The Bangles cover of Jules Shear’s “If She Knew What She Wants,” originally about the male singer’s girlfriend, didn’t change the gender, but instead made it third-person about the female singer’s female friend’s relationship.
Paul Simon had written lots of these (“Richard Cory,” “Late Great Johnny Ace,” “A Most Peculiar Man,” “Under African Skies” and on and on) , even more if you ignore some clearly autobiographical songs (“Crazy Love, Vol II” etc)
Warren Zevon’s Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner
Not going by the video, it isn’t.
Going by the song, it very much is about a woman, written and sung by a woman.
The Undertones, My Perfect Cousin
The Kinks, Plastic Man
The Damned did three on their album Grave Disorder alone :
He’s a Whore - Cheap Trick
She’s a Ho - Tragic Mulatto
Crazy Dan - Scratch Acid
John E. Smoke - Buttholes
I Am Damo Suzuki - the Fall
Craigness - The Fall
Bournemouth Runner - the Fall
No XMas For John Quays - The Fall
Mr. Pharmacist - The Fall (originally by an outfit called The Other Half)
Carry Bag Man - the Fall
Lonesome Cowboy Dave - Pere Ubu
Apple Strudel Man - Jolly Tambourine Man
Because Bob McCammon Cared - OTTG (Our Testicles Touch the Ground)
Stallvaulter - Peruke
Mouthbreather - Jesus Lizard
Deep Six - Big Black
Dead Billy - Big Black
Budd - Rapeman
John Wayne Was a Nazi - MDC
Bill Scott is Dumb - AxCx
Fallen Angel - King Crimson (would 21st Century Schizoid Man count?)
Andy - Frank Zappa
San Ber’dino - FZ
Big Dick - Nomeansno
Until Lately - Dream Syndicate
We’re Only Making Plans For Nigel - XTC
Jeremy Bender
The Sheriff
Reminded me of “He’s A Dick” by Golden Smog.
No, it was another musician, Keith Ellis, who was a member of Van der Graaf Generator very early on, who OD’d in 1978 while on tour in Germany with Iron Butterfly!
How about:
Iron Man - Black Sabbath
Rooster - Alice in Chains