# Songs that name other people **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560 "2002-04-25T16:36:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/1 "2002-04-25T16:36:30Z")
I was listening to “No Time” by the Monkees yesterday and I love the line, “Andy you’re a dandy. You don’t seem to make no sense.” This line in the song refers to Andy Kaufman. I want to turn to you guys to name more songs that refer to other people. Let’s try to stay away from songs that refer to God since there are tons of them. Ready…GO! ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/2 "2002-04-25T16:43:16Z")
Sweet Home Alabama-“and I hope Neil Young will remember, a southern man don’t need him around anyhoe” Mrs. Robinson-“where have you gone Joe Dimaggio? A nation turns it’s lonely eyes to you” I think in Neil Young’s song “Rockin in the free world” he refers to George Bush when he says “We’ve got a thousand points of light, for the homeless man”, but I could be wrong. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/3 "2002-04-25T16:48:31Z")
are you sure this is a ref to kaufman? weren’t the Monkees long gone by the time andy was doing his thing? kaufman is featured in that crappy REM song “man on the moon” or whatever. they also mention lenny bruce in “end of the world…”. Rush mentions “the pilot of Enola Gay” in one of thier songs, but doesn’t specificly say Col. Tibbets. Leo Kottke has a song about Pamela Brown, and how he owes it all to her. * * * “More songs about Hitler and Romance!” ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/4 "2002-04-25T16:54:46Z")
Let 'Em In - Paul McCartney refers to a lot of people, but I’m not sure exactly which people he refers to. You’d guess that “Phil and Don” are the Everly Brothers. But it’s a bit of a leap to think that something he writes down means something beyond a rhyme. ---
**Author:** ![islandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@islandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/islandgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/5 "2002-04-25T16:56:59Z")
“Brian Wilson” Bare Naked Ladies ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/6 "2002-04-25T16:57:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monster \* > \*\*I was listening to “No Time” by the Monkees yesterday and I love the line, “Andy you’re a dandy. You don’t seem to make no sense.” This line in the song refers to Andy Kaufman. I want to turn to you guys to name more songs that refer to other people. > \*\* Uh, the Monkee’s song “No Time” was first recorded in 1967 on the album “Headquarters.” At the time, Kaufman was still in high school; he didn’t begin performing until 1970 and didn’t become generally known until 1975. It’s extremely unlikely there’s any connection. Some actual connections: “Angie” by the Stones was for David Bowie’s then-wife, Angie. “Glass Onion” by the Beatles – “The Walrus was Paul” (he wasn’t, BTW; Paul was the hippo). “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple mentions Frank Zappa and the Mothers (“were in the best place in town”). Though she’s not mentioned by name, Patti Harrison (George’s first wife) was the subject of Layla. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/7 "2002-04-25T17:05:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\* > > “Angie” by the Stones was for David Bowie’s then-wife, Angie. > \*\* [Or was it?](http://www.snopes2.com/music/artists/bowie.htm) ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/8 "2002-04-25T17:10:56Z")
More recently: Pink, in “Don’t Let Me Get Me”: _Tired of being compared / To damn Britney Spears / She’s so pretty / something something_ - s.e. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/9 "2002-04-25T17:15:07Z")
Also, Alanis Morissette makes reference to her past manager/producer, or former songwriter, in “I See Right Through You” (from “Jagged Little Pill”). It’s either Stefan Klovan (I used to work with him) or Leslie Howe (songwriter on her first two pop albums): _You didn’t think I’d come back You didn’t think I’d show up with my army And this ammunition on my back Now that I’m Miss Thing Now that I’m a zillionaire You scan the credits for your name And wonder why it’s not there_ Plus, there’s the guy she went down on in the theatre. (Dave Coulier? Matt LeBlanc? She’ll never tell. Skank.) - s.e. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/10 "2002-04-25T17:17:52Z")
The are so many. One of my faves by **Simon & Garfunkel** entitled _A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d into Submission)_. It runs the gamut of late 60’s pop culture. [ul][_]Norman Mailer [_]Maxwell Taylor [_]John O’Hara [_]McNamara [_]Rolling Stone(s) [_]Beatle(s) [_]Ayn Rand [_]Phil Spector [_]Lou Adler [_]Barry Sadler [_]Lenny Bruce [_]Dylan [_]Dylan Thomas [_]Mick Jagger [_]Andy Warhol [_]Roy Hale Art Garfunkel [/ul] ---
**Author:** ![MachV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@MachV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachV)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/11 "2002-04-25T17:23:47Z")
Nearly every song from Pink Floyd’s “The Final Cut” - Margaret Thatcher. But since the question was what song I’ll play fair & pick one. The Fletcher Memorial Home from said album- “Maggie”, of course; Ronald Regan, Alexander Haig, Richard Nixon, Leonid Brezhnev…and a few others I’m forgetting. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/12 "2002-04-25T17:28:05Z")
American Pie has tons of references to people in the 50’s and 60’s but some of them are rather cryptic. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/13 "2002-04-25T17:34:09Z")
Hey RealityChuck, I appreciate your input and correction, but I wish you’d drop the condescending “Uh” at the beginning of your post. Makes you sound like a jerk. The Andy refered to is Andy Warhol. My brain slipped. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/14 "2002-04-25T17:40:13Z")
Jesus Christ, Fanny Brice, Wolfie Mozart and Humphrey Bogart, Genghis Khan and on to H. G. Wells. Ho Chi Minh, Gunga Din, Henry Luce and John Wilkes Booth and Alexander’s King and Graham Bell. Ramar Krishna, Mama Whistler, Patrice Lumumba and Russ Colombo, Karl and Chico Marx, Albert Camus. E. A. Poe, Henri Rousseau, Sholom Aleichem and Caryl Chessman, Alan Freed and Buster Keaton, too. - Neil Diamond - **Done Too Soon** ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/15 "2002-04-25T17:42:13Z")
I’m Henry the Eighth, I am… - Herman’s Hermits ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/16 "2002-04-25T17:46:00Z")
The Beatles’ _Dear Prudence_ (on The White Album) refers to Prudence Farrow, Mia’s sister. Both women were in India at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s place when the Beatles were there. The first verse of James Taylor’s _Line 'Em Up_ from Hourglass is all about Richard Nixon: I remember Richard Nixon back in '74 And the final scene at the White House door And the staff lined up to say good-bye Tiny tear in his shifty little eye He said nobody knows me Nobody understands These little people were good to me Oh I’m gonna shake some hands Elton John’s _Empty Garden_ is a John Lennon memorial song. I know I know others, but my brain’s stopped working. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/17 "2002-04-25T17:48:25Z")
FCM, your post reminded me of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel. I can’t think of the lyrics, but I’m sure he named a person or two! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/18 "2002-04-25T17:48:45Z")
Kraftwerk’s “Trans Europe Express”: Iggy Pop & David Bowie ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/19 "2002-04-25T17:51:42Z")
I knows a MILLYUN of 'em, but here’s the all-time classic, from the 1956 musical “Bells Are Ringing”— Jose Ferrer and Janet Blair and Fred Astaire and Vincent Minnelli Daniel Mann and Lynn Fontanne, Elia Kazan, the former Grace Kelly Louis Shurr and Courtney Burr and Irving Lazar Anthony Quinn – And Rin-Tin-Tin! Doris Day and Barry Gray and Edna Best Arthur Loew and Vaughan Monroe, Rebecca West Irwin Shaw and Evelyn Waugh, Errol Flynn Rory Calhoun – And Rin-Tin-Toon! Barney Baruch and King Farouk, Alistair Cooke and Debbie and Eddie Lucille Ball and Lauren Bacall, Hedy Lamarr, Roz Russell and Freddie Carol Reed and Sammy Snead and Deborah Kerr Anna May Wong – And Rong-Tong-Tong! Luncheon was fun at 21, Then I had to run for drinks at the Plaza. Dined with John, Le Pavillon, Then flew right on to St. Mark’s Piazza. Took a group for onion soup at dawn at Les Halles; It never shuts – Like Chock-Full-of-Nuts! My Christian Dior I wore, then tore, Got fitted for a new Balenciaga. Then to Jacques Fath for just one hat – Got something that will drive you ga-ga Valentina’s where I’ve been; I just adore Val – Things with good lines – Like things from Klein’s! I do all my shopping there with Mary and Ethel. Errol Flynn! Rin-Tin-Tin! Edmond Gwenn! Ren-Ten-Ten! Ali Kahn! Rahn-Tahn-Tahn! Raymond Massey! Lassie! That’s the way you play the game Drop That Name! ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/20 "2002-04-25T18:10:42Z")
OK, somebody beat me to _Smoke on the Water_, so all I can think of are a few cheesy ones: The Commodores’ _Nightshift_ is a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson …which brings me to _Jackie Wilson Said_, by Van Morrison and speaking of soul singers… _Hey Nineteen… that’s 'Retha Franklin…_ by Steely Dan and let’s not forget… _Anybody here… Seen my old friend Abraham/Martin/John/Bob…_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560.md?page=2)