Fire in my Heart by the Super Furry Animals and Breathless by Nick Cave. Both are "our song" songs for me and Mrs Smurphy, especially the Cave, which I played live for her at our wedding.

For the last year or so, I've boo-hooed every time the Ripperton remix of Patrick Chardronnet's "Eve By Day" and Romboy & Bodzin's "Callisto" have popped up.

Andrew Harrison might understand. Or not, in which case I definitely need help.

Kilkelly/Mick Molloy et al (from Bringing it all back home)
Persuasion/Richard Thompson
Holy Ground/Traffic with Davy Spillane
Gulf Coast Highway/Nanci Griffith
Pog aon Oidche Earraich/Runrig.
Um, quite a celtic feel there, as befitting my ancestry.

Agree with "Persuasion" tears appear everytime.

I came to visit my dying father in the UK two years ago and managed to catch Jane Siberry in a tiny concert hall at Manchester University. Her version of "Calling All Angels" had me,as they say, in bits. I had a real struggle to control myself otherwise I would have interupted Jane's performance with my blubbering.

James Taylor's grief ridden tribute to his brother Alex "Enough To Be On your Way" also does it to me.

Same with Kate and Anna's "Go Leave"

Long ago as a young rather immature young man, Carole King's "Too Much Rain" from the "Music" album had me everytime. Now as a twilight years guy, I'm kind of taken aback to find that it still does.

Also "Icy Blue Heart" Emmylou's guvnor cover of John Hiatt's heartbreaking beauty.

Anyway enough "real man" blubbering. What makes me smile everytime though are the following:

Nina Simone's steamy, sexy version of "Sugar In My bowl" (Yes please three heaping spoonfuls!!!)

"The Laughing Policeman" (dont know why but I laugh along everytime)

XTC's giddy "Stupidly Happy"
Kimberley Rew's life affirming "Simple Pleasures"
and The Record's soaring, always smiling "Starry Eyes"

Thats it!!

Sunshine on Leith - The Proclaimers, does it every time, especially because I used to live there and now don't.

And even though it doesn't make me "actually" cry I truly think that Chic's "Happy Man" is one of the saddest songs ever. If the eponymous Happy Man was actually happy, he wouldn't need to assure of this as much as he does surely?

Bruce's Tunnel of Love, the album. I can't get through it without welling up at various points. Failed relationships, father and son stuff...blimey I'm starting to go now just thinking about it.

As a brother, every time. Including this time.

Mrs. Skirky blubs at this. we had very different upbringings.

Okay, so he's only got one tune, but it's a good one.

I cry uncontrollably when I hear What's The Matter Here. It reminds me of a young lad that I knew whose mother treated him like shit.

Carly Simon's Torch album always has me in pieces, but that's another story.

And Clive Gregson's reading of Home Is Where The Heart Is (a Richard Thompson original, I believe) reduces me to a quivering jelly.

What a great pop band Soft Cell were. I think the chorus is really emotional:

....tis a weepy

'For Old Time's Sake'

George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass'

Bill Withers' 'Let Me In Your Life'

to name but three...

by admitting that Mike & The Mechanics' song "The Living Years" has raised a blub or three chez moi.

doowop in Harlem is heartbreaking.
As are:-

Tank Park salute - Billy Bragg
California snow - Tom Russell
A heart needs a home - Richard and Linda Thompson
I will - Alison Krauss version
Islands - Paul Brady
Somebody pick up my pieces - Betty LaVette version
Hey,thats no way to say goodbye - Leonard Cohen
Shades of scarlet conquering - Joni Mitchell

by Paul Brady, as mentioned above, still gets me.

Also I still have on video a performance of Christy Moore singing 'Fairy Tale of New York' on Jools Holland's Later. He makes a stunning job of it and by the last chorus of 'how I love you baby' my bottom lip is a blur.

Despite being both in the dying embers of the last, pre-recent reform tour, of Planxty, I gather they fell out bigtime about the Island, too trite by far for Christy's republican stance and lead to much hurling of insults across interviews. I think they are the chalk and cheese of Irish folkishness, and whilst Christy tends to get the greater praise, Mr Brady is the better of the two, as well as being able to write a mean song. (Danmac can confirm after he has been to Cropredy, nearly enough to make me pack my tent.)