Song by Song

Martin and Sam welcome Sarah Cook to the show, as Waits returns to the street life he loves (or despises?) so well. As the song explores the geography as well as the politics of the city's downtown in...

22 Mar 201715min

Back one more time with Miranda and Andy, we dive right into the gender politics of criticising women for breaking their shoes and dressing up like cars, as well as Waits borrowing the childrens telev...

15 Mar 201715min

As Waits gives his voice a well-earned rest, Andy and Miranda return to listen to this electric instrumental. With some biographical details, an honest exploration of our own ignorance regarding hip h...

8 Mar 201712min

We're back! Kicking off season seven we play host to Martin's in-laws, as the power-couple of Lawyer Miranda Zaltzman and Beggarman/Thief Andy Zaltzman join Song by Song for a rundown of children's rh...

1 Mar 201717min

Putting a bow on Blue Valentine, Kit, Sam and Martin dip back into Waits-adjacent material to listen to Rickie Lee Jones singing a Waits song. With some nerdy (and possibly inaccurate and impenetrable...

1 Feb 201717min

Bonus episode #1 for season six sees us visiting Waits's first foray into film, with this track from the Paradise Alley soundtrack. Kit, Sam and Martin discuss his use/reuse of music, the image of wom...

25 Jan 201715min

Whether Waits is a hunter, being hunted, or simply avoiding a vengeful highway patrolman, Sam, Martin and Kit look into the heartbreak of both this track as well as the album as a whole. Song by Song ...

18 Jan 201716min

Song by Song welcomes Kit Lovelace, author of Romantic Misadventure, to discuss some of the bleak storytelling on this penultimate track of Blue Valentine. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sa...

11 Jan 201715min