Riley
PART II
- “Mountaineer’s Courtship,” Ernest Stoneman and Hattie Stoneman
- “The Road to Washington,” Mr, Ernest V. Stoneman & Mrs. Hattie Stoneman
- “Just One Smile,” The Tokens
- “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” The Tokens
- “I Waled with a Zombie,” UK Subs
- “That’s Entertainment,” The Jam
- “You’re the Best Thing,” The Style Council
- “Brand New Start,” Paul Weller
- “Wheels,” The String-A-Longs
- “Ooby Dooby,” Roy Orbison & The Teen Kings
- “Maybe Baby,“ Buddy Holly & the Crickets
- “Rave On,” Buddy Holly & the Crickets
- “24 Hours from Tulsa,” Gene Pitney
- “Trains and Boats and Planes,” Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas
- “Make It Easy on Yourself,” The Walker Brothers
- “Baby It’s You,” The Beatles
- “I Just Don’t Know Whaat to Do with Myself,” The White Stripes
- “One Less Bell to Answer [live],” Sheryl Crow
- “I Say a Little Prayer,” Aretha Franklin
- “The Windows of the World,” The Pretenders
PART III
- “Walk on By,” The Stranglers
- “House Carpenter,” Bob Dylan
- “Stealin,’” Bob Dylan
- “Boots of Spanish Leather,” Bob Dylan
- “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again [take 14],” Bob Dylan
- “I Threw It All Away,” Bob Dylan
- “Day of the Locusts,” Bob Dylan
- “Everything is Broken,” Bob Dylan
- “Ring Them Bells,” Bob Dylan
- “My Back Pages [live],” Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton & George Harrison “Spirit in the Water,” Bob Dylan
- “Steal Away,” Jimmy Hughes
- “Us and Them,” Pink Floyd
- “It Takes Two,” Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
Capital Radio returns June 1 at 1 p.m. EDT until after 4 on www.cygnusradio.com. The show can also be heard via the cygnusradio.com app, available free at iTunes or GooglePlay. Recent shows are available on demand at cygnusradio.com. Older shows are posted at Substack.com/@rogercatlin.