American Beauty Soundtrack

“Bali Ha’i”(0:06:51)

Written by Oscar Hammerstein II & Richard Rodgers

Performed by Peggy Lee

Scene: The song begins while the Burnhams are walking into the house and continues through dinner.

“Open the Door”

“On Broadway” (0:15)

Written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weill, Jerry Leiber, & Mike Stoller

Performed by high school band

Scene: Basketball Half-Time Show “The Dancing Spartanettes”

“Use Me” (:20)

Written by Bill Withers

Performed by Bill Withers

Scene: Angela & Jane in the BMW smoking marijuana right after we watch Lester fantasize about Angela

“All Along the Watchtower” (:50)

Written by Bob Dylan

Performed by Bob Dylan

Scene: Carolyn is out front gardening when she hears the music and discovers Lester working out and smoking marijuana in the garage just before he “blackmails” his company.

“American Woman” (:55)

Written by Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman, Jim Kale, and Gary Peterson (The Guess Who)

Performed by The Guess Who

Scene: The song begins with Carolyn & Buddy in bed then quickly moves to Lester smoking marijuana and singing along in the Camry on the way to Mr. Smiley’s where he applies for a job.

“Call Me Irresponsible” / ”Where Love Has Gone” (1:05)

Written by Sammy Cahn & James Van Heusen

Performed by Bobby Darin

Scene: Lester being defiant at Carolyn’s dinner table after leaving his job

“Cancer for the Cure”

“Don’t Rain on My Parade” (1:13)

Written by Jule Styne & Bob Merrill

Performed by Bobby Darin

Scene: Carolyn shooting then singing along with the original song just before she gets home and discovers Lester’s new Firebird

“The Seeker” (1:23)

Written by Pete Townshend (The Who)

Performed by The Who

Scene: Lester running down the street in work-out clothes immediately after reminding the viewer that the last day of one’s life is not the first day of the rest of one’s life.

“As Long as I’m Singing”

Written by Bobby Darin

Performed by Bobby Darin

Scene:

“All Right Now”

Written by Andy Fraser & Paul Rodgers

Performed by Free

Scene:

“Don’t Let it Bring You Down”

Written by Neil Young

Performed by Annie Lennox

Scene: Angela and Lester in the living room after Colonel Fitts kisses Lester.

“Because”

Written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Performed by Elliott Smith

Scene: End Credits

Peggy Lee - Bali Ha'i

Most people live on a lonely island

Lost in the middle of a foggy sea

Most people long for another island

One where they know they would like to be

Bali Ha'i may call you, any night, any day

In your heart, you'll hear it call you,

come away...Come away

Bali Ha'i will whisper on the wind of the sea

Here am I your special island

Come to me...Come to me...

Your own special hopes, your own special dreams

Bloom on the hillside and shine in the streams

If you try, you'll find me

Where the sky meets the sea

Here am I your special island

Come to me...Come to me...

Bali Ha'i...Bali Ha'i...Bali Ha'i

Someday you'll see me floating in the sunshine

My head sticking out from a low-lying cloud

You hear me call you, singing through the sunshine

Sweet and clear as can be,

Come to me...Here am I...Come to me...

If you try, you'll find me,

Where the sky meets the sea,

Here am I your special island

Come to me...Come to me...

Bali Ha'i...Bali Ha'i...Bali Ha'i...

Betty Carter - Open the Door

Open the door, dear.

I must get in your heart!

You're making it hard

to be true

So please, come open the door, dear

And then, perhaps, you'll find

you've had me on your mind.

No matter

how you tried to avoid me,

you can't get away so easy

If you will not come to me I'll come

to you

Open the door, please.

Why make me beg and beg?

Why torture me

like this?

Can't you see,

I've got love,

plenty love to give you.

I've got love,

lots of

love to give to you.

I've got love...

The Folk Implosion - Free to Go

Catching butterflies, line drives, watching TV

I had seven good years 'til they noticed they were looking at me

I didn't like what they see

Trapped in the back seat, stay on your side

My hand out the window feeling the air rush by

While my parents fight

Where did you go? Did I make you leave?

Another thing I didn't know

Nobody ever believes. They just leave, they just leave

And they'll see you on their own sweet time

They just leave

I didn't leave my room 'til I learned how to drive

I was sweet seventeen, fighting with the back of my mind

'Til the wheel was all mine

Free to go, but still to young to leave

Old enough to think I know

That nobody ever believes, they just leave, they just leave

My plane landed, I'm alive

I'm not fighting with the things

I never thought I'd do to survive

Now we've finally arrived

Now I know, more than I've ever believed

You could never let me know

You were just as young as me

You had to leave, you had to leave

All Along the Watchtower

Written by Bob Dylan

"There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,

"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.

Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,

None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."

"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,

"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.

But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,

So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."

All along the watchtower, princes kept the view

While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.

Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,

Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.

The Who - The Seeker

Written by Pete Townsend

I've looked under chairs

I've looked under tables

I've tried to find the key

To fifty million fables

[chorus:]

They call me The Seeker

I've been searching low and high

I won't get to get what I'm after

Till the day I die

I asked Bobby Dylan

I asked The Beatles

I asked Timothy Leary

But he couldn't help me either

[chorus]

People tend to hate me

'Cause I never smile

As I ransack their homes

They want to shake my hand

Focusing on nowhere

Investigating miles

I'm a seeker

I'm a really desperate man

I won't get to get what I'm after

Till the day I die

I learned how to raise my voice in anger

Yeah, but look at my face, ain't this a smile?

I'm happy when life's good

And when it's bad I cry

I've got values but I don't know how or why

I'm looking for me

You're looking for you

We're looking in at other

And we don't know what to do

[chorus]

Eels - Cancer For the Cure

The kids are diggin' up a brand new hole

Where to put deadbeat mom

Grandpa's happy watching video porn

With the closed-caption on

And father knows best

About suicide and smack

Well, hee hee hee

Cancer for the cure

Cancer for the cure

Buckle-up and endure now baby

Cancer for the cure

'Ol blue eyes is back again

But he was never here in the first place

A heart attack may be something to fear

But take a look out back

'Cause Courtney needs love

And so do I

Well, hee hee hee

Cancer for the cure

Cancer for the

Cure my baby

Buckle-up and endure now sweet thing

The cancer for the cure

Free - All Right Now

There she stood in the street

Smiling from her head to her feet

I said "Hey, what is this"

Now baby, maybe she's in need of a kiss

I said " Hey, what's your name baby"

maybe we can see things the same

Now don't you wait or hesitate

Let's move before they raise the parking rent

All right now baby, it's all right now

All right now baby, it's all right now

I took her home to my place

Watching ev'ry move on her face

She said " Look, what's your game baby

are you tryin' to put me in shame?"

I said " slow don't go so fast,

don't you think that love can last?"

She said " Love, Lord above,

now you're tryin' to trick me in love"

All right now baby, it's all right now

all right now baby, it's all right now

That's all for now, take care and I'll

be back with more in a few days

Don't Rain On My Parade

written by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne

performed by Barbra Streisand in the movie/musical "Funny Girl"

also recorded by Michael Ball, Bobby Darin, Debbie Gibson etc.

------

Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter,

Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter.

Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade.

Don't tell me not to fly-- I've simply got to.

If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you.

Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade!

I'll march my band out, I'll beat my drum,

And if I'm fanned out, Your turn at bat, sir.

At least I didn't fake it.

Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it!

But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection,

Or freckle on the nose of life's complexion,

The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye,

I gotta fly once, I gotta try once,

Only can die once, right, sir?

Ooh, love is juicy, juicy, and you see

I gotta have my bite, sir!

Get ready for me, love, 'cause I'm a "comer"

I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer.

Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!

I'm gonna live and live now,

Get what I want--I know how,

One roll for the whole shebang,

One throw, that bell will go clang,

Eye on the target--and wham--

One shot, one gun shot, and bam--

Hey, Mister Arnstein, here I am!

I'll march my band out, I will beat my drum,

And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir,

At least I didn't fake it.

Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it.

Get ready for me, love, 'cause I'm a "comer"

I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer.

Nobody, no, nobody

Is gonna rain on my parade!

Elliot Smith - Because

Written By Lennon and McCartney

Ah, because the world is round

it turns me on

Because the world is round

Ah, because the wind is high

it blows my mind

Because the wind is high

Ah, love is old, love is new

Love is all, love is you

Because the sky is blue

it makes me cry

Because the sky is blue

Ah, ah, ah, ah