List of songs containing covert reference to real musicians

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Songwriters occasionally write songs that make covert references to real musicians and bands.

Entries are listed with the following syntax:

• "Song Title" by musical artist(s) most associated with song references musicians and/or bands referred to.

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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1

• "1974" by Robyn Hitchcock references David Bowie ("'Rebel Rebel' was your favorite song")

2

• "29x The Pain" by The Wildhearts references Starz, Big Black, Queen, Cheap Trick, The Clash and Jason and the Scorchers.

A

• "Adams Song" By Blink 182 references "Come As You Are" by Nirvana. The line "I took my time/I hurried up" is a reference to Take your time/hurry up/the choice is yours/don't be late
• "A New England" by Billy Bragg references Simon & Garfunkel (The lines "I was 21 years when I wrote this song, I'm 22 now, but I won't be for long" are taken from "Leaves That Are Green").
• "American Pie" by Don McLean references Buddy Holly; probably The Beatles, The Byrds, The Big Bopper, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, The Monotones, The Rolling Stones, Richie Valens; and possibly others
• "And It Stoned Me" by Van Morrison may reference Jelly Roll Morton ("…it stoned me just like jelly roll").
• "Apache" by Sugarhill Gang, references Hot Butter's Popcorn song, Rapper's Delight by Sugarhill Gang and "Apache" by The Incredible Bongo Band, It also mentions Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett.
• "Autobiography" (officially unreleased) by John Cale references J.J. Cale ("I never wrote a song called "Cocaine"/I never wrote a song called "After Midnight").
• "All His Suits Are Torn" by NOFX, is a reference to Billy Corgan; the name "Billy Cogan" included in the song is a slightly altered version of the Smashing Pumpkins' frontman's name.

B

• "Baby Britain" by Elliott Smith references The Beatles ("Revolver's been / turned over / and now it's ready once again")
• "Be My Yoko" by The Bobs references John Lennon (as if the singer is Lennon).
• "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole" by Martha Wainwright indeed references her father, Loudon Wainwright III.
• "Blonde on Blonde" by Nada Surf references Bob Dylan.

C

• "Californication" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers references Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain
• "Carrie-Anne" by The Hollies references Marianne Faithfull
• "Chelsea Hotel No.2" by Leonard Cohen references Janis Joplin
• "Come Together" by The Beatles may be referencing Chuck Berry
• "Country House" by Blur references Oasis

D

• "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" by Gladys Knight & the Pips references Ray Charles. ("...as he sang to me 'What'd I Say?'")
• "Deadhead" by The Teen Idles references The Grateful Dead. ("I'll be grateful when you're dead", and lyrics from the Grateful Dead song "Casey Jones" are quoted.)
• "Death Singing" by Patti Smith references Benjamin Smoke. (Smith has said the song is about him, and recites the lyrics in a documentary about Smoke.)
• "Distopian Dream Girl" by Built to Spill refrences David Bowie, ("My stepfather looks just like David Bowie/he hates David Bowie/I think Bowie's cool")
• "Dinner at Eight" by Rufus Wainwright references Loudon Wainwright III (as "Daddy").
• "DJ Culture" by Pet Shop Boys references Madonna, ("She after Sean")

E

• "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey, Johnny)" by Elton John references John Lennon.
• "Everything Zen" by Bush references David Bowie ("Mickey Mouse has grown up a Cow"; the song also overtly references Elvis Presley).

F

• "The Fat Angel" by Donovan references "Mama" Cass Elliot (the title refers to her), and openly Jefferson Airplane.
• "The Freed Pig" by Sebadoh references J Mascis.
• "Friend of a Friend" by Foo Fighters references Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic.
• "From Hank To Hendrix" by Neil Young references Hank Williams and Jimi Hendrix, and openly Madonna.

G

• "Get Dancin'" by Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes references Golden Earring ("Radar Love").
• "Gimme Back My Brain" by Therapy? references the Stooges ("I need a new source of raw power").

H

• "How Do You Sleep?" by John Lennon references Paul McCartney.
• "Hydra" by Dir en grey references the Sex Pistols. ("I wanna be an anarchist, too")

I

• "I Don't Love Anyone" by Belle & Sebastian references Felt.
• "I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night" by Billy Bragg references Joe Hill (and overtly references Phil Ochs).
• "Into Your Shtik" by Mudhoney probably references Courtney Love.
• "I Go Back" by Kenny Chesney references "Jack and Diane" by John Mellencamp, "Only The Good Die Young" by Billy Joel, and "Keep on Rockin' Me Baby" by the Steve Miller Band

J

• "Jean Genie" by David Bowie may be referencing Iggy Pop

K

• "Killing Me Softly With His Song" by Roberta Flack references Don McLean.
• "Konstantine" by Something Corporate references Jimmy Eat World.

L

• "Let it Rain" by Tilly and the Wall references Madonna's lyrics, "Get into the Groove Boy, You've Got to Prove Your Love to Me" in the first line
• "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion references The Eagles ("Take It Easy"), probably Sly & the Family Stone and/or Ike & Tina Turner ("take me higher" and "wanna take you higher"), Little Eva and/or Grand Funk Railroad ("Locomotion"), The Rolling Stones ("Satisfaction", "Gimme Shelter"), The Edsels ("Rama Lama" [Ding Dong]), Little Anthony & the Imperials ("Shimmy, Shimmy, Koko Bop"), Hank Ballard and/or Ike & Tina Turner ("Finger Poppin'"), Music Explosion and/or Marmalade ("Can't stop now"), possibly The Monkees ("Mary, Mary"), Frankie Avalon ("De De Dinah"), probably Leadbelly ("C.C. Rider"), The Beach Boys ("Good Vibrations", "Help Me Rhonda", "Surfer Girl", "Little Honda"), Tommy James and/or Alive and Kicking ("Tighter, Tighter"), possibly ABBA ("Honey, Honey"), The Archies ("Sugar, Sugar"), Ohio Express ("Yummy, Yummy"), and The Four Tops (ending chorus uses "Baby I Need Your Loving" tune)
• "Lights Camera Action" by The Miracle Workers references Courtney Love
• "London Boys" by Johnny Thunders references The Sex Pistols
• "Love" by Mos Def references Eric B. and Rakim
• "Love Story" by Segarini references John Lennon and Paul McCartney

M

• "Made in England" by Elton John references Elvis Presley ("the boy from Tupelo") and Little Richard ("the sweet Georgia peach")
• "Meet Me In The Bathroom" by The Strokes references Courtney Love according to statements made by band members

N

• "New York" by The Sex Pistols references The New York Dolls

O

• "Octavarium" by Dream Theater references Pink Floyd and The Beatles.
• "The Other Side Of Summer" by Elvis Costello references John Lennon, Madonna, David Bowie and Roger Waters.

R

• "Reminisce, Part One" by Dexys Midnight Runners references Stevie Wonder ("I heard that blind man, the man with the glasses, I heard him singing... um, I didn't like the song you understand, but I did know what he meant about the 'higher ground'.")
• "Rip It Up" by Orange Juice references the Buzzcocks ("my favourite song’s entitled Boredom", followed by part of that song's guitar solo)

S

• "Sick Man" by Foetus references Nick Cave.
• "Signs" by Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg, references the song "Early in the Morning" by the Gap Band (referenced with the lyrics "I was young and foolish").
• "Slide Show" by Travis references the song "A Design for Life" by the Manic Street Preachers ('Cause there is no design for life); "Devil's Haircut" by Beck (There is no devil's haircut in your mind); and "Wonderwall" by Oasis (There is not a wonderwall to climb or step around).
• "Slightly American Music" by Brian Wilson references many musicians both overtly and covertly - hinted at but never mentioned by name are Motown, Hank Williams Sr., George Gershwin, Chuck Berry, Dick Clark
• "Stainless Steel Providers" by the Revolting Cocks references The Beach Boys ("I Get Around")
• "Starfuckers, Inc" by Nine Inch Nails references Marilyn Manson and Carly Simon.
• "So Long Jimi" by James Blunt references Jimi Hendrix
• "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynard Skynard references Neil Young.

T

• "The Night I Fell in Love" by Pet Shop Boys references Eminem.
• "Thirteen" by Big Star references the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" and possibly "Rock'n'Roll Is Here To Stay" by Danny & the Juniors
• "Play It All Night Long" by Warren Zevon covertly references Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead band's song")
• "Tribute" by Tenacious D references Led Zeppelin.
• "Tripping" by The Pretty Things covertly references Bob Dylan ("the songs you write, Mr. D, are strange")
• "True" by Spandau Ballet references Marvin Gaye ("listening to Marvin all night long")
• "Tunic" by Sonic Youth references Karen Carpenter (as if singer Kim Gordon is Ms. Carpenter)
• "Tupelo" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds references Elvis Presley ("The King was born in Tupelo")

W

• "Wednesday" by Tori Amos references Prince ("I start humming 'When Doves Cry'")
• "When We Was Fab" by George Harrison references his old band The Beatles (the music video for this song is more explicit in the reference).
• "When The Sun Goes Down" by Arctic Monkeys references "Roxanne" by The Police ("And he told Roxanne to put on her red light")
• "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash references The Jam ("They got Burton suits, you think it's funny / turning rebellion into money", which Joe Strummer later said was about The Jam).
• "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones presumably references Marianne Faithfull ("faithless lady").
• "Writing to Reach You" by Travis references Oasis ("What's a Wonderwall anyway?")

Y

• "Young Americans" by David Bowie references The Beatles ("I heard the news today, oh boy").
• "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon is commonly believed to refer to Mick Jagger, a previous lover of Simon's, though she has never verified who the song is in fact about. Other possibilities raised have been Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, James Taylor, or actor Warren Beatty.
• "You Were Right" by Built To Spill references Bob Marley ("You were wrong when you said/Everything's gonna be alright."), Neil Young ("You were right when you said/All that glitters isn't gold."), Kansas ("You were right when you said/All we are is dust in the wind."), Pink Floyd ("You were right when you said/We are all just bricks in the wall"), Jimi Hendrix ("And when you said manic depression's a frustrating mess."), The Rolling Stones ("You were right when you said/You can't always get what you want."), Bob Dylan ("You were right when you said/It's a hard rain's gonna fall."), Bob Seger ("You were right when you said/We're still running against the wind."), John Mellencamp, ("And life goes on after the thrill of living is gone."), and The Doors ("You were right when you said/This is the end.").

See also

• List of songs containing overt reference to real musicians
• Lists of songs