# Meta-songs: Songs about being a musician **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 6, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057 "2022-09-06T14:20:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/41 "2022-09-06T16:44:53Z")
“Wanted: Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi. I’m not a Bon Jovi fan by any means, but I really like this song. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/42 "2022-09-06T16:54:10Z")
Another one which I’ve just remembered: “Faithfully,” by Journey: it’s about the grind of touring, and missing your beloved, who’s at home. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/43 "2022-09-06T16:55:45Z")
> [@Yodalicious](#): > > “Wanted: Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi. Hmm…another one I didn’t know was about music / touring. I thought it was more of a generic “modern day outlaw” song. Reading the lyrics, they’re kind of vague but could be about band life on the road. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/44 "2022-09-06T16:58:48Z")
Another BOC I forgot. Debbie Denise, which is about a guy in a band who would rather spend time with the band than with the titular person. I forget it because it kind of sucks. It’s trying to be like KISS’s Beth, but doesn’t really work. I always excise it from the album when I play it. Oh, and add KISS’s Beth. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/45 "2022-09-06T17:02:08Z")
Pavement - “Range Life,” in an abstract, Steve Malkmus kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/46 "2022-09-06T17:02:51Z")
“I’m Gonna Be a Teenage Idol” - Elton John, Bernie Taupin ---
**Author:** ![Joeu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joeu/32/2911_2.png) [@Joeu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joeu)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/47 "2022-09-06T17:05:42Z")
Lodi by CCR (mentioned above) is a favorite of mine. Also Rock and Roll Band by Boston ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/48 "2022-09-06T17:15:57Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Hmm…another one I didn’t know was about music / touring. I thought it was more of a generic “modern day outlaw” song. Reading the lyrics, they’re kind of vague but could be about band life on the road. I’m surprised there’s any question. It always seemed obvious to me. “And I walk these streets, a loaded six-string on my back I play for keeps 'cause I might not make it back I’ve been everywhere, still I’m standing tall I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all” ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/49 "2022-09-06T17:16:30Z")
What, no love for Nickleback’s _Rockstar_? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/50 "2022-09-06T17:21:26Z")
> [@Yodalicious](#): > > I’m surprised there’s any question. It always seemed obvious to me. > “And I walk these streets, a loaded six-string on my back > I play for keeps 'cause I might not make it back > I’ve been everywhere, still I’m standing tall > I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all” Well, if you read [all the lyrics](https://genius.com/Bon-jovi-wanted-dead-or-alive-lyrics), that’s the only stanza that clearly makes mention of music. Re-reading over the lyrics, with phrases like “loaded six-string” I think Bon Jovi was trying to draw kind of a poetic metaphor between being a modern musician vs. an old-time outlaw. > [@snowthx](#): > > What, no love for Nickleback’s _Rockstar_ Sorry, this thread is for listing songs about musicians singing about _ **themselves** _ 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/51 "2022-09-06T17:24:15Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > What, no love for Nickleback’s _Rockstar_? Personally, I interpret that as no love for Nickleback, in general. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/52 "2022-09-06T17:26:21Z")
Carole King’s “So Far Away”: - _One more song about moving along the highway_ - _Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely_ > [@bordelond](#): > > “I Write The Songs”, Barry Manilow That isn’t about being a musician; it’s about being _music_. ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyEcks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnnyecks/32/18197_2.png) [@JohnnyEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyEcks)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/53 "2022-09-06T17:32:34Z")
Hook, by Blues Traveller Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen Both songs about songwriting, but with a completely different focus. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/54 "2022-09-06T17:40:08Z")
Gettin’ old Gettin’ grey Gettin’ ripped off Underpaid Gettin’ sold Second hand That’s how it goes Playin’ in a band [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eQluGs2SFRs/maxresdefault.jpg "AC/DC - It's A Long Way to the Top (IF You Wanna Rock ' n' Roll) [HD]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQluGs2SFRs) Now with extra bagpipes. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/55 "2022-09-06T17:44:28Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ulGwHzrKOAU/hqdefault.jpg "Billie Holiday - Lady Sings The Blues") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulGwHzrKOAU) ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/56 "2022-09-06T17:54:22Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Another name for these is [“dues songs”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266). I was going to mention Chilliwack’s “Fly At Night” and I noticed I mentioned it in that previous thread (along with The Band’s “Stage Fright” and Rush’s “Limelight”). ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/57 "2022-09-06T18:15:15Z")
“When the Smoke is Going Down” - Scorpions ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/58 "2022-09-06T18:15:26Z")
This Song’s Just Six Words Long - (Weird Al/ Rudy Clark) Even better, a song about itself. But it is about writing and performing the song, so it should count. I Am The Music Man (Traditional) I am a fine musician (variation on the above) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/59 "2022-09-06T18:16:01Z")
El Cantante (The Singer) - Hector Lavoe, later covered by Marc Anthony ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/60 "2022-09-06T18:16:13Z")
There was also an early Rush song, “Making Memories”, that was about life on the road. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057.md?page=4)