The late great Daniel Johnston will probably remain the most memorable figure in outsider art and alternative music for decades to come. So much of his lo-fi music still resonates with new listeners today. His catalog of work is pretty massive, but we’re particularly fond of these five Daniel Johnston songs that still tug at our heartstrings today.
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If you’re new to Johnston’s work, we’d recommend starting with these excellent pieces of work!
1. “True Love Will Find You In The End”
“True Love Will Find You In The End” is probably Daniel Johnston’s most well-known song, even among those relatively unfamiliar with him. It’s his signature track and one that entranced a whole generation of indie, lo-fi music fans. Tons of artists have covered this beautiful song, from Beck to Wilco to Joaquin Phoenix in Joker: Folie à Deux.
2. “Funeral Home”
Daniel Johnston’s songs are often rudimentary. Obviously, that’s part of the charm. But Johnston’s work was far from only about charm. The strangeness of “Funeral Home”, in addition to its insistence and command for attention, makes it stand out as one of his very best songs. “Funeral Home” also features some contributing vocals from Johnston’s friends.
3. “Devil Town”
This 1990 track is only about a minute long and fully a cappella, and that’s precisely why it’s on this list. Part of Johnston’s magic was that he could convey strong emotional depth in a short amount of time and with little more than his voice. “Devil Town” is haunting, odd, and a bit sad, all of which are hallmark elements of his work.
4. “Don’t Be Scared”
Many of Daniel Johnston’s songs from Don’t Be Scared are incredible, but the title track is particularly heartwrenching. Written and recorded during his college years, this song has a level of emotional maturity and introspection that wasn’t exactly rare in Johnston’s other works. But there’s just something about “Don’t Be Scared” that seeps into your bones and tells you what you need to hear.
In the immortal words of Daniel Johnston: “Why must you give yourself a global rating / Numbers can mess up everything / Don’t do that.”
5. “Some Things Last A Long Time”
“Some Things Last A Long Time” from 1990 is a more delicate tune from Johnston that features just his voice and his iconic piano. The simplicity of this outsider piece of work is what makes it so memorable. Johnston more or less plays just two notes throughout the song and repeats “Some things last a long time / Some things last a lifetime” over and over again.
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