# Songs where the band name is self-referenced **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411 "2003-07-10T05:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![HideoHo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@HideoHo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HideoHo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/81 "2003-07-12T16:33:28Z")
If you’ve ever played DDR you probably noticed that Captain Jack references himself in almost every song. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/82 "2003-07-12T17:35:43Z")
_Anthrax_ by **Anthrax** , although curiously the word “anthrax” is not mentioned in the song lyrics. _Set the World Afire_ by **Megadeth** - “The arsenal of megadeth can’t be rid they said” _Exodus_ by **Exodus** - “you won’t hear a sound until my knife’s in your back, the exodus attack” ---
**Author:** ![Maneb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Maneb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maneb)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/83 "2003-07-12T19:27:00Z")
_Faster, Harder, Scooter_ by **Scooter**. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/84 "2003-07-12T20:15:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*Rammstein by Rammstein > \*\* Also _Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen?_ by Rammstein. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/85 "2003-07-12T21:37:40Z")
**In or Out** by Ani DiFranco _He says, “Call me, Miss DiFranco, if there’s anything I can do” I say, “It’s Mr. DiFranco to you”_ ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/86 "2003-07-12T23:16:35Z")
Janis Ian’s “God and the FBI” is entirely autobiographical, as is Mary Gauthier’s “I Drink” and Steppenwolf’s “The Wall”. I don’t know if they count, though, as none of them directly reference the band. ---
**Author:** ![meenie7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@meenie7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meenie7)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/87 "2003-07-13T00:37:18Z")
Freezepop, a Boston synthpop band, has a song called “Freezepop Forever”. Also, Canadian folkies Moxy Fruvous have “The Ballad of Cedric Fruvous”, which is sort of a reference… ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/88 "2003-07-13T03:15:48Z")
You Never Even Call Me By My Name - David Allen Coe Even though this is a Steve Goodman song, David Allen Coe’s version mentions himself and Steve Goodman. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/89 "2003-07-13T03:53:24Z")
“Hartley Quits” by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers: written by guitarist Mick Taylor (who also played with the Rolling Stones), it’s an instrumental whose title refers to drummer Keef Hartley leaving the band. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/90 "2003-07-13T04:08:15Z")
On their American-version album _Gossip_ (my first ever CD – it cost $18), **Paul Kelly and the Messengers** included the song “Don’t Ever Harm the Messenger.” ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/91 "2003-07-13T04:37:57Z")
As a former rabid fangirl, I feel I must mention _Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)_ by the Backstreet Boys. Very sorry for that. ---
**Author:** ![Degrassi\_High\_Dropout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Degrassi\_High\_Dropout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Degrassi_High_Dropout)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/92 "2003-07-13T05:50:13Z")
Refused - Refused are F\*ckin Dead. Lagwagon - Lagwagon Pennywise - Pennywise the hives got one too i forget what its called though. punk bands love doing this. ---
**Author:** ![Degrassi\_High\_Dropout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Degrassi\_High\_Dropout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Degrassi_High_Dropout)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/93 "2003-07-13T05:50:13Z")
Refused - Refused are F\*ckin Dead. Lagwagon - Lagwagon Pennywise - Pennywise the hives got one too i forget what its called though. punk bands love doing this. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/94 "2003-07-14T02:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nebco9 \* > \*\*I don’t think The Guess Who mentioned themselves in this song at all. \*\* But if you listen to the record, Wolfman Jack is very much a performer on it. In fact, it ought to have been credited “The Guess Who AND Wolfman Jack” And some chick! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZenDenizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/fbc32d/32.png) [@ZenDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/95 "2009-06-21T00:53:07Z")
Wham Rap by Wham! Sweet Baby James by James Taylor ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/96 "2009-06-21T01:28:47Z")
“Lev Tahor”, on [Lev Tahor](http://www.mostlymusic.com/levtahor2-p-2398.html)’s second album. Very nice song, and very pretty [synesthetically](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9624983@N05/709075246/in/set-72157609856703632/). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/97 "2009-06-21T01:44:29Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Yellow Balloon by Yellow Balloon > > The Who did “Who Are You,” but that’s not really a band reference. However, in their song, “The Punk Meets the Godfather,” Daltrey refers to himself as “the punk with the stutter” and then sings “My-My-My-My G-g-g-generation.” Two more spots in **Quadrophenia** : At the beginning of “Cut My Hair”, there’s a snippet of “The Kids Are Alright”; at the end of “Sea and Sand”, Roger riffs on the lyric from “I’m The Face”. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/98 "2009-06-21T01:44:38Z")
We’ve determined previously that the champion in this category is [Focus](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jifixqe5ldje), who had songs titled “Focus,” “Focus 1,” “Focus 2,” “Focus II” (different song) “Focus III,” “Focus IV,” “Focus V,” “Focus VII” (No, I don’t know why there was no “Focus VI”), “Focus 8” (Roman numbers got boring, I guess), “Focus 9,” and “Mother Focus.” There were also a couple of “Focus Medleys.” ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/99 "2009-06-21T03:20:42Z")
“What’s Your Favorite Color?” by Living Colour references the band’s name in every couplet. “It’ll Chew You Up and Spit You Out” by Concrete Blonde. “Wham! Rap” by Wham! “Rehumanise Yourself” by The Police (this one’s a bit cheeky, it’s not self-referential in the slightest) “Glass Onion” by The Beatles namechecks Paul “Dear Michael” by Michael Jackson “Kool & The Gang” by Kool & The Gang “Goin’ Back to Indiana” by the Jackson Five “Transistor” by 311 ---
**Author:** ![Jilaad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jilaad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jilaad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/100 "2009-06-21T03:38:12Z")
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