# Songs about a person who is the same sex as the singer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 21, 2022, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405 "2022-03-21T01:51:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/1 "2022-03-21T01:51:28Z")
I’m looking for songs where the singers are singing about someone who is the same sex as themselves **but** 1. Not a romantic rival (so _not_ Jolene) 2. Not a same sex love interest (so _not_ whoever Melissa Ethridge wanted to come to her window) 3. While the person doesn’t need to be a real person or even specifically named, it should be **a** person, not many _You can consider 1&2 to be a bechdel test of sorts for songs_ The songs can be by a solo artist or a band Examples that immediately comes to mind is **Bad, Bad Leroy Brown** by Jim Croce, **Daniel** by Elton John, **Angie Baby** by Helen Reddy, and **My Sister** by The Juliana Hatfield Three. What have you got? ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/2 "2022-03-21T02:02:49Z")
Big Bad John (1961) by Jimmy Dean. Every mornin’ at the mine you could see him arrive He stood six-foot-six and weighed two-forty-five Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip And everybody knew ya didn’t give no lip to big John. Despite this undisguised admiration for the subject, I don’t think the song concerns itself with a same-sex crush. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/3 "2022-03-21T02:15:54Z")
**Delta Dawn** sung by Tanya Tucker _She’s 41 and her daddy still calls her, ‘baby’_ _All the folks around Brownsville say she’s crazy_ _'Cause she walks down town with a suitcase in her hand_ _Looking for a mysterious dark-haired man_ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/4 "2022-03-21T02:25:19Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Examples that immediately comes to mind is **Bad, Bad Leroy Brown** by Jim Croce, - Also, **You Don’t Mess Around With Jim**. **Rapid Roy** **Speedball Tucker** ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/5 "2022-03-21T02:42:34Z")
“Tweeter and The Monkey Man” by The Traveling Wilburys ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/6 "2022-03-21T02:43:56Z")
“Johnny B Goode” ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/7 "2022-03-21T02:44:03Z")
[Spike](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4HVtB7CIBo) by Tom Petty Rhiannon by Stevie Nicks Bitch Better Have My Money by Rihanna ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/8 "2022-03-21T02:50:13Z")
Weird Al [Pac-Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlU60vGRVHc) [The Saga Begins](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcjgJSqSRU) ---
**Author:** ![omenran](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omenran/32/3318_2.png) [@omenran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omenran)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/9 "2022-03-21T02:57:26Z")
Some more edge case types for consideration among these. White town - Your Woman Cake - Frank Sinatra David Seville - Witch Doctor Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue Wally Winger - Adam West ELO - Mr. Blue Sky Sparks - This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both of Us They Might Be Giants - Particle Man ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/10 "2022-03-21T03:03:59Z")
“Bette Davis Eyes”, Jackie DeShannon/Kim Carnes “Gloria”, Laura Branigan “She Works Hard for the Money”, Donna Summer “Private Dancer”, Tina Turner (if being sung in first person is OK) “Dreamboat Annie”, Heart “Dr. Feelgood”, Motley Crue “18 and Life”, Skid Row “Cat’s in the Cradle”, Harry Chapin “Leader of the Band”, Dan Fogelberg “When Smokey Sings”, ABC ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/11 "2022-03-21T03:06:12Z")
“Coward of the County” and “The Gambler” both by Kenny Rogers. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/12 "2022-03-21T03:16:30Z")
**Railroad Bill** ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/13 "2022-03-21T03:32:09Z")
Postcards From Hell - The Wood Brothers ---
**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:** [March 21, 2022, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/14 "2022-03-21T03:32:11Z")
Al Stewart: Lord Grenville, Running Man Australian Crawl: Errol David Bowie: The Man Who Sold the World, Andy Warhol and Song for Bob Dylan REM: Lighnin’ Hopkins, Wendell Gee, Man on the Moon, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Mr Richards The Beatles: Nowhere Man, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, Taxman, The Fool on the Hill, Hey Jude, A Day in the Life, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Black Sabbath: The Wizard Cat Stevens: Father and Son, Tea for the Tillerman The Clash: Rudie Can’t Fail Don McLean: Vincent Elvis Costello: Poor Fractured Atlas, Oliver’s Army Eric Clapton: Willie and the Hand Jive, I Shot the Sheriff Free: Mr Big Hawkwind: Lost Johnny INXS: Johnson’s Aeroplane Jethro Tull: Aqualung, When Jesus Came to Play John Lennon: How Do You Sleep? The Kinks: Apeman, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Well Respected Man Marianne Faithfull: The Ballad of Lucy Jordan Neil Young: Cortez the Killer, Powderfinger Paul Kelly: Sweet Guy Wings: My Heart is Like a Wheel, Picasso’s Last Words Radio Birdman: Man With Golden Helmet Steely Dan: Kid Charlemagne Supertramp: Rudy Television: Little Johnny Jewel, Call Mr Lee You Am I: Wally Raffles, Mr Milk, Ken ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/15 "2022-03-21T04:31:32Z")
Rush: “Tom Sawyer” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/16 "2022-03-21T04:59:58Z")
_Washington_ by Brad Neely - Not a love song. Despite mention of how its subject’s testicles are divine. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/17 "2022-03-21T05:17:58Z")
**Hey Joe** ---
**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:** [March 21, 2022, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/18 "2022-03-21T06:01:47Z")
Possibly, **Me and Bobby McGee** , but I haven’t confirmed it yet. According to one lyrics site, Kris Kristofferson’s version referred to Bobby as “she”, and Janis Joplin’s as “he”. That song has been recorded by a few other singers, and I don’t know if any of them used the same gender as the singer. I’m also not sure if there’s a definitive answer as to whether it’s about a love interest or just a very close friendship. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/19 "2022-03-21T07:09:10Z")
Jackson Browne - Daddy’s Tune The requirements set out by the OP catch two categories of song which are IMHO completely different. - Someone singing about someone of the same sex who they know (lots of parent/child, and sibling songs) - someone who is simply singing a “story song” about a real or imagined character who happens to be of the same sex as the singer. I wonder if the OP really meant to catch the latter? For example, you could say that any song about a folk hero both fits and doesn’t fit the OP depending on who sings it - “The Ballad of John Henry” has been sung by any number of men, but also Gillian Welch and Emily Saliers. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405/20 "2022-03-21T09:38:49Z")
Arnold Layne, Pink Floyd. Careful With That Axe Eugene, also Pink Floyd. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-a-person-who-is-the-same-sex-as-the-singer/961405.md?page=2)