# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/81 "2005-04-16T02:20:51Z")
Metallica sings “…'cuz we’re Metallica” in “Whiplash.” Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album’s first track is “Black Sabbath”, though the words “Balck Sabbath” are never sung. The closest they come to name-checking themselves is in “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.” ---
**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 16, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/82 "2005-04-16T03:26:17Z")
An oldie: “Tighten Up,” by Archie Bell and the Drells. The intro mentions not only Bell, but the group and their home town: “Hi everybody! I’m Archie Bell of the Drells from Houston, Texas.” ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/83 "2005-04-16T04:01:02Z")
Ani DiFranco’s _In or Out_ includes these lyrics: _he says, call me, Miss DiFranco, if there’s anything I can do I say, it’s Mr. DiFranco to you_ and later: _she says, call me, Ms. DiFranco if there’s anything I can do_ ---
**Author:** ![benlormat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@benlormat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benlormat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/84 "2005-04-16T04:26:29Z")
**Jimmy Buffett** As mentioned above Jimmy works his name into many of his songs. Here’s a few more: **Last mango in Paris** I ate the last mango in Paris Took the last plane out of Saigon Took the first fast boat to China And Jimmy there’s still so much to be done **Gypsies in the Palace** Hello? Hey, Jimmy, it’s Glenn Glenn, How ya doing? **He Went to Paris** Jimmy, some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic But I had a good life all the way. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/85 "2005-04-16T12:13:06Z")
Post #85 before a mention of “The Ballad of John & Yoko”? Christ! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/86 "2005-04-16T15:06:20Z")
**Luckenback Texas** namechecks both of its singers ( **Waylon Jennings** and **Willie Nelson** ): Let’s go to Luckenback Texas with **Waylon** and **Willie** and the boys This successful life we’re livin’ got us fueding like the Hatfields and McCoys ---
**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 19, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/87 "2005-04-19T06:06:37Z")
A few Ben Folds that just occurred to me: In _One Down_, he sings, “People tell me, ‘Ben, just make up junk and turn it in’.” In _Not the Same_, there’s a line that goes, “At Robert Sledge’s party.” Robert Sledge was one of his bandmates in Ben Folds Five. In _Where’s Summer B?_, he sings, “Hey! That’s Darren’s girlfriend!” Along with another reference to Darren. Darren Jessee was also a bandmate in Ben Folds Five. In _Tom & Mary_, there’s a line that says, “Miss Southern’s son…” Caleb Southern produced the album. ---
**Author:** ![dearissues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@dearissues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dearissues)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/88 "2005-04-19T10:00:06Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Also, “Girls, Girls, Girls” by Motley Crue: > > _Hey Tommy – look over there! / > Where, Vince, where?_ Ooh, 80s bands did this a lot, too. \*\*Poison \*\* – _Talk Dirty to Me_ “C.C., pick up that guitar and-a talk to me!” ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/89 "2005-04-19T18:46:54Z")
**Flatt & Scruggs** reference each other in _Pearl, Pearl, Pearl_. (Scruggs) Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, come be my lovin’ girl, Don’t you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with possum fat, Change your name to Mrs. Earl Scruggs. (Flatt) Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, you’ll get no love from Earl, This here man is such a sap, He won’t hold you on his lap, Unless you are an old 5-string banjo. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/90 "2005-04-19T18:50:01Z")
For you C&W fans, Homer and Jethro’s version of “Cielito Lindo” \*He left Mexico To go to the show With Homer and Jethro and Pedro. He didn’t know That there was no show. He wound up singing a solo Ai-yi-yi-yi, beautiful heaven Your golden voice makes my heart rejoice And if I’m your choice, I’m in heaven.\* ---
**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:** [June 6, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/91 "2005-06-06T21:15:51Z")
Sorry to reanimate this thread, but another one popped into my head. Pearl Jam has a song called “[Dirty Frank](http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Pearl-Jam/Dirty-Frank.html),” which is about their bus driver. The song makes him out to be a cannibal. Towards the end, Eddie Vedder sings: > [@](#): > > Where’s Mike McCready? > My god, he’s been ate! Mike McCready is a guitarist for the band. ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/92 "2005-06-06T21:48:06Z")
> [@Crimmsy](#): > > in “Mattersville” by NOFX, there is: > > _We got a blackboard with some rules and laws > Hefe’s got an 18 car garage > Most the cars are smashed but so is spike > Twice a week on karaoke night > Eric Melvin lives next door to me > Limo and the locknecks head security > At the end of my cul de sac > Davey havok’s house is painted black_ I know this is off topic but the Karaoke smashed spike mentioned is the singer for Me First nad the Gimmie-Gimmie’s, right? I know there’s some member sharing between the two bands. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/93 "2005-06-06T21:51:57Z")
John Lennon: “Hold On, John” Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: “The Blimp” (Beefheart not only namechecks himself, but also producer Frank Zappa: “It’s the thing that’s going to make Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band fat! It’s the blimp, Frank, it’s the blimp!”) Incredible String Band: “The Letter” (“Mister Postman, have you got a letter for me?/Mister Heron, yes I have!”) ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/94 "2005-06-06T22:11:57Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Actually, “they” did – the songs and voices were done by Ross Bagdasarian. Isn’t David Seville mentioned by name in at least some of the Chipmunks songs? That should count – Seville was Bagdasarian’s long-standing nom de plume. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/95 "2005-06-06T23:44:33Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Oh, and if band names count, there’s \*\*“Radio Clash” by, well, **The Clash**. … and later recorded “We Are The Clash,” which is somewhat ironic as the band had a different line-up for that last album. Beefheart also references his guitarist in “Big-Eyed Beans from Venus.” _Mr. Zoot Horn Rollo, hit hit that long lunar note… and let it float._ ---
**Author:** ![Leroy\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Leroy\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leroy_Brown)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/96 "2005-06-07T03:17:21Z")
One of the songs on Areosmith’s _Pump_ has the line “Joe Perry says it’s all right” or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123/97 "2005-06-07T03:35:26Z")
All I got to say is… \*\*Mike Jones!! Mike Jones!!!\*\* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-namecheck-their-own-writer/299123.md?page=4)