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Bombero1956

(3,539 posts) Mon Jan 6, 2014, 04:21 PM Jan 2014

How many songs can you think of that mention a real person, I'll start [View all]

1. Walking Down Memphis- Elvis (The King) W. C. Handy
2. Key Largo- Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart
3. Candle in the Wind- Marilyn Monroe
4. Thunder Road- Roy Orbison
5. Rock n Roll in the USA- Young Rascals, Martha Reeves, James Brown etc.

142 replies

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Highlight:

How many songs can you think of that mention a real person, I'll start [View all] Bombero1956 Jan 2014 OP

Simon and Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson aint_no_life_nowhere Jan 2014 #1

"Centerfield" John Fogerty malthaussen Jan 2014 #47

This message was self-deleted by its author Avalux Jan 2014 #88

"(Jackie Wilson Said) I'm in Heaven When You Smile" (Van Morrison) n/t Mister Ed Jan 2014 #93

a few MissMillie Jan 2014 #2

The Kinks "Celluloid Heros" Rowdyboy Jan 2014 #3

LOVE that song!!! ailsagirl Jan 2014 #9

I love the Kinks in general but Celluloid Heros really haunts me.... Rowdyboy Jan 2014 #19

LOTS of people appreciate the Kinks ailsagirl Jan 2014 #31

The Who and The Kinks PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #74

YES!! ailsagirl Jan 2014 #77

Didn't Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" NewJeffCT Jan 2014 #4

Creeque Alley (The Mamas & the Papas) pinboy3niner Jan 2014 #5

Hey, Jude Iwillnevergiveup Jan 2014 #6

By the great Beatles. Boomerproud Jan 2014 #45

Here's one ABOUT a Beatle...."Empty Garden" PassingFair Jan 2014 #108

"We didn't start the fire" - Billy Joel (mentioned just about everybody). raccoon Jan 2014 #7

LOL, We Didn't Start the Fire was my first thought. MH1 Jan 2014 #121

Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead NewJeffCT Jan 2014 #8

Here are a few nolabear Jan 2014 #10

Bob Dylan's "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" ailsagirl Jan 2014 #11

"Bette Davis Eyes" ailsagirl Jan 2014 #12

"American Pie" Don McLean ailsagirl Jan 2014 #13

You Haven't Done Nothin' Iwillnevergiveup Jan 2014 #14

Uptown Girl Iwillnevergiveup Jan 2014 #15

"Starry Starry Night" (Vincent Van Gogh) by Don McLean mainer Jan 2014 #16

another Bob Dylan song Bombero1956 Jan 2014 #17

Eagles-James Dean bluesbassman Jan 2014 #18

Sweet Home Alabama RebelOne Jan 2014 #20

"In Birmingham they love the Governor" -- George Wallace Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2014 #30

first thought w.as a lot of rem songs d_r Jan 2014 #21

Yes - like "It's the End of he World" cyberswede Jan 2014 #23

right. d_r Jan 2014 #32

Bit more of an obscure one, but "Maps and Legends" is about the artist and minister Howard Finster: nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #95

The Ballad of Sipro Agnew by John Denver cyberswede Jan 2014 #22

The Dylan list would be huge hibbing Jan 2014 #24

"The Death of Emmett Till" --add to that list. nt raccoon Jan 2014 #70

Only A Pawn In Their Game rug Jan 2014 #25

"Jesus Is Just Alright," by the Doobie Brothers RebelOne Jan 2014 #26

Ozzy Osborne: Mr.Crowley (With the late great Randy Rhoads) bluesbassman Jan 2014 #27

Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder - Basie, Miller, Satchmo (Armstrong), Sir Duke (Ellington), Ella Fitzgerald DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2014 #28

I Do the Rock, by Tim Curry. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2014 #29

Baby Blue by Badfinger hack89 Jan 2014 #33

Yo La Tengo - "Tom Courtenay" nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #34

Kim Carnes, via inference in Tori Amos' "Glory of the 80s" Tommy_Carcetti Jan 2014 #35

In memory pipi_k Jan 2014 #36

Pablo Picasso lame54 Jan 2014 #37

oh yeah - haven't heard that one in a while - thanks! TheOldDancingBear Jan 2014 #138

I know that one from David Bowie's "Reality" CD. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2014 #142

"We're the Boingers" Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #38

THpbbtt! kcr Jan 2014 #58

Ack! Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #66

For those who don't know this 80's classic: Common Sense Party Jan 2014 #90

You must all be youngsters:"Abraham, Martin, and John" Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2014 #39

No kidding, that was the first song I thought of. malthaussen Jan 2014 #42

Cole Porter's "You're the Top"--It mentions everybody Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2014 #40

Starry Starry Night riverwalker Jan 2014 #41

Velvet Underground "New Age" Robert Mitchum Tom Ripley Jan 2014 #43

"Life is a Rock, but the Radio Rolled Me" malthaussen Jan 2014 #44

"Let's Think About Livin'" by Bob Lumen malthaussen Jan 2014 #46

This thread has a ton of them, too: Arugula Latte Jan 2014 #48

Gott Erhalte Franz den Kaiser Sognefjord Jan 2014 #49

Sun Kil Moon- "Glenn Tipton" enigmatic Jan 2014 #50

Peter Laughner - "Sylvia Plath" enigmatic Jan 2014 #51

Phil Ochs- "Jim Dean Of Indiana" enigmatic Jan 2014 #52

Tonight's The Night.......Neil Young Teamster Jeff Jan 2014 #53

He was also Jan Berry's brother Tom Ripley Jan 2014 #82

Country Joe and the Fish Ghost of Tom Joad Jan 2014 #54

and "Janis" (for Janis Joplin) ailsagirl Jan 2014 #64

Also can't forget CSN's "Ohio" PRETZEL Jan 2014 #78

Ah, yes n/t ailsagirl Jan 2014 #84

Thank You Daniel Ellsberg - Bloodrock SkatmanRoth Jan 2014 #55

"Mack the Knife" femmocrat Jan 2014 #56

I never knew Lotte Lenya was a real person... CherokeeDem Jan 2014 #107

Check out everything by Kurt Weill. An underappreciated genius. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2014 #125

Morrissey - "The Last of the Famous International Playboys": Reggie and Ronnie Kray Codeine Jan 2014 #57

Also "Michael's Bones" referring to Michael Ryan who perpetrated the Hungerford Massacre: nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #96

Garden Party - Rick Nelson Contrary1 Jan 2014 #59

Here's one that's got Jesus, Pilate, Anastasia, and the Kennedys Captain Stern Jan 2014 #60

Jack and Diane ... James Dean LissaMac Jan 2014 #61

Oliver Cromwell Llewlladdwr Jan 2014 #62

Along with Beethoven, Mozart... GoCubsGo Jan 2014 #86

Biko - Peter Gabriel progressoid Jan 2014 #63

I think Dylan wrote the beautiful "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for Joan Baez ailsagirl Jan 2014 #65

Many critics think it is about his wife Sara hack89 Jan 2014 #71

Could be true ailsagirl Jan 2014 #85

Timothy Leary & Smokey Robinson BobUp Jan 2014 #67

Lizzie Borden - Chad Mitchel Trio SkatmanRoth Jan 2014 #68

I ADORE CHAD MITCHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Met him (and Joe and Mike) a couple times in recent years. WinkyDink Jan 2014 #80

Thunder on the Mountain (Dylan) -- Alicia Keyes Waiting For Everyman Jan 2014 #69

Bowie has several... Tom Ripley Jan 2014 #72

Bananarama "Robert De Niro's Waiting" n/t PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #73

Layla -- Eric Clapton, inspired in part by Patti Boyd. magical thyme Jan 2014 #75

Arthur Conley 'Sweet Soul Music' Jetboy Jan 2014 #76

"Spotlight on Lou Rawls, y'all" is one of my alltime favorite recorded moments Tom Ripley Jan 2014 #81

Ricky Martin: "If You Ever Saw Her"~~"Well, she's every dream girl from Monroe to Madonna." WinkyDink Jan 2014 #79

Pretty Boy Floyd - Woody Guthrie cyberswede Jan 2014 #83

A country song by shania Twain "That Don't Impress me Much" nirvana555 Jan 2014 #87

Ronnie McDowell's "The King is Gone" LumosMaxima Jan 2014 #89

Two about John Lennon: LumosMaxima Jan 2014 #91

"Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton mentions Andrew Jackson Kaleva Jan 2014 #92

"Radar Love" by Golden Earring (mentions Brenda Lee) Mister Ed Jan 2014 #94

327 songs. Glassunion Jan 2014 #97

"Do you like good music? That sweet soul music." kwassa Jan 2014 #98

Finally I get to post this clip: Initech Jan 2014 #99

Zeke the Sheik... GReedDiamond Jan 2014 #100

Top Jimmy... GReedDiamond Jan 2014 #101

"Cortez the Killer" by Neil Young cyberswede Jan 2014 #102

I love that song... GReedDiamond Jan 2014 #103

Then don't forget these... cyberswede Jan 2014 #105

Hey, I don't forget nothing... GReedDiamond Jan 2014 #106

Tom Dooley --- Kingston Trio lpbk2713 Jan 2014 #104

This message was self-deleted by its author Rowdyboy Jan 2014 #109

Don Wiliams "Good ole boys like me" has a few. Stonewall Jackson, Hank and Tennessee Williams Rowdyboy Jan 2014 #110

'Done Too Soon" Neil Diamond, (Jesus Christ, Fanny Brice, Wolfie Mozart...) canoeist52 Jan 2014 #111

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez Xipe Totec Jan 2014 #112

"Alex Chilton" - The Replacements Hong Kong Cavalier Jan 2014 #113

Hasta Siempre, Comandante Che Guevara Xipe Totec Jan 2014 #114

el chapo guzman Xipe Totec Jan 2014 #115

Corrido De "La Barbie" Xipe Totec Jan 2014 #116

La Pelirroja (The Readhead) WARNING, GRAPHIC! Xipe Totec Jan 2014 #117

an obscure one Bombero1956 Jan 2014 #118

the Queen of England BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2014 #119

The Kinks "Dear Margaret" ailsagirl Jan 2014 #120

Midnight in Montgomery-Hank Williams Sr... actually there are eleventy billion ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #122

NOFX - Franco Unamerican jmowreader Jan 2014 #123

Bonzo Goes To Bitburg by The Ramones was about Reagan... Violet_Crumble Jan 2014 #124

'Sir Duke', by Stevie Wonder Lars39 Jan 2014 #126

"Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation" by Tom Paxton DFW Jan 2014 #127

Warren Zevon -- Boom Boom Mancini and Detox Mansion Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2014 #128

"Alma" by Tom Lehrer DFW Jan 2014 #129

Sympathy for the devil..... rppper Jan 2014 #130

"Veracruz" and "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon DFW Jan 2014 #131

"Year of the Cat"-- Al Stewart DFW Jan 2014 #132

"Timber" (by Pitbull & Ke$ha) - Miley Cyrus reformist2 Jan 2014 #133

"Snoopy and the Red Baron" by the Royal Guardsmen DFW Jan 2014 #134

Three songs by the great Allan Sherman DFW Jan 2014 #135

Abraham, Martin and John Mr.Bill Jan 2014 #136

I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night TheOldDancingBear Jan 2014 #137

The Ballad of Ira Hayes TheOldDancingBear Jan 2014 #139

Dear Abby; Jesus, the Missing Years; Sabu Visits the Twin Cities, Alone countryjake Jan 2014 #140

Brian & Michael: Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs LeftishBrit Jan 2014 #141