Songs about other songs

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Just picked up Low's Trust and the first song is "(That's How You Sing) Amazing Grace", and it got me to wondering how many songs there are out there that make very specific reference to another song. I'm sure there are tons, but the only other one that comes to mind right now is Tom Waits' "Tom Traubert's Blues" (with the reference to "Waltzing Matilda").

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 4 October 2002 18:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Spacemen 3 'Ode to Street Hassle' (in the title at least)

― stevo (stevo), Friday, 4 October 2002 18:45 (twenty-three years ago)

The Waltzing Matilda thing reminded me of Eric Bogle's "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" (famously covered by the Pogues).

― Manny Parsons (Rahul Kamath), Friday, 4 October 2002 18:58 (twenty-three years ago)

I know Elliott Smith gets no love 'round these parts, but I'm a fan and he fits in here 'cause he's done a bit of this song-referencing in his music.

"Baby Britain" makes reference to the record Revolver and the song "Crimson & Clover." "Pop In G" mentions "Sweet Caroline." "Waltz #2" references "Cathy's Clown" and quotes "You're No Good." "Plainclothes Man" quotes the phrase "European Son," although not referencing the song itself explicity.

And that's just off the top of my head. Elvis Costello quotes and echoes ("Ballad of Big Nothing" ferintance) pop up in Smith's tunes quite a bit.

And speaking of Elliott, Steve Maklmus mentions Dire Straits' "Brother In Arms" while mocking the hippie lovers "Jenny & the Ess-Dog."

There's probably a million more like this. Music geeks tend to make music of their own.

― wl (wl), Friday, 4 October 2002 19:52 (twenty-three years ago)

B-52's: "...with the jukebox playin' real loud / '96 tears'" from "Deadbeat Club."

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:28 (twenty-three years ago)

"'Sweet Home Alabama',
play that dead band's song..."
-Warren Zevon

― Joe (Joe), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:43 (twenty-three years ago)

"When Smokie Sings"

― Siegbran (eofor), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:51 (twenty-three years ago)

What's that Johnny Rivers song that references 'Sgt Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band"? And they go to the beach or something? "She's Here With Me" or something like that?

― andy, Friday, 4 October 2002 21:11 (twenty-three years ago)

What's that Johnny Rivers song that references 'Sgt Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band"? And they go to the beach or something? "She's Here With Me" or something like that?

"Summer Rain".

― Vic Funk, Friday, 4 October 2002 21:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Yo La Tengo's "Drug Test" has "And I'm listening to Wake of the Flood" in it.

― nickn (nickn), Saturday, 5 October 2002 05:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Shake Some Action, Psychotic Reaction,
No Satisfaction, Sky Pilot, Sky Saxon
That's what I like
That's what I like

Blitzkrieg Bop to the Jailhouse Rock
Stop Stop Stop At The Hop do the Bluejean Bop
That's what I like
That's what I like

Better get off my cloud 'cos two's a crowd,
Better get off the phone - there's nobody home
I'm gonna work it on out, I'm gonna Twist & Shout
I'm gonna Ride A White Swan and Get it on,
Let's all turn on!

Born To Lose those Summertime Blues
In Blue Suede Shoes, Le Hoodoo Gurus
That's what I like
That's what I like

Waiting for My Man, baby, Can The Can,
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, remember Sam The Sham?
That's what I like
That's what I like
That's what I like

Better get off my cloud 'cos two's a crowd,
Better get off the phone - there's nobody at home
I'm gonna work it on out, I'm gonna Twist & Shout
I'm gonna Ride A White Swan and Get it on,
Let's all turn on!

Turn on, turn on
Turn On

When You Walk in The Room, Sunny Afternoon,
A-Wop-Bop A-Loo-Bop, A-Lop-Bam-Boom
That's what I like
That's what I like

I like Sugar, Sugar, Talk, Talk, Money, Honey, Boardwalk
Who wears Short Shorts? (We wear Short Shorts!)
That's what I like
That's what I like
That's what I like

Turn on, Turn on
Turn on

-hoodoo gurus '(let's all) turn on'

― brian badword (badwords), Saturday, 5 October 2002 05:27 (twenty-three years ago)

i can't stand my neighbours/screaming ll the time/if i wasn't blasting sister ray/i would lose my mind

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Saturday, 5 October 2002 05:49 (twenty-three years ago)

*ALL the time. that is. it 's "new york new york" by the dictators.

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Saturday, 5 October 2002 05:51 (twenty-three years ago)

in a similar vein, the nasty on's 'amphetamine now!' drops about a hundred album titles: let it bleed, play with fire, living eyes, teenage head, too much too soon, anthem of the moon, space ritual, marquee moon, fire of love, there's a riot goin' on, country life, here come the warm jets, heaven tonight, easy action, hunky dory, maggot brain, chairs missing, smiley smile, surfer rosa, easter everywhere, sister, alive...

i'm too ignorant to figure out any more they may have named...

― brian badword (badwords), Saturday, 5 October 2002 08:34 (twenty-three years ago)

'When Do I Get To Sing My Way' by Sparks

― blueski, Saturday, 5 October 2002 09:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Oooh Oooh Ooooh! I just thought of a great example. What about Peter Schilling's 'Major Tom (Coming Home)'?

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 5 October 2002 17:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, that one references the subject matter of another song, but not the song itself.

Here's one where a song mentions a full album...Rheostatics "Dope Fiends and Boozehounds": "When the dop fiends laugh and say that it's too soon / Then they all go home and listen to The Dark Side of the Moon."

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Saturday, 5 October 2002 17:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Ok Mr. Nitpicky, the thread title says songs ABOUT other songs not songs that mention other songs. Make up your mind! ;)

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 5 October 2002 18:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Spacemen 3 'Ode to Street Hassle' (in the title at least)

Oh, VERY much in the music as well.

Suede's "These Are the Sad Songs" talks about just those things, in Brett's eyes (including "Lazyitis" and the recently discussed "Bill is Dead").

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 6 October 2002 03:47 (twenty-three years ago)

bubble gum music by the rock and roll dubble bubble trading card company of philadelphia 19141.

― brian badword (badwords), Sunday, 6 October 2002 04:09 (twenty-three years ago)

"(Like Marvin Said) What's Going On?" Arrested Development

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 6 October 2002 12:45 (twenty-three years ago)

"Your Own Worst Enemy" by TMBG mentions "Precious & Few" by Climax, and also mentions the singer's "messed up face".

― matt riedl (veal), Sunday, 6 October 2002 15:16 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

"like Mick Jagger said, I can't get no satisfaction"

Ton Loc - Funky Cold Medina

― harri, Thursday, 28 November 2002 17:36 (twenty-three years ago)

'2 of us' - suede.

― piscesboy, Thursday, 28 November 2002 17:42 (twenty-three years ago)

"Won't you tell your dad, 'Get off my back' / Tell him what we said about 'Paint It, Black'"

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 29 November 2002 06:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh, The Beta Band!

"Round The Bend":

I listened to The Beach Boys just a minute ago, Wild Honey
It's not the best album but its still pretty good
They've got some funny little love songs on there
It's not really a Brian's production
So its probably not as good as something like Pet Sounds

Loverley!

― Charlie (Charlie), Friday, 29 November 2002 06:40 (twenty-three years ago)

"Sinking in her grey eyes, singing 'We Will Fall' " - Radio Birdman

― Poppy (poppy), Friday, 29 November 2002 08:42 (twenty-three years ago)

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