Playlist: Florida

We are heading to the southernmost parts of the US, folks. In fact, if all goes according to plan, we will spend more days in Florida than any other state on this journey, so we’re going to need some tunes. Here’s a list with a double dose of Dylan for good measure.

Miami: I came of age in the 90s, where there was nobody cooler than Will Smith. He was funny, handsome, smart, and talented—in real life, not just when he was playing the Fresh Prince. And the coolest of songs was about the coolest of places—Miami. 

April 29, 1992 (Miami): Man, this song cuts deep into the psyche of America. In the wake of the Rodney King beating in LA, there was all sorts of civil unrest. Or, as the members of Sublime say, “riots on the streets of ____.” The simmering anger and tension of America boiled over into out and out violence, which the members of Sublime purportedly took part in. My buddy Dustin, insists that Sublime is one of the best bands with one of the best albums of all time. Miracle and I aren’t too sure about that, but this song still makes the list. 

Key West (Philosopher Pirate): Who knew Bob Dylan loved the beach so much? Clocking at nearly nine minutes and floating on the placid waters of the Gulf, this song is as reflective as the waters, as deep as the ocean, as relaxing and shaggy as a drink sipped directly from a salt-rimmed glass. I got nothing but love for this Dylan tune, which paints a geographical portrait with all the flourishes of an old map adorned by legends of the sea. 

I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine: A little cheating here, but give me a break. This way underrated Dylan track off the superb John Wesley Harding name checks the saint for whom the oldest western-established city in North America is named. We didn’t make it to the Atlantic side of the state, but maybe we can put our fingers against the glass and cry about it.