Changing tracks: David Berman

David Berman, of the Silver Jews, shares his top five musical moments

TAKE THE SKINHEADS BOWLING
Camper Van Beethoven

This song came out when I was just starting college and it was the first song I ever learnt to play on guitar. But it also has meaning because I had two younger step-brothers who were both skinheads in Dallas. I got sent a news clipping from my parents who were very ashamed because my two brothers were in the ridiculous skinhead gang called the Confederate Hammerheads and had gone to a Camper Van Beethoven show to beat him up because of this song. They were chased out the club and had their van shot at with a shotgun by the club owner. It was such a farce.

SEASONS IN THE SUN
Terry Jacks

Way back in 1974 this song is one of the first I really remember. I must have been six or seven and remember going to the grocery store and hearing it. Obviously, I didn't understand the subtext of the lyrics like "Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die" but the singsong part of the chorus hooked me. It's quite a profound song too in that 1974 was really the end of the American glory days, or at least it felt like it.

AMERICAN PIE
Don McLean

The best song about a bygone era. I remember being fascinated by the lyrics. I took it all literally when I was younger; I'd spend ages trying to figure out what those guys were doing with the Chevy.

LONESOME LOSER
The Little River Band

The first EP I ever remember buying was by the Australian group the Little River Band. They were this big top 40 hit band and 'Lonesome Loser' was such a catchy number.

CALIFORNIA ÜBER ALLES
The Dead Kennedys

My cousin lived in California and he would come visit me and my grandmother sometimes; he really got me into punk and new wave. I once found this piece of paper of his with lyrics for 'Winnebago Warrior' and I honestly thought it was a poem he'd written. For ages I thought he was the greatest poet ever before I realised it was another Dead Kennedys song he'd just written down!

• The Silver Jews' new album, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, is released June 2
• www.myspace.com/silverjews