Newman is noted for his practice of writing lyrics from the perspective of a character far removed from Newman's own biography, often using the literary device of an unreliable narrator. For example, the 1972 song "Sail Away" is written as a slave trader's sales pitch to attract slaves, while the narrator of "Political Science" is a U.S. nationalist who complains of worldwide ingratitude toward America and proposes a brutally ironic final solution. One of his biggest hits, "Short People" was written from the perspective of "a lunatic" who hates short people. Here are thirty great songs from this brilliant artist, including hits from such movies as Toy Story and Parenthood.

Songlist: Burn On, I Love L.A, Mama Told Me Not to Come, Short People, Sail Away, You Can Leave Your Hat On, Bleeding All Over the Place, I Love to See You Smile, It's Money That I Love, Miami, Baltimore, Burn On, Cowboy, Davy The Fat Boy, Dixie Flyer, Feels Like Home, Gainesville, I Think Its Going to Rain Today, I Want You To Hurt Like I Do, In Germany Before The War, It's Lonely At The Top, It's Money That Matters, Living Without You, Louisiana 1927, Maria, Old Man, One More Hour, Political Science, Real Emotional Girl, Rednecks, and more