# Songs that break the 4th wall **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253 "2011-04-21T17:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/61 "2011-04-21T23:15:47Z")
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s \*Saturday Night Special \*ends with the line “And that’s the end of this song” Not quite the same thing, but on the CD version of Tom Petty’s\* Full Moon Fever\* album, there is a section between ‘Sides’ 1 & 2 that feature’s Tom’s voice saying “Hello, CD listeners. We’ve come to the point in this album where those listening on cassette, or records, will have to stand up, or sit down, and turn over the record. Or tape. In fairness to those listeners, we’ll now take a few seconds before we begin side two. Thank you. Here’s side two.” Do albums even have a ‘Side 1’ and ‘Side 2’ anymore? ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/62 "2011-04-21T23:31:54Z")
Villagers - _Becoming a Jackal_: So before you take this song as truth You should wonder what I’m taking from you How I benefit from you being here Lending me your ears while I’m selling you my fears. Barenaked Ladies - _In the Car_: Once I had this dream where I slept with her mom Unless I’ve got this wrong, a secret all along Unless she hears this song, unless she hears it on a tape inside her car with her new husband and she turns to him and says “I think that’s me” ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/63 "2011-04-21T23:32:19Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Superdude. Resident Hair Band Semi-savant. Then you may remember Tigertailz, Wales finest hair metal band, having their own song “Love Bomb Baby” as the song played too loud on the radio at the start of “Noize Level’s Critical”. For bonus Glam stupidity, the songs followed each other on the album:p ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/64 "2011-04-21T23:50:00Z")
Camper Van Beethoven, _Take the Skinheads Bowling_: Some people say that bowling alleys got big lanes. Some people say that bowling alleys all look the same. There’s not a line that goes here that rhymes with anything. I has a dream last night, but I forget what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/65 "2011-04-21T23:58:21Z")
The Beatles - ‘Only A Northern Song’ _If you’re listening to this song you may think the chords are going wrong_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/66 "2011-04-22T00:12:42Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago and “These Words” by Natasha Bedingfield–both are about cases of writer’s block when trying to write the song. “School’s Out” has Alice Cooper get pretty close. “Well, we got no class And we got no principles And we got no innocence And we . . . can’t even think of a word that rhymes.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/67 "2011-04-22T00:19:57Z")
The Frantics - How To Write A Song. _This is the first verse of this song. It sets the beat, and comes on strong. The words are trite, the emotion’s faked!_ And so on. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/68 "2011-04-22T02:24:40Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Then you may remember Tigertailz, Wales finest hair metal band, having their own song “Love Bomb Baby” as the song played too loud on the radio at the start of “Noize Level’s Critical”. For bonus Glam stupidity, the songs followed each other on the album:p Boy, that’s a band I haven’t thought of in years! I DO remember them, however. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/69 "2011-04-22T06:05:19Z")
Todd Rundgren’s song “Chain Letter” from his album _Runt: The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren_ is about writing a song: This is how I thought I’d start my song And it seems a little silly when I think of it … Now I’m in the middle and I just don’t know If I’ll make it any further if the words don’t flow … This is the ending of my song It has made me blind and deaf and weak but most of all It shows you that I’m wrong… [Complete lyrics here.](http://lyrics.wikia.com/Todd_Rundgren:Chain_Letter) ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/70 "2011-04-22T07:49:02Z")
I was dreaming when I wrote this forgive me if it goes astray. –Prince “1999” Hey there Delilah Don’t you worry about the distance I’m right there if you get lonely Give this song another listen –Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah” This song is called Alice’s Restaurant, and it’s about Alice, and the restaurant, but Alice’s Restaurant is not the name of the restaurant, that’s just the name of the song, and that’s why I called the song Alice’s Restaurant. … And the only reason I’m singing you this song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar situation, or you may be in a similar situation, and if your in a situation like that there’s only one thing you can do and that’s walk into the shrink wherever you are, just walk in say “Shrink, You can get anything you want, at Alice’s restaurant.” … That was horrible. If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud. I’ve been singing this song now for twenty five minutes. I could sing it for another twenty five minutes. I’m not proud… or tired. So we’ll wait till it comes around again, and this time with four part harmony and feeling. We’re just waitin’ for it to come around is what we’re doing. All right now. –Arlo Guthrie “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/71 "2011-04-22T08:36:01Z")
Marie Lloyd, “The Boy I Love Is Up In The Gallery,” covered [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW4ThXetHkI). ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/72 "2011-04-22T12:43:54Z")
“I Shall Be Free No. 10” Bob Dylan “You’re probably wond’ring by now What this song’s about” ---
**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:** [April 22, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/73 "2011-04-22T17:22:34Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Can anyone think of any songs where the singer says “guitar!” as a way to introduce a guitar solo in the song? I’m thinking Kiss might do this, but I can’t think of the song. **The Beatles - Honey Don’t** : “Rock on, George, one time for me…” (and later, rock on for Ringo) On another note, here is one that sometimes gives me chills. A rare example of an artist talking about another song he’d written: “Staying up for days in the Chelsea Hotel, Writing “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” for you.” - **Bob Dylan, “Sara”** ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/74 "2011-04-22T17:27:52Z")
24 hours of this thread, and no mention of Tenacious D’s “Tribute” (The Greatest Song in the World) “the song we sang on that fateful night - didn’t actually sound anything like this song” (and plenty of other references in the lyrics too). ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/75 "2011-04-22T18:00:54Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Hey, here’s a post that breaks the fourth wall! Hey! You could start a thread: “Posts that breaks the fourth wall”. And then someone could quote a quote, and address the reader in the middle of that… ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/76 "2011-04-22T18:14:52Z")
A Modest Proposal, by Elastic No-No Band: \*You can’t go around singing love songs to yourself And if you could, what would the world be like? It’s be like Elastic No-No Band, will you marry us Elastic No-No Band, your voice is so pretty Ya see, that doesn’t really work \* ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/77 "2011-04-22T18:33:52Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The Clash, pressured by their label to produce a radio friendly hit song, came out with “This is Radio Clash.” And the Clash’s _Complete Control_ references a previous Clash song, _Remote Control_, that CBS released as a single off of the Clash’s first album against the band’s wishes. _They said, “Release Remote Control” But we didn’t want it on the label_ ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/78 "2011-04-22T18:36:23Z")
_Joyride,_ by Built to Spill. \*this part of the song is called the second verse sounds just like the first verse but with different words it only has three chords and they are A and E and D they are A and E and D then it goes to D minor, D, uh, A, E, D \* Specific verse [here…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gncB-kQUUgQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=74s) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/79 "2011-04-22T18:51:13Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Can anyone think of any songs where the singer says “guitar!” as a way to introduce a guitar solo in the song? Not quite what you’re looking for, but it qualifies for the thread: [The Intro and The Outro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DUEAG5eO6c). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253/80 "2011-04-22T19:29:53Z")
Dethklok’s [Fansong](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_sioHsT7GQ) > [@](#): > > You people out there give us something more than just record sales > You give us something to hate > And we hate you, you brainless mutants [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-break-the-4th-wall/579253.md?page=5)