We all know that this world is going to come to a stop one of these days; and all the riders on this Merry-Go-Round are going to go, “Well, it’s been real and it’s been fun; but I can’t say it’s been real fun.” It may happen in my lifetime, it may not. But until then Written in Blood, in association with K-tel Records presents 10 songs for the coming Apocalypse. Fortunately the theme from Barney and Friends is nowhere to be found.

1.99 Luftballoons-Nena (Music by Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen; German Lyrics by Carlo Karges; English lyrics by Kevin McAlea

What better way to herald the end of the world than with a cute German girl singing her ass off in the middle of a field. Get down wit’ yo funky synthesizer!

2.All Along the Watchtower-Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)

Dylan gave this song its powerful words; Hendrix took his guitar and painted a masterpiece. Close your eyes and listen and the whole song is laid out before you. All Along the Watchtower is not just a song; it’s a fucking epic.

3.Bad Moon Rising-Creedence Clearwater Revival (John C. Fogerty)

And here you thought Bad Moon Rising was about werewolves; since when do werewolves make hurricanes blow and cause rivers to overflow? Oh, and you can just forget all about that bathroom on the right. It is gone, baby, gone!!

4.Earth Died Screaming-Tom Waits (Tom Waits)

When Tom Waits sings…

…There was thunder
There was lightning
Then the stars went out
And the moon fell from the sky
It rained mackerel
It rained trout
And the great day of wrath has come
And here’s mud in your big red eye
The poker’s in the fire
And the locusts take the sky
And the earth died screaming
While I lay dreaming of you…

…you know you better kiss your ass goodbye.

5.The End-The Doors (Jim Morrison)

At times, Jim Morrison was a madman and at times he was a (evil?) genius. On The End it all came together and was ‘the end of our elaborate plans, of everything that stands, the end.’ Chilling. I’m not even going to mention what happens to Mom and Dad. Listen and find out for yourself.

6.Eve of Destruction-Barry Maguire (P.F. Sloan)

Eve of Destruction may have been the one to set the whole gloom and doom rock genre in motion. Maguire is so mad in this song that even his blood is pissed off. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that is downright mad.

7.It’s The End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)-REM (Peter Buck, Bill Berry, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe)

It’s the end of the world and it’s coming at a melodic, yet breakneck, pace. Do try and keep up, won’t you?

8.The Man Comes Around-Johnny Cash (John R. Cash)

There’s no need to say anything. Just listen to the Man in Black.

9.(Nothing But) Flowers-The Talking Heads (David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison)

First, there were factories and now there are only mountains. Rattlesnake is on the menu and Pizza Hut has gone the way of the dodo bird. Through it all David Byrne is singing so happily, joyfully.

10.Waiting For the End of the World-Elvis Costello (Elvis Costello)

Okay, so it’s not the end just yet; but this Costello song lets us know what we’re doing right before it happens. Sing us off this planet, Elvis! Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. Yowsa!!

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