# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/81 "2022-09-07T05:02:34Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > "Leaving on an Airplane” by John Denver While recognizing that the song was written by John Denver, the correct title is “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/82 "2022-09-07T05:03:00Z")
Which led me to this one. _Gitarzan_ by Ray Stevens [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/293Irm-vxtE/hqdefault.jpg "Ray Stevens - "Gitarzan" (Music Video) [from Get Serious]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=293Irm-vxtE) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/83 "2022-09-07T08:46:13Z")
_With the lights out It’s less dangerous Here we are now Entertain us_ always seemed to me to be about performing ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/84 "2022-09-07T14:13:17Z")
The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal group **Saxon** did **And The Bands Played On** about their performance at the Monsters of Rock festival. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0DCAhnTyrwc/maxresdefault.jpg "And the Bands Played on (2009 - Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DCAhnTyrwc) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/85 "2022-09-07T14:22:38Z")
“Six-String Orchestra” by Harry Chapin “Drift Away” by Dobie Gray “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh “Leader of the Band” by Dan Fogelberg “The Price” by Twisted Sister ---
**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 7, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/86 "2022-09-07T14:28:42Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > does "detroit rock city "count? even tho I don’t think they make it to the concert I always thought that song was from the point of view of fans heading to the show, not the band. But it’s been ages since I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/87 "2022-09-07T14:29:29Z")
A song about leaving a successful band would be **Peter Gabriel** and **Solsbury Hill** [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_OO2PuGz-H8/maxresdefault.jpg "Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OO2PuGz-H8) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/88 "2022-09-07T14:45:58Z")
Based on the lyrics and the official promotional video I would have said the **Kate Bush** song **WOW** was about theatrical acting and actors. According to Wiki (and they cite some fan club publication) Kate herself feels otherwise “’Wow’ is about the music business,” she told her _KBC_ fan club magazine in 1979. "Not just rock music but show business in general.” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0ar7vovnH5I/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AGOBYAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgXChMMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDlZL2ArC-F1P51qJEeKRkrebYSYA "Kate Bush - Wow - Official Music Video - Version 1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ar7vovnH5I) TCMF-2L ---
**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 7, 2022, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/89 "2022-09-07T14:51:00Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > A song about leaving a successful band would be **Peter Gabriel** and **Solsbury Hill** OK, I knew it was Gabriel’s first big breakout song after Genesis, but I didn’t actually know it was about leaving the band. [The lyrics](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/petergabriel/solsburyhill.html) are oblique enough to be open to interpretation _(‘I was feeling part of the scenery / I walked right out of the machinery’_ is the most explicit reference to it being about leaving Genesis). [A cursory googling](https://www.songmeaningsandfacts.com/peter-gabriels-solsbury-hill-lyrics-meaning/) shows it was indeed the intention of the song. BTW, always loved this song, despite its ubiquity (it seems to be part of the soundtrack of 3/4 of all the Rom-Com movies ever made). Fun fact, it’s one of the very few Pop / Rock songs with an unusual time signature (7/4 time vs. 4/4 time for 99% of Pop / Rock tunes). ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/90 "2022-09-07T14:56:00Z")
I like the song plus rarely watch films in the romcom genre so for me it remains fresh, even after all these years. TCMF-2L ---
**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 7, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/91 "2022-09-07T15:05:25Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > …rarely watch films in the romcom genre… Me neither, but for a long stretch there, even in commercials or movie trailers for what seemed like every other Rom-Com or upbeat, ‘feel-good’ movie, the song was prominent. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/92 "2022-09-07T15:15:59Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” - The Byrds First one that came to mind. I think there’s a lot of blues music that’s about the life of a blues musician but I just can;t lock in on the songs to identify them. It would help if I had a better grasp on any of the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/93 "2022-09-07T15:16:17Z")
And here’s Jorma Kaukonen when he’s had enough of the Jefferson Airplane: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PcJwv7fL6MU/hqdefault.jpg "Jefferson Airplane - Third Week In The Chelsea") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcJwv7fL6MU) ---
**Author:** ![Onthefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9de053/32.png) [@Onthefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onthefly)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/94 "2022-09-07T15:29:41Z")
Guitar Town by Steve Earle ---
**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 7, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/95 "2022-09-07T16:17:33Z")
> [@solost](#): > > > [@TCMF-2L](#): > > > > A song about leaving a successful band would be **Peter Gabriel** and **Solsbury Hill** > > BTW, always loved this song, despite its ubiquity (it seems to be part of the soundtrack of 3/4 of all the Rom-Com movies ever made). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/k6QgNuZcxTw/hqdefault.jpg "The Shining - as a romantic comedy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6QgNuZcxTw) ---
**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 7, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/96 "2022-09-07T17:03:41Z")
Awwwww, got warm fuzzies watching that 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/97 "2022-09-07T17:26:08Z")
Here’s an obscure one from a different era, featuring two stories about life in a traveling big band in the 30s. In the first verse, it tells of the problems involved in replacing one guy in the band who did a lot of specific different things. And in the second verse, it tells what must have been (probably continues to be) a thing when a band shows up somewhere for a one-night stand, and a lady shows up saying, “Say, last time you guys were here, I met this guy from your band and [. . .]” Anyway, I’ve talked too much already. I give you: [I’m Looking for a Guy Who Plays Alto and Baritone and Doubles on a Clarinet and Wears a Size 37 Suit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RFXEjx6oVs) ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/98 "2022-09-07T17:55:04Z")
There was a band called **Cockney Rebel** and as they started to find success they split up acrimoniously. Steve Harley resented how the musicians he had collected to form Cockney Rebel betrayed him. He formed a new group modifying the name to **Steve Harley and the Cockney Rebel** and they had a big hit (in the UK) with **Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)** which is a fairly scathing attack on his old band mates. Plus it’s a great song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dAoaVU3-ve0/hqdefault.jpg "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAoaVU3-ve0) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/99 "2022-09-07T18:20:53Z")
It’s possible I missed it but we don’t seem to have mentioned **David Bowie** and **Ziggy Stardust**. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7KEn0uOEILs/maxresdefault.jpg "Ziggy Stardust (2012 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KEn0uOEILs) Mind you concept albums about bands or soundtrack albums to films about bands gives **Quadrophenia, Purple Rain, Breaking Glass, The Great Rock and Roll Swindle** and no doubt many more. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057/100 "2022-09-07T20:59:34Z")
I always thought the “my song” meant he was the singer Movin’ fast, doin’ 95 Hit top speed but I’m still movin’ much too slow I feel so good, I’m so alive I hear my song playin’ on the radio It goes Get up Everybody’s gonna move their feet Get down Everybody’s gonna leave their seat [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meta-songs-songs-about-being-a-musician/971057.md?page=6)