# Obscure places in songs that you have been to. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 8, 2018, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638 "2018-10-08T02:53:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/41 "2018-10-08T16:01:39Z")
John Hiatt’s **Memphis in the Meantime:** > [@](#): > > If we could just get off-a that beat little girl > Maybe we could find the groove > At least we can get a decent meal > Down at the Rendez-vous I’ve had ribs there. (great place). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/42 "2018-10-08T16:15:47Z")
For a few months in 1990, and then again in 2017, I lived near (and biked/walked/drove on) the N17 road in Ireland: [N17 - The Saw Doctors (Official Video) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32-WdYOeJLk) That’s a pretty obscure song, though. I’m sure I could think of something more popular. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/43 "2018-10-08T16:19:09Z")
In _You’re So Vain_, Carly Simon says the subject (Jagger? Beatty?) “Flew [his] LearJet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun”. We did that. OK, it was a Cessna 172 owned by my dad’s flying club, not a personally owned LearJet, but in 1971, I convinced my Dad to fly us to Nova Scotia to see that same event. Spectacular! And, last year, my son and his buddies drove to North Carolina to see the same. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/44 "2018-10-08T16:38:45Z")
I too have stood on a corner in Winslow Arizona, but never got stuck in Lodi again. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/45 "2018-10-08T16:39:35Z")
I was at Woodstock. I think there was a song about that? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/46 "2018-10-08T16:42:04Z")
One of my favorite Eagles songs is [“The Last Resort”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Resort_(Eagles_song)) from the _Hotel California_ album. Growing up, I had only a vague sense where Rhode Island actually was (i.e. one of the many, small, mish-mash of states in the Northeast), so was somewhat bemused when the Navy later sent me there for a duty assignment for a few years. One day the song came on, and I suddenly realized I was driving at that moment in Providence, the one in Rhode Island. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/47 "2018-10-08T18:34:23Z")
In Macklemore’s song “Good Old Days” he sings: _In a small club in Minnesota And the snow outside of 1st Ave I just wanted my name in a star now look at where we at_ I live in Minneapolis so of course I’ve been to plenty of concerts at 1st Ave (and 7th Street Entry). The outside walls of the building are painted black with silver stars, and inside the stars are the names of bands that have played 1st Ave over the years (except for Prince who has a special gold star). ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/48 "2018-10-08T18:34:48Z")
I’ve been to San Bernardino, man, but never saw action like this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/drrKpEhAI5o/hqdefault.jpg ""Five Little Miles from San Berdoo" sung by Jane Russell") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drrKpEhAI5o) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/49 "2018-10-08T18:42:57Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I’ve been to Gallup, New Mexico, probably the most obscure town mentioned in Bobby Troup’s “Route 66.” Even stayed at the El Rancho Hotel. > > [El Rancho Hotel & Motel - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Rancho_Hotel_%26_Motel) > > Also, I’ve been stuck in Lodi again. I strong teenage memory I’ll never lose is driving through Lodi when the song randomly came on the radio. Unfortunately they were really talking about the one in California not New Jersey. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > For a few months in 1990, and then again in 2017, I lived near (and biked/walked/drove on) the N17 road in Ireland: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32-WdYOeJLk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32-WdYOeJLk) > > That’s a pretty obscure song, though. I’m sure I could think of something more popular. The more obscure the better. Both song and place. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/50 "2018-10-08T18:46:51Z")
Although it’s been refuted by the band, Brandy who I’ve heard is a fine girl is rumored to be based on Mary Ellis from the band’s hometown. I’ve been to the grave of Mary Ellis many times. It’s in the parking lot of a movie theater. > **[Mary Ellis grave](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ellis_grave)** > > The Mary Ellis grave is a grave located behind an AMC Theatre on U.S. Route 1 in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The granite gravestone is located on a 7-foot (2.1 m) high stonework pyramid in the back parking lot. Seven relatives are also buried and marked on the grave itself. > Mary Ellis, a native of South Carolina, was a property owner and fierce feminist in New Brunswick, noted to even vote in city elections before the right for women to vote was passed. Living ... ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/51 "2018-10-08T18:56:40Z")
I come from Chautauqua County as did the 10,000 Maniacs and so growing up I went to a lot of places name-checked by them. The only one that was in the lyrics, however, is Bemus Point. I have been to the defunct Stockton Gala Days fest but it isn’t clear whether the 10KM song of the same name was even about the village let alone the event. Verdi Cries was definitely about Chautauqua Institution but it isn’t mentioned in the lyrics by name. The compilation of their first 2 EPS is called The Fredonia Recordings because it was recorded in my home town, but is not mentioned in a song on the album either. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/52 "2018-10-08T19:07:57Z")
I’ve driven down Blue Jay Way in the Hollywood Hills, only because of the Beatles song. I’ve been to more than half the beaches listed in “Surfin’ USA”. I grew up in Redondo Beach, and have been to Del Mar, Ventura County Line, Santa Cruz, Trestles, Manhattan (assuming that was referencing Manhattan Beach, as I’m not aware of NYC being a big surf spot), Doheny and La Jolla. Tom Waits’ “On The Nickel” is a reference to 5th Street in Los Angeles, which is the heart of Skid Row. I’ve been there. Driven through the intersection of Pico and Sepulveda many times (from the Dr. Demento staple of the same name) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/53 "2018-10-08T19:31:40Z")
In “My City Was Gone” by Chrissie Hynde, she says “And Muzak filled the air From Seneca to Cuyahoga falls” … never been to Seneca (I’m sure I’ve driven through it) but I’ve been to Cuyahoga Falls probably thousands of times at this point. ---
**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/54 "2018-10-08T19:41:10Z")
I have been to Micanopy. My middle name truly is Earl. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/55 "2018-10-08T19:52:47Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’ve driven up and down the very curvy road that spawned the song **Hot Rod Lincoln** - the “Spiral Highway” between Lewiston and Moscow Idaho. I think you might be mistaken about this. \*Pulling out of **San Pedro** late one night With the moon and the stars just shining bright We was headed up **grapevine Hill** Passing cars like they was standing still \* Southern California. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/56 "2018-10-08T19:59:43Z")
About the only thing you can do in Lodi is be stuck. Done it numerous times. Lodi, Ohio. And although my brother did not get married in front of the Waverly, they did get married on September 12 specifically because of the song. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/57 "2018-10-08T20:13:22Z")
Obscurity is a relative term, but I have been to such a place, made famous :dubious: by a Kinky Friedman song (“Rapid City, South Dakota”): \*But as we passed by Big Al’s drive-in his eyes began to flash He was leavin’ Rapid City mighty fast. He said, “I hope to God she finds the good-bye letter that I wrote her But the mail don’t move so fast in Rapid City, South Dakota.” \* To this day whenever I think of the place, it’s in the incredulous tones of Cary Grant (as Roger O. Thornhill) in “North by Northwest”. “Rapid City, South Dakota???” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/58 "2018-10-08T20:23:57Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > About the only thing you can do in Lodi is be stuck. And party. If you like to. As long as you don’t bother nobody. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/59 "2018-10-08T20:24:27Z")
Like Billy Joel, I walked through Bedford Stuy alone. I’ve walked in both Beal Street and Broadway. I’ve been on Highway 61 in both Mississipi and Minnesota. East of Omaha? Several times. I’ve never flown out over Mulholland, but I’ve driven on it. I’ve driven through Detroit (Rock City). If it’s in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or DC I’ve probably been there. If it’s a Tennessee or Virginia location in a bluegrass song, I’ve probably been there. Oops, a lot of those places aren’t obscure. As Emily Litella said, “never mind.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638/60 "2018-10-08T20:28:51Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > About the only thing you can do in Lodi is be stuck. Done it numerous times. Lodi, Ohio. In Lodi New Jersey you can visit locations used in the Sopranos including the club that was the location for the Bada Bing! But neither there or Ohio were what is referred to in the song. That is Lodi, California. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-places-in-songs-that-you-have-been-to/822638.md?page=4)