# Songs that refer to themselves **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251 "2003-06-16T17:20:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/1 "2003-06-16T17:20:01Z")
How many songs can we think of that refer to themselves in the lyrics? (Not by name, necessarily.) The most obvious example I can think of is “Your Song,” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin: > [@](#): > > I know it’s not much but it’s the best I can do > My gift is my song and this one’s for you > And you can tell everybody this is your song And I had the idea for this thread while listening to the New Pornographers’ “Slow Descent into Alcoholism”: > [@](#): > > My my my my slow descent > Into alcoholism it went > Something like this song! > Something like this song! I refuse to believe there aren’t more examples out there, but my sluggish brain has crapped out at two. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/2 "2003-06-16T17:42:17Z")
Belle and Sebastian, “This is Just a Modern Rock Song”. > [@](#): > > This is just a modern rock song > This is just a sorry lament > We’re four boys in corduroys > We’re not terrific but we’re competent Although I’m still not exactly sure if they are referring to the song itself or mocking “modern rock” songs (Belle and Sebastian had five boys and two girls at that time). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/3 "2003-06-16T17:48:03Z")
“This Song” by Geoge Harrison, done as a sort of response of his losing the “My Sweet Lord” lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Skijumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@Skijumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skijumper)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/4 "2003-06-16T17:55:08Z")
“Something Changed” by Pulp. _I wrote the song two hours before we met. I didn’t know your name or what you looked like yet. Oh I could have stayed at home and gone to bed. I could have gone to see a film instead. You might have changed your mind and seen your friends Life could have been very different then but something changed._ ---
**Author:** ![silverfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@silverfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silverfish)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/5 "2003-06-16T17:57:01Z")
There’s _You’re so Vain_ by Carly Simon, which has the chorus: > [@](#): > > You’re so vain > You probably think this song is about you > You’re so vain (you’re so vain) > I’ll bet you think this song is about you > Don’t you, don’t you There’s also _Fire and Rain_, by James Taylor has a line: > [@](#): > > I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song ---
**Author:** ![Skijumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@Skijumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skijumper)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/6 "2003-06-16T17:57:37Z")
That should have been “I wrote _this_ song…” ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/7 "2003-06-16T18:24:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl Snake-Hips Tucker \* > \*\*“This Song” by Geoge Harrison, done as a sort of response of his losing the “My Sweet Lord” lawsuit. \*\* Weird Al’s parody of George Harrison’s cover of “I’ve got my mind set on you” entitled “This song is just six words long.” ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/8 "2003-06-16T18:24:50Z")
“Number Three” by They Might Be Giants is all about writing the song itself: > [@](#): > > There’s only two songs in me, > And I just wrote the third > Don’t know where I got the inspiration > Or how I wrote the words > […] > There’s only two songs in me, > And this is Number Three. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/9 "2003-06-16T18:44:46Z")
_This Song’s Just Six Words Long,_ by “Weird Al” Yankovic. > [@](#): > > This song is just six words long > This song is just six words long > This song is just six words long > This song is just six words long > > Couldn’t think of any lyrics > No I never wrote the lyrics > So I’ll just sing any old lyrics > That come to mind, child > > You really need words > Whole lotta rhyming words > You gotta rhyme so many words, mm-mm > To do it, to do it, to do it, to do it > To do it, to do it right, child ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/10 "2003-06-16T18:48:58Z")
_You Know the Rest_ by Steve Earle Last verse: “Well this song ain’t got no reason Hell this song barely rhymes Well it come to me when I was asleep And it wakes me up sometimes I can’t get no rest You know the rest” ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/11 "2003-06-16T18:50:36Z")
McCartney’s “Silly Love Songs” at least implies a self-reference: > [@](#): > > You’d think that people\_ > Would have had enough\_ > Of silly love songs\_ > I look around me and I see it isn’t so\_ > Some people wanna fill the world\_ > With silly love songs\_ > And what’s wrong with that?\_ > I’d like to know\_ > 'cause here I go again\_ > I love you, I love you\_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Tambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr\_Tambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Tambo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/12 "2003-06-16T18:53:02Z")
_Everything is Right is Wrong Again_, by They Might Be Giants contains the line: ‘And now this song is over now’ (actuall, its halfway through the song) _Too Young to Die_, by the Divine Comedy, begins: ‘Too young to die but too old to survive/ I’ve spent too long trying to write this song/ The tune is okay but the words are all wrong’ (how’s that for self-referentiality?) _Singer Must Die_, by Leonard Cohen says: ‘Your vision is right/ My vision is wrong/ I’m sorry for smudging the air with my song’ ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/13 "2003-06-16T18:53:26Z")
Tragically, the first thing that came to my mind was Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.” > [@](#): > > I’m with the skater boy > I said see you later boy > I’ll be back stage after the show > I’ll be at the studio > Singing the song we wrote > About a girl you used to know To make up for that somewhat, the next thing I thought of was “Art is Hard” by Cursive. > [@](#): > > Oh, a second verse! > Well, color me fatigued > I’m hiding in the leaves > in the CD jacket sleeves These aren’t quite as obvious as the other ones posted, but I think they count. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/14 "2003-06-16T18:58:35Z")
How do songs like “Judy is a Punk” by the Ramones: > [@](#): > > Second verse! Same as the first! > [@](#): > > Third verse! Different from the first! or “Prove My Love” by Violent Femmes: > [@](#): > > Third verse! Same as the first! figure into this? ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/15 "2003-06-16T19:05:28Z")
And Steve Goodman’s “You Never Even Called Me By My Name,” as recorded by David Allen Coe about “the perfect country & western song” includes: > [@](#): > > WELL HE SAT DOWN AND WROTE ANOTHER VERSE TO THE SONG > AND HE SENT IT TO ME, > AND AFTER READING IT, > I REALIZED THAT MY FRIEND HAD WRITTEN THE PERFECT > COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG > AND I FELT OBLIGED TO INCLUDE IT ON THIS ALBUM > THE LAST VERSE GOES LIKE THIS HERE: ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/16 "2003-06-16T19:10:07Z")
King Crimson’s “Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With”: \*And when I have some words This is the way I’ll sing To our distortion box To make the mother sing Yeah! Then I gonna have to write a chorus We’re gonna need to have a chorus And this is as good as any other place to sing until I’m blue in the face Yes!\* \ _I guess we’ll repeat the chorus We’re gonna repeat the chorus I guess we’ll repeat the chorus We’re gonna repeat the chorus Yes!_ ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/17 "2003-06-16T19:20:51Z")
From 1972 by Edward Bear This is the “Last Song” I’ll ever write for you. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/18 "2003-06-16T19:28:09Z")
"Here’s a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it, note for note… Don’t worry, be happy…" ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/19 "2003-06-16T19:29:06Z")
PIL’s [This Is Not a Love Song](http://www.thefilthandthefury.co.uk/F&FODDERSTOMPF/LYRICS/comlyrics.html#LOVE) Matchbox 20’s [This Is Not a Love Song](http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/M/Matchbox%2020/Matchbox%2020%20-%20This%20Is%20Not%20A%20Love%20Song%20lyrics.htm) Juliana Theory’s [This Is Not a Love Song](http://www.letssingit.com/juliana-theory-the-this-is-not-a-love-song-9vb6w6j.html) Note : fixed link coding - Euty ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251/20 "2003-06-16T19:31:44Z")
The show Garry Shandling did on cable some years ago had a theme song with the lyrics (if memory serves): \*This is the theme to Garry’s show The opening theme to Garry’s show Garry called me up and asked if I could write his theme song I’m almost halfway finished How do you like it so far? How do you like the theme to Garry’s show? This is the theme to Garry’s show The opening theme to Garry’s show This is the music that you hear While you watch the credits We’re almost to the part Where I start to whistle This is the theme to Garry Shandling’s Show. (Whistling of melody) This is the theme to Garry Shandling’s Show!\* [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-refer-to-themselves/182251.md?page=2)