# Metasongs! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761 "2006-02-03T01:03:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/1 "2006-02-03T01:03:42Z")
Yeah, my mind was wandering on a cold and rainy commute home. I was trying to think of songs whose titles plainly refer to the title of _another song_ within them. The only one I could really think of was “Tennessee Waltz,” that old country standard. The refrain goes: > [@](#): > > I lost my little darlin’ > the night they were playing > the beautiful Tennessee Waltz. So were they playing a song about a guy losing his darlin’ to his best friend while they were dancing, _while this guy was losing his darlin’ to his best friend while they were dancing_? Bizarre, and what shitty luck! I was thinking that Bruce Springsteen’s “Highway Patrolman” was a metasong, but then I remembered the title was not “The Night of the Johnstown Flood.” :smack: Any more you guys can think of? (Hoo boy, this thread is so doomed.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/2 "2006-02-03T01:12:59Z")
[And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda](http://mysongbook.de/msb/songs/r_clarke/banplayd.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/3 "2006-02-03T01:14:58Z")
Tenacious D, [Tribute](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Tribute-lyrics-Tenacious-D/589CBC388EDA74EA48256B720008C6F1) ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/4 "2006-02-03T01:24:01Z")
There’s this song by Buck Owens called “Together Again.” And there’s this later song by Buck Owens, about a guy asking someone to play “Together Again” on the jukebox, called “Play ‘Together Again’ Again.” That there’s purty meta. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/5 "2006-02-03T01:26:42Z")
Elton John, [Your Song](http://www.eltonography.com/songs/your_song.html) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/6 "2006-02-03T01:34:34Z")
You’re So Vain – Carly Simon You Can All Join In – Traffic (“Here’s a little song you can all join in with.”) The Song That Never Ends – Shari Lewis (“This is the song that never ends.”) New Song – The Who ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/7 "2006-02-03T01:39:48Z")
“This is the theme to Garry’s show, The theme to Garry’s show…” From _It’s Garry Shandling’s Show_. “Make a hole with a gun perpindicular To the name of this town in a desktop globe Exit wound in a foreign nation Showing the home of the one this was written for” They Might Be Giants, “Anna Ng” “This is a song for the lonely Can you hear me tonight? For the broken hearted, battle scarred, I’ll be by your side” Cher, “Song for the Lonely” “This is a different kind of love song” Cher, “Different Kind of Love Song” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/8 "2006-02-03T01:42:43Z")
Actually in re-reading the OP none of the examples I offered really fit, since the songs don’t refer to a separate song but are instead self-referential. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/9 "2006-02-03T01:43:43Z")
[The Maui Waltz](http://www.huapala.org/Maui_Waltz.html) I just don’t get it when somebody sings a song about how his heart was broken because he didn’t see it coming, where “it” refers to a line that’s right there in the song. If you know it well enough to sing it in public, you should know it’s coming. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/10 "2006-02-03T02:06:32Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Actually in re-reading the OP none of the examples I offered really fit, since the songs don’t refer to a separate song but are instead self-referential. Hell, that’s just another kind of meta, as far as I’m concerned. They work. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/11 "2006-02-03T02:07:53Z")
“Sing, Sing a Song” . . . maybe a little? “I Write the Songs” . . . ? “Silly Love Songs” . . . ---
**Author:** ![Tarrsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@Tarrsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarrsk)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/12 "2006-02-03T02:50:08Z")
[Title of the Song](http://www.emba.uvm.edu/~mdebowsk/old/titleofthesong.html), by Da Vinci’s Notebook. Doesn’t actually refer to another song by name, but… well, here’s a sampling of the lyrics. You’ll get the idea. 😉 \*Declaration of my feelings for you Elaboration on those feelings Description of how long these feelings have existed Belief that no one else could feel the same as I Reminiscence of the pleasant times we’ve shared And our relationship’s perfection Recounting of the steps that lead to our love’s dissillusion Mostly involving my unfaithfulness and lies Penitent admission of wrongdoing Discovery of the depth of my affection Regret over the lateness of my epiphany CHORUS: Title of the song Naive expression of love Reluctance to accept that you are gone Request to turn back time And rectify my wrongs Repetition of the title of the song\* ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/13 "2006-02-03T03:10:55Z")
“Summer Rain” by Johnny Rivers: “And the jukebox kept on playing ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.’” ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/14 "2006-02-03T03:13:38Z")
Unless I’m missing some subtext, that’s not exactly what I was looking for, Biffy. I know the OP could be interpreted that way, but I meant the title of another song of the same title. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/15 "2006-02-03T03:18:20Z")
Sorry, I misread the OP. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/16 "2006-02-03T03:23:54Z")
Well, if we’re counting songs about other songs: “Going for a Song” – Matthew Fisher. The other song is not mentioned by name, but it’s clear enough what Fisher is talking about. The lyrics talk about a musician who is forced to play the same song night after night after night. Fisher was organist for Procol Harum, and sneaks in the organ riff from “A Whiter Shade of Pale” in the middle. “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynryd Skynyrd (“Well, we heard Neil Young sing about us,” referring to Young’s “Southern Man.” “Play it All Night Long” – Warren Zevon ("Sweet Home Alabama. Play that dead band’s song.) “The Weiner Schnitzel Waltz” – Tom Lehrer (“Do you remember the night I held you so tight/As we danced to the wiener schnitzel waltz?”) ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/17 "2006-02-03T03:58:12Z")
Not the song but the singer. In “Hey Nineteen”, Steely Dan sings, "Hey nineteen That’s “Retha Franklin She don’t remember The queen of soul” In “Monterey” Eric Burdon sings about a host of other musicians, as does Charlie Daniels in “The South’s Gonn Do It Again”. In “War Is Coming! War Is Coming!”, War sings about war coming, but I don’t know if they mean the band or actual, you know, war. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/18 "2006-02-03T04:05:10Z")
“The Masochism Tango” --Tom Lehrer ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/19 "2006-02-03T04:23:33Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I was trying to think of songs whose titles plainly refer to the title of _another song_ within them. [Same Old Lang Syne](http://users.cis.net/sammy/syne.htm) by Dan Fogelberg. (Which I actually thought was called “ **Another Auld** Lang Syne” before I looked it up.) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761/20 "2006-02-03T13:01:31Z")
So hey, won’t you play another somebody-done-somebody-wrong song [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metasongs/342761.md?page=2)