# 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:** 3
**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, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/41 "2002-04-25T21:52:39Z")
Wow! You guys are good! Keep 'em coming! ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/42 "2002-04-25T21:59:44Z")
“I Dig Rock and Roll Music” by Peter, Paul, and Mary mentions **The Mamas and Papas** and **The Beatles** “And when the Beatles tell you, it’s love they’ll try to sell you, they mean exactly what they sayyyyyyyyyyy.” Or words to that affect. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard the song. ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/43 "2002-04-25T22:09:01Z")
From Sleepwalker by The Wallflowers: “Cupid, don’t draw back your bow / Sam Cooke didn’t know what I know” ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/44 "2002-04-25T22:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoke- \* > \*\*Up **Eve’s** alley, there’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz”: > > Dressed up like a million dollar trooper > Tryin’ hard to look like Gary Cooper > (Super duper!) \*\* I think that originally the lines were “…million dollar fella” and “…to look like Rockafella,” but it was changed relatively recently (the '80s) to the Gary Cooper reference because it was believed that the listeners wouldn’t be sufficently familiar with the wealth and style of the Rockefellers. If I am right (which on a Thursday afternoon is highly unlikely), that puts two references in the same place of same song on the same line, but at different times. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/45 "2002-04-25T22:14:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \* > **"I Dig Rock and Roll Music" by Peter, Paul, and Mary mentions The Mamas and Papas and The Beatles** …and Donavan ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/46 "2002-04-25T22:20:11Z")
“She’s Got **Bette Davis** Eyes” by Kim Carnes (I think). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@The\_Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tim)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/47 "2002-04-25T22:24:11Z")
Emenim’s song “I am whatever you say I am” or something like that mentions Maryln Manson. Limp Di… I mean Bizket (or however they spell it) has a song that all but mentions Trent Reznor using a fair deal of NIN lyrics in what is supposed to be a mockery of Trent and his band. In addition I hear that there is more slander by Fred against Trent in a song called “Counterfit” Both of these are more songs that reference someone else than specificailly metnion them but I think in “Counterfit” Trent is actually named. There are a few other of these feud type songs. Everlast and someone else whose name escapes me have several songs slandering eachother. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/48 "2002-04-26T00:22:25Z")
I Like this thread! Here are some more:[ol] [li]**(Marshall) Tucker (Band), Lynyrd Skynyrd, (Dickie) Betts, Elvin Bishop, ZZ Top, Willy (Nelson)** & (A Self-Promoting) **Charlie Daniels Band** in The Charlie Daniels Band’s _“The South’s Gonna Do It Again”_[/li][li]**Alex Chilton (Of The Box Tops & Solo)** in The Replacement’s _“Alex Chilton”_[/li][li] **Bob Dylan** in Jesus Jone’s _“Right Here, Right Now”_[/li][li] **Bob Mould of Husker Du** in Jello Biafra’s _“Names For Bands”_[/li][li] **Brian Wilson** in John Cale’s _“Brian Wilson”_[/li][li] **David Bowie, Gary Glitter & Prince** in The Clash’s _“Complete Control”_[/li][li] **Don Henley** in Mojo Nixon’s _“Don Henley Must Die”_[/li][li] **Elton John, Roger Daltrey & CSNY** in Frank Zappa’s _“Do You Like My New Car?”_ [/li][li] **Elvis, Joan Rivers & Michael J. Fox** in Mojo Nixon’s _“Elvis Is Everywhere”_[/li][li] **Elvis, The Beatles & The Rolling Stones** in The Clash’s _“1977”_[/li][li] **Frank Sinatra** inDream Academy’s _“Life In A Northern Town”_[/li][li] **Frank Zappa** inCaptain Beefheart’s _“The Blimp (Mousetrapreplica)”_[/li][li]**George (Harrison), Ringo (Starr), Paul (McCartney), John (Lennon) & Yoko Ono** in Flo & Eddie’s _“Keep It Warm”_[/li][li] **Grandmaster Flash** in Blondie’s _“Rapture”_[/li][li] **Green Day** in Weezer’s _“El Scorcho”_[/li][li] **Howlin’ Wolf** in Mojo Nixon’s _“I’m Gonna Dig Up Howlin’ Wolf”_[/li][li] **Iggy Pop** in The Red Hot Chili Pepper’s _“Coffee Shop”_[/li][li] **Iron Maiden** in Wheatus’ _“Teenage Dirtbag”_[/li][li] **Jimi Hendrix & Hank Williams** in Neil Young’s _“From Hank To Hendrix”_[/li][li] **James Brown** in Was Not Was’ _“I Feel Better Than James Brown”_[/li][li] **Joni Mitchell** in Frank Zappa’s _“Billy The Mountain”_ [/li][li] **Kiss** in Cheap Trick’s _“Never Surrender”_[/li][li] **Led Zeppelin** in Everclear’s _“AM Radio”_[/li][li] **Lemonheads & Superchunk** in Sonic Youth’s _“Screaming Skull”_[/li][li] **Lou Reed, Mink Deville, The Heartbreakers, Television & More** in Jane County’s All Stars _" Max’s Kansas City"_[/li][li] **Michael, Janet & Jermaine Jackson** in Frank Zappa’s _“Why Don’t You Like Me?”_[/li][li] **Mott The Hoople** in Queen’s _“Now I’m Hear”_[/li][li] **Neil Young** in Sonic Youth’s _"Crème Burlee”_[/li][li] **Ramones** in Motorhead’s _“R.A.M.O.N.E.S”_[/li][li] **Rod Stewart, Chuck Berry, Mick Jagger** in The Sex Pistol’s _“The Great Rock n’ Roll Swindle”_[/li][li] **Roy Orbison** in Bruce Springsteen’s _“Thunder Road”_[/li][li] **Smashing Pumpkins & STP** in Pavement’s _“Range Life”_[/li][li] **T Rex** in The Who’s _“You Better,You Bet”_ AND Mott The Hoople’s _“All The Young Dudes”_[/li][li] **The Beatles** in Donna Lynn’s _“I Had a Dream I Was a Beatle”/“My Boyfriend Got a Beatle Haircut”_[/li][li] **The Carpenters** in The (London)Suede’s _“He’s Gone”_[/li][li] **The Cure** in Ben Folds Five’s _“Battle of Who Could Care Less”_[/li][li] **The Doobie Brothers** in Frank Zappa’s _“Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy”_ [/li][li] **The Grateful Dead** in Frank Zappa’s _“Teenage Wind”_ [/li][li] **The Rolling Stones** in Blur’s _“Trailer Park”_[/li][li] **The Rolling Stones** in Nazareth’s _“Shanghai’d In Shanghai”_[/li][li] **Velvet Underground & Black Sabbath** on Frank Zappa’s _“200 Motels”_[/ol][/li] Minor Hijack I can only think of 4 artist’s who’ve entitled songs after themselves…[ol] [li] **Bad Company** From Bad Company by Bad Company[/li][li] **Blue Oyster Cult** From Imaginos by Blue Oyster Cult[/li][li] **Black Sabbath** From Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath[/li] **Bo Diddley** by Bo Diddley[/ol]There’s gotta be more, aren’t there? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/49 "2002-04-26T00:39:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JohnBckWLD \* > \*\*There’s gotta be more, aren’t there? \*\* “Everybody Wang Chung tonight!” “In a Big Country, dreams stay with you, Like a lover’s voice fires the mountainside.” I’m sure there are even more. ---
**Author:** ![Steel\_Wheels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Steel\_Wheels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steel_Wheels)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/50 "2002-04-26T01:18:21Z")
A couple from my fave band [The Tragically Hip](http://www.thehip.com). At The Hundredth Meridian: “…Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy…” 50 Mission Cap: “Bill Barilko disappeared that summer, he was on a fishing trip. The last goal he ever scored won the Leafs the cup They didn’t win another until 1962, the year he was discovered.” ---
**Author:** ![Ripple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@Ripple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ripple)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/51 "2002-04-26T01:53:20Z")
Ramble On Rose by the Grateful Dead mentions all of the following: Jack The Ripper Billy Sunday Jack & Jill Crazy Otto Wolfman Jack Mary Shelley and Frankenstein ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/52 "2002-04-26T03:07:24Z")
Barenaked Ladies: One Week (Akira Kurosawa) When You Dream (Del Shannon) Jane (Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield) King of Bedside Manor (Tom Jones) Be My Yoko Ono (duh ;)) New Kid (On The Block)(also duh ;)) Straw Hat & Dirty Old Hank is about Anne Murray Third Eye Blind: Horror Show (Lou Reed) ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/53 "2002-04-26T03:15:09Z")
Oh yeah… Weird Al: It’s All About The Pentiums (Bill Gates) Jerry Springer If you count fictional characters: The Saga Begins (lots of Star Wars characters) Gump (Forrest Gump characters) That’s about the extent of my Weird Al experience. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/54 "2002-04-26T04:32:05Z")
Has anyone mentioned “God” by John Lennon yet? ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/55 "2002-04-26T07:09:31Z")
“Don’t Call Us (We’ll Call You)” by **Sugarloaf** mentions: _Listen kid you paid for the call You ain’t bad but we’ve heard it all before Yeah it sounds like John, Paul and George_ …and borrows a riff from “I Feel Fine”, as well. _Xanadu– To stand within the Pleasure Dome Decreed by Kubla Khan To taste anew the fruits of life The last immortal man To find the sacred river Alph To walk the caves of ice Oh, I will dine on honeydew And drink the milk of Paradise_ –“Xanadu”, by **RUSH** ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/56 "2002-04-26T08:25:39Z")
The Pope - Joan Osbourne’s “What if God Was One of Us?” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus” Puff Daddy - Fountains of Wayne’s “Denise” Beck, Hanson, Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson - New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give” Harold Robbins, William Tell - Squeeze’s “Pulling Mussels from the Shell” James K. Polk - They Might Be Giants’ “James K. Polk” Buddy Holly, Mary Tyler Moore - Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” Lon Chaney, Lon Chaney Jr., The Queen - Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” ---
**Author:** ![S.Mussberger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@S.Mussberger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/S.Mussberger)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/57 "2002-04-26T12:16:25Z")
Consolation Row- Bob Dylan He doesn’t mention many by name but the characters in the song are supposed be real people. It’s a bunch of riddles really… ---
**Author:** ![hobgnoblin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hobgnoblin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobgnoblin)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/58 "2002-04-26T13:02:02Z")
Alice Cooper’s _Department of Youth_ - Billy Sunday, Damon Runyon Counting Crows’ _Einstein On The Beach_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/59 "2002-04-26T13:22:46Z")
From “Life in a Northern Town”: In winter 1963 It felt like the world would freeze With **John F. Kennedy** and **The Beatles** ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560/60 "2002-04-26T13:31:52Z")
From “Luckenbach, Texas”: Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas **Willie** and **Waylon** and the boys This successful life we’re livin’s got us feudin’ like the **Hatfields** and **McCoys** Between **Hank Williams** train songs and **Jerry Jeff** [Walker] pain songs and “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain” Out in Luckenbach, Texas Ain’t nobody feelin’ no pain [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-name-other-people/105560.md?page=4)