# Songs that reference other songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 10, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080 "2006-04-10T14:40:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/41 "2006-04-10T23:49:33Z")
In the Grateful Dead’s version of **Stagger Lee,** after the revenge shooting, she hears a band playing \*Nearer My God To Thee, \* but she sang _Look Out Stagger Lee._ In John Fogerty’s **Centerfield,** he refers in passing to Chuck Berry’s _Brown-Eyed Handsome Man._ In the Beatles’ **Come Together,** the opening lines are lifted from Chuck Berry (_Aeromobile?_) “Here come ol’ flat-top, he come groovin’ up slowly.” Randy Newman lifts the title and a line or two from Stephen Foster in **My Old Kentucky Home.** I’ll give you one verse and the chorus. \*"Sister Sue, she’s short and stout, She didn’t grow up, she grew out. Papa says she’s plain, but he’s only bein’ kind. Mama says she’s pretty, but she’s almost blind. They don’t let her out much except at night, I don’t care, 'cause I’m all right. The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home, And the young folks roll on the floor. The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home, Keep them hard times away from my door."\* ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/42 "2006-04-11T00:43:47Z")
Happy Mondays, Donovan (as well as being named for 60 pop-folkster Dovovan, whose daughter Sean Ryder later married), references “Sunshine superman” Oh sunshine, shone brighty Through my windoew today Could have tripped out quite easy but I decided to stay Hold ouit your hand said whitey with the blame Gonna bring you up so you really dig the pain Take you under my wings so you’ll never be the same Cos your wife is so much older and both her legs are lame A sunbeam shone brightly through my window today Could have gone 20 miles but I decided to stay ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/43 "2006-04-11T01:26:44Z")
In the E.L.O. song **Shangri-La** : > [@](#): > > My Shangri-la has gone away, > Faded like the Beatles on _Hey Jude_ ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/44 "2006-04-11T01:31:48Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Inspired by the innuendo thread…something made me think of ‘Volcano Girls’ by Veruca Salt which includes this reference to their first hit: > > > [@](#): > > > > I told you 'bout the Seether before > > You know that it was either or not > > Well here’s another clue if you please > > The Seether’s me! Nitpick: The last line is “The Seether’s Louise.” As in Louise Post, lead singer. I went to High School with her - gotta keep it real. To the OP: How about **You Better You Bet** by the Who: “I got your body right now on my mind and I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T-Rex” Or if you want a song title reference rather than the artist, how about **Intergalactic** by the Beastie Boys: “It always brings me back when I hear ‘Ooh Child’” Or artists referencing their own songs: **The Humpty Dance** by Digital Underground “I sang on ‘Do What You like’ and if ya missed it, I’m the one who said just grab 'em in the biscuits.” **Boyz in da Hood** by Eazy-E: “Then I let the Alpine play Pumpin new shit by NWA It was “Gangsta Gangsta” at the top of the list” **Don’t Sniff Coke** by Pato Banton: "In February 1985 Pato became a winnah because I did that tune called “Hello Tosh: Gotta Toshiba” ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/45 "2006-04-11T01:43:24Z")
Roger Miller’s “It Happened Just That Way,” begins with lyrics to “Freight Train Blues,” and just happens to be playing on my iTunes right now. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/46 "2006-04-11T02:39:59Z")
Some friends of mine in Tallahassee used to be in this amazing power trio called **Magic Juan** , and John (guitar, vocals) wrote a song called _Possessed By The Devil_ where he somehow managed to work in this: I can do many things, I’m possessed by the Devil Satan laughing spreads his wings, I’m possessed by the Devil The band was just incredible to see live. Ahhh, such fond memories. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/47 "2006-04-11T03:11:21Z")
[QUOTE=MacTech] Alice Cooper (real name Vincent Furnier) has done this on the last couple of albums…QUOTE] Hey, **MacTech** , how _you_ doin’? 😃 You missed some, sort of. Self references, anyway. - “Earwigs To Eternity” (Pretties For You") is a reference to one of the the original names of the band. “Return Of The Spiders” (Easy Action), same thing. “Mr and Misdemeanor” also on “Easy Action” has a line - “Here’s new pretties for you.” that refers to the previous album, “Pretties For You”. Hey, you might want to go here - [http://sickthingsuk.co.uk/](http://sickthingsuk.co.uk/) I think you’ll like it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/48 "2006-04-11T03:23:16Z")
For the more obscure (and 'cause I was listening to it today) “More” (from the Dick Tracy soundtrack) is an answer to “I Got Rhythm” ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/49 "2006-04-11T03:44:25Z")
[QUOTE=zoogirl] > [@MacTech](#): > > Alice Cooper (real name Vincent Furnier) has done this on the last couple of albums…QUOTE] > > Hey, **MacTech** , how _you_ doin’? 😃 Pretty well, you know, Crawlin’ around, lookin’ for my Trick Bag that’s the Life and the Death of the Party and all… i know that Somewhere in the Jungle i can find my Woman of Mass Distraction… …you know how it can be when you’re Lost in America, right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/50 "2006-04-11T11:59:53Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > I’ll toss another one out there: > > Cowboy Mouth: Joe Strummer references several songs by the Clash ‘Rock the Casbah’, ‘London Burning’, and others. “My head was beating like a song by The Clash” - Richard Thompson, **'Tear-Stained Letter’** ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/51 "2006-04-11T13:15:19Z")
Marty Robbins’ self-cannibalizing “El Paso City” is about his feelings while hearing his earlier hit, “El Paso”. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/52 "2006-04-11T16:44:14Z")
“ **It’s My Life** ” by Bon Jovi contains the truly lame line “like Frankie said I did it my way”. Do we currently have a stupidest lyric thread open? ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/53 "2006-04-12T16:27:22Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Marty Robbins’ self-cannibalizing “El Paso City” is about his feelings while hearing his earlier hit, “El Paso”. There’s also _Feleena (From El Paso)_, which I seem to recall is a prequel to the original. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/54 "2006-04-12T16:55:15Z")
Bowling For Soup’s _Punk Rock 101_ refers to Tommy and Gina from Bon Jovi’s _Livin’ on a Prayer_. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/55 "2006-04-12T17:18:05Z")
Aerosmith’s _Just Push Play_ includes the line “F’n a/they’re gonna bleep it anywayWalk this way/we’re coming at you anyway” Luniz’ _I Got 5 On It_ remix has the line “Cause this is how we do it like Montell Jordan,” with someone singing that song’s chorus under Knumskull’s rap. Mya’s _Movin On’_ has a line by Silkk the Shocker going, “Well now I’m a No Limit Soldier/Known to keep it rowdy/You know one’s that make you say uhh/And Bout It, Bout It.” That’s a reference to Master P’s (yeesh, where’d he go?) _Make Em Say Uhh_. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/56 "2006-04-12T18:40:06Z")
At the end of Jimmy Buffett’s _Don’t Chu Know?_, he changes the chorus line (and melody) from “Don’t chu know, don’t chu know, don’t chu know” to “I don’t know, I don’t know” (from his better-known _Volcano_), before launching into a verbal riff about having heard that line somewhere before, and it “must be another one of those songs I’ve written about not knowing anything, or knowing too much, or not knowing where I’m going, or not knowing where I’ve been…” I think he’s also thrown the “I don’t know, I don’t know” chorus onto the end of a few other of his lesser-known songs, too. I just happened to be listening to that one the other night. Then, too, I recall David Bowie doing a follow-up song to _Space Oddity_ - I can remember how it sounds, but not the title. Can anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/57 "2006-04-12T19:05:50Z")
> [@YaWanna](#): > > Then, too, I recall David Bowie doing a follow-up song to _Space Oddity_ - I can remember how it sounds, but not the title. Can anyone else? “Ashes to Ashes.” > [@](#): > > Do you remember a guy that’s been > In such an early song… > > Ashes to ashes, funk to funky > We know major tom’s a junkie > Strung out in heaven’s high > Hitting an all-time low ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/58 "2006-04-12T21:36:30Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > “ **It’s My Life** ” by Bon Jovi contains the truly lame line “like Frankie said I did it my way”. Do we currently have a stupidest lyric thread open? The same song references Tommy and Gina from Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”: This is for the ones who stood their ground For Tommy and Gina who never backed down Tomorrow’s getting harder make no mistake Luck ain’t even lucky Got to make your own breaks #2 stoopidest lyrics 😉 ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/59 "2006-04-12T23:10:42Z")
Thanks, **Exapno Mapcase**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080/60 "2006-04-12T23:30:16Z")
According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_Sunset), there are a couple of songs that reference the Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset”: A 1987 Bob Geldof song _Love like a rocket_ tells of Terry and Julie’s romance having gone cold twenty years on. In it, “the Waterloo sunset won’t work for her anymore”. John Wesley Harding wrote the song _In Paradise_ which included Terry and Julie. One version of the song also includes the chorus of Waterloo Sunset. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-reference-other-songs/352080.md?page=4)