# Songs written to diss other songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 6, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111 "2017-10-06T14:47:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/1 "2017-10-06T14:47:01Z")
In another thread the question of “Least favorite Dylan song” came up, and “Gotta Serve Somebody” immediately came to mind-an insipid tribute to his recent conversion to Christianity. It so annoyed John Lennon that he wrote a vitriolic response to it, “Serve Yourself”. In fact, he made 12 different home recordings, but my favorite(and hardest hitting) can be found on the John Lennon Anthology album. Anyone else have examples of “Non-tribute” tribute songs about other songs? ---
**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:** [October 6, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/2 "2017-10-06T14:55:48Z")
Best exemplified, IMO, by the [Roxanne Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_Wars) of the 1980s. > [@](#): > > In 1984, the hip-hop trio U.T.F.O., produced by the R&B group Full Force, released a single titled “Hanging Out,” which did not do well. However, it was the single’s B side, “Roxanne, Roxanne”, a song about a woman who would not respond to their advances, that gained much attention and airplay. > > Soon afterwards, 14-year-old Lolita Shanté Gooden was walking outside a New York City housing project called Queensbridge, when she heard Tyrone Williams, disc jockey Mr. Magic, and record producer Marley Marl talking about how U.T.F.O. had canceled their appearance at a show they were promoting.[1][2][3] Gooden offered to make a hip-hop record that would get back at U.T.F.O., with her taking on the moniker Roxanne Shanté, after her middle name. The three took her up on the idea, with Marley producing “Roxanne’s Revenge.” The single was released in late 1984, taking the original beats from an instrumental version of “Roxanne, Roxanne.” It was very confrontational and laced with profanities, but was an instant hit that sold over 250,000 copies in the New York area alone. Legal action followed, and it was re-released in early 1985 with new beats and the obscenities removed. > > Following this, U.T.F.O. and Full Force decided to release their own answer record. While not directly aimed at Roxanne Shanté, this record featured Elease Jack, who took on the moniker of the Real Roxanne (and was soon replaced by Adelaida Martinez).[4] This also was a hit, but it may have also produced an undesired result: while there had been answer records before (such as the semi-disco song “Somebody Else’s Guy” and “Games People Play”/“Games Females Play”), they usually ended with the second recording. But in this saga, with a third record in airplay, a whole new trend began. The airwaves were so occupied with the three “Roxanne” records that other MCs decided to get into the act. Over the next year, anywhere from 30 to over 100 answer records (according to different claims) were produced, portraying Roxanne’s family, or making various claims about her. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/3 "2017-10-06T15:08:43Z")
Once more with feeling: John Lennon’s _How Do You Sleep At Night_ was directed at Paul McCartney, regarding what John thought were personal insults on Paul’s _Ram_ album. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/4 "2017-10-06T15:11:20Z")
_Sweet Home Alabama_ has that part in it that rags on Neil Young. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/5 "2017-10-06T15:11:29Z")
A classic one is _Sweet Home Alabama_ calling out Neil Young and his _Southern Man_ song. “Well I heard Mr. Young sing about her I heard ol’ Neil put her down I hope Neil Young will remember A southern man don’t need him around anyhow” ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/6 "2017-10-06T15:11:43Z")
I’m afraid these are not what you’re looking for, but … [Neil Young’s _Alabama_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QGMz9beIL0) was answered by [Lynyrd Skynyrd’s _Sweet Home Alabama_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cyokaj3BJU). (There were no hard feelings; Young sometimes performed _Sweet Home_ with Skynyrd!) In [_Billie Jean_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y), Michael Jackson insisted that “the kid is not my son.” [Lydia Murdock’s _Superstar_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM5E-K-AP_Q) claimed that Jackson was lying. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/7 "2017-10-06T15:11:59Z")
The song _Eve of Destruction_ (written by P.F. Sloan in 1964, but famously recorded by Barry McGuire in 1965) struck a nerve and solicited a lot of response, including at least three songs offering a dissenting point of view: > [@](#): > > The American media helped popularize the song by using it as an example of everything that was wrong with the youth of that time.[6] The song also drew flak from conservatives. A group called The Spokesmen released a partial parody and answer record entitled “The Dawn of Correction”. A few months later, Green Beret medic SSgt. Barry Sadler released the patriotic “Ballad of the Green Berets”. Johnny Sea’s spoken word recording, “Day For Decision”, was also a response to the song. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eve\_of\_Destruction\_(song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eve_of_Destruction_%28song%29) ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/8 "2017-10-06T15:12:29Z")
Lynrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” was a response to Neil Young’s “Southern Man” Edit to add: Well, that escalated quickly. Day of the ninja’s I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/9 "2017-10-06T15:15:05Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Lynrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” was a response to Neil Young’s “Southern Man” > > Edit to add: Well, that escalated quickly. Day of the ninja’s I guess. And three of them at the same time. 😃 ---
**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:** [October 6, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/10 "2017-10-06T15:18:01Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Lynrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” was a response to Neil Young’s “Southern Man” > > Edit to add: Well, that escalated quickly. Day of the ninja’s I guess. And yet no one’s mentioned Warren Zevon’s “Play it All Night Long,” which disses “Sweet Home Alabama.” ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/11 "2017-10-06T15:20:42Z")
“Rio” by Duran Duran. Oh, sorry, wrong SDMB meme. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/12 "2017-10-06T15:23:58Z")
_Yankee Doodle_, sung by the Redcoats to ridicule the uncultured bumpkins revolting against King George III, became its own diss song when the Yankees began singing it back to taunt the Redcoats after the resounding American victory in the Battle of Saratoga. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/13 "2017-10-06T15:32:07Z")
How about this? \*\* Led Zep’s Black Dog\*\*'s famous riff and off-time groove was designed by the Zepper’s to demonstrate that they were a level above other slogging 4/4 heavy rock bands. I have read an interview of JPJ where he says that’s a myth, but I could swear I heard an interview with Jimmy Page where he supported it. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2017, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/14 "2017-10-06T15:39:53Z")
Matthew Fisher’s “[Going for a Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhJgmb1osm0)” is an extended diss of “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” Fisher was in the original Procul Harum and evidently grew tired of playing it. (Though that didn’t discourage him from claiming a songwriting credit years later.) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/15 "2017-10-06T15:52:39Z")
NWA had an interlude in their second (and final) album Niggaz4Life titled “Message to B.A.” about their former member Ice Cube, who had left the group over a dispute with Eazy-E and Jerry Heller, who he accused of holding out on him (“B.A.” standing for “Benedict Arnold”). Cube responded with “No Vaseline” which was mostly about Eazy and Heller, but the other members of NWA were not spared either. Dr. Dre would later respond with the hit “Fuck wit Dre Day (and Everybody’s Celebratin’)” dissing Eazy, Heller, and Cube. Eazy would respond to that with “Real Muthaphuckkin G’s.” The whole thing died when Eazy did. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/16 "2017-10-06T16:19:20Z")
Nobody’s mentioned it yet, but Sweet Home Alabama has a go at Neil Young. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/17 "2017-10-06T17:51:12Z")
I think you can leave out rap and hip hop because the answer would be “most of them” (slight exaggeration). ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/18 "2017-10-06T18:07:15Z")
Hank Thompson wrote “The Wild Side of Life” about a faithless wife who left her man. In the (frankly whiney) chorus, he sings “I didn’t know God made honky-tonk angels. I might have known you’d never make a wife.” Kitty Wells responded with\* “It Wasn’t God who Made Honky Tonk Angels” including the line “too many times married men think they’re still single and caused many a good girl to go wrong.” \*she sang it; she didn’t write it. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/19 "2017-10-06T18:09:45Z")
Night Ranger’s “Big Life” takes a swipe at Huey Lewis & the News’ “Hip to be Square”. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111/20 "2017-10-06T18:09:54Z")
Neil Young’s Southern Man was an answer to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”? California Girls by the Beach Boys was a prequel, already existing answer to Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. believe it or not! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-written-to-diss-other-songs/798111.md?page=2)