# Songs that namecheck their own writer. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123 "2005-04-13T13:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/1 "2005-04-13T13:59:24Z")
Having recently done this myself, I wondered what other examples there are out there. I’m guessing there will be tons in the hiphop genre, but a couple that occured to me were; **’The Doctor’ by Loudon Wainwright III** (“I went to the Dr, the Dr said Loud, you gotta stop hanging out with that old in-crowd”) **’Gay Messiah’ by Rufus Wainwright** (“It will not be me - Rufus the baptist I’ll be”) **’Claire’ by Gilbert O’Sullivan** (“Will you marry me uncle Ray?”) His real name. **’My Life is Good’ by Randy Newman** (“Bruce Springsteen said… Rand, I’m tired, why dont you be the boss for a while”) and oddly, **’Interviewing Randy Newman’ by Glen Tillbrook** (“Hi Randy, I’m Glen Tilbrook”) Saying ‘I’ or ‘my son said dad’ isn’t enough - gotta have the name. MiM ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/2 "2005-04-13T14:02:26Z")
Of course that should be **Glenn Tilbrook** ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/3 "2005-04-13T14:08:19Z")
“The Ballad of Cowboy Mouth” by Cowboy Mouth starts of ‘When Paul and me were in our teens…’ and goes on to reference the entire band. ---
**Author:** ![ZeroGyro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47774/32.png) [@ZeroGyro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroGyro)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/4 "2005-04-13T14:37:41Z")
“My Name is Prince” by …guess who. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/5 "2005-04-13T14:41:20Z")
> [@ZeroGyro](#): > > “My Name is Prince” by …guess who. :smack: oh yeah. MiM ---
**Author:** ![Ithaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Ithaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ithaka)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/6 "2005-04-13T14:41:33Z")
‘Famous Blue Raincoat’ by Leonard Cohen is in the form of a letter and ends “Sincerely, L Cohen”. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kaitlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/7 "2005-04-13T14:41:46Z")
Tim Hardin does it occasionally. In “Smugglin’ Man”: “If you want anything illegal, ask ol’ Timmy to bring it in.” And in “If I Were a Carpenter” he sings, “Answer quick, ‘Tim, I could, I’ll put you above me.’” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/8 "2005-04-13T14:41:49Z")
The Aqua Teen Hunger Force theme song name-checks all three ATHF members. What? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/9 "2005-04-13T14:48:55Z")
> [@Made in Macau](#): > > **’The Doctor’ by Loudon Wainwright III** (“I went to the Dr, the Dr said Loud, you gotta stop hanging out with that old in-crowd”) He also does this in spoken bit at the beginning of IWIWAL. ‘You know…that sentence…that retort…“I wish I was a lesbian”…it stuck in ol’ Laudo’s mind…gestated there for seven, eight minutes, and out popped this song.’ ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/10 "2005-04-13T14:50:00Z")
**Screaming Jay Hawkins** inserts his name in songs he covers. Very annoying IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/11 "2005-04-13T14:52:35Z")
Billy Joel, “Piano Man”: "He says, ‘Bill, I believe this is killin’ me . . .’ " ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/12 "2005-04-13T14:53:22Z")
Does the band name count too, or just a person’s name? If the former, “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung throws in the band’s name in alternating lines of the chorus. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/13 "2005-04-13T14:57:19Z")
Bo Diddley has always loved to do this. Example: “Diddley Daddy,” which includes the lyrics, “Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley, have you heard?”. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/14 "2005-04-13T14:57:25Z")
I know Sublime did it from time to time, which was in line with their dub/reggae/hip-hop toasting roots. The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies had a song “(I’m Your) Cherry Poppin’ Daddy Man.” The Stray Cats did “Stray Cat Strut.” Almost every song Bo Diddley ever did mentions him by name. In “I Can’t Wait To Get Off Work To See My Baby,” Tom Waits sang about his bosses ordering him around: “Tom do this, Tom do that, Tom… don’t do that.” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/15 "2005-04-13T15:04:41Z")
“The only time I know, I’ll hear David Allen Coe is when Jesus has his final judgement day.” From \*You Never Even Called Me by My Name \* by David Allen Coe ---
**Author:** ![Iacob\_Matthew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Iacob\_Matthew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iacob_Matthew)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/16 "2005-04-13T15:11:57Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I know Sublime did it from time to time, which was in line with their dub/reggae/hip-hop toasting roots. From “Waiting for my Ruca”- “And she said ‘you’re not the only one, but you’re the best Bradley’” Can’t think of more where they mention the actual singer off the top of my head. However, if you allow band names, there’s “Don’t Push,” from which at least three songs on the album _Robbin’ Da Hood_ reuse lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/17 "2005-04-13T15:13:59Z")
You probably couldn’t find Hip Hop acts that DON’T do it. My Name is KIIIDDD ROCK! On Doggstyle, almost every rapper on the album does it. Snoop does it in every other song. “I’m Slim Shady, I’m the real shady, all you other slim shady’s are just immitating” (immitatey?) Slim Shady being another named for Eminem. “My mom busted in an said, ‘what’s that noise?’ Aw, Mom you’re just jealous, it’s the BEASTIE BOYS.” “Biggie biggie biggie, can’t you see. . .sometimes your words just hypnotize me.” ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/18 "2005-04-13T15:40:24Z")
Yes, yes, I know it said they have to have _written_ the song. Otherwise _Hey hey, we’re the Monkees_ ---
**Author:** ![wonderwench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wonderwench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderwench)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/19 "2005-04-13T15:41:41Z")
Talk Talk by Talk Talk ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/20 "2005-04-13T15:44:57Z")
“…tell those girls that you’ve got Joni, she’s coming back home.” Blue Motel Room – Joni Mitchell [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123.md?page=2)