# Name a song that mentions a specific year in its lyrics (please read OP) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401 "2013-02-05T17:23:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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 5, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/41 "2013-02-05T19:22:01Z")
Twofer from the Clash: **1914**. “I missed the 14-18 war” – Something About England by The Clash **1918**. “I missed the 14-18 war” – Something About England by The Clash …and then there’s **1977**. “No Elvis, Beatles, or Rolling Stones in 1977” – 1977 by The Clash ---
**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:** [February 5, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/42 "2013-02-05T19:28:34Z")
**1984** _‘Wake up! It’s 1984!’_ - 1984, Oingo Boingo ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/43 "2013-02-05T19:31:14Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Twofer from the Clash: > > **1914**. “I missed the 14-18 war” – Something About England by The Clash > **1918**. “I missed the 14-18 war” – Something About England by The Clash I think we should stick with individual years, not ranges. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/44 "2013-02-05T19:32:38Z")
**Updated** : **1315** : “In the spring of 1315, there began an era of unpredictable weather” 1816, The Year Without a Summer by Rasputina **1486** : “In the year 1486 the Malleus first appeared” White Hammer by Van der Graaf Generator **1519** : “I know this happened in 1519, yet / this is the image we can’t seem to forget”, “Higher Level”, KRS One **1814** : “In 1814 we took a little trip” – Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton **1816** : “You remember 1816 as the year without a summer” 1816, The Year Without a Summer by Rasputina **1851** : “It did not lift until 1851” 1816, The Year Without a Summer by Rasputina **1853** : “It was on the old Calcutta in 1853” - Old Admirals by Al Stewart **1865** : “It was the winter of '65. We were hungry, just barely alive.” The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down, the Band **1913** : “Take a trip with me in 1913 to Calumet Michigan in the copper country” - 1913 Massacre by Woody Guthrie **1916** : “It’s the same old thing since 1916”, Zombie, the Cranberries **1919** : “A rose is a rose is a rose, said the mama of dada as long ago as 1919” – Nine Funerals of the Citizen King by Henry Cow **1921** : “Watching the sun come up in the morning of 1921” - Warren Harding by Al Stewart **1929** : “She’s been dead since 1929”, Oh, how I cried that night" - “Pictures Of Lily” by The Who **1934** : “On the last day of June, 1934” – The Last Day of June 1934 by Al Stewart. **1934** : “I got a '34 wagon and they call it a woody” - Surf City, Jan & Dean **1939** : “And she’s laughing, laughing into 1939” Al Stewart, Between the Wars. **1945** : “Bells are chiming for victory, There’s a page back in history” 45 - 45 by Elvis Costello. **1949** : “She had a picture of a cowboy tattooed on her spine, saying Phoenix Arizona 1949” – Little Egypt by The Coasters. **1954** : “The worst thing in 1954 was the bikini” – I Found That Essence Rare by Gang of Four. **1956** : “I said I’ve been this way since 1956” – Love Potion #9 by The Clovers. **1959** : “1959 was a very strange time” - Post-World War Two Blues by Al Stewart **1962** : “Kept some letters by his bed, dated 1962…” He Stopped Loving Her Today George Jones **1962** : It was back in Blind River, 1962, when I last saw you alive", Long May You Run, Neil Young **1963** : “Oh, what a night, late December back in ‘63” – December, 1963 (Oh What a Night) by The Four Seasons **1965** : "In '65 I was 17. . .” Running On Empty, Jackson Browne **1965** : “I bought you a brand new Mustang, a 1965 (huh!)”, “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett. **1967** : “Way back when, in '67, I was the dandy of Gamma Chi…”, “Hey Nineteen” by Steely Dan. **1967** : “1967, it seems so long ago” – 1967 by Tom Robinson. **1968** : “The time had come in '68, to elect a president…” Snoopy for President, Royal Guardsmen **1969** : "In '69 I was 21. . .” Running On Empty, Jackson Browne **1969** : “It was the summer of '69”, “The Summer of '69”, by Bryan Adams. **1969** : “We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969” - Hotel California, Eagles **1974** : “Well there’s a real square cat, he looks like 1974” – Rock This Town by Stray Cats. **1975** : “In nineteen hundred and seventy-five all my people rose from the countryside” – War Movie by Jefferson Airplane **1976** : “Forget the days of future past, because now it’s 1976.” 1976 by Redd Kross. **1977** : “No Elvis, Beatles, or Rolling Stones in 1977” – 1977 by The Clash **1982** : “Operator, please connect me, with 1982…” 1982 Randy Travis **1983** : “1983 is calling I’ve been on my knees and crawling back to you…”, “1983” by Neon Trees. **1983** : “Left the earth in 1983, fingers groping for the galaxies.” Pioneers Over c by Van der Graaf Generator **1984** : ‘Wake up! It’s 1984!’ - 1984, Oingo Boingo **1984** : “Beware the savage jaw, of 1984” - “1984” by David Bowie **1985**. “She’s still preoccupied with nineteen, nineteen, nineteen eight five.” - 1985 by Bowling for Soup **1985** : “No one ever left alive, in nineteen hundred and eighty-five, would ever do” – Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five by Paul McCartney. **1989** : “1989 - a number, another summer”, “Fight The Power”, by Public Enemy. **1992** : “April 26, 1992. There was a riot in the streets, tell me where were you?” - April 29, 1992 by Sublime **1996** : “She slit her wrists for attention in 1996” - Metal Now by Say Anything **2000** : “You know you’re a 2000 man, and your kids don’t understand you at all.” 2000 Man, Rolling Stones **4545** : “In the year 4545 you ain’t gonna need your teeth” – In The Year 2525, Zager and Evans. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/45 "2013-02-05T19:34:20Z")
**3012** - _“We’re gonna party like it’s 3012 tonight.”_ - Beauty and the Beat by Justin Bieber (featuring Nicki Minaj) **1778** - “_Oh, the year was 1778, how I wish I was in Sherbrooke now._” - Barrett’s Privateers by Stan Rogers ---
**Author:** ![FrancisCastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b4bc9f/32.png) [@FrancisCastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrancisCastle)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/46 "2013-02-05T19:35:43Z")
**1999.** “So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999” 1999 by Prince **2000.** “2000 zero zero Party over, oops, out of time” 1999 by Prince ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/47 "2013-02-05T19:41:07Z")
**1799:** “Now I’m standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799” - “Cathedral” by Crosby, Stills and Nash ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/48 "2013-02-05T19:42:27Z")
\*\*1,000,000 BC \*\*“A long time ago, 1,000,000 years BC, the best things in life were absolutely free” - “Pennies From Heaven” by Bing Crosby ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/49 "2013-02-05T19:43:28Z")
“September, [19]77, Port Elizabeth weather fine.” “Biko” by Peter Gabriel. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/50 "2013-02-05T19:45:00Z")
**1806** : “In the Year Of Our Lord, eighteen hundred and six, we set sail from the coal quay of Cork. We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks, for the grand City Hall of New York.” - “The Irish Rover” by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/51 "2013-02-05T19:48:47Z")
**1:** “Meanwhile, back in the year 1, when you belonged to no one, you didn’t stand a chance, Son, if your pants were undone.” - “Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day” by Jethro Tull ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/52 "2013-02-05T19:53:17Z")
\*\*1964: \*\* “It’s past midnight,” said Charles the grinning boy. And looking at me greedily, said “It’s 1964.” - “Dominance and Submission” by Blue Oyster Cult ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/53 "2013-02-05T19:57:06Z")
1642 - “In 1642, it came to an end” -1642 Imprisonment, King Diamond 1777- “On the 7th Day of July, in 1777”, 7th Day of July, 1777, King Diamond 1980-“On the 2nd of February 1980 began three days of misery”, The Last Act of Defiance, Exodus ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/54 "2013-02-05T20:00:14Z")
**1,000,000 BC:** “A long time ago, 1,000,000 years BC, the best things in life were absolutely free” - “Pennies From Heaven” by Bing Crosby \*\*1: \*\* “Meanwhile, back in the year 1, when you belonged to no one, you didn’t stand a chance, Son, if your pants were undone.” - “Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day” by Jethro Tull **1315** : “In the spring of 1315, there began an era of unpredictable weather” 1816, The Year Without a Summer by Rasputina **1486** : “In the year 1486 the Malleus first appeared” White Hammer by Van der Graaf Generator **1519** : “I know this happened in 1519, yet / this is the image we can’t seem to forget”, “Higher Level”, KRS One \*\*1778: \*\*“Oh, the year was 1778, how I wish I was in Sherbrooke now.” - Barrett’s Privateers by Stan Rogers **1799:** “Now I’m standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799” - “Cathedral” by Crosby, Stills and Nash **1806:** “In the Year Of Our Lord, eighteen hundred and six, we set sail from the coal quay of Cork. We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks, for the grand City Hall of New York.” - “The Irish Rover” by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem **1814** : “In 1814 we took a little trip” – Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton **1816** : “You remember 1816 as the year without a summer” 1816, The Year Without a Summer by Rasputina **1851** : “It did not lift until 1851” 1816, The Year Without a Summer by Rasputina **1853** : “It was on the old Calcutta in 1853” - Old Admirals by Al Stewart **1865** : “It was the winter of '65. We were hungry, just barely alive.” The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down, the Band **1913** : “Take a trip with me in 1913 to Calumet Michigan in the copper country” - 1913 Massacre by Woody Guthrie **1916** : “It’s the same old thing since 1916”, Zombie, the Cranberries **1919** : “A rose is a rose is a rose, said the mama of dada as long ago as 1919” – Nine Funerals of the Citizen King by Henry Cow **1921** : “Watching the sun come up in the morning of 1921” - Warren Harding by Al Stewart **1929** : “She’s been dead since 1929”, Oh, how I cried that night" - “Pictures Of Lily” by The Who **1934** : “On the last day of June, 1934” – The Last Day of June 1934 by Al Stewart. **1934** : “I got a '34 wagon and they call it a woody” - Surf City, Jan & Dean **1939** : “And she’s laughing, laughing into 1939” Al Stewart, Between the Wars. **1945** : “Bells are chiming for victory, There’s a page back in history” 45 - 45 by Elvis Costello. **1949** : “She had a picture of a cowboy tattooed on her spine, saying Phoenix Arizona 1949” – Little Egypt by The Coasters. **1954** : “The worst thing in 1954 was the bikini” – I Found That Essence Rare by Gang of Four. **1956** : “I said I’ve been this way since 1956” – Love Potion #9 by The Clovers. **1959** : “1959 was a very strange time” - Post-World War Two Blues by Al Stewart **1962** : “Kept some letters by his bed, dated 1962…” He Stopped Loving Her Today George Jones **1962** : It was back in Blind River, 1962, when I last saw you alive", Long May You Run, Neil Young **1963** : “Oh, what a night, late December back in ‘63” – December, 1963 (Oh What a Night) by The Four Seasons **1964:** “It’s past midnight,” said Charles the grinning boy. And looking at me greedily, said “It’s 1964.” - “Dominance and Submission” by Blue Oyster Cult **1965** : "In '65 I was 17. . .” Running On Empty, Jackson Browne **1965** : “I bought you a brand new Mustang, a 1965 (huh!)”, “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett. **1967** : “Way back when, in '67, I was the dandy of Gamma Chi…”, “Hey Nineteen” by Steely Dan. **1967** : “1967, it seems so long ago” – 1967 by Tom Robinson. **1968** : “The time had come in '68, to elect a president…” Snoopy for President, Royal Guardsmen **1969** : "In '69 I was 21. . .” Running On Empty, Jackson Browne **1969** : “It was the summer of '69”, “The Summer of '69”, by Bryan Adams. **1969** : “We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969” - Hotel California, Eagles **1974** : “Well there’s a real square cat, he looks like 1974” – Rock This Town by Stray Cats. **1975** : “In nineteen hundred and seventy-five all my people rose from the countryside” – War Movie by Jefferson Airplane **1976** : “Forget the days of future past, because now it’s 1976.” 1976 by Redd Kross. **1977** : “No Elvis, Beatles, or Rolling Stones in 1977” – 1977 by The Clash \*\*1977: \*\* “September, [19]77, Port Elizabeth weather fine.” “Biko” by Peter Gabriel. **1979:** “Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time” - “1979” by Smashing Pumpkins **1982** : “Operator, please connect me, with 1982…” 1982 Randy Travis **1983** : “1983 is calling I’ve been on my knees and crawling back to you…”, “1983” by Neon Trees. **1983** : “Left the earth in 1983, fingers groping for the galaxies.” Pioneers Over c by Van der Graaf Generator **1984** : ‘Wake up! It’s 1984!’ - 1984, Oingo Boingo **1984** : “Beware the savage jaw, of 1984” - “1984” by David Bowie **1985**. “She’s still preoccupied with nineteen, nineteen, nineteen eight five.” - 1985 by Bowling for Soup **1985** : “No one ever left alive, in nineteen hundred and eighty-five, would ever do” – Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five by Paul McCartney. **1989** : “1989 - a number, another summer”, “Fight The Power”, by Public Enemy. **1992** : “April 26, 1992. There was a riot in the streets, tell me where were you?” - April 29, 1992 by Sublime **1996:** : “She slit her wrists for attention in 1996” - Metal Now by Say Anything \*\*1999: \*\*“So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999” 1999 by Prince **2000:** “2000 zero zero Party over, oops, out of time” 1999 by Prince **2000** : “You know you’re a 2000 man, and your kids don’t understand you at all.” 2000 Man, Rolling Stones \*\*3012: \*\* “We’re gonna party like it’s 3012 tonight.” - Beauty and the Beat by Justin Bieber (featuring Nicki Minaj) **4545** : “In the year 4545 you ain’t gonna need your teeth” – In The Year 2525, Zager and Evans. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/55 "2013-02-05T20:02:25Z")
**1975** : “September '75, I was 47 inches high” – One Angry Dwarf by Ben Folds Five **1981** : “On August 1st, 1981, I traveled to Scott’s house with my BB Gun” - I Live with it Every Day by Barenaked Ladies **1990** : “You’re so 1990, and it’s 1994” - Shoebox by Barenaked Ladies **1994** : “You’re so 1990, and it’s 1994” - Shoebox by Barenaked Ladies **1994** : “The year is '94 and in my trunk is raw” - 99 Problems by Jay-Z ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/56 "2013-02-05T20:04:52Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > **3012** - _“We’re gonna party like it’s 3012 tonight.”_ - Beauty and the Beat by Justin Bieber (featuring Nicki Minaj) Oh well, if you’re gonna go there: **3008** - “I’m so 3000-and-8; you’re so 2000-and-LATE”, “Boom-Boom Pow” by the Black-Eyed Peas. (I need to wash my hands now) ---
**Author:** ![EMCEE\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@EMCEE\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EMCEE_98)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/57 "2013-02-05T20:05:48Z")
**’68** :\* Where were you in '68? In '68, Judy was Johnny’s date.\* Sweet - _The Six Teens._ ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/58 "2013-02-05T20:07:25Z")
Two from an excellent Texas alt-country type: **1991** : “I crossed the desert on a dining car/In the spring of '91” - Whenever Kindness Fails by Robert Earl Keen **1995** : “On that morning in late April, Oklahoma, '95” - Shades of Gray by Robert Earl Keen ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/59 "2013-02-05T20:08:27Z")
\*\*1982: \*\* “And now you find youself in '82 .The disco hotspots hold no charm for you.” - “Heat of the Moment” by Asia ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/60 "2013-02-05T20:12:42Z")
**1903** : “It’s a real nice way/ To spend the day/ In Dayton, Ohio/ On a lazy Sunday afternoon in 1903” “Dayton, Ohio - 1903” by Randy Newman [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401.md?page=4)