# Albums whose titles are lyrics from one of the songs, but not the title of a song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785 "2006-08-15T05:32:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/1 "2006-08-15T05:32:01Z")
Two examples: _Katy Lied_ by Steely Dan. The album’s title is the first words from the song _Doctor Wu._ _Whatever and Ever Amen_ by the Ben Folds Five. The title is a lyric from _The Battle of Who Could Care Less._ I love it when albums do this. It’s so much more unique than naming the album after one of the song titles. What are some other ones? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/2 "2006-08-15T05:36:05Z")
Spin Doctors - Pocket Full of Kryptonite (From Jimmy Olsen’s Blues). ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/3 "2006-08-15T05:37:00Z")
XTC did this a few times - using a lyric from a previous album. I believe _Oranges and Lemons_ was a lyric from a song on _Skylarking_. The next album, _Nonsuch_, was also a lyric from a track from _Oranges and Lemons_. Andy Partridge claimed that this was just coincidence - but they named a later album _Apple Venus_, which is a lyric from yet another XTC album… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/4 "2006-08-15T05:43:24Z")
I can think of two offhand. Both of the titles are found in the first track of the album; I wonder if that happens a lot. Nevermind, by Nirvana. The word pops up in the last verse of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Hail to the Thief, Radiohead. The title phrase is near the end of the first song, 2+2=5. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/5 "2006-08-15T05:48:15Z")
\*\*Jagged Little Pill \*\* by Alanis Morrisette comes to mind… ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/6 "2006-08-15T05:48:27Z")
Grateful Dead…Wake of the flood ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/7 "2006-08-15T05:49:56Z")
_Under the Table and Dreaming_ by Dave Matthews Band ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/8 "2006-08-15T05:50:40Z")
Come to think of it, Radiohead sort of did this twice. The title of Pablo Honey comes from the third song, How Do You? Thing is that it’s not a lyric, it’s a sample of The Jerky Boys. I’m not sure how that counts. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/9 "2006-08-15T05:52:51Z")
Besides Alanis? Alan Jackson’s _A Lot About Livin’ and a Little 'Bout Love_. ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a183cd/32.png) [@Fred\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_D)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/10 "2006-08-15T05:59:27Z")
A quick look through my albums reveals the following: The Decemberist’s excellent _Castaways and Cutouts_ takes its name from the final track, “California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade” Iron & Wine’s _Our Endless Numbered Days_ is also from a line in the last track, “Passing Afternoon” The title of The Shin’s first album, _Oh! Inverted World_, is from “One by One All Day” second album, _Chutes to Narrow_, is from “Young Pilgrims” The Strokes _Room on Fire_ paraphrased a line from “Reptilia” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/11 "2006-08-15T06:06:00Z")
Bad Religion - Process of Belief (from “Materialist”) Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger (“Once, a Glimpse”) Every Pixies album except _Trompe le Monde_ [ul] [li]Doolittle (“Mr. Grieves”)[/li][li]Come on Pilgrim (“Levitate Me”)[/li][li]Surfer Rosa (“Oh My Golly”)[/li][li]Bossanova (“Hang Wire”)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/12 "2006-08-15T06:17:40Z")
Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt is a phrase from the song “That Day Is Done.” Kim Mitchell - Shakin’ Like A Human Being is a line from a song on that album that I can’t remember now that I want to. Kim’s previous band, Max Webster’s “Universal Juveniles” is from the song “Chalkers.” Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True is from “Alison.” Golden Earring - Moontan is from a line in “Vanilla Queen”. Tom Waits’ “Nighthawks At The Diner” is from “Eggs And Sausage.” ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/13 "2006-08-15T06:22:12Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True is from “Alison.” [/QUOTE] Also\* Last Year’s Model\* from “I Don’t Want to go to Chelsea”. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/14 "2006-08-15T06:29:38Z")
[QUOTE=thelurkinghorror] Every Pixies album except _Trompe le Monde_ [ul] [li]Doolittle (“Mr. Grieves”)[/li][li]Come on Pilgrim (“Levitate Me”)[/li][li]Surfer Rosa (“Oh My Golly”)[/li][li]Bossanova (“Hang Wire”)[/li][/ul] [/QUOTE] Wow, I’m going to feel like a nerd for posting this, but: They did a variant on this with the song “Ana” on _Bossanova_. The lyrics form an acrostic, in which the first letters of each line spell out “SURFER”: > [@](#): > > **S** he is my fave > **U** ndressing in the sun > **R** eturn to sea - bye > **F** orgetting everyone > **E** leven high > **R** ide a wave This being, one presumes, a reference to an earlier album, _Surfer Rosa_. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/15 "2006-08-15T06:31:28Z")
From my personal collection: Midnight Oil - Diesel And Dust (_Warukana_) Shawn Colvin - A Few Small Repairs (_Sunny Came Home_) Also have Pocket Full of Kryptonite. ---
**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/16 "2006-08-15T06:32:19Z")
**The Shins** ’ latest album, _Chutes Too Narrow_. The title is a lyric from the song _Young Pilgrims_: “I fell into a winter slide and ended up the kind of kid who goes down chutes too narrow.” **Sarah Slean** ’s _Night Bugs_ is another; the title comes from the song _Book Smart Street Stupid_: “With only the night bugs to lead me home with their sad luck serenade.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/17 "2006-08-15T06:52:11Z")
[QUOTE=jackelope] Wow, I’m going to feel like a nerd for posting this, but: They did a variant on this with the song “Ana” on _Bossanova_. The lyrics form an acrostic, in which the first letters of each line spell out “SURFER”:This being, one presumes, a reference to an earlier album, _Surfer Rosa_. [/QUOTE] No, I don’t think it’s nerdy, because I might out nerd you. On Frank Black’s second solo album, _Teenager of the Year_, the song “Speedy Marie” does the same: > [@](#): > > **J** uxtaposed in each moments sight > **E** verything that I ever saw > **A** nd my one delight > **N** othing can strike me in such awe > > **M** outh intricate shapes the voice that speaks > **A** lways it will soothe > **R** arer none are the precious cheeks > **I** s the size of each sculpted tooth > **E** ach lip and each eye > > **W** ise is the tongue, wet of perfect thought > **A** nd softest neck where always do i > **L** ay my clumsy thoughts > **S** he is that most lovely art > **H** appy are my mind and my soul and my heart I think she was his girlfriend at the time. Slight hijack, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/18 "2006-08-15T12:43:46Z")
Depeche Mode, a few times - “Construction Time Again” (1983) from the song “Pipeline” “Some Great Reward” (1984) from the song “Lie to Me” “Playing the Angel” (2005) from the song “The Darkest Star” ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/19 "2006-08-15T14:19:13Z")
Elton John’s _Ice on Fire_ album was named after a line in the song “Nikita”… “With eyes that looked like ice on fire…” ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785/20 "2006-08-15T14:21:32Z")
**Dire Straits’** _Making Movies_ was from a phrase within _Skateaway_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-whose-titles-are-lyrics-from-one-of-the-songs-but-not-the-title-of-a-song/368785.md?page=2)