Summer’s here, and that means that no matter what you drive (’67 Chevy Impala preferred, natch) you’re probably going on a road trip. To help you survive Hellatus, I have compiled a second volume of Supernaturally awesome tunes to sing, and in some cases cry, along with as you cruise the open road. Reminder: BEFORE you yell at me for not including ten of the most obvious songs (come on, people, would I really leave “Carry On Wayward Son” out of the mix?) please check out Volume One here.

1. Back in Black, AC/DC

Let’s start off strong with a tune that has one of the most recognizable opening riffs in rock and roll and features, appropriately, two brothers who have spent their lives together kicking ass. Back in Black helped set the tone of the Pilot and, one could argue, the tone of the whole damned series. Is there anything better than hearing Baby’s growl accompanied by a wailing guitar as she races to the next gank? I think not.

2. Wheel in the Sky, Journey

Back in Black was also seen in Season Two’s “Bloodlust”, awesomely serenading a fully restored Baby as she rides once more. Equally awesome? The recap of Sam and Dean’s love and loss of their beloved Papa John, set to the sounds of Steve Perry and a guitar that should have to pay Eric Clapton royalties. Nine seasons in it remains my favorite opening montage song. I mean, come on. How cool is this? The. Coolest.

3. Don’t Look Back, Boston

I went into the two-part Season Two finale, “All Hell Breaks Loose” as a loyal fan of the show. I came out of it obsessed. I can’t imagine how it must have been to watch that level of perfection as it aired live, knowing the show was on the bubble. I’m immeasurably grateful that the show wasn’t canceled, but if it had been, at least it would have ended on Sam and Dean’s triumph at killing the Yellow Eyed Demon at last, knowing that, although that phase of their life was done, there was work to do and they would do it together. This song isn’t only about completion, it’s about letting things go, learning what you can, believing in yourself and moving on. And that’s exactly what Dean did, even as he was damned to Hell.

4. Burnin’ For You, Blue Oyster Cult

Featured in Season One’s “Hell House”, the episode that introduced us to the Ghost!…Ghostfacers! It’s no secret that I love Harry and Ed almost as much as I love the BOC, and this is my favorite song of theirs. Ever. Plus any song featuring the line “I’m livin’ for givin’ the devil his due…” makes me think of bad boy Lucifer, and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

5. Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival

Is it possible to hear this song and not picture three unconscious, bleeding Winchesters in a demolished Impala? Such a jaunty little ditty with such ominous lyrics, the perfect background song to the start of Season Two. Lyrically speaking, it’s right on: all about earthquakes and lightnin’, rage and ruin, “hope you are quite prepared to die.” If the apocalypse had a theme song, this would be it, and no one does the apocalypse like the Winchesters.

6. Lonely is the Night, Billy Squier

“Lonely is the night, when you find yourself alone. Your demons come to light and your mind is not your own.” This song was the recap song in Season Four’s episode “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Dean Winchester” but was much better used in Season Nine’s “Captives” as the song Dean listens to in his headphones, alone in his beloved bunker bedroom. Earlier in the season, Dean defined his family as him, Sam, Kevin and Cas. At this point, Kevin’s dead, Cas is off trying to get angels back into Heaven, and Sam’s not really speaking to him. Dean has no one—feels screwed and abandoned. But he’s also looking for some payback, and there’s no doubt he’s singing along with other lyrics, too. “It’s high time to fight when the walls are closin’ in. Call it what you like—it’s time you got to win.”

7. No One Like You, The Scorpions

This track was featured in Season One’s “Bugs”, which is not amongst anyone’s favorite episodes (not even Jensen Ackles’, though who can blame him after being covered with hundreds of bees?) Still, this song is an undeniably sexy tune about a dude constantly on the road who is longing for love, so it totally works. Who doesn’t want to listen to this and fantasize about a Winchester? “I imagine the things we’ll do” indeed.

8. O Death, Jen Titus

What a scene that was. Death himself, played by the incomparable Julian Richings, exiting his gorgeous white Cadillac to walk the streets of an about to be destroyed Chicago, on his way to pick up a pizza before witnessing the deaths of 3,000,000 people. He gets bumped into by a walking corpse, brushes off his shoulder and goes on his way, quite literally leaving death in his wake. Haunting and beautiful and all thing shuddery, this song chills your very soul.

9. The Famous Final Scene, Bob Seger

Just like Sam and Dean undoubtedly did, I grew up listening to Bob Seger, and the show has used his music well in several episodes. They waited nine seasons to use this track, certainly Seger’s most beautiful, and it couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. The song echoes Dean’s devastation at the death of Kevin Tran, and the gentle piano and soulful vocals make your throat ache. Listen to all of the lyrics, and try to tell me they don’t suit Dean perfectly. It is heartbreaking, in all the best ways.

10. Can’t Find My Way Home, Blind Faith

And speaking of heartbreaking, such is Season Nine’s closing song, playing while Metatron sulks in the slammer, Castiel ponders the length of his future without grace, and Sam, grief overcoming him, lays his beloved brother’s body down before trying to drink himself into oblivion. Oh, the melancholy of this song. The wistfulness. The utter agony. Perfectly framing the loss of our beloved Dean to a fate worse than death. The lyrics echo what we all feel as Season Nine draws to a close, leaving us, just like Sam and Cas, wondering what to do next. “Well, I’m near the end and I just ain’t got the time. And I’m wasted and I can’t find my way home.”

[8tracks url=”http://8tracks.com/nanea-h/10-more-songs-to-listen-to-while-saving-people-hunting-things” ]

So that now makes twenty suggestions from me to your iPod. What say you, fandom? Tell me what I should consider for Volume Three.

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