# Most songs inspired by a particular woman (or man) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832 "2008-04-03T19:01:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/1 "2008-04-03T19:01:51Z")
This [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=462262) aboy Layla got me thinking about what person inspired the most songs. I’m not really talking about historical/religious figures like Jesus Christ but won’t limit the discussion. I just think that Layla is a terrific song. It was inspired by Patti Boyd, George Harrison’s wife at the time. Eric Clapton apparently had not so subtle unrequited love for the girl, and eventually stole her away from George. George apparently didn’t mind so much, and he and Eric remained friends even afterwards. Astonishingly enough, [Patti](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_Boyd) was arguably inspiration for 4 songs. Harrison wrote “Something” and “What is Life”, while Clapton wrote “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight”. I love all these songs. Damn, that woman must have been something to stir up that kind of passion. According to the Wiki article, Harrison denied that she was the inspiration after she left him, but who knows. I dunno, maybe Patti was a bit into self promotion. Whoa, that article says that Boyd stated she the inspiration for “Bell Bottom Blues” also, so that makes 5 songs. Can anyone else top Ms. Boyd’s muse power? Actually, inspiring two songs would be doing pretty good. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/2 "2008-04-03T19:14:27Z")
In a sense, many of Benjamen Britten’s operas were inspired by his partner, Peter Pears. Britten made sure there was a major part for Pears to sing. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/3 "2008-04-03T19:28:37Z")
Same with Andrew Lloyd Webber and ‘What’s her name’. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/4 "2008-04-03T19:28:59Z")
You’re So Vain. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/5 "2008-04-03T19:34:45Z")
Pretty much all the songs on Bob Dylan’s album _Blood on the Tracks_ were about his breakup with wife Sara. In addition, the songs “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” “If Not For You” and of course “Sara” were inspired by her as well. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/6 "2008-04-03T20:49:26Z")
Some guy named “Rock” has a bunch of songs written about him… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/7 "2008-04-03T21:17:26Z")
How about Syd Barrett, nearly all of the Mega-Star of Rock era Floyd albums were inspired partly by him. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/8 "2008-04-03T22:01:03Z")
I was just thinking that Marilyn Monroe must have inspired a few. Of course, there is Candle in the Wind by Elton John. I cheated and looked her up on Wiki. Oddly enough, the punk band The Misfits named their band after Marilyn’s last completed movie _The Misfits_. They wrote “Who Killed Marilyn?” about Marilyn Monroe’s death. Wiki also claims that she is is the title character “Miss American Pie” in the Don McClean song “American Pie”. This seems strange to me. This [site](http://www.fiftiesweb.com/amerpie-1.htm) claims Miss American Pie _is_ rock and roll music. Don McLean dated a Miss America candidate during the pageant, supposedly. There’s a bunch of other references, but I don’t know the songs so I ain’t counting them. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/9 "2008-04-03T22:05:41Z")
deleted due to poor OP reading comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/10 "2008-04-03T22:24:28Z")
Marianne Faithful was the inspiration for The Hollies _Carry Ann_. Her wiki claims that she was the inspiration or partial inspiration for _Wild Horses_, and she gave Mick Jagger the book that inspired _Sympathy of the Devil_. Linda McCartney inspired a fair number of songs. First, there was the song _Linda_ by [Jack Lawrence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_%281946_song%29) and of course, _I Will_, _Maybe I’m Amazed_, _The Lovely Linda_…and a lot more because Paul, bless him, is a bit of a sap. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/11 "2008-04-03T23:03:33Z")
Edie Sedgewick inspired a number of songs, including Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” and The Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale”. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/12 "2008-04-03T23:12:38Z")
Joni Mitchell inspired a few: _Pre-Road Downs_, _Guinevere_ & _Our House_, Crosby, Stills, Nash _Only Love Can Break Your Heart_, _Cowgirl in the Sand_, Neil Young _Fountain of Sorrow_, Jackson Browne _She Lays It On The Line_, Ronee Blakley _Love Has Brought Me Around_, _New Song_ & _You Can Close Your Eyes_, James Taylor I think there’s a Leonard Cohen song, too, but I forget which one. ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/13 "2008-04-03T23:52:03Z")
[QUOTE=Darryl Lict] I was just thinking that Marilyn Monroe must have inspired a few. Of course, there is Candle in the Wind by Elton John. I cheated and looked her up on Wiki. Oddly enough, the punk band The Misfits named their band after Marilyn’s last completed movie _The Misfits_. They wrote “Who Killed Marilyn?” about Marilyn Monroe’s death. Wiki also claims that she is is the title character “Miss American Pie” in the Don McClean song “American Pie”. This seems strange to me. This [site](http://www.fiftiesweb.com/amerpie-1.htm) claims Miss American Pie _is_ rock and roll music. Don McLean dated a Miss America candidate during the pageant, supposedly. There’s a bunch of other references, but I don’t know the songs so I ain’t counting them. [/QUOTE] There’s a great song called “Marilyn” which is about how Marilyn Monroe would have been better off marrying Henry Miller rather than Arthur Miller. > [@](#): > > This is not a knock against Arthur Miller > “Death of a Salesman” is my favorite play > But Marilyn Monroe should have married Henry Miller > And if she did she might be alive ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/14 "2008-04-04T00:17:09Z")
[QUOTE=koeeoaddi] Joni Mitchell inspired a few: [/QUOTE] Wow Joni, that’s some list. I should add that Def Leppard’s Photograph is supposedly about Marilyn Monroe. The video contains her, and Joe Elliot says it is, so I guess it is. I’m just not much of a fan, but that is a pretty famous song. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/15 "2008-04-04T00:36:42Z")
[QUOTE=pepperlandgirl] Linda McCartney inspired a fair number of songs. First, there was the song _Linda_ by [Jack Lawrence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_%281946_song%29) and of course, _I Will_, _Maybe I’m Amazed_, _The Lovely Linda_…and a lot more because Paul, bless him, is a bit of a sap. [/QUOTE] In the same line, John Lennon wrote a number of songs about Yoko Ono: Woman Oh Yoko Jealous Guy The Ballad of John and Yoko Oh MY Love and no doubt others I’ve missed. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/16 "2008-04-04T01:11:49Z")
And John Lennon himself inspired McCartney’s _Here Today_ (and I believe _Two of Us_ is more about John than it is about Linda, regardless of what Paul says), Ringo’s _Photograph_, Harrison’s _All Those Years Ago_, (and of course, _When We Were Fab_), and Elton John’s _Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)_, Paul Simon’s _The Late Great Johnny Ace_, and Loudon Wainwright’s _Not John_, among many others. Yoko also had a number of songs about Lennon. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/17 "2008-04-04T01:52:59Z")
According to Wikipedia, Maroon 5’s album _Songs About Jane_ really was about a girl named Jane: > [@](#): > > “Songs About Jane is the debut album by Los Angeles rock/pop band Maroon 5. The title refers to Jane Herman, lead singer Adam Levine’s ex-girlfriend.” > > "Most of the material on Maroon 5’s debut album was directly inspired by Levine’s tumultuous relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Jane; “We were breaking up as the band entered the studio,” he explains. “After compiling a song list, we decided to name the album Songs About Jane because it felt like the most honest statement we could make with the title.” Unfortunately there is no indication of exactly how many of the songs are inspired by her; there are 12 tracks and it’s possible that every one is, but maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/18 "2008-04-04T02:12:11Z")
[QUOTE=Darryl Lict] Wow Joni, that’s some list. [/QUOTE] Yeah, she um, …[del]got aroun[/del] left a long, sad trail of broken hearts. [I also read somewhere that Bob Dylan said that he wrote _Tangled Up in Blue_ after listening to her album _Blue_, but didn’t include it because it wasn’t about _her_ specifically.] ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/19 "2008-04-04T04:23:26Z")
[QUOTE=pepperlandgirl] And John Lennon himself inspired McCartney’s _Here Today_ (and I believe _Two of Us_ is more about John than it is about Linda, regardless of what Paul says), Ringo’s _Photograph_, Harrison’s _All Those Years Ago_, (and of course, _When We Were Fab_), and Elton John’s _Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)_, Paul Simon’s _The Late Great Johnny Ace_, and Loudon Wainwright’s _Not John_, among many others. Yoko also had a number of songs about Lennon. [/QUOTE] “Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead” by The Stranglers might be partially referring to him. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2008, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832/20 "2008-04-04T12:16:24Z")
I hear Eva Peron has a few. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-songs-inspired-by-a-particular-woman-or-man/443832.md?page=2)