Lots of things can be inspired, but the lyrics to this particular song made reference to many things that ceased to be relevant very soon after the song came out.
Undercover Angel, by Alan O’Day. “Say what?” indeed.
“I said ooo ooo ooo weee, I said allllllriiiight, I said LOVE ME LOVE ME LOVE ME!!!”
:smack: sorry. Couldn’t resist finishing that line for you…
I’m doing an arrangement of this for concert band, and I have a kickass alternate harmony for those bits. 
Awww…to tell you the truth, I still *do * like it. It makes me laugh.
“Undercover Angel” cracks me up too.
Mr. Writer must be a fan of Reagan. Young made it known the song was a stab at the arcane policies that he foisted upon the American people. I agree with you and the lyrics.
Another vote for Wonderful. My kids were devastated by the divorce and this just reminds me of it, can’t listen to it.
The Toadies’ Possum Kingdom. What a great driving beat, but then I learned it’s based on the murder of a young girl and now it’s too dark.
Filter’s Hey Man Nice Shot. Based on the suicide of R. Budd Dwyer. The video of his suicide is haunting enough and this song resurrects the image. Seems a little disrespectful too. Imagine his family’s reaction to it.
First of all, whether or not I am a fan of Reagan, the point is that the lyrics were quickly made irrelevant by history…as proven by the fact that Young REWROTE some of them to suit the next president and the changing world situation.
Second, bitterness seems to suit liberals. It seems to be their defining characteristic.
I thought they were naifs. :rolleyes: Anyway I think you’re right that the lyrics didn’t age well.
For lyrics not aging well, how about Phil Ochs?
“you’re supporting Chang Kai-Shek
while I’m supporting Mao”
Now that’s shudder worthy.
When Nelson Mandela was finally freed from prison there was a concert for him, which he attended, in Wembley stadium in London. All sorts of stars played songs to celebrate his freedom. Neil Young played Rockin’ in the free world I remember thinking at that time “some concert promoter didn’t listen to the lyrics close enough”.
The direction this thread is going gives me the distinct feeling that some people could turn “Ginger vs. Mary Ann” into a political flamewar.
I liked Tourniquet by Evanescence until I found out it was about a suicide.