songs in which the songwriter is confronted by fans

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Usually songs by old men.

For example, Nick Cave "We Call Upon the Author to Explain":

Well, I go guruing down the street, young people gather round my feet,
Ask me things, but I don't know where to start.
They ignite the powder-trail straight to my father's heart
And once again I call upon the author to explain

Another Nick Cave example, from "Oh My Lord":

They called at me through the fence
They were not making any sense
They claimed that I'd lost the plot
Kept saying that I was not
The man I used to be

From The Auteurs' "Some Changes":

This kid comes up to me, says "You've gotta raise your game."
This kid is half my age. "Pleased to meet you, Mr Haines."

Or David Bowie, "Teenage Wildlife":

You'll take me aside, and say
"Well, David, what shall I do?
They wait for me in the hallway."
I'll say "Don't ask me, I don't know any hallways"

More!

Eyeball Kicks, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 20:52 (twelve years ago)

Teenage Wildlife by Bowie? Although they really confront the star (Gary Numan?) that comes to Bowie for help

Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 20:55 (twelve years ago)

Oh shit, should have read the rest of the post...sorry

Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 20:55 (twelve years ago)

Neil's "Mr. Soul" and Minor Threat's "Cashing In"--sort of.

clemenza, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 20:56 (twelve years ago)

I thought of Neil Young's On the Beach too but it doesn't exactly fit

space phwoar (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 20:57 (twelve years ago)

1,2,3,4
It was an average night backstage at a show
I seen this girlie that I knew, she was a cutie and Yo!
She had it goin' on from her head to her feet
Her shape was so petite, and so unique
Her eyes flamed with passion like she was possessed
As I shivered and quivered while she rubbed on my chest
'Slaved and engraved I couldn't scream
Moaning and groaning like she could take on the A-Team
I was one of many that she'd choose
Do me, pursue me, twice as nice but don't refuse
Leaving her breathless as the sweat poured on
The spot that I was in was so soft and warm
This was far from a story you will find in a book
Hot off the platter, and boy, could she cook
Roastin' my body it left a stain in my brain
And all I kept sayin' to myself was

Stop that train, I want to get off
Stop that train, I want to get off

Oh my God, what have I got into?
Sooner or later I thought she'd get the clue
'Cause my body was tired and full of sweat and perspire
The situation I was in could've started a campfire
No more skeezin' and teasin' for the Ice right now
I found me a corner, play it cool for a while
Just mackin' and schemin' on a woman I thought was cool
But now I realize that the Ice was the fool
'Cause a woman will play you, lay you and obey you
You better watch your back 'cause a woman will slay you
Not to mention the one who got me
Yea, she got me, the I-see-E
But, back to the story of a one night stand
I thought I was strong but she was He-man
Lovin' every second tryin' to make me blush
And all 'n all it was for the lust
I though, she was an angel and soft as a cream puff
Until I seen her come out with the whip and handcuffs
Breathin' down my neck I was scared to death
The sweat from my body as it rolls down my neck
And out of all nights, where was my crew?
'Cause this was somethin' I didn't know what to do
D already told me that the girlie was strange
But I didn't know until she pulled out the chains
Walkin' and stalkin' towards me with a plan
And now I regret all the things I was sayin'
Now the moment is critical, so what should I do?
Leave while I can, or just take the abuse
Now I'm drippin' with sweat, Why? 'Cause I'm afraid
Handcuffs and chains is a game I don't play
No doubt in my mind that the girlie is the boss
Stop this train 'cause I want to get off

Stop that train, I want to get off
Stop that train, I want to get off

Later on that night as it got worse
My body's steamin' up and I was ready to burst
She had me hot as a skillet taken from a flame
And my admission was free for me to ride on this train
Yea, I must admit to myself, it was fun
But, now I'm lookin' for my shoes, I'm ready to run
So, now I'm hopin' and prayin' for the moment to come
'Cause I couldn't move and my body was numb

So, now what have I done to get myself into this?
It started from a kiss, now I'm ready to resist
I couldn't take it no more, on the bed, or the floor
My knees were gettin' weak and my back was gettin' sore
The room was destroyed, not to mention my body
Why did I ever tell her to "Pump it, Hottie?"
What could I do to just ease the pain?
I think I'll let the hook just try to explain

Stop that train, I want to get off
Stop that train, I want to get off

congratulations (n/a), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 20:59 (twelve years ago)

Eminem's "Stan," obviously.

clemenza, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:00 (twelve years ago)

Would "American Woman" by The Guess Who qualify?
I always assumed the woman was a fan.
And, um, American.

Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:01 (twelve years ago)

Def Leppard
"Getcha Rocks Off"

Well, we were gettin' ready just the other night
When a knock on the dressing room door
Gave way to a leather jacket little girl
Who we'd never ever seen before

In her red satin dress and her high heeled shoes
She took us all by surprise
And when she asked us what we wanted to do
She said it with her eyes

Just getcha rocks off, whoa

Well, when we finally took the stage
There she was but she wasn't on her own
'Cos shed brought some friends maybe 5 or 6
Yeah, she must have been on the phone

And when they started dancing and jumping around
Well, we couldn’t believe our eyes
'Cos they'd got the whole damn audience rockin'
And they'd got us paralyzed

Just getcha rocks off

Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:02 (twelve years ago)

And one that nobody knows unless you're Canadian: Valdy's "Rock and Roll Song," in which he gets booed and heckled by fans (including some "track star") for playing folk music--sort of Newport '65 in reverse.

clemenza, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:06 (twelve years ago)

probably best not approach Peter Hammill after a gig:

Hunched in the corner of the dressing-room,
trying to get back to the real...
Uh-oh, here they come, ready for their meal:

Energy Vampires, crawling out of the wall,
they want to steal my vitality,
they want to drink it all.

This guy says that he wrote all my songs,
this girl says she's had my baby –
me, I don't know them from Adam and Eve,
sometimes I really believe I'm going crazy.

"Excuse me while I suck your blood,
excuse me when I phone you,
I've got every one of your records, man,
doesn't that mean I own you?"
Oh, sure, I long ago decided to make myself an exponent
of public possession in the private obsession zone.

But now I'm serious, let's be serious,
I'm not selling you my soul,
try to put it in the records
but I've got to keep my life my own.
One thing I've not got a lot of is time
and it's slipping away...

I've got a life to live too.

Ah, here they come...
Vampires!

poking pocong (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:08 (twelve years ago)

The Fall's "How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'", the whole song basically but this in particular

"But in the town
They'll stop me in the shoppes
Verily they'll track me down
Touch my shoulder and ignore my dumb mission
And sick red faced smile
And they will ask me
And they will ask me
How I wrote "Elastic Man""

chr1sb3singer, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:08 (twelve years ago)

Wow. So bitter... (xp)

Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:09 (twelve years ago)

i know, right?

poking pocong (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:14 (twelve years ago)

Outkast, "2 Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)"

This ol sucka MC stepped up to me
Challenged Andre to a battle and I stood there patiently
As he spit and stumbled over cliches, so called freestylin
Whole purpose just to make me feel low, I guess you whylin
I say look boi, I ain't for that fuck shit; so fuck this
Let me explain on this child style so you don't miss
I grew up to myself not round no park bench
just a nigga bustin flows off in apartments

only built 4 cuban twinx... (The Reverend), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:15 (twelve years ago)

Not a song, but there's a great bit in Dylan's Chronicles when he's accosted by another musician asking him where he's planning to "take music to next"

Dr X O'Skeleton, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:16 (twelve years ago)

and "Elevators" too

Got stopped at the mall the other day
Heard a call from the other way
that I just came from, some nigga was sayin somethin
talkin bout "Hey man, you remember me from school?" smoke some
Naw not really but he kept smilin like a clown
facial expression lookin silly
And he kept askin me, what kind of car you drive, I know you paid
I know y'all got beaucoup of hoes from all them songs that y'all done made
And I replied that I had been goin through tha same thing that he had
True I got more fans than the average man but not enough loot to last me
to the end of the week, I live by the beat like you live check to check
If you don't move yo' foot then I don't eat, so we like neck to neck
Yes we done come a long way like them Slim ass cigarettes
from Virginia, this ain't gon stop so we just gonna continue

only built 4 cuban twinx... (The Reverend), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:17 (twelve years ago)

Eazy :D

don't ask to battle me home boy what's that
you wanna battle me boy ya better be strapped
cause where I'm from it ain't all about that playin'
[gun shots]
now that's what I'm sayin'

poking pocong (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:17 (twelve years ago)

and of course the whole of Ice Cube's "Get Off My Dick"

poking pocong (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:18 (twelve years ago)

haha yes

only built 4 cuban twinx... (The Reverend), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:19 (twelve years ago)

Is there a song off "the Wall" like this?

Poliopolice, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:23 (twelve years ago)

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF A SWAMP FOX
(Tony Joe White)

I step off off the aeroplane
And the hall cuts through my clothes
Like I was naked
I walked down to the bagage claim
And the situation there is what I expected
My bags were left in Memphis
And I am standing there wondering what to do?
When a cat walks up from the local news
And says: Can I get an interview?
No, no, no, no I said no, no, no, no
No, no, no
Another night in the life of a swamp fox

We get into a taxi cab and we're late
So we rush down to the Colosseum
Promotion man at the front door
And I can tell no matter what I say
That I just want to please him
He said that the tickets are selling to slow
And now it's starting to rain
When a cat walks up with a soulful look
And says: Can you spare some change?
No, no, no, no he said no, no, no, no
No baby
Another night in the life of a swamp fox

And now we walk out on the stage
And we get into a thing called Polk Salad Annie
...Ungr for some of you never been down south...
And it's looking like we got it made
Til it gets to the part where it says
...That the 'gators got your granny...
The people are feeling the music
And the groove is knocking me out
When a cat hollers out from the front row
And says: Can you play it wipe out?

No, no, no, no I said no, baby
No, no, no, no
Another night in the life of a swamp fox
No, I can't play that song

i guess i'd just rather listen to canned heat? (ian), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:24 (twelve years ago)

Smiths "Paint a Vulgar Picture"

his girlfriend was all 'ugh and he wears a solar backpack' (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:27 (twelve years ago)

or maybe that's backwards (and more like the Carpenters' Superstar)

his girlfriend was all 'ugh and he wears a solar backpack' (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:28 (twelve years ago)

ziggy stardust....

m0stlyClean, Thursday, 14 March 2013 03:40 (twelve years ago)

That Peter Hammill song is indeed fantastically bitter but it was written in response to a specific situation, he never intended it as a general comment on his fans.

my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Thursday, 14 March 2013 09:28 (twelve years ago)

At the opposite extreme lies...

Incredible String Band, "The Letter"

"Mister Postman have you got a letter for me?
Mr. Heron, yes I have yes I have
Too much I've got a letter I said with some joy
It came from Maria, Chicago, Illinois"

Step not on a loose unforgiving stone on a pyramid to paradise (Tom D.), Thursday, 14 March 2013 11:46 (twelve years ago)

And then again there's...

Lou Reed "NY Stars"

"They say, I'm so empty
no surface, no depth
Oh, please, can I be you
your personality's so great"

... strictly speaking that's about other musicians but other musicians who are fans of Lou Reed

Step not on a loose unforgiving stone on a pyramid to paradise (Tom D.), Thursday, 14 March 2013 11:49 (twelve years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXLpJmKoArg

an average girl realizing that leggings aren't helping the cause (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 14 March 2013 12:35 (twelve years ago)

White Stripes' Take Take Take is about exactly that, although it's told via a story about Rita Hayworth so may not count.

Deafening silence (DL), Thursday, 14 March 2013 12:54 (twelve years ago)

Pet Shop Boys, 'Yesterday, When I Was Mad'

Half of these sound like rappers. (snoball), Thursday, 14 March 2013 12:56 (twelve years ago)

how about The Cure's (second-)worst single:

It started with a dedication
"lost in admiration - happy birthday - I'm forever yours - blossom"
Faded red inside a tiny book of butterflies
I smiled surprised at how when flickered through
The wings flew by spelled out my name...

Six months went by the summer lost
Obsessively the letters dropped into my life
The same soft blood smooth flowing hand
"please try to understand - I have to see you - have to feel you -
Tell you all the ways I need you - yours forever in love... "

Strange attraction spreads it's wings
It varies but the smallest things
You never know how anything will change
Strange attraction spreads it's wings
And alters but the smallest things
You never know how anything will fade

The year grew old incessantly she wrote to me
She'd started smoking poetry!
I laughed in recognition of a favourite phrase
She'd pulled me in...
I answered her
A christmas card in sepia
Arranging when and where
And how the two of us should meet...

Her opening so well prepared
A nervous smile
I couldn't take my eyes from her
She whispered
"can I use some of your lipstick?"
It was perfect so believable
I couldn't help but feel that it was real
And kissing crimson fell into her waiting arms...

Strange attraction spreads it's wings
It varies but the smallest things
You never know how anything will change
Strange attraction spreads it's wings
And alters but the smallest things
You never know how anything will fade

So alone into the cold new year without another word from her
I wrote to ask if we could maybe meet again before the spring
But weeks went by with no reply until once more my birthday came
And with it my surprise but this time nothing was the same...

"I'm sorry - blame infatuation - blame imagination -
I was sure you'd be the one but I was wrong -
It seems reality destroys our dreams - I won't forget you - blossom"
Faded red inside a tiny book of old goodbyes...

Strange attraction spreads it's wings
It varies but the smallest things
You never know how anything will change
Strange attraction spreads it's wings
And alters but the smallest things
And you never know...

Darth Icky (DJP), Thursday, 14 March 2013 17:08 (twelve years ago)

JUDAS

乒乓, Thursday, 14 March 2013 17:10 (twelve years ago)

this dude at white castle asked for my autograph so i signed it, 'dear dave, thanks for the support... asshole'

îron swanson (Whiney G. Weingarten), Thursday, 14 March 2013 17:14 (twelve years ago)

From both perspectives, the Who, "The Punk and the Godfather":

PUNK:
You declared you would be three inches taller
You only became what we made you.
Thought you were chasing a destiny calling
You only earned what we gave you.
You fell and cried as our people were starving,
Now you know that we blame you.
You tried to walk on the trail we were carving,
Now you know that we framed you.

G.F.:
I'm the guy in the sky
Flying high Flashing eyes
No surprise I told lies
I'm the punk in the gutter
I'm the new president
But I grew and I bent
Don't you know? don't it show?
I'm the punk with the stutter.
My my my my my mmmm my my my.

GGGGG-g-g-g-g generation.

PUNK:
We tried to speak between lines of oration
You could only repeat what we told you.
Your axe belongs to a dying nation,
They don't know that we own you.
You're watching movies trying to find the feelers,
You only see what we show you.
We're the slaves of the phony leaders
Breathe the air we have blown you.

G.F.:
I'm the guy etc.

I have to be careful not to preach
I can't pretend that I can teach,
And yet I've lived your future out
By pounding stages like a clown.
And on the dance floor broken glass,
And bloody faces slowly pass,
The numbered seats in empty rows,
It all belongs to me you know.

PUNK:
You declared etc.

Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Thursday, 14 March 2013 17:59 (twelve years ago)

not so much "confrontational", but another sweet Andre 3000 example (scans terribly on the page, sorry):

See we do it for that boy that graduated
That looked you in your eyes real tough and said 'preciate it
And that he wouldn'ta made it if it wasn't for your CD number 9
And he's standing with his baby mama Kiki and she cryin', talkin 'bout
That they used to get high to me in high school
And they used to make love to me in college
Then they told me 'bout their first date, listenin' to my tunes
And how he liked her finger nail polish.
I say hate to cut you off but I gotta go;
I wish you could tell me mo, but I'm off to the studio, gotta write tonight
"Hey, can you put us in your rap?" I don't see why not.

fiscal cliff racer (bernard snowy), Thursday, 14 March 2013 18:11 (twelve years ago)

Exodus' "Bonded By Blood" talks about their fans... IN THE PIT, MOTHERFUCKER!

Murder in the front row, crowd begins to bang
And there's blood upon the stage
Bang your head against the stage
And metal takes its price, bonded by blood

Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:10 (twelve years ago)

Sometimes, the feeling
Prevails upon em so hard, beloved
But they just have to
Mount up on the stage
And get to gigging with the band
And when they do, uh oh
Here comes the security fuzz!
And the scene is something like this
"Hey, you guys are really good, man
I dig up on you guys.
When you gonna play
Smokin In The…ow ow ow
Man, you made me drop my
Bottle of wine on the floor..."

- Brownsville Station, The Kings of The Party

brio, Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:25 (twelve years ago)


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