Can you name the song with this interesting origin?

[Clash City Rocker]

1. This Elvis Presley hit was inspired by a suicide note.
2. This Beatles song was about a family pet.
3. This Sam & Dave classic was written because one of the songwriters stayed in the bathroom too long.
4. This Elton John song was adapted from a short story by Ray Bradbury.
5. The title of this Paul Simon song was borrowed from a menu item at a Chinese restaurant.
6. The title of this Aerosmith song came from a joke in a Mel Brooks movie.
7. This Bonnie Tyler hit was originally about vampires.
8. The lyrics to this Blondie song were directed at a stalker.

Can anyone name any of these songs? Does anyone know of another song whose origins were unusual in some way? Let me know.

[Scrivener7]

1. For 7, I guess Betty Davis Eyes. And for 8, One Way or Another I'm Gonna Find You?

Other than that I have no guesses.

But great thread!

[Clash City Rocker]

6. You're correct about #8!

I was always puzzled by the lyrics to “One Way or Another.” Show says she’s going to get someone, then says she’ll give him the slip. Does she want to get him, or get rid of him? Turns out that Deborah Harry had a stalker, and the lyrics were a threat that she was going to get him and turn him over to the police. Good job!

[EYESORE 9001]

2. I am guessing 'Rocket Man' for #4

[Clash City Rocker]

12. You're right!

Bernie Taupin has acknowledged that the lyrics were inspired by a Ray Bradbury short story named “Rocket Man,” and by another song by a band called Pearls Before Swine, which was also based on Bradbury’s story. Apparently, Ray Bradbury was popular with rock artists of the time. Who knew?

[kimimer]

3. 3. This Sam & Dave classic

Hold On, I'm Coming

[Delphinus]

9. Welcome to DU!

[Clash City Rocker]

14. Welcome to DU, it's a great place. And, you're right!

From the Wikipedia entry…”The song was written by the songwriting team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter, who came up with the title of the song spontaneously when Hayes was trying to get Porter to hurry out of the Stax Studios restroom and get back to songwriting.”

[Mr. Ected]

4. 5 is Mother and Child Reunion

8 is One Way or Another

[Clash City Rocker]

16. That's right!

Paul Simon had lost a pet dog, and wrote the song about the sadness he felt as a result. He didn’t have a title until he visited a Chinese restaurant that had a chicken and egg dish called “Mother and Child Reunion.”

And, as stated above, you were also correct about #8. Well done.

[Mr. Ected]

17. I knew a couple of the others, too

But I wanted to let someone else have some fun, too!

I'm a total nerd about these things.

[thucythucy]

5. Number 1

is Heartbreak Hotel.

2 is Martha My Dear.

3 is Hold On, I'm Coming (I think)

4 Rocket Man?

5 Mother and Child Reunion

I'm not sure if this qualifies, but Leonard Cohen's "Bird on the Wire" was inspired by the small Greek village where he was living at the time getting wired for electricity.

[Clash City Rocker]

19. Look at the big brain on thucythucy!

All those are correct.

The suicide note said “I walk a lonely street.” The rest was history. One of the songwriters was the mother of another great songwriter, Hoyt Axton.

Martha was the name of Paul McCartney’s beloved sheepdog.

Oh, and now I have to look up more info on “Bird on a Wire.” Thanks!

[thucythucy]

30. I read this in an interview somewhere:

that Cohen had gone to live in a small Greek village to get away from the modern world, but while there the government came in and electrified the place.

Cohen was bummed by the idea that even in so remote a place he couldn't get away from the world. And yes, he saw birds on the wires. Also, many nights a group of guys, after much to drink, would sing in a "midnight choir."

I love that song.

Best wishes.

[JHB]

7. 6: Love in an Elevator?

Guessing.

[hatrack]

8. Well . . .

Pretty sure #1 is Heartbreak Hotel

#2 is Martha My Dear

#7 Total Eclipse Of The Heart

[Clash City Rocker]

21. All correct!

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” was written by Jim Steinman, who also wrote Meat Loaf’s best songs. The lyrics make a little more sense when you know it was originally for a musical about vampires. Good job!

[Glorfindel]

10. A couple of guesses

#1 "Heartbreak Hotel"
#2 "Hey Bulldog"
#7 "Total Eclipse of the Heart"

Just guesses, but what a fun post. Thanks, Rocker!

[Blues Heron]

11. 6 - Walk This Way

[Clash City Rocker]

22. Yes! You're the first to get that one right!

There was a “walk this way” gag in “Young Frankenstein,” which the band had recently seen. Man, you people know your music trivia. Good job!

[Blues Heron]

24. thanks! great thread CCR

[Emile]

13. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley

[nuxvomica]

15. 2. Rocky Raccoon, 5. Mother and Child Reunion, 7. Total Eclipse of the Heart

Totally off the top of my head without looking at other resaponses. The only one I'm sure about is 5.

[usedtobedemgurl]

18. Number 2 is Jet

If I remember properly, from Jeopardy. My concussion often confuses me.

[nuxvomica]

25. Oh, I think that's right!

I seem to remember that too.

[intheflow]

27. No, it's Martha My Dear.

Jet was a song by Paul McCartney's post-Beatles band, Wings. Since Paul wrote Martha My Dear, it's likely that he was inspired by another pet to write Jet.

[usedtobedemgurl]

29. Shucks! You are right....it was single and not the band....

I should know this, as I have over 200 Beatles albums….different versions/different countries/bootlegs, etc….

[spanone]

20. Heartbreak Hotel, Martha my Dear, Hold on, I'm Comin, Rocket Man, Mother & Child Reunion...

Walk This Way, Bette Davis Eyes, One Way or Another

#7 Is actually 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'

[Clash City Rocker]

23. Wow, I'm impressed by how quickly you guys answered all of these

DU sure has some smart people. Good job to all.

[Totally Tunsie]

26. Shouldn't this be in the Lounge?

[BlackSkimmer]

28. Yes. nt