# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/81 "2013-02-05T21:41:30Z")
1. “Midnight was the barrier back in 1963.” Dominance And Submission by Blue Oyster Cult. 2. “And looking at me greedily, said, it’s 1964.” Dominance And Submission by Blue Oyster Cult. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/82 "2013-02-05T21:42:02Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > **1939**. “In the year of '39 assembled here the volunteers” - '39 by Queen Not sure if 1939 is the correct year on this one. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/83 "2013-02-05T21:42:59Z")
**1914** (and **1939** ). “In 1914 the war began,” and, later “In 1939 once again, there came the sound of marching men,” - Thank Christ for the Bomb by The Groundhogs. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/84 "2013-02-05T21:47:58Z")
1. “Got a feeling '21 is going to be a good year” - 1921 (that’s the title) from _Tommy_ by The Who. ---
**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, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/85 "2013-02-05T21:48:24Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Not sure if 1939 is the correct year on this one. Is it 1839?? ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/86 "2013-02-05T21:52:48Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Is it 1839?? Dunno,never really specifies. ---
**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, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/87 "2013-02-05T21:55:19Z")
**UPDATE** (and thanks for the assist, **Astorian** ) **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 **4 B.C.** : “Israel in 4 B.C. had no mass communication” - Superstar by Murray Head \*\*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 **1836** : “Back in 1836, Houston said to Travis:- Ballad of the Alamo by Marty Robbins. **1844** : “In 1844, the Democrats were split”, James K. Polk, They Might Be Giants **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 **1892** : “Big Sam left Seattle, in the year of '92…”, “North To Alaska”, Johnny Horton **1899** : “In 18 hundred and 99, when everybody sang Auld Lang Syne . . .” Twentieth Century’s Almost Over, Steve Goodman **1990** : “It’s a brand new record for 1990”, Flood, by They Might Be Giants **1990** : “On May 1, 1990, something changed inside me” - May 1, 1990 by Adrian Belew **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 **1913** : “Take a trip with me in 1913 to Calumet Michigan in the copper country” - 1913 Massacre by Woody Guthrie **1914** : “In 1914 the war began,” - Thank Christ for the Bomb by The Groundhogs. **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** : “Got a feeling '21 is going to be a good year” - 1921 (that’s the title) from Tommy by The Who. **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** : “In 1939 once again, there came the sound of marching men,” - Thank Christ for the Bomb by The Groundhogs. **1939** : “In the year of '39 assembled here the volunteers” - '39 by Queen **1939** : “And she’s laughing, laughing into 1939” Al Stewart, Between the Wars. **1941** : “In May of 1941, the war had just begun. . . .” “Sink the Bismark” by Johnny Horton. **1945** : “I left Kentucky back in '45 and went to Detroit working on an assembly line”, One Piece at a Time, by Johnny Cash **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 year was 1954”- The Late Great Johnny Ace by Paul Simon. **1954** : “The worst thing in 1954 was the bikini” – I Found That Essence Rare by Gang of Four. **1956** : “Said welcome to the spirit of 1956” - Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers. **1956** : “I said I’ve been this way since 1956” – Love Potion #9 by The Clovers. **1957** : “I get off on '57 Chevys; I get off on screaming guitar.” “I’ve Got A Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart”, Eric Clapton **1957** : “Patient in the bushes next to '57” - Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers. **1958** : “Born in a mining town in '58,when black and white TV was up to date”, Born in '58, by Bruce Dickinson **1959** : “1959 was a very strange time” - Post-World War Two Blues by Al Stewart **1960** : “Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy/ Out in the back seat of my '60 Chevy " “Night Moves”, Bob Seger **1962** : “Started humming a song from 1962”, also “Night Moves” by Bob Seger **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** : “Midnight was the barrier back in 1963.” Dominance And Submission by Blue Oyster Cult. **1963** : “Oh, what a night, late December back in ‘63” – December, 1963 (Oh What a Night) by The Four Seasons **1964** : "It was 1964” -The Late Great Johnny Ace by Paul Simon. **1964** : “And looking at me greedily, said, it’s 1964.” Dominance And Submission by Blue Oyster Cult **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** : “Demon-warp is coming alive in 1965” Thunder Kiss '65 by White Zombie **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, Colt .45, holding back the vampires, keeping me alive.” - Coffee by Aesop Rock ft. John Darnielle **1967** : “1967, it seems so long ago” – 1967 by Tom Robinson. **1968** : Where were you in '68? In '68, Judy was Johnny’s date. Sweet - The Six Teens. **1968** : “The time had come in '68, to elect a president…” Snoopy for President, Royal Guardsmen **1969** : “Sixty-nine, was cheapo wine, have a good time, what’s your sign,” - The Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople. **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 **1972** : “Don’t leave your torch behind, a power cut ahead, 1972, you know.” - Late Night, Maudlin Street by Morrissey **1974** : “Well there’s a real square cat, he looks like 1974” – Rock This Town by Stray Cats. **1975** : “September '75, I was 47 inches high” – One Angry Dwarf by Ben Folds Five **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 **1980** : “They’ll be building it up in the air, ever since 1980” - Hijack by Paul Kantner **1981** : “On August 1st, 1981, I traveled to Scott’s house with my BB Gun” - I Live with it Every Day by Barenaked Ladies **1982** : “And now you find yourself in '82.” - The Heat of the Moment by Asia. **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. **1986** : “And after 1986, what else could be new?” - Modern Woman by Billy Joel. **1989** : “1989 - a number, another summer”, “Fight The Power”, by Public Enemy. **1990** : “You’re so 1990, and it’s 1994” - Shoebox by Barenaked Ladies **1991** : “I crossed the desert on a dining car/In the spring of '91” - Whenever Kindness Fails by Robert Earl Keen **1992** : “April 26, 1992. There was a riot in the streets, tell me where were you?” - April 29, 1992 by Sublime **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 **1995** : “On that morning in late April, Oklahoma, '95” - Shades of Gray by Robert Earl Keen **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 **3008** : “I’m so 3000-and-8; you’re so 2000-and-LATE”, “Boom-Boom Pow” by the Black-Eyed Peas. \*\*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. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/88 "2013-02-05T21:56:23Z")
**1950:** “In 1950 when I was born…” - People Like Us by Talking Heads From the album **True Stories** performed by Talking Heads. The movie **True Stories** had _most_ of the songs performed by other members of the cast. I really like the movie version of People Like Us linked below. Nice movie, especially for David Byrne/Talking Heads fans. _After the song in the clip would be a **spoiler** for anyone watching the movie for the first time._ [People Like Us](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9a1JQi7G3k) ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/89 "2013-02-05T21:56:48Z")
**1960** “But you’re still waiting for 1960 to happen” - “Attitude” by The Kinks ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/90 "2013-02-05T21:57:26Z")
**1955.** _“Dusty frames that still arrive/Die in 1955”_ - Fade Away and Radiate by Blondie **1970.** _“Out of my mind on a Saturday night/1970 rollin’ in sight”_ - 1970 by The Stooges **1951.** _“Got a feeling '51 is gonna be a good year”_ - 1951/What About the Boy? by Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed (from the _Tommy_ movie soundtrack ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/91 "2013-02-05T21:59:11Z")
1. “I was born in '67, the year of Sgt. Pepper and Are You Experienced?” - Time flies by Porcupine Tree ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/92 "2013-02-05T21:59:45Z")
**1945.** “We were the War Children, Born 1945,” - Wild Children by Van Morrison. ---
**Author:** ![WyomingWillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@WyomingWillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WyomingWillie)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/93 "2013-02-05T22:00:06Z")
1984, 1984 knockin at your door, 1984 Spirit. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/94 "2013-02-05T22:06:11Z")
**1966**. “Through sixty-six and seven they fought the Congo war.”- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/95 "2013-02-05T22:08:51Z")
1. “Well it’s 2012, think we’re going to hell” – “2012 (You Must Be Upgraded)” by the Flaming Lips featuring Ke$ha ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/96 "2013-02-05T22:12:09Z")
OK, since you are still missing some of these years, here are the relevant further lines from The Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople, properly formatted: **1970**. “In '70 we can all agree, a King’s Road Flat was the place to be” - The Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople. **1971.** “In '71 all the people come. Bust a few seats but its just in fun” - The Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople. **1972.** “In Seventy-two we was born to lose” - The Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople. **1973.** “Oh, Seventy-three was a jambouree. We were the dudes and the dudes were we” - The Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople. **1974.** “In Seventy-four on the Broadway tour, We didn’t much like dressing up no more” - The Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople. ---
**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, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/97 "2013-02-05T22:13:20Z")
\*\*1944: \*\*“It was just before dawn, one miserable morning in black forty-four.” - When The Tigers Broke Free, Pink Floyd ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/98 "2013-02-05T22:19:13Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > **4545** _In the year 4545 you ain’t gonna need your teeth._ – In The Year 2525, Zager and Evans. And the rest of the song … _In the year 2525, if man is still alive In the year 3535 Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie In the year 5555 Your arms hangin’ limp at your sides In the year 6565 You won’t need no husband, won’t need no wife In the year 7510 If God’s a-coming, He oughta make it by then In the year 8510 God is gonna shake His mighty head In the year 9595 I’m kinda wonderin’ if man is gonna be alive_ ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/99 "2013-02-05T22:21:22Z")
**1649.** “In 1649, to St. George’s Mill, a ragged band called The Diggers came to work the peoples’ will”, A World Turned Upside Down, Anonymous ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401/100 "2013-02-05T22:48:11Z")
A few more obscure examples off the top of my head: **1989:** “June Fifth, in the year of Eight-Nine, he was unarmed with focused mind.” - The Tiananmen Man by Nevermore. Ayreon does a lot of this: **2084:** “My body lies motionless upon the kitchen floor, The Earth has died the world is at rest. 2084” - 2084 **1969:** “On an early summer morning, July '69” - One Small Step **2085:** “Silence’s so loud, not a soul left alive. Darkness is a shroud. 2085.” - The Sixth Extinction [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-song-that-mentions-a-specific-year-in-its-lyrics-please-read-op/649401.md?page=6)