J (top)
Jack and Diane
By John Mellencamp. About growing
up, the end of childhood innocence, and coming
to terms with the realities and responsibilities of adulthood. "...Oh
yeah life goes on long after the thrill
of livin' is gone...Hold on
to sixteen as long as you can. Changes comin' round real soon make us women
and men..."
Jack Daniels, If You Please
By David Allan Coe. References
made to substance abuse, delirium
tremens, and using alcohol as a way to cope with pressures. "...Jack
Daniels...You can kill the pain that's driving me insane...Cigarettes and
whiskey calm my shaking hands..."
Jack In The Green
By Jethro Tull. From the encyclopedia
of the Celts: "Jack in the Green"
is known as "The Hidden One". He was a woodland spirit who like the
Wild Herdsmen guarded the greenwood. He appears in many kinds of folk art as a
multi-foliate head peering through the keaves. "Have you seen the
jack in the green? With his long tail hanging down. He sits quietly under every
tree...He wears the colors of the summer soldier, carries the green flag
all winter long..."
Jackson-Kent Blues
By Steve Miller Band. Song is
about actual events that occured in Jackson,
Mississippi and
Jack The Ripper
By Motorhead. About infamous serial
killer Jack the Ripper who rose to
prominence in the 1880's in
Jaguar
By Fred Small. An animal and environmental awareness song.
"...The chain saw is whining the bulldozer roars Monkeys are screeching in
flight The spires of the Arawak cut down at one blow Where will the jaguar
go?..."
James Connolly
By Traditional Irish. About James Connolly who originally founded the Irish
Socialist Republican Party in 1896 and was a significant figure in the
reformation of Irish labor laws. He was executed by a firing squad on May 12,
1916. "...He went to his death like a true son of
James Dean
By The Eagles. A tribute to the great actor James Dean, the original "rebel"who
lived fast and died young. "... You were the low down rebel if there ever
was, even if you had no cause...You were too fast to live, too young to die,
bye bye."
James K. Polk
By They Might Be Giants. About our 11th President, James K.
Polk, (1845-49). Reference to expansionist policies, annexation of Mexican
land, and Manifest Destiny.
Janie's Got A Gun
By Aerosmith. A girl who was the victim of an incestuous relationship gets
revenge by killing her father."...Janie's got a gun. Whole world's come
undun. From lookin' straight at the sun. What did her daddy do? What did he put
her through? They said that when Janie was arrested they found him underneath a
train. But man he had it comin'. Now that Janie's got a gun, things are never
gonna be the same..."
Janis
By Country Joe and the Fish. Song was written about rock star Janis Joplin whom the artist was
involved with at the time. "Into my life on waves of electrical sound and
flashing light she came. Into my life with the twist of a dial. The wave of her
hand and the warmth of her smile..."
Jean Genie
By David Bowie. Cyrinda Foxe-Tyler
(ex-wife of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler) was known as the
inspiration for this song, "...A small Jean Genie snuck off to the
city Strung out on lasers and slash back plazas...Talking bout Monroe and
walking on Snow White New York's a go-go and everything tastes right...She
loves him, she loves him but just for a short while She'll scratch in the sand,
won't let go his hand...He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls Jean Genie let
yourself go!..."
Jennifer Lost The War
By Offspring. About loss of
innocence and societal apathy
or indifference regarding children who are subject to abuse, brutality, and
become victims of violence.
"...But nobody really cares today, the world's a busy place...I guess we're
all just soldiers. She was only 6 years old. Left to die by strangers...But the
morning headlines even say that it's a shame . What are we headin' for?
Jennifer lost the war..."
Jeremy
By Pearl Jam. This song was inspired by actual events.
Deals with a variety of social issues including depression, alienation,
bullying, brutality, isolation and teen violence . On
By Saxon. Inspired by the Old Testament story where the Israelites defeated
and overtook the city of
Jesse James
By The
Jesse James
By The Pogues. Song is about legendary outlaw Jesse James. "Jesse
James...Has killed many a man. He robbed the union trains. He stole from the
rich and gave to the poor..."
Jesse James
By Ry Cooder. About American bandit and outlaw Jesse James. Member of
the notorious James Gang. "Jesse James we understand has killed many a
man. He robbed the Union trains but history does record that Bob and Charlie
Ford have laid Jesse James in his grave..."
Jesus Died For You
By Charlie Daniels Band. Song deals with faith and spirituality.
"...You may be drunk or hooked on dope. Believe me brother you still got
hope. 'Cause Jesus died for you...Maybe you ain't got a dime You're standing in
the welfare line...You still got hope..."
Jesus He Knows Me
By Genesis. About
the crooked practices that certain hypocritical televangelists have taken part
in. "...Won't find me practicing what I'm preaching. Won't find me making
no sacrifice. But I can get you a pocketful of miracles if you promise to be
good, try to be nice. God will take good care of you. Just do as I say, don't do
as I do..."
Jim Crow
By The Almanac Singers. About the post Civil War laws created to
deny equal rights to freed slaves and also keep blacks and whites segregated.
The term Jim Crow
came from a black character in minstrel shows. "...This is a land we call
our own. Why does the Negro ride alone?...Jim Crow! Lincoln
set the Negro free. Why is he still in slavery? Jim Crow!..."
The Jimi Hendrix Chord
By Daddy Longlegs. A tribute song dedicated to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix who left this world of
ours at the age of 27 after overdosing and choking on his own vomit. "Jimi
was a god...There's nothing romantic about his death. Choking on vomit for his
very last breath. A genius is washed away and gone too soon...Jimi was the
brightest star..."
Jimmy Carter
By Blue Mountain. A
tribute to our 39th President, Jimmy
Carter 1977-81. "In the bicentennial summer of our faded glory
land a bright new face appeared upon the scene. Of an honest peanut farmer by
the name of Jimmy Carter...There was joy throughout the nation, at that great
inauguration, the GOP stood shakin in their shoes... So shake the hand of the
man, with a hand full of love. The one and only Jimmy Carter..."
Jimmy Sharman's Boxers
By Midnight Oil. Song is about
Jimmy Sharman's tent-fighting troupe which toured
Joe DiMaggio Done It Again
By Billy Bragg. A tribute to deceased baseball star Joe Dimaggio who is in the National Baseball Hall of
Fame. "...Joe Deemaggyoe done it again! Clackin' the bat, gone with
the wind...Joe cracked that ball to whine and moan...Joe
Deemaggyoe's done it again..."
Joe Hill
By Joan Baez. Song is a
tribute to labor activist and musician Joe Hill. About
the organized labormovement
in the
Joe Hill
By Phil Ochs. Song
is a tribute to labor activist and musician Joe Hill. About
the organized labor movement in
the
Joe McCann
By Christy Moore. Song
is about Joe McCann who was the leader of the Irish Official Republican
Movement and was shot and killed in 1972 by British paratroopers because of his
political beliefs. "...He fought for the people of the markets where he
worked. In defense of the rights of man. But the hired branch crew told the
soldiers what to do and they shot down Joe McCann..."
By Gil Scott Heron. About the uprisings in
John Barleycorn
By Traffic. This traditional song celebrates Barley and the harvest cycle.
"...They've ploughed, they've sown, they've harrowed him in Threw clods
upon his head, And these three men made a solemn vow John Barleycorn was
dead. They let him lie for a very long time Till the rains from Heaven did
fall, And little Sir John sprung up his head And so amazed them all...."
John Brown
By Bob Dylan. An anti-war song about human suffering,
loss of innocence, and the brutal and violent nature
of warfare. "John Brown went off to war to fight on a foreign shore. His
mama sure was proud of him!...I'm glad you're a son of mine, you make me proud
to know you hold a gun. Do what the captain says, lots of medals you will
get...Then a letter finally came saying go down and meet the train...She saw
her son at last. When she did she could hardly believe her eyes. Oh his face
was all shot up and his hand was all blown off...Oh tell me, my darling son,
pray tell me what they done. How is it you come to be this way?...Don't you
remember, ma, When I went
off to war. You thought it was the best thing I could do...He called his
mother close and he dropped his medals down into her hand."
John Doe
By Testament. About a young man who grew up in the foster care system, is
sexually abused and commits suicide as a result of his experiences. "John
Doe. A man haunted by his past...He was raised as an orphan. Abuse victim as a
child. Dreaming haunting memories made John Doe take his own life...Never
knowing what is love..."
John Lennon
By The Outfield. Song is a tribute to musician John Lennon who was tragically
shot and killed by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980. "...Then on a
day in your life still remembered by everyone. There was a man with a gun at
his side. You and your monkey had nowhere to hide. So many things on his mind,
I'm not sure if he knew why he blew you away..."
Johnny Blade
By Black Sabbath. About a man who lives on the streets and deals with the
dangers associated with street life in the city. "Tortured and twisted, he
walks the streets alone. People avoid him, they know the street's his
own...Life has no meaning, and death's his only friend. Will fate surprise him,
where will he meet his end?..."
Johnny Can't Read
By Don Henley. About someone who is illiterate.
The song reveals the personal and societal consequences or costs. "...But
Johnny can't read,
summer is over and he's gone to seed. Johnny can't read,
he'll never learn nothin' that he'll ever need..."
Johnny 99
By Bruce Springsteen. Song is
about a person who turns to crime as a result of misfortune and economic
hardships. "Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that
month. Ralph went lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none. He came home too
drunk for mixin' Tanqueray and wine. He got a gun shot a night clerk now they call'm
Johnny 99...Now judge I got debts no honest man could pay. The bank was holdin'
my mortgage and they was takin' my house away. Now I ain't sayin' that makes me
an innocent man. But it was more'n all this that put that gun in my
hand..."
Johnny Ryall
By The Beastie Boys. About a homeless man and life on the street in New York City.
Reference to alcohol, substance abuse, and former Mayor, Ed Koch. "Johnny
Ryall is the bum on my stoop. I give him fifty cents to buy some soup...Living
on borrowed time and borrowed money. Sleepin' on the street there ain't a damn
thing funny ...Makes his home all over the place, he goes to sleep by falling
down on his face..."
Johnny Was
By Bob Marley. A mother mourn's the death of her child. Song is about the
growing frequency of crime, street violence, and shootings. Inspired by actual
events in
John Walker's Blues
By Steve Earle. This controversial
song was written about John Walker Lindh
also known as the "American Taliban". "...If my daddy could see
me now - chains around my feet He don't understand that sometimes a man
Has got to fight for what he believes...We came to fight the Jihad and our
hearts were pure and strong...Now they're draggin' me back with my head in a
sack To the land of the infidel..."
Join Hands
By Charlie Wine. Part of the VOW
Music Education and Outreach Project , this song is a call for peace
and unity among people and a repudiation of guns and violence. Serves as a
tribute to innocent victims of violence.
"...She was somebody's daughter, she was somebody's friend. She was loved
by her father, her life didn't have to end. Join hands without guns, join hands
without guns. The children
are watching, the children will lead. How many must fall and how many will
bleed. One life is enough to rise up and join hands, hand in hand, join
hands..."
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
By Neil Diamond. Song is based on the Richard Bach novel of the same name.
"Last on a painted sky. Where the clouds are hung for the poet's eye. You
may find him..."
Jose Cuervo
By Shelley West. A person drinks too much, blacks out and doesn't remember
what happened to them. References made to hangovers, violence and risk
behaviors. "...My head is spinning...Now wait a minute things don't look
too familiar...I like to drink...Then I kiss all the cowboys...Then I start a
fight..."
Josephine Baker
By Al Stewart. This song is a tribute to
entertainer Josephine
Baker. "...Now some they stand out from a crowd even at an early age.
I suppose that her call was loud 'cause she just lit up the stage...I was born
too late to see Josephine
Baker dancing in a
Jukebox Hero
By Foreigner. Song is about hero worship and the quest for fame and glory.
"...So he started rockin'. Ain't never gonna stop. Gotta keep on rockin'.
Someday he's gonna make it to the top. And be a jukebox hero, got stars in his
eyes..."
Julia
By Francine Allen. The
song was written as
a tribute to environmental activist, Julia "Butterfly" Hill.
"What do you see from your height...You bring us courage when we can't
seem to find our own. Julia,
you are a messenger of hope..."
Jumper
By Third Eye Blind. A person tries to help
a friend who has decided that suicide is the answer to their problems. "I wish
you would step back from that ledge my friend. You could cut ties with all the
lies that you've been livin' in...I never thought that it would come to this,
and I want you to know. Everyone's got to face down the demons. Maybe today we
can put the past away...I would understand..."
Jungleland
By Bruce Springsteen. A tribute
to urban nightlife. The song is about the adventure, danger, excitement,
mystery, and romance that is part of each night on the streets of a city.
"The
Junk Food
By Cheryl Wheeler. About the addictive and unhealthy nature of "junk food".
"...Fritos, dorritos, sour cream and onion dips. Ice cream sodas,
chocolate candy, kool-aid in your coke is dandy. Let's eat things to kill
ourselves... We'll get fat and gross together..."
Junk Food Junkie
By Larry Groce. A novelty song about a person who hides their love of eating
junk food. "...Yeah, in the daytime I'm Mr. Natural, just as healthy as I
can be. But at night I'm a junk food
junkie. Good Lord have pity on me..."
Junker's Blues
By Champion
Jack Dupree. This song
is about substance abuse and drug addiction. "all right... I'm sick as I
can be...Some people call me a junker, cause I'm loaded all the timeI just feel
happy and I feel good all the time Some people say I use a needle, and some say
I slip cocaine But that's the best old feelin' that I ever need..."
Junkhead
By
Junkie Doll
By Mark Knopfler. A man breaks
free from his heroin
addiction and disassociates himself from his old drug using friends.
"...You spiked my arm but you missed my vein. But the scars remain...Now
I'm clean. Junkie doll I was stuck on you..."
A Junkie's Lament
By James Taylor. About a person struggling with heroin
addiction. "...Oh my God, a monkey can move a man. Send him to hell and
home again...A junkie's sick, a monkey's strong. That's what's wrong.
Junkie's Prayer
By Fishbone. About the destructive nature of the stimulant drug crack cocaine, a
smokable form of the drug and how it has infiltrated our cities. "...Give
us this day our daily crack. As we smoke ourselves into a manic frenzy. Forgive
us for we have no control or self respect. Grim Reaper has cashed my life
savings check..."
By "Weird Al" Yankovic.
This song
is a parody of "
Just Another Story
By Phil Collins. Deals with the
excesses of society and a variety of social problems including domestic
violence and substance
abuse. "Father comes home 'cos his money's run out. Seems a little
loose tonight, he starts to shout... You can smell it on his breath, feel it in
his touch. He never meant to hit her hard, but he's like that when he's had too
much. It's just another story 'bout going too far..." The effects of
domestic violence are also explored in the poem "Neighbor
Blood" by Richard
Frost.
Just Another Suicide
By UFO. A young person is depressed and starts to have suicidal thoughts. If
you have a friend who is this depressed, get help for the person! "Just a
bad situation, got me low, feelin' down I'm wonderin' why...I can't last
forever, I can't hold on...Somebody is tearin' my whole inside...Lookin' for a
place to hide..."
Just For The Record
By Marillion. Song is about an
individual in denial over his problem with alcohol. References to addiction.
"Many's the time I've been thinking about changing my ways,
but when it gets right down to it, it's the same drunken haze. Just for the
record I'm gonna put it down, just for the record I'm gonna change my life around...But
I've got no discipline, got no self control..."
Justified Black Eye
By Leche ConCarne. About the vicious cycle of domestic violence and the
trauma and emotional difficulty the abused person must endure. "She was
confused and abused in this life. Emotional and violent moments seemed to take
the longest time...She didn't recognize her own face in the mirror. Black and
blue...He would always try to justify what wasn't true. Justified black eye
taken for granted..."
Justin
By Korn. Song is about fan adoration and the
pressure and/or responsibility of celebrity status. Also deals with inner
strength, coping with a terminal illness and accepting or finding inner peace
with respect to dying. "...You watch me play. I look away. Your lights
turn bright. You found the light...You're gonna die! Wanting me, why? I wish I
had your strength...The kids that die listening to me. You are alive!..."
Just Like God Now
By Cheryl Wheeler. Song is about the recent scientific advances in cloning
animals. According to cherylwheeler.com, artist got idea for song after
hearing people comment that now we are just like God since we can clone
animals. "...We're just like God Now. It's hard to overstate what a
grand day this is. Look at how far we've come. Mixin' up the dough in the petri
dishes for every little thing we want. Tell the Pope he's through..."
Just Say No
By Young MC. A great health song for young people. Offers advice when young
people are faced with negative peer pressure. "Just Say No"!
"...If you were ever in a situation without enough time for contemplation.
All your frineds goin' the same way. You feel kinda trapped, you don't know what
to say. Just say no..."
Just The Two Of Us
By Will Smith. A remake of Bill Wither's popular song about relationships
and positive thinking. In this version, lyrics deal with the love between a
father and son. "...Let me be a good daddy, all he needs. Love, knowledge,
discipline too, I pledge my life to you...You're living proof that dreams do
come true, I love you and I'm here for you..."
Just Want to Let You
Know
By Subterra. About death and mourning. A person expresses feelings of love
for someone who has recently passed away. "Just want to let you know that
I missed you. Never knew such love as we had...Your fight was short, but you
were very strong...so I pick my guitar and scrawl my music into the air...I
hope somehow it finds you there"
By Phil Ochs. Song was written for the movie of the same name starring Racquel Welch as a roller
derby queen. "...The blast of the whistle, the bomber takes the floor. She
turns, she spins on the rail but she'll be the first to score..."
Keep The Faith
By Michael Jackson. Deals with issues of self esteem, believing in yourself
and your abilities and having a positive outlook on life."..."Cause
you can climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest sea. All you need is the
will to want it, and a little self esteem. So keep the faith, don't let anybody
turn you a round...Believe in yourself no matter what it's gonna take. You can
be a winner but you got to keep the faith..."
Keep The Mask On The Lone
Ranger
By John T. Douglas. About the 1979
legal battle between Clayton Moore and
movie producers regarding the right to wear the Lone Ranger mask.
"...Ain't nothing sacred anymore and everyone's in danger, when some fool
thinks he can take the mask off the Lone Ranger...For
over thirty years Clayton's lived up to the task. Now some judge has decided
he's not fit to wear the mask. Well it don't make no difference what that judge
might have to say. Ain't nothing gonna make it right to take that mask
away..."
Keep Pushin'
By REO Speedwagon. Song relates to many health related issues including self
esteem, perseverance
and believing in yourself and your abilities. "Going through all the
changes, I made so many mistakes, oh yes I did...Well it's coming together. I
finally feel like a man, oh yes I do. I never thought that I'd be where I am,
oh. Everyday I work a little bit harder. Whoa, I keep pushin' on...Keep pushin,
keep pushin' on, you know you got to be so strong..."
Keep Ya Head Up
By Tupac. Song is calling
for an end to misogynistic beliefs or attitudes that degrade and oppress women.
The singer tells men to love, honor, and respect women and to regard women as equals. "...And when he tells you
you ain't nothin' don't believe him...I wonder why we take from our women. Why
we rape our women, do we hate our women?...Time to heal our women, be real to
our women...I know your fed up ladies, but keep your head up."
Keep Your Head
By Mary J. Blige. About the challenges, choices, and temptations many face
each day as they struggle to do the right thing. "...I'm tryin' not to
lose my cool because if in this world I do the only person that's gonna miss
out on everything is me...It's very hard, so very hard because I'm out here
trying to do the right thing. And when I look around here's the wrong thing
temptin' me..."
Kelly 90210
By Two Headed Puppy.
This song
is dedicated to the character Kelly from the TV show, Beverly Hills 90210
"Just like tonight I was watching my TV Thursday it was I remember
faithfully Beverly Hills, one pretty girl's all I could see Her name is Kelly ,
she's got a groovy spell on me...Kelly saw you on the Telly lips like jelly how
I wanted to hold you have I lately told you..."
Kevin Barry
By Traditional Celtic. Kevin Barry was a member of the Irish Republican
Socialist Movement who was killed in Armagh by the Irish People's Liberation
Organization following the March 15, 1987 killing of IPLO leader Gerard Steenson.
"In Mountjoy jail one Monday morning. High upon the gallows tree. Kevin
Barry gave his young life for the cause of liberty...Another martyr for old
Kevin Carter
By Manic Street Preachers.
Song is about South African photographer Kevin
Carter who won a Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of a starving Sudanese
child being stalked by a vulture. Carter received much criticism for not
helping the child and he eventually commited suicide. ""Hi, Time
magazine. Hi, Pulitzer Prize. Vulture stalked, white piped lie forever. Wasted
your life...Kevin Carter..."
Kick Hit 4 Hit Kix U (Blues
For Jimi And Janis)
By John Lee Hooker. Song is a reminder about the potential dangers of drug
use and also talks about two rock stars who died from drug overdoses at the
ripe old age of 27, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. "...The one and only
Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Who passed on from the needle. They o.d...Dope
addicts. You better watch yourself...You might pass on..."
Kicks
By Paul Revere and the Raiders. About a person falling deeper into the trap
of drug use. References made to drug addiction, gateway drugs, withdrawal
symptoms and unhealthy escapism. "Girl, you thought you found the answer
on that magic carpet ride last night. But when you wake up in the mornin', the
world still gets you uptight...All your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of
mind...You better get straight..."
The Kids Aren't Alright
By Offspring. About the numerous
challenges and problems confronting young people and how many succumb to the
temptations of the street. "When we were young the future was so
bright...Now the neighborhood's cracked and torn. The kids are grown up but
their lives are worn. How can one little street swallow so many lives?...Jamie
had a chance, well she really did. Instead sho got on speed and lost her kids.
Mark still lives at home cause he;s got no job. He just plays guitar and smokes
a lot of pot. Jay committed suicide..."
Kid's Prayer
By Dan Bern. Written in June 1998
after the
Killing Ground
By Saxon. About war and the events leading up to a battle. References to
patriotism and fighting with honor for your country. "Follow the piper,
follow the drum. Follow the footsteps our comrades begun. 'Til the battles won.
Follow the sabre, follow the gun. For king and for country. We stand as
one..."
Killing Time
By Triumph. Song is about the perils of procrastination. Wasting time, failing
to act, and then feeling regret over missed opportunities.
"Hangin' out on the corner, he's got no place to go. She sits in an empty
bedroom playin' the radio. Everyday regretting all the things they never tried.
Everyday they're dyin' just a little bit more inside...Time is slippin' away,
it's just passin' 'em by. They're wondering why, but it's gone, gone forever my
friend and it won't come again..."
Kill The Human Race
By De Heideroojis. About the carelessness of human beings as they slowly
destroy planet Earth. Many references to societal ills and examples of
unhealthy risk taking. "...No biotech, no high tech, no WW II. Mother
Earth can exist without me and you...No circus, no steakhouse, no furcoat
store. Within time, nature will not take this anymore..."
Kill The Pain
By Face Down. About drug addiction. "Trying to run from what you are.
Afraid of being alive. Hands shaking, body aching. The abuse left a permanent
scar...You need your reality to hit your veins again..."
Kill The Poor
By Dead
Kennedys. A satirical
song that takes an ironic
point of view to draw attention to the plight of poor people.
"...Efficiency and progress is ours once more, now that we have the
neutron bomb. It's nice and quick and clean and gets things done...The sun beams
down on a brand new day, no more welfare tax to pay. Unsightly slums gone up in
flashing light. Jobless millions whisked away. At last we have more room to
play..."
The Killing of Georgie (Part
I and II)
By Rod Stewart. Song is about
random violence and the death of a friend. Song also deals with issues of
tolerance, homosexuality, gangs, and possibly hate crimes. "...Georgie boy
was gay I guess nothin' more or nothin' less. The kindest guy I never knew...Pa
said there must be a mistake how can my son not be straight after all I've said
and done for him...Cast out by the ones he loves. A victim of these gay days it
seems. Georgie went to New York town where he quickly settled down...Deciding
to take a short cut home, arm in arm they meant no wrong...Out of a
darkened side street came a New Jersey gang with just one aim...There ensued a
fearful fight screams rang out in the night...Georgie's life ended
there..."
Kind And Generous
By Natalie Merchant. A person
is thanking a friend or lover for always being there and giving so much of
themselves. "...You've been so kind and generous, I don't know how you
keep on giving. For your kindness I'm in debt to you. For your selflessness, my
admiration. For everything you've done, you know I'm bound, I'm bound to thank
you for it..."
King Heroin
By James Brown. About
the drug heroin and how it ruins the user's health and their lives in
general. Lyrics are presented as if the drug was speaking. "...I take my
addicts and make'em steal, borrow ,beg. Then they search for a vein in their
arm or leg...I can make a good man forsake his wife. Send a greedy man to
prison for the rest of his life..."
King Of The Delta Blues
By Marshall
Tucker Band. Tribute to legendary bluesman, Robert Johnson. "...Went down
to the crossroads, dealing with the devil. Robert's life would never be the
same...King of the Delta Blues..."
King Of The Road
By Roger Miller. A tribute to hobos and their
passion for independence and a life on the road. "...I
know every engineer on every train, all of the children and all of their names.
And every handout in every town , and every lock that ain't locked when no
one's around...I'm a man of means by no means, King of the road."
King Of Trees
By Cat Stevens An environmental awareness song. "He was the King of trees
Keeper of the leaves A deep green god of young…Now they've come to cut you
down…Now they've come to lay the road Dont lay the road"
Kiss the Bottle
By Jawbreaker. A substance abuse song. "It gets loneliest at night…six
a.m., the floor comes alive with lice…Fell from the wagon…kissed the
bottle…"
Kiss Your Freedom Goodbye
By Lynyrd Skynyrd. About a safe and secure small town being overrun with
drugs, vandelism and violence. "...Life's good in this small
town...Our doors are always unlocked. But not for long...Stores have gone out
of business. They're sellin' drugs out in the streets. The new kids like to
spray paint...Kiss your freedom goodbye..."
Kit Carson
By Bruce Cockburn. Song is about Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson,
an accomlished trapper, guide, rancher and military scout of the nineteenth
century. Some saw
Knee Deep
By 21 Guns. About an adult who is struggling and does not have proper coping
skills. The person believes that his problems are a result of parental
neglect during his childhood. "...He's always drunk in back alleyways.
While mother and her lovers couldn't care anyway...They looked right through me
like I didn't exist. It's in their eyes I was meaningless...I'm sinking knee
deep and getting deeper and deeper. So low I don't know which way to
go..."
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
By Bob Dylan. In 1996 an additional verse
was added to this song to commemorate the tragic school shooting of
Knock Me Down
By Red Hot Chili Peppers. Song is about former band member and guitarist Hillel
Slovak who tragically died
from a heroin overdose. "...too much for me, too much for you. You're gonna lose in time.
Every turn, looking to burn. Some never learn. Live and learn...Don't
be afraid to show your friends that you hurt inside. Pain's part of life. Don't
hide behind your false pride...You're gonna lose in time..."
The Knowledge
By Janet Jackson. About social responsibility and the importance of
education. "Get the knowledge...If we're gonna change the way the world is
run. The way to start is to rid the children of prejudice and ignorance. We
gotta teach our kids to read and write...Education is the goal..."
Know Who You Are
By Supertramp. Song is about self
confidence, inner strength, and meeting challenges head on. "Know who
you are. There's a world that wants to know you...Don't be afraid...You've so
much to give and there's
so much to know..."
Know Your Enemy
By Rage Against The Machine. Song is a harsh
criticism of societal apathy and complacency and serves as a call to action for
social and political activists.
"...I've got no patience now, so sick of complacence now...Yes I know my
enemies.. Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission, ignorance,
hypocrisy, brutality, the elite. All of which are American dreams..."
Kraft Dinner
By Annihilator. About the old American stand-by. Kraft macaroni and
cheese! "Cupboard's bare, I'm so hungry. I love Kraft dinner. Boiling water, can't wait. It's
getting hotter, it feels so great. Kraft dinner..."
Krakotoa
By Saxon. Song is about one of
the most powerful volcanic eruptions
in the history of the world which occurred between May and August of 1893 at
the
Kurt
By Dan Bern. This song is about the suicide of
Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. "When Kurt Cobain blew out his brain All
the little girls They cried like rain And as for me I felt the pain But I got
no T-shirts left to stain For Kennedy and Jesse James And Joan of Arc and Kurt
Cobain..."
KYEO
By Fugazi. Anti-war song inspired by the Gulf War. "The troops are
quiet tonight,But it's not alright, because we know they're planning something.
Don't you know things have settled down, down, down But silence is a dangerous
sound..."
L (top)
Lack Of Communication
By Ratt. Song is about people's inability to share ideas and how the
channels of communication are often closed between human beings. "Too many
problems the world can't solve. Too many people, no one wants to be involved.
Lack of communication...Always sayin' someone else is to blame...Lack of
communication..."
Lady Whiskey
By Wishbone Ash. About alcohol addiction, self destructive behaviors and
codependency. "Lady whiskey, such a sad sight. Stumblin' as she walks. She
even hates herself...Drowns her sorrows, eases her pain...Her man is just like
her...Drowns his sorrows, eases his pain..."
The Lady Of Schalott
By Loreena McKennitt. This song is a musical adaptation and tribute to Alfred Lord Tennyson's
renowned poem "The
Lady of Shalott". "On either side of the river lie long fields of
barley and rye. That clothe the world and meet the sky. And thro' the field the
road run by. To many towed Camelot...The lady of Schalott..."
By Frostbit Blue. Song is about
the beauty of the fading day on Lake Ontario as seen
from
By Rush. Song is about Lakeside Park, an amusement park located in St.
Catherines,
Lame for Fame
By Urban Guerillas. This song is about preserving
creative and artistic integrity with respect to song writing and not selling out or giving in to
the commercialization
of music. "...Don't say anything at all keep it fresh, show us your
flesh give us a tune sing in the nude your song is sure to rate But I can’t
play this stinking game And I don’t want your hollow fame Cos I...Got
something to say (forget it kid get out of my way) They won't play my song on
the radio And I don't like the reason why!..."
Landlord
By Christy Moore. Song is about having a sneaky, greedy and unreliable
landlord. "Here he comes lookin' for rent. His greedy yellow eyes and his
tongue all bent...Sniffin' 'round my doorway and goin' through my clothes...The
man's a thief, I've even got proof..."
Landslide
By Fleetwood Mac. Inspired by actual events. Song is about
a relationship in turmoil. An individual is ready for a change and fears
change at the same time. The person wonders if they are strong enough to break
away. Song deals with issues of love, identity, emotions, and self esteem.
"...Oh, mirror in the sky what is love? Can the child within my heart rise
above? Can I sail through the changing ocean tides, can I handle the seasons of
my life? Well, I've been afraid of changing 'cause I've built my life around
you. But times make you bolder even children get older, and I'm getting older
too..."
Language Of Violence
By Disposable Heroes of Hiphopcrisy. Touches on may health and social topics
including homophobia, hatred, peer pressure and violence. "...Like a
gauntlet the voices haunted...He knew the names they would taunt him with.
Faggot, sissy, punk, queer, queen...Words can reduce a person to an object.
Something more easy to hate..."
L.A.P.D.
By The Offspring. Song is critical of the Los Angeles Police Department who
came under fire for their excessive use of violence when detaining Rodney King.
"When cops are taking care of business I can understand. But the
Larger Than Life
By Gov't Mule. Song is about taking life for granted, taking risks without
thinking about the consequences. Once you are dead, you can't "wish"
your life back. "...It won't take long to get to the bottom, it won't take
much looking down at yourself. You think you know somethin', you don't know
nothin'. Everybody knows that death is larger than life..."
The Last Day Of June, 1934
By Al Stewart. This song is about the
rise to power of the Nazi Party in
The Last Great American
By Five
For Fighting. According to the artist this song is a story about a
hero...who is so disgusted by what
he sees today that at the end of the song he ends up burying himself
alive...the world disgusts him. A new last verse was added to this song
following the tragic events of September
11, 2001. These new lyrics provide a more optimistic and hopeful
ending to the song. "...From every walk of life we've come to see the Last
Great American...He pulls the lid on down as his stone is read Here lies our
Merry the man with the heart so spent That in this day and age is sick of living Then the funeral
pyre was shattered And the world became undone The mourners raised their heads
up As the crowd began to run Then everybody stopped...to the beating of a drum.
For through the smoke and morning sun Stands the Last Great American."
Last Night I Had The
Strangest Dream
By Pete
Seeger. A person dreams
of a world free from war and violence. "Last night I had the strangest
dream I'd ever dreamed before. I dreamed the world had all agreed to put an end
to war..."
Last Of A Dying Breed
By Neil Young. Song is about the struggles of the American farmer and his
attempt to survive in a poor farming economy. Song also criticizes the American
government for not helping out the farming industry. "Well I hate to say
the farmer was the last of a dying breed. Living off the land and taking what
he needs. Don't say much for the future when a family can't survive. I hate to
say the farmer was the last of his kind...In the struggle for parity, not one
man's voice can sound. 'Cuz the foundation of the conglomerate is firmly in the
ground..."
The Last Of The Great Whales
By Andy Barnes. An emotional song about the death of a whale's companion and
the loss and sorrow the surviving whale feels. "...My soul has been torn
from me and I am bleeding...All the beauty around me fades...Last night I heard
the cry of my last companion. The roar of the harpoon gun and then I was
alone...I am the last of the great whales and I am dying..."
Last Of The Independents
By Rory Gallagher. According to the "Photo-Finish" CD liner notes,
As a film buff Rory was inspired to write this crime song from just reading
a newspaper review of the film "Charley
Varrick" featuring Walter Matthau and Joe Don
Baker. "I caught the red-eye at
Last Resort
By Papa Roach. Song is about unhealthy risk taking, identity crisis,
despair, low self esteem and suicide. "...It all started when I lost my
mother. No love for myself and no love for another...Searching to find love...Finding
nothing but questions and devils...I'm losing my sight, losing my mind...Would
it be right if I took my life tonight?..."
The Last Resort
By The Eagles. About the impact of Westward Expansion in
The Last Shot
By Lou Reed. About the realities of dealing with alcohol addiction and
trying to have the strength to quit and remain sober. "The last shot
should have killed me...Whiskey, bourbon, vodka, scotch. I don't care what it
is you got...And I'm not boasting when I say I'm getting straight. You always
wish that you knew it was your last shot..."
The Last Song
By Elton John. Describes a death bed reconciliation
between a son and his father. "...I can't believe you love me, I never
thought you'd come. I guess I misjudged love between a father and his
son..." Also deals with estrangement, revelation, and forgiveness within
relationships. "...Things we never said come together. The hidden truth no
longer haunting me. Tonight we touched on things that were never spoken, that kind of understanding sets me free."
The Last Worthless Evening
By Don Henley. Song is about a man who wants more than a platonic
relationship and wonders if his female friend feels the same way. "...I
see you around sometimes and my heart just melts. You're lookin' like if you
had your wish you'd be somewhere else. And it just breaks my heart to see you
here this way. Someday I'll get the nerve to walk up to you and say. This is
the last worthless evening that you have to spend. Just gimme a chance to show
you how to love again..."
Laugh Kills Lonesome
By Michael Nesmith. A tribute to
the imagery of the American West and the enduring spirit of the cowboy.
"All around the campfire stood seven dusty men, The cook was drinking
applejack, the cattle were all penned, Someone must have cracked a wise one
because the men began to grin, their smiles shot out like sunbeams and made the
night give in. Because... Laugh kills lonesome every single time, That's why Charlie Russell painted it And why it
looks so fine, Laugh kills lonesome every single time. Roy and Dale and Pecos
Bill they knew all about this, so did Walt and Hasui who gave
it their own twist..."
Lay Down Your Arms
By
Layla
By Eric Clapton. Song was written about musician George Harrison’s wife Patti Boyd who Eric
Clapton had fallen in love with. Layla was his nickname for her. “…Layla, you
got me on my knees. Layla, I’m begging darlin’ please…Like a fool, I fell in
love with you. Turned my whole world upside down…”
Layne
By Staind. Tribute to former
League of Notions
By Al Stewart. This song is about the League of Nations, an
international peace
organization formed after
Lean On Me
By Bill Withers. Song is about the importance of friendship and not being
afraid to lend a hand to someone in need. "...Lean on me, when you're not
strong and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on..."
The Least We Can Do
By Christy Moore. Song is about unity, brotherhood and having compassion for
all races. "The least we can do is make the world a better place. Not just
for the few but the human race...So follow the rainbow deep into the evening
sun and pray that it's colors will blend together as one..."
Leather And Lace
By Stevie Nicks w/Don
The Ledge
By Fleetwood Mac. About
love, hurt, pain, and the complexities of a relationship. "...Slippin',
thru your fingers, watchin' how it grows. You can love me baby but you can't
walk out. Someone oughta tell you what it's really all about..."
The Ledge
By The Replacements. This video was banned by MTV in 1987. Executives feared
the lyrics may have encouraged suicide. "All eyes look up at me. High
above the filthy streets...Priest kneels silent, all is still. Policeman
reaches from the sill...I'm the boy they couldn't ignore for the first time in
my life..."
Legionnaire's Disease
By Bob Dylan. Song is about "Legionnaire's
Disease", a fatal respiratory illness. Song also points out that many
soldiers of war throughout history have mysteriously died from this disease.
"Some say it was radiation. Some say their was acid on the microphone...I
wish I had a dollar for everyone that died within that year...Oh, that
Legionnaire's disease..."
By Billy Joel. Remembrances of childhood during the cold war. "A cold
war kid in McCarthy time...Under their desk in an air raid drill...And hid in
the shelters underground" Song closes with a present day ('89) trip to
Leningrad, and a message of hope for future generations. "And so my child
and I came to this place to meet him eye to eye and face to face...We never
knew what friends we had until we came to
Lenny Bruce
By Bob Dylan. A tribute to comedian Lenny Bruce.
"...They said he was sick 'cause he didn't play by the rules. He just
showed the wise men of his day to be nothing more than fools. They stamped him
and they labeled him like they do with pants and shirts..."
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
By Bob Dylan. This social and
political commentary
examines and critiques followers of fashion, materialism, and
those who seek or desire fame and
popularity. Song is also referring to the brutal and corrupt government of
the late Mobuto Sese
Seko, former ruler of Zaire,
who was known for his penchant for leopard-skin hats. "Well, I see you got
your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat. Yes, I see you got your brand new
leopard-skin pill-box
hat. Well, you must tell me, baby. How your head feels under somethin' like
that. Under your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat..."
Leper Messiah
By Metallica. Song is about televangelists.
Song deals with corruption, abuse of power, and deceptive practices.
"...marvel at his tricks, need your Sunday fix...send me money, send me
green heaven you will meet..."
A Lesson Learned
By Limp Bizkit. About
communication and the intimate relationship between an artist and his/her
audience. Song is also about the trappings of fame, the struggle for personal
freedom, and the importance of creating your own road or path to follow through
life. "...Fortune and fame are disgusted as your friend cuz I'm lonelier
now than I've ever been...I open myself to you so that we can
communicate...Your vision is all that matters. Let nothing get in your
way..." TheGrateful Dead song "Ripple", is also about some of these same
issues.
Let It Bleed
By The Used. A drug abuse song about
the narcotic Heroin.
'This poison's my intoxication. Broke the needle off in my skin...A positive
scab that's never healing...The most I can do for you is keep on lying..."
Let It Rain
By UFO. A woman foolishly believes that the married man she is having an
affair with will end up leaving his wife for her. "...She holds him close
but their love is in vain. And the married man that you laid. Goes back to his
own charade...When you press the point he says we'll see. But then walks back
to his mystery..."
Let Love Rule
By Lenny Kravitz. A positive song about unity, brotherhood and the healing
power of love. "Love is gentle as a rose and love can conquer any war.
It's time to take a stand. Brothers and sisters join hands. We got to let love
rule..."
Let Robeson Sing
By Manic Street Preachers.
This song
is a tribute to American Civil Rights activist and artist Paul
Robeson. "...A voice so pure, a vision so clear...Learn to sing like
you...A giant man
with a heavenly voice...Where are you now..."
Let's Face It
By Mighty Mighty Bosstones. About tolerance, unity, brotherhood and a plea
to end racism and discrimination. "It's hard to face that in this age
somebody's race could trigger somebody's rage...We sure weren't put here to
hate, be racist, be sexist, be bigots...Give tolerance a try..."
Let Somebody Else Drive
By Matt Minglewood. About the dangers associated with drinking and driving. "I heard it on
the radio, the
Let's Roll
By Neil Young. Song
is a tribute to Todd Beamer and
the courage of passengers on United
Airlines Flight 93 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September
11, 2001. All royalties from sales of the songwill be
distributed to September 11 charities. "I know I said I love you, I know
it's true. I've got to put the phone down and do what we got to do...No time
for indecision, we've got to make a move. I hope that we're forgiven for what
we got to do...Time is runnin' out, let's
roll..."
Let The Music Heal Your Soul
By Backstreet. Song is about the power
of music and the emotional effects it has on it's listeners. "...Music
gives you happiness and sadness. But it also heals
your soul. Let the music take control. Let the music give you the power to
move any mountain..."
Let's Face It
By Mighty Mighty Bosstones. A condemnation
of intolerance and racism."It's so hard to face that in this day and
age somebody's
race could trigger somebody's rage...Why so cut and dry? A simple concept missed. Give
tolerance a try...And you're not free to be a different way. Let's try to erase it, it's time that we
face it. If we don't, then who will? Shame on us..."
Let's Go Get Stoned
By Ray Charles. Song is about abusing
drugs and alcoholas a way to escape and solve your problems. Stoned is a
slang term for getting high. "...When you're baby won't let you in. Got a
few pennies, a bottle of gin...When you work so hard all day long. And
everything you do seems to go wrong...Let's go get stoned..."
Let's Have A War
By Fear. Anti-war song. "Let's have a war, so you can all die...Let's
have a war jack up the Dow Jones...Let's have a war, sell the rights to the
networks..."
Let's Lynch the Landlord
By Dead
Kennedys. About bad
landlords who prosper while their tenants live in substandard
and unsafe housing. "The
landlord's here to visit...Sez I'm doubling the rent cos the buildings
condemned...I tell them turn on the water. I tell 'em turn on the heat...There's
rats chewin' up the kitchen. Roaches up to my knees..."
Let's Not Forget
By Joe Pickering, Jr. This song is a tribute
to the courageous and inspirational
athletes who helped to break the color barrier in professional baseball.
“Let’s not forget all those who went before They didn’t make today’s Majors
they did endure Playing by the rules they beat Jim Crow at his game Because of
them, other made the Hall of Fame…Honor Younger the first college player at
Oberlin Honor Fowler
first pro in the minors pitching for Lynn Honor Walker of the
American Association The
first black Major Leaguer in the nation…”
Let's Remember
By Sammy Kaye. About patriotism and the importance of remembering the events
that happened in 1941 when the Japanese bombed
Let's Wait Awhile
By Janet Jackson. Deals with many health related issues including abstinence, responsible decision making,
communication, and not getting caught up in the "heat of the
moment."...When we get to know each other and we're both feeling much
stronger. Then let's try to talk it over. Let's wait awhile longer. Let's wait
awhile before it's too late. Let's wait awhile before we go too far..."
Let's Work Together
By Canned Heat. About unity, teamwork, and brotherhood. "Together we'll
stand. Divided we'll fall. Come on now people. Let's get on the ball and work
together...Together we will stand..."
Letter To Mom
By Iris Dement. A child who was
sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend carries the secret into adulthood
before she is comfortable telling her mother about it. Song stresses the
emotional and psychological damage that incest and rape victims experience.
"...Back when I was ten Mom brought home a new boyfriend...One night he
climbed into my bed...All my life I've felt ashamed 'cause I thought I was the
one to blame...I wrote my mother yesterday..."
Let Them Be
By Peter Hicks
and Geoff Francis. Song
criticizes Australian refugee policy and the inhuman
treatment of immigrants. "...Some are young, some are old. Some are
yellow, some are brown....All of them are here because they have no other
choice. Let them be...Where once folk came with nothing here and struggled to
achieve, But now we hunt them down with dogs and lock them up like
thieves"
Liberation Now!
By Jacquelyn Reinach. About women's rights and their
fight for justice and equality. "...We're breaking out of our cage of
ruffles and rage. It's time to spell our own names, we're people not dames.
We're more than mothers and wives with secondhand lives. It's time for woman
and man to walk hand in hand..."
Lie #1
By Joe Bonamassa. Alcohol and drugs
compounding the problems of a deceitful person. "You said you
weren't a good liar. that was lie #1. You said your partying days were
over...In the middle of a Tuesday you're drunk and can't find your shoes...The
phone is ringing off the hook with dudes looking for you..."
Life Get's Away
By Clint Black. Song is about learning to live in the present and making the
most of each day. "...The world keeps on turning, I'm learning to see.
Right where I am is where I should be...We start getting older the moment we
live. Look over your shoulder there's hindsight to give. Come good days and bad
days the sun's gonna rise. So why look beyond..."
Life In The City
By Neil Young. Song is about the slow decay of urban areas and the rising
number of social and economical problems in our cities. "People sleepin'
on the sidewalks on a rainy day. Families livin' under freeways. It's the
American way. Starvin' in the city...All our old hangouts are boarded up and
closed. Or being sold to someone. Nobody knows..."
Life In The Factory
By Drive-by Truckers. Song is a tribute to legendary southern rock band
Lynyrd Skynyrd. "...They hit the road doing ninety. Leave them steel mills
far behind. Ain't no good life at the Ford plant. Three guitars or a life of
crime...Bunch of boys from
Life Is A Full Time
Occupation
By Rupert Hine. About the perils of
procrastination and the importance of "seizing the moment". Song
encourages listeners to make the most out of every day and live each moment to the
fullest. "...Marking time has got to be a waste of patience...Life is
a full time occupation. Why let it be situation vacant...Solving problems with
your intuition. Get on that train. Discover the clue. You've got something
special to do..."
Life On The Streets
By Marky Mark featuring Prince Ital. Joe. About growing up on urban streets
and the dangers associated with this life. References made to gangs, violence,
homelessness and poverty. "Life in the streets ain't easy. All I see is
pain and misery...Statistics show that kids with no dough ain't got a
chance...That's why life on the streets is like a trifular beat..."
Life's A Bitch
By Hardline. About domestic violence, poor parenting skills and abusive
parents. "Here comes daddy with the strap again. Toward my backside with
the buckle end...I can hear myself screaming out the back door...Life's a
bitch..."
Lifestyles of The Rich &
Famous
By Good Charlotte.
About fame, privilege, and wealth and how people take it for granted and fail
to appreciate their good fortune. "...I'd like to see them spend a week
Livin' life out on the street I don't think they would survive If they could
spend a day or two Walking in someone else's shoes I think they'd stumble and
they fall They would fall Lifestyles of the rich and the famous They're always
complainin' Always complainin'..."
Lightfoot
By The Guess Who. Tribute to legendary recording artist Gordon Lightfoot. "...He is an artist
painting sistine masterpieces of pine and fur and backwoods Still echos long
ago the winter night of black july and then the outcome Of an early
Lightning Crashes
By Live. About the cycle of life and death, "forces pullin' from the
center of the earth again". Dedicated to Barbara Lewis, now deceased, a
victim of a drunk driver.
Like A Rock
By Bob Seger. A man reaching
middle age looks back on his teenage years when he didn't have a care in
the world and the future was full of optimism. The song title also has a
rhetorical significance in that as this man has reached middle age he looks and
feels a little soft around the edges. "...I was eighteen. Didn't have a
care...My walk had purpose, my steps were quick and light And I held firmly to
what I felt was right...Like a rock...Twenty years now. Where did they go?
Twenty years, I don't know. Sit and
wonder sometimes, where they've gone..."
Like Father, Like Son
By David Cassidy. A son struggles with his upbringing and realizes he has
inherited both the good and bad qualities of his father. "...I bear his
cross and carry his name. I feel him living in me. The good and the bad, the
sinner, the saint... From generation to generation you can pass down the love
or pass on the hate..."
Lilli Schull
By Uncle Tupelo. A murder ballad
inspired by actual events that occurred in 1903 when Finley Preston murdered
Lilli Shaw.
Limelight
By Rush. About the "cost" of fame and success, adjusting to
celebrity status and loss of privacy. "...Cast in this unlikely role, ill-equipped
to act, with insufficient tact. One must put up barriers to keep oneself
intact..."
By Joan Baez. Sung from the point of view of a slave, reflecting on his life
and remembering the day he learned of
Links On The Chain
By Phil Ochs. A call to
action for union members to carry on the fight for justice and freedom by
joining the Civil Rights Movement. "Come you ranks of labor, come you
union core, and see if you remember the struggles of before...And then there
came the boycotts and then the freedom rides, and forgetting what you stood
for, you tried to block the tide...You know when they block your truck boys, by
layin' in the road, all that they are doin' is all that you have
showed..."
Liquor, Beer and Wine
By Reverand Horton Heat. About alcohol dependency, denial and the negative
effects of drinking on one's health. "The doctor says I'm livin' on
precious borrowed time. With all the time I'm givin' to liquor, beer and
wine...I guess I let my health go...But their was nothing to replace you with
except liquor, beer and wine..."
Lisa's Father
By Alice Donut. A disturbing song with references to alcoholism, incest,
poor parenting skills and denial. An alcoholic mother is too drunk to see her
husband's sexual and physical abuse of their young daughter. "...Lisa's
mother was an alcoholic. She used to sit and knock back JD from 8 o'clock in
the morning 'til she passed out...Lisa's father however, he was a sinner...This
was a man who abused his little daugther Lisa..."
The List
By Doug Hoekstra.
This song is a
tribute to the wonders and mysteries of life. About the timeless quest for
insight, knowledge, and understanding. "...What brought me to this far
away, while my lover lies alone. I just put it on the list of things I won't
ever know...I dreamed that I was flying, a dream many people have. Some search
for hidden meanings, until it drives them mad. Sometimes I look for language I
can barely understand...I added to the list of things I won't ever
know..."
The List
By Toby Keith. About making the most of everyday and experiencing as many
things in life as possible. Be a participant, not a spectator. "...My list
of things to do today...There's still more than a few things left I haven't got
to yet. Go for a walk, say a little prayer. Take a deep breath of mountain air.
Put on my glove and play some catch...Why put off for tomorrow what I could get
done today..."
Listen Mr. Bilbo (Mr. Bigot)
By Peter, Paul and Mary. About bigotry, racial intolerance, and
discrimination. "Oh, listen Mr. Bigot...You don't like blacks, you don't
like Jews.Well, if there's anyone you do like, it sure is news. You don't like
Poles, Hispanics too. Anyway, they serve you up, we don't like you..."
Listen To The Bluegrass
By Phil Rosenthal. About the genre of music referred to as
"bluegrass". "Listen to the mandolin, don't you love that
sound?...Listen to the guitar play the melody...Listen to the banjo, doesn't it
sound fine?...Listen to the bass now...Listen to our bluegrass band...It makes me
want to tap my feet..."
Lite A Flame(The Animal
Rights Song)
By Laura Nyro. About the inhumane treatment of animals. "In the zoo
they gave him a cage...The elephant walks. Shadow across a dream. Lost for
ivory...Prejudice for an animal..."
Litter, Litter Everywhere
By Enuf! About people who damage our environment by littering. "Out the window, on the
streets. In the ocean, on the beach. Do these people really care? Litter,
litter everywhere..."
Little Big Horn
By Running Wild. About the Battle of Little Big Horn, one of
many battles the Lakota Indians fought in 1876-1877 to protect their land and
heritage. References in song to General George Custer for "Custer's Last
Stand". "...Last fight at Little Big Horn. The hand of death was
waiting to take the soldier blue away. Last fight at Little Bighorn. Where the
command was given and all the soldiers fought in vain..."
A Little Bit Of Abuse
By The Kinks. Song refers to the
topic of domestic violence and how the victim often can't break the pattern or
leave the abuse. "One on the nose, one on the chin. You bruise so easy, so
why stay with him? He uses you like a human punching bag. But you don't
complain, you're too scared to speak. Anyway, it only hurts when you laugh and
when you eat. But you can't break the pattern, week after week..."
Little Folks
By Charlie Daniels Band. Song is about the innocence and beauty of children
and the special bond they share with their parents. "Little folks are
people too. Very much like me and you. The little things they say and do. That
kinda make your day..."
The Little Girl
By John Michael Montgomery. The sad tale of negligent parents and the child
who must deal with their eventual murder/suicide. "...Her daddy drank all
day and mommy did drugs. Never wanted to play or give kisses or hugs...The
drinking and the fighting just got worse...Her daddy in a drunken rage one
night used a gun on her mom and took his life..."
Little Green
By Joni Mitchell. About the mixed
emotions and feelings that accompany the process of adoption. “…Child with a child pretending
Weary of lies you are sending home So you sign all the papers in the family
name You're sad and you're sorry, but you're not ashamed Little green, have a
happy ending…”
Little Rock
By Collin Raye. A man who has lost many important things in his life due to
alcohol abuse tries to start his life over and reclaim his dignity.
"I know I've disappeared a time or two. Along the way I lost me and
you...I haven't had a drink in nineteen days...Without you baby I'm not
me..."
Little Sister
By Jewel. Song is about the physical and
emotional costs or effects of substance abuse.
Through the voice of the artist, tells the story of a family member who has
become hopelessly addicted to drugs.
"My little sister is a zombie in a body with no soul..."
The Little Things In LIfe
By C.W. McCall. Song is about the importance of taking time out of our busy
lives to enjoy the remarkable things that life has to offer. "...We're so
busy tryin' to make it. Workin' mornin', noon and night...And how long will it be
'til you walk along the riverside together? And take the time to skip a stone
and watch the ripples fade..."
Little White Lies
By Sammy Hagar. Song deals with being truthful and honest, and how even
little lies can catch up with you."Little white lie been around for years.
Little white lie ringing in your ears. Turn around come around back on you.
Well that little white lie's catching up to you...yeah you're falling in deep
'cause you're talkin' too much..."
Little Wonder
By David Bowie. This song was
inspired by little people. The artist
has commented
that this song came about when he set out to write a song that included the
names of the seven dwarfs. "Stinky weather, fat shaky hands. Dopey morning
Doc, Grumpy gnomes. Little wonder then, little wonder, You little wonder,
little wonder you..."
Live And Die
By P.O.D. About the dangers and dead end lifestyle associated with gang
life. "...Only 13...Who needs a job when I can steal and rob...Call
the homies 'cuz today's the day they gonna make a man of me...Messed up and
joined a gang. Gave away my soul..."
Live Fast, Love Hard, Die
Young
By Faron Young. Song is about living hard and fast and dying young because
of it. Ironically, Faron Young tragically commited suicide at the age of 64
while suffering from emphysema and prostate problems brought on by an unhealthy
lifestyle. "I wanna live fast, love hard, and die young...And I know the
name of every spot in town..."
Live For Me
By Blue Oyster Cult. A person
remembering the night his brother died and his last words. "It was a wet
night and the other guy was lubricated with a
pint of Jack. His truck hit Jimmy's Chevy with a sound like a thunder
crack. I was working late but I felt it happen. I knew that my brother was
layed low...Live for me. Burn twice as bright, three times as long. but
brother, don't do me wrong..."
Live, Laugh, Love
By Clay Walker. About not taking yourself or life in general too seriously
and having a positive outlook on life. "I'm gonna live, laugh, love just
for today. Gonna take all the trouble that tomorrow might bring and put it
away. Gonna drink every drop of happiness 'til they cover me up..."
Live Like You Were Dying
By Tim McGraw. A personal song about
illness and death that was inspired by
actual events. "He said I was in my early forties with a lot of life
before me when a moment came that stopped me on a dime and I spent most of the
next days looking at the x-rays Talking bout the options and talking bout sweet
time I asked him when it sank in that this might really be the real end how's
it hit you when you get that kinda news man what did you do?...and he said
someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying..."
Lives In The Balance
By Jackson Brown. Song raises questions about foreign policy and government
proceedings in general. "...On the radio, talk shows and the tv. You hear
one thing again and again. How the U.S.A. stands for freedom and we come to the
aid of a friend. But who are the ones that we call friends, these governments
killing their own?..."
Live Until I Die
By Clay Walker. About making the most of your life and appreciating
everything that life has to offer. "...And I don't want to think about
tomorrow. I don't need anything money can buy. I don't have to beg, steal or
borrow. I just wanna live until I die. Living right...Everything around me are
things I dearly love..."
Livin' A Lie
By Van Zant. About the dangers and potential destruction of heroin use.
"You get high everyday. Chisel another mark out on your grave...You shoot
up. No matter how much you have, you can't get enough...You better stop before
you die..."-
Living For The City
By Stevie Wonder. About growing up in the inner city, and dealing with a
lack of opportunities, racism, prejudice and job discrimination. Problems of
urban areas. "His father works, some days for fourteen hours And you can
bet he barely makes a dollar. His mother goes to scrub the floors for many .And
you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny...Her brother's smart he's got more
sense than many. His patience long but soon he won't have any. To find a job is
like a haystack needle, 'cause where he lives they don't use coloured
people..."
Living In A House Divided
By Cher. About falling out of love, the break up of a relationship and an
impending split or divorce. "Living in a house divided with a love that's
so one sided...Look at us king and queen of emptiness. Living inside our castle
of loneliness. Unable to make amends...Is this how it will end?..."
Living In Sin
By Bon Jovi. Song relates to health in that it talks about the topic of
cohabitation which has become a more popular practice in our society. "I
don't need no license to sign on no dotted line. And I don't need no preacher
to tell me your mine...I just need you...Baby, can you tell me just where we
fit in. I call it love. They call it living in sin..."
The Living Years
By Mike and the Mechanics. A son regrets that the unsolved rift between him
and his father wasn't resolved before he passed away. "...Say it loud, say
it clear. You can listen as well as you hear. It's too late when we died to
admit we don't see eye to eye. I wasn't there that morning when my father
passed away. I didn't get to tell him all the things I had to say..."
Livin' Like Kings
By Konishiki. A former
three-time Sumo champion,
Konishiki sings about his wrestling prowess and ability. "Make way for the
Sumo, comin' straight out [of] Samoa. Known to shake the ground when I first
touch down...Built to last like the Energizer Bunny; Pushin' 700 and still
makin' money..."
Livin' On A Prayer
By Bon Jovi.
A song about love, committment, and devotion. A couple facing economic hardship
and difficulties are determined to stick it out and stay together, for better
or worse. "...Tommy used to work on the docks. Unions been on strike, he's
down on his luck...Gina works the diner all day. Working for her man she brings
home her pay...We gotta hold on to what we've got. It doesn't make a difference
if we make it or not. We've got each other and that's a lot. For love, we'll
give it a shot..."
Loaded
By Wishbone Ash. About the life of a person who sells drugs for a living and
who tries everything possible to get people hooked on them. "...I got a
fix for your despair...I got connections everywhere...Do you want to know the
score? Right here in my pocket...I know what you need..."
The Load Out
By Jackson Browne.
About the life of a roadie whose job is to
assemble and break down the stage area for a concert. "...Pack it up and
tear it down...They're the first to come and the last to leave. Workin' for
that minimum wage. They'll set it up in another town...You know you guys are the champs..."
Loan Shark Blues
By Rory Gallagher. A man who is down on his luck and desperate for money
goes to the local loan shark for it. "...Wife needs shoes, kids must eat.
Feel so cold I can't feel my feet...Give me 'til Monday, that's only a day or
two. I'll pay you back with interst...I'm in debt. I'm well aware. I'll break
the law 'cause I don't care..."
Lobachevsky
By Tom Lehrer. Song
takes a humorous look at great Russian mathematician Nicolai
Ivanovich Lobachevsky. "Who made me the genius I am today, the
mathematician that others all quote?...One man deserves the credit and Nicolai Ivanovich
Lobachevsky is his name...The secret of success in mathematics,
plagarize..."
The Logical Song
By Supertramp. About the stifling effect of traditional education programs,
and the loss of childhood innocence. "When I was young, it seemed that
life was so wonderful, a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical... But then they
send me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical,
intellectual, cynical..."
Loneliest Rider
By Grand Funk Railroad. About the oppression and mistreatment of the Native
American Indian. Lead singer Mark Farner is of Native American origin.
"...None of the stories in the school books said it. The truth is gone and
their tryin' to forget it...The Indian made his life from the ground...Where
his tee-pee once stood there now is a town..."
Loneliness of The Long
Distance Runner
By Iron Maiden. Inspired by the Alan Sillitoe novel
and 1962 movie
of the same name. "...The line is getting nearer but do you want the glory
that goes. You reach the final stretch. Ideals are just a trace. You feel like
throwing the race. It's all so futile..."
Lonely People
By America. Song is about having hope in times of adversity and never giving
up on yourself no matter how down you may feel. "This is for all the
lonely people. Thinking that life has passed them by. Don't give up until you
drink from the silver cup...And never take you down or never give you up. You
never know until you try..."
Lonely Woman's Cry
By Streets. People struggling to get by in Hells Kitchen, New York.
"Hell's kitchen was boiling, in the heat of July Everybody was poor,
everybody was dry Came down through the street life, bad blood was in town They
were looking for me, something had to go down... I had nothing to hide, I had
nothing at all One American misfit, another criminal face I wish I'd never been
born, in such a dangerous place.."
The Lone Ranger
By Rupert Hine. A light hearted
tribute to the famous cowboy, the Lone Ranger.
"...Me Tonto Kimosabi...Real god friend to Kimosabi. Save another silver
bullet. Hi ho Silver away. Ride into tomorrow today. But who was that masked
man you say? That was the Lone Ranger..."
The Lone Rhinoceros
By Adrian Belew. The song is a
tribute to the rhinoceros
and about the plight of endangered animal
species facing extinction. "I'm a lone rhinoceros there ain't
one hell of a lots of us left in this world. I stand alone in my concrete cell
where people stare and toss me Coke cans. I guess it's better than being poached but I'd give
my horn just to see my homeland..."
The Lonesome Death of Hattie
Carroll
By Bob Dylan. Based on actual events,
song reminds listeners of the painful
memories and legacy of racism
in
Long Black Veil
By The Band. Inspired by a real life
murder, song
reveals how betrayal, infidelity, and mistaken identity result in a person sacrificing
his life in order to protect the name and honor of the woman he loves.
"...There were a few at the scene and they all did agree that the man who
ran looked a lot like me...I spoke not a word although it meant my life. I had
been in the arms of my best friend's wife..."
Longest Beer Of The Night
By The Kingston Trio. About using alcohol to deal with the break up of a
relationship. References also made to binge drinking. "...Maybe I was a
fool thinkin' I could drown you outta my mind...I'm just nursin' the longest
beer of the night..."
Long Hard Climb To The Bottom
By Matt Minglewood. About alcohol abuse and "hitting rock bottom".
"...On your first step down you'll meet your friend the bottle...He's now
your friend and he'll be there when you reach the bottom...You think about your
misery and you wallow in despair...On your long hard road to the
bottom..."
Long Time Gone
By David Crosby. A political and
social activism song about disillusionment,
frustration and loss of innocence. Song was written as a response or in reaction to the
series of assassinations during the tumultuous 1960's in particular that of
Robert Kennedy "...Hear, you must hear what the people say. You know
there's something that's goin on around here... Speak out, you got to speak out
against the madness, you got to speak your mind, if you dare. But don't no
don't now try to get yourself elected. If you do you had better cut your
hair..."
Look Within
By Poco. About
believing in yourself and your own abilities and facing life's problems
with self confidence. "When your down, and feeling low, and there ain't
nobody and no place to go. Don't feel alone, 'cause you have a friend, look
within, look within.
So many times we go astray, and we need somebody to show us the way. Don't be
afraid, 'cause you have a friend, look within, look within..."
Lord of The Flies
By Iron Maiden. Inspired by
the well known William Golding novel.
"...I like all the mixed emotion and anger. It brings out the animal. The
power you can feel and feelings so high on this much adrenaline. Excited but
scary to believe what we've become..."
Lorenzo
By Phil Collins. Inspired by
actual events, song was written about Lorenzo
Odone, a child who was diagnosed with the inherited genetic disorder ALD or
Andrenoleukodystrophy. This story is also told in the 1992 movie called "Lorenzo's
Oil". "...Down on Grand Comoro Island where I grew up past four,
I could swim and fish and snorkel on the ocean floor... Suddenly for me the
world turned upside down. Far from my friends the lions and the dolphins came
this awful sound...sounds of thunder raging over me, came this monster called A-dre-no-leu-ko-dys-tro-phy..."
Loser
By 3 Doors Down. Song deals with health related issues including low self
esteem, depression and suicidal thoughts. "...You're getting closer to
pushing me off life's little edge. 'Cause I'm a loser and sooner or later you
know I'll be dead..."
Lose Yourself
By Eminem. About determination, reaching for great heights, and working hard
to accomplish your goals. "...I cannot grow old in Salem's lot So here I
go is my shot. Feet fail me not or not this may be the only opportunity that I
got You better lose yourself in the music, the moment You own it, you better
never let it go You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow This
opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo..."
Losing My Religion
By R.E.M. About feeling misunderstood,
being at a loss for words, unable to express yourself, and realizing that you
haven't been able to make a connection with someone. Feeling angry, awkward,
and frustrated by this lack of communication. Ironically, this song is often
misunderstood by people who interpret the song to be about atheism. The phrase
"losing my religion" is a colloquialism
from the southern region of the
Lost Another One
By Graham Nash. Song was written as a tribute to Grateful Dead guitarist
Jerry Garcia after he died in August of 1995 from heart failure. Lyrics
unavailable at this time...
Lost In America
By John Palumbo. A commentary about societal ills. References made to drug
use, poor parenting skills, guns and illegal activities. "Mr. White...Mrs.
White...Buying their cocaine, stuffing it up their noses. Showing their
children why we're lost in America...Cap'n Tom with the CIA...Sells guns and
bomb and secret plans...Jimmy-Jeff-Bob...Visits his son who's doing time for
shooting someone..."
Lost Woman Song
By Ani Difranco. About the emotional and physical pain of abortion.
"...now I'm sitting in this waiting room playing with the toys and I am
here to exercise my freedom of choice...I am growing older waiting in this line
some of lifes best lessons are learned at the worst times...on that sterile
battlefield that sees only casualties never heros my heart hit absolute
zero...but I don't think there's a one of us leads a life free of
mistakes"
Lotta Love
By Neil Young. About the importance and healing power of love. "It's
gonna take a lotta love to change the way things are. It's gonna take a lotta
love or we won't get too far...It's gonna take a lotta love to make things work
out right..."
Louisiana 1927
By Randy Newman. About the devastating floods
that occured in 1927 in the state of
Louis Sockalexis
By Joe Pickering, Jr. This song is a tribute
to Native American athlete Louis
Sockalexis. “Louis
Sockalexis of the Penobscot Nation was a turn of the century sports
sensation The first to make the Holy Cross Sport’s Hall The nation’s best
college player of them all In his last year there he hit fourty four God gave
him the talent to do even more…”
Love And Happiness
By John Cougar Mellencamp. Talks about how people have lost faith in their
value systems and each other because of the many conflicts and problems in our
world today. "Well we're droppin' our bombs in the southern hemisphere.
And people are starving that live right here. And they're tearin' down walls in
the name of peace. And they're killing each other in the Middle East. But love
and happiness have forgotten our names. And there's no value left in love and
happiness..."
Love And Heroin
By Eric Lee Green. This song tells the story of a
relationship destroyed by drugs. "Well there was places that you had to go
where I could not follow you I watch you go away and didn't know what to do...I
saw you on a corner with some street drugs in your hand You saw me and you
turned your head I turned and walked away..."
Love Can Move Mountains
By Celine Dion. Deals with many issues including faith, hope, trust, and
love. "...There ain't a dream that don't have a chance to come true now.
Just takes a little faith baby...There ain't nothing in our way baby. Nothing
our love couldn't rise above...We can get to the light, long as we got our love
to light the way..."
Love Has No Color
By War and Peace. About unity, brotherhood and living in
harmony with your fellow man. "...Let's all come together now. A whole
lotta loving is what we need. Join hands now brothers and sisters...Black and
white, uniting colors everywhere..."
Love Has The Power
By Toto. A social responsibility song
about the power and importance of love and empathy. "There is too much
hatred...Too much inhumanity.
Angry words and bad attitudes are gonna get you nowhere...There's a power that's
within you. It will never let you down. Love has the power. It's strong as a
tower you can lean on..."
Love Is A Commitment
By Larry Norman. Relates to emotional health. About the true meaning of
love. "...Love is not a promise that you tear apart. Love is a commitment
heart to heart...Love is not a matter of time and space. Love is not a flower
in a golden vase...Love is a commitment face to face..."
Love Is A Good Thing
By Sheryl Crow. About many problems/issues in society and their impact on young
people. "It's much too scary and you might see
something you wish you hadn't seen" Specific reference to youth
violence and the criminal justice system. "Watch our children while
they kill each other...Welcome to the hallway, metal detectors just been
installed", "We try our criminals in the press justice is a fading
light" Chorus expresses a message of hope and opportunity, "Love Is A
Good Thing".
Love Is A Wonderful Thing
By Michael Bolton. Song relates to emotional health. About the positive
nature of love. "...Love is a wonderful thing. Make you smile through the
pouring rain. Love is a wonderful thing...Take your heart and make it
sing..."
Love Kills
By The Ramones. About Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend
Nancy Spungen whose short lives together were marred with violence and severe
drug abuse. Spungen overdosed on heroin and Vicious ended up committing
suicide. "Sid and Nancy"
was a 1986 movie starring Gary Oldham and Chloe Webb. "Sid was a punk rock
king. Nancy was a broken queen...Sid and Nancy were a mess. When you're hooked
on heroin. Don't you know, you'll never win...Love kills..."
Love Of A Lifetime
By Firehouse. About finding your soulmate and commiting to monogomy.
"...With you I never wonder will you be there for me. With you I never
wonder, you're the right one for me...We both know we will betogether...Finally
found the love of a lifetime..."
The Love Of The Game
By Bill Harley. Song stresses fun and sportsmanship
instead of competition when playing team sports. Great song for young athletes
and parents who have the "win at all costs" mentality.
"...Sometimes you lose and sometimes you win. If they knock you down just
get up again. If you've done your best don't feel ashamed. 'Cause you play for
the love of the game..."
Love Song
By Five For Fighting.
According to the artist, I thought it was an important song to put on the
record because in the past I've seen how
people react to it. What is not obvious is that the song is about divorce through
the eyes of a child. “…Please don’t go away from me…Take those damn
pictures off that shelf Put away your mommy you don’t need her I found you a
new one… she’ll be here soon She says…my God it’s over He say’s… I found
another fish in the sea I say… why me? Why me? Why me? Why
is it me?”
Love Waits
By Kathi Hart. A teenage girl gets caught up in the heat of the moment and has
unprotected sex. She becomes pregnant and her boyfriend doesn't stick around so
she must raise the child on her own.. Years later when her daughter becomes a
teenager the mother tells her to remain abstinent and not make the same
mistakes that she did. "There's a scared little girl and a wild little boy
playin' with love like a brand new toy...There's a scared girl but the wild boy
is gone...there's another life inside her now...there's a pretty young girl
dressin' up for the dance. Her mamas thinking back to her first wild
romance...she says darlin' don't make my mistake. Love waits..."
Loving Online
By Two Headed Puppy.
This song
is about romance and dating
in the age of the internet. "We caught a glimpse of each other across a
smoky crowded chat room I totally loved the way she crossed her t’s and I
adored her i's We started talking about life how we never really chat online
just tonight I told her I was rich forgot to say I lied She told me she was
beautiful ' Forgot to say inside..."
Low Self Opinion
By Rollins Band. A person offering advice and trying to help someone who has
given up on himself. Song deals with issues of identity, self esteem and self pity. "I think you
got a low self opinion man. I see you standing all by yourself unable to
express the pain of your distress. You withdraw deeper inside. You alienate
yourself and everybody else...They got so tired of you and your self ridicule.
They wrote you off and left you behind..."
Lucky Man
By Emerson, Lake and Palmer. A man who was shot and killed while fighting
for his country is honored at his funeral. "...White lace and feathers,
they made up his bed. A gold covered mattress on which he was laid. He went to
fight wars for his country and his king...A bullet had found him, his blood ran
as he cried. No money could save him so he laid down and he died..."
Lucy At The Gym
By Jill Sobule. Song is about a woman who is obsessed and addicted
to working out. Too
much exercise is sometimes a sign of anorexia. "Lucy at the gym.
She's there everytime I go...She must live at the gym...Lucy on the scale for
the third time...She never stops..."
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
By The Beatles. Numerous references made to drug induced hallucinations,
"tripping". Many have suggested that the song title alludes to the
drug LSD. "...Newspaper taxis appear on the shore waiting to take you
away. Climb in the back with your head in the clouds and you're gone..."
Luka
By Suzanne Vega. About domestic violence, specifically child abuse. From the
point of view of the victim. "Yes I think I'm okay I walked into the door
again. Well, if you ask that's what I'll say."
Lullaby For A Seagull
By Le Fou de Bassan. Song was written to raise funds for the sea birds
harmed by the Erika
oil spill in Brittany,
Lunch
By Gemini. Song is used to build language and sound awareness. Relates to
reading or elementary education. "What are we gonna have for lunch, lunch,
lunch. Look in the frigerator, munch, munch, munch. Take out the celery, bunch,
bunch, bunch. How about some peanut butter crunch, crunch, crunch..."
Lust Or Love
By Scorpions. Every teenager and young adult should ask themselves this
question before they become sexually active or get caught up in the heat of the
moment. "...When I look around tell me who can I trust? Is it
love?...Sometimes it's hard to know if this will be a night to treasure when the
damage has been done. And the hurting has begun...Is it lust, is it
love?..."
Lymphosarcoma
By Mortification. A personal song about Steve Rowe's (vocalist
and bassist) struggle with the form
of cancer known as lymphatic
leukemia. "Kills immunity, rapes the blood and bone of
humanity...Takes away the hair. Takes away the life...Years of suffering. Lymphosarcoma..."
M (top)
Machine Gun Kelly
By James Taylor. Song is about notorious gangster and bank robber George
"Machine Gun" Kelly. "I'll tell you about Machine Gun Kelly. He
rode along the outlaw trail...They stuck him in Levenwoth Prison where he lived
until his dying day..."
Made Again
By Marillion. Song is about self
realization, rejuvenation of oneself, and feeling good because of others.
"...I have seen this face a thousand times, every morning of my life. But
I never saw these eyes so clear. Free of doubt and pain. Like the whole world
has been made again...Like the inside and outside of me has been made again by
you..."
Mad Hatter
By Lynyrd Skynyrd. A tribute to bass player Leon Wilkeson who died in
July 2001 of natural causes According to singer Johnny Van Zant, "That's
about brother Leon…God broke the mold when he built him. He survived the plane
crash and we always used to kid him, called him the Mad Hatter and the Cat in
the Hat because he had nine lives." …We never say goodbye, we always say
so long. You had nine lives I can’t believe there all gone. The mad hatter’s
movin’ on…”
Madman In Waco
By Paul Ruderman. About cult leader David
Koresh and the Branch Davidians. Song talks about their standoff with
police in Waco, Texas
in 1993. "...It all comes down to the madman in Waco...Any freak can
become the master...Just another jaded man groveling to God's command..."
Magician
By Lou Reed. From the "Magic and
Loss" CD which is "Dedicated to Doc and especially to Rita...Between
two
Aprils I lost two friends..." A personal song about disease, death, and
the will or desire to live. "...I hate this painful body that disease has
slowly worn away...Inside I'm young and vital...So many things to do-it's too
early for my life to be ending...I want some magic to keep me alive. I want a
miracle...I don't want to die..."
Magic Johnson
By Red Hot Chili Peppers. A tribute to the Los Angeles Lakers with specific references
to players A.C. Green, Kareem Abdul Jabbar
and Magic Johnson.
"...penetrating the lane like a bullet train, comes the magic blood a
telepathic brain... does anybody want some Magic Johnson? L.A. Lakers fast
break makers, kings of the court shake and bake all takers..."
Magic Power
By Triumph. About the therapeutic
powers of music. Music as a force to educate,
motivate, heal, and inspire others. "...She's had a rotten day so she
hopes the DJ's gonna play her favorite song. It makes her feel much better,
brings her closer to her dreams...the world is full of
compromise, the infinite red tape. But the music's got the magic it's your one
chance for escape. So turn me on, turn me up, it's your turn to dream. A little
magic power makes it better than it seems..."
Mainliner
By Brutal Truth. About heroin use.
"...Tie the sickness, ingested down. Rush of heat, suppress the pain. Eyes
roll, days away...Sick desire. Kicks for liars..."
Mainliner
By Social Distortion. A woman ruins her physical appearance, her health and
her life by using
heroin. "...She unwraps the foil. Takes out her spoon, starts to boil.
She used to be pretty to all her friends. But the hypodemic needle took her to
the end..."
Make It Shine
By Quarterflash. Song is about positive thinking, believing in your own
abilities, and reaching for your dreams and goals. "There's a miracle
waiting, there's a ticket worth taking. There's a reason to believe your
eyes...Yeah, it's risky but it's worth the ride. And all the dreams that you've
held inside, yes, they're waiting to break out. You just have to try..."
Makin' Music For Money
By Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Song is about a musician who would rather
make music for the love of it then "sell out" and change their
musical style to please the public and for monetary gain. "...My agent
just called me and told me what I should be. If I would make my music for money
instead of makin' music for me...The people only buy the love songs, rock and
roll and not to long. He said you got to be commercial if you want to turn the
people on. I won't make music for money. No, I'm gonna make music for
me..."
Malevolent
By Everclear. Song deals with issues of domestic violence, rape, power, and
physical abuse. “Maybe I went too far this time but I just go crazy when she
says no…He used to touch me nice when we first met. I never dreamed he would
hit me, I never dreamed he would hold me down..."
Mama Nature Said
By Thin Lizzy. About environmental awareness and how humans are slowly
killing Mother Earth. "...You're killing my rivers, drowning my baby
streams. Day by day, I hear them scream...It's murder what you've done..."
Mama Tried
By Merle Haggard.
About a
rebellious young man who has been incarcerated and soon realizes that his mother
had tried to raise him properly but it was his own fault that he ended up going
down the wrong path in life. "...One and only rebel child
from a family meek and mild...And I turned twenty-one in prison, doin' life
without parole. No one could steer me right but mamma tried. Mamma tried to
raise me better but her pleading I denied. And that leaves me only to blame
'cause mamma tried..."
Mandatory Suicide
By Slayer. According to the artist... "I was influenced by all the
anti-war films around at the moment, like "Platoon" and "Full
Metal Jacket". I can really imagine what the poor sods had to put up with
in Vietnam-sacrificed... "..."Lying, dying, screaming in pain.
Begging, pleading, bullets drop like rain. Mines exploded...Insane..."
Mandela Day
By Simple Minds. Song is a tribute to ant-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela.
"...Wipe the tears from your saddened eyes. They say Mandela's free to
step outside. The rising sun sets Mandela on his way...Mandela's free..."
Manhattan Project
By Rush. About the
secret project to build
the atomic bomb, during WWII. Specific reference to the Enola Gay.
Story is also told in the movie, Fat
Man and Little Boy. "Imagine a time when it all began. In the dying
days of a war, a weapon - that would settle the score. Whoever found it first
would be sure to do their worst..."
Manic Depression
By Jimi Hendrix. About depression and emotional health. "Manic depression is touching my soul. I
know what I want but I just don't know. How to go about getting it...Manic
depression is a frustrating mess..."
Manic Monday
By The Bangles. The antithesis of TGIF. "Six o'clock already I was just
in the middle of a dream...But I can't be late 'cause then I guess I just won't
get paid...It's just another manic monday. I wish it were Sunday. 'Cause that's
my fun day, an I don't have to run day..."
Manifest
By Sepultura. About the "storming" of Carandiru
penitentiary in Brazil.
Man In The Mirror
By Michael Jackson. About improving the world through individual actions,
and changed attitudes. Deals with personal and social responsibilty. "...I'm
starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways. And no
message could have been any clearer. If you wanna make the world a better place
take a look at yourself, and then make a change..."
The Man In The Moon
By Adrian Belew. This is a
personal song
that pays tribute to the artist's father. "There I stood in the
night
out on the broken pier me with my feet in the sea you with your face in the
clouds, the man in the moon...I felt your eyes like the tide pulling me out
into the air for a moment in time you held me there, father and son, home
again"
Man In The Wilderness
By Styx. About self doubt, the lifelong pursuit of happiness, peace of mind,
and questioning one's place in the world. Also deals with soul searching and
wondering if your accomplishments are worthy. "Another year has passed me
by, still I look at myself and cry. What kind of man have I become? All the
years I've spent in search of myself and I'm still in the dark. 'Cause I can't
seem to find the light alone..."
Man On The Edge
By Iron Maiden. About an individual
pushed to the "edge" by the pressures of society. Feeling cheated,
trapped, and misunderstood, the individual resorts to violence. Based on the
1993 movie "Falling Down" starring Michael Douglass. "The freeway is jammed and it's backed up for miles.
The car is an oven and it's baking is wild...A briefcase a lunch and a man on the edge. Each step gets
closer to losing his head...Falling down, Falling Down, Falling
down...Across the city he leaves in his wake, a glimpse of the future a
cannibal state..."
Man On The Moon
By R.E.M.Song is a tribute to
the late comedian/performance artist Andy
Kaufman who was a true practitioner of the art of deception . In another
sense, the song deals with the relative nature of illusion or perception. Song
is also about the power or importance of faith, determination and how dreams
can come true. "...Hey Andy
did you hear about this one? Tell me are you locked in the punch? Hey Andyare you goofing
on Elvis, hey baby are we losing touch? If you believed
they put a man on the
moon, man on the moon. If you believe there's nothing up my sleeve, then
nothing is cool...If you believed they put a man on the moon..."
(Man Out Of Time) Edison's
Medicine
By Tesla. A tribute to Nikola
Tesla (1856-1943) renowned engineer, inventor, and scientist. "Thought
you was crazy. You was one of a kind! Man out of time! Man out of time!..." Song
includes specific references to Thomas Edison and Guglielmo Marconi.
Man Overboard
By Blink 182. A person leaves a relationship due to their partner's
continued alcohol abuse and inability to quit drinking. "...You're out of
line and rarely sober. We can't depend on your excuses...You can only lean on
me for so long. Bring the ship around as you're about to watch a friend
drown...So sorry it's over. There is so much more that I wanted..."
A Man's Home Is His Castle
By Faith Hill. Song is about domestic violence, tells the story of a woman
who is physically and emotionally
abused. "...Makeup can't cover up a blackened eye...he hit the roof,
hit the wall, then it was my turn...his home is his castle and mine is a
cage...." Go to the Gallery
section of this site to find a student poem inspired by this song.
Man Smart, Women Smarter
By Grateful Dead. Song pays tribute to women and their superior intellect.
"Let us put men and women together, see which one is smarter. Some say
men, but I say no, women got the men like a puppet show. It ain't me it's the
people that say, men are leading women astray. I say, it's the women today,
smarter than the men in every way.
That's right the women are smarter, the women are smarter that's
right..."
The Man Who Made Momma Cry
By Lee Ann Womack. An absentee father returns after being away for years and
his daughter must deal with the emotional baggage from his disappearance. “All
you’ve ever been is a call now and then…To me you’re just the man who made my
mama cry…Well you’re a little too late. I don’t have the time to waste catchin’
up…”
The Man Who Shot Liberty
Valance
By James Taylor. About
the impact or influence of sudden and mistaken fame stemming from the shooting
of a notorious gunslinger. See the movie.
"...Many a man would face a gun and many a man would fall. the man who
shot Liberty Valance he was
the bravest of them all..
Many Rivers To Cross
By Jimmy Cliff. About life's struggles and perserverance. "...I've got
many rivers to cross but I can't seem to find my way...I've been kicked, washed
up for years and I merely survive beacause of my pride..."
Map to Buried Treasure
(Allegiance)
By David Crosby and Jan Crosby. A
tribute to the beauty and joy of love. Song is about the time, effort, and
committment that is required for building a lasting and meaningful
relationship. "I wear your allegiance like a cloak of trust wrapped
around the heart of me and no conditions were discussed when we joined forces
helplessly... it's trust that holds it anchored it's trust that takes years to
build without it there is nothing just emptiness unfilled..."
Maralinga
By Urban Guerillas. An environmental song about
the British
nuclear testing program in
Marching In Time
By 21 Guns. A soldier of war is affected by the death and destruction that
are occuring around him. "...Writing home to those who it may concern. My
hands are shaking for the boys I know won't return...Morning broke to cold
light of day. The guns have stopped with no more to say. Silent tears and
wounds that won't heal. I can't forget the pain, it was all too real. I'm just
a man of flesh and blood...".
March The Heroes Home
By Blackmore's Night. Song is about honoring soldiers who return home from
war. "I sing the praise of honored wars of glory and of kings. The bravery
of soldiers, the joy that peace can bring...They've packed away the firearms,
the trumpets lay to rest...".
Margaritaville
By Jimmy Buffett. A person turns to alcohol as a way of coping with
problems, seeking comfort and solace from the bottle. Song deals with several
health related issues including substance abuse, denial, and taking
responsibility for your actions. "..Wasted away again in Margaritaville. Searchin' for my lost
shaker of salt. Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, But I know
it's my own damn fault..."
Mariner
By Angel. Song is based on writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge's novel "Rime
of the Ancient Mariner". "Just an old man on the sea, sailed the
straits alone, ship and me...Take me where the winds have blown on an endless
voyage home. Where the albatross has flown..."
Marlboro Man
By Blink 182. Anti-smoking song that raise awareness about the marketing of
cigarettes. "The Marlboro Man is dead long live the Marlboro Man...the
ultimate salesman for the sexy macho flame of death...the Marlboro Man can spit
into the wind and not get sprayed he smokes and smokes and smokes
but he never coughs..."
Marten Hartwell Story
By Stompin' Tom Conners. Song is based on Canadian pilot Martin Hartwell
whose mercy flight crashed on the way to
Mary Anne Lost Her Baby
By Enuff Z'nuff. A pregnant mother has an abortion and regrets her decision
later on in life as she is all alone. "...They call your name into another
room where they tell you there's no pain. Well you might not feel it now, your
just symplifying things...Responsibilities, remove them with
machines...Spending life alone when you could have had the joys..."
Masque Of The Red Death
By Crimson Glory. Song is about the deadly HIV virus with references to risk
behaviors and risk taking. "...Masque, masque of the red death. No one is
safe from the poisonous plague that you breed. Masque, masque of the red death.
The price you pay for your lust may be your life...No one is saved, no one
remembers your name..."
Master
By Loaf. According to the artist... I wrote "Master" about a
dog I saw inside a pickup truck at a gas station. He started whimpering when
his owner got out of the truck...The dog sat in the driver's seat and sadly
hung his head out the window. But he pepped up as soon as he saw his owner..."...I
am so happy when master's here with me. He is my greatest friend. He is my
master...I know I'm special to him..."
Master Of Puppets
By Metallica. About drug addiction and its negative consequences.
"...I'm your source of self-destruction...Taste me you will see more is
all you need. You're dedicated to how I'm killing you...Master..."
Masters Of War
By Bob Dylan. A protest song that
describes the horrors of war and how world leaders fail to recognize the
destruction that is happening."...You that never done nothin' but build to
destroy. You play with my world like it's your own little toy. You put a gun in
my hand and you hide from my eyes. And you turn and run farther when the fast
bullets fly..."
Math Suks
By Jimmy Buffett. This satirical
song reveals the singers feelings regarding the Rodney Dangerfield (no respect)
of school subjects, mathematics.
"...Let's start with something simple, like one and one ain't three. Any
two plus two will never get you five. There are fractions in my subtraction and
x don't equal y but my homework is bound to multiply. Math suks math suks. I'd like to
burn this textbook, I hate this stuff so much. Math suks math suks..."
Me
By Paula Cole. Song deals with several themes or issues
related to identity; self esteem, self image, self love. "...And it's
me who is my enemy. Me who beats me up. Me who makes the monsters. Me who
strips my confidence...I
am carrying my voice...But you can't kill my spirit It's soaring and it's
strong..."
Me
By Staind. An individual grows up in a dysfunctional family and is scarred
for life because of it. "I hear you talk about your family life. I wish I
knew just what that means. I guess my mother never loved my dad and now I wear
it on my sleeve...I've been programmed to take it all and shove it way down
inside..."
Me And A Gun
By Tori Amos. An autobiographical song about rape. The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network
was later founded by this artist. "...It was me and a gun and a man on my
back. And I sang holy, holy as he buttoned down his pants...And he pushed you
flat on your stomach...
Me And Mrs. Jones
By Billy Paul. Song is about an extramarital affair. "Me and Mrs. Jones
we've got a thing going on. We both know its wrong but it is too strong to let
it go now...We gotta be extra careful that we don't build our hopes too
high...'Cause she's got her own obligations..."
Me And My Wine
By Def Leppard. References to alcohol
abuse, public drunkeness, blackouts, loss of reality and hangovers.
"...'Oh me and the boys have been drinking. Feeling like this is the wrong
time for thinking...Now my brain and my body are runnin' on different
rails...'Oh and I wake up in a subway station. Lying half dead on the floor. I
don't remember anything that happened the night before..."
The Meaning Of Life
By The Offspring. About individuality and finding out who you are instead of
conforming to the norm or the path most traveled. "...I'm always feeling
steered away by someone trying to tell me what to say and do. I don't want it.
I gotta find my own way. I gotta make my own mistakes..."
Mean Streak
By Y&T. About an unhealthy and controlling relationship.
"...Everytime that I look at you boy I can see your a nervous wreck. You
try too hard to give her every little thing...Well, she'd laugh in her face but
you're kissing her feet...She's got a mean streak..."
Meat Is Murder
By The Smiths. An animal rights song
about the meat packing industry. "Heifer whines could be human cries
closer comes the screaming knife this beautiful creature must die this
beautiful creature must die a death for no reason and death for no reason is
MURDER and the flesh you so fancifully fry is not succulent, tasty or nice it
is death for no reason..."
Media Overkill
By Scorpions. Song is about the impact of various media
and how they sensationalize news stories, bombarding the public with images and
information."They're watching me, they're watching you. Taking all the
world under control. They make you laugh, they make you blue. In the end they
try to eat your soul...Satellites transmit the latest thrill. We can't escape
the media overkill. Over and over and over..."
Medicate Myself
By The Verve Pipe. About using substances in order to escape reality.
"...I've got to medicate myself again...One more drink and I will be
drowned. I know you hate to see me as I defeat myself this way...You know I'm
slipping day by day..."
Medicine Jar
By Paul McCartney and Wings. Song is about the dangers of drug use and abuse. References made
to a "slow death" from using drugs. "...There's more to life
than blues and reds. I say, I know how you feel. Now you're friends are dead.
Dead on your feet you won't get far. If you keep on sticking your hand in the
medicine jar..."
Meet James Ensor
By They Might Be Giants. A tribute to Belgian artist, James Ensor.
(1860-1949) "...Meet
James Ensor,
Megalomaniac
By Incubus. While many people have
interpreted the message of this song as anti-George W. Bush, lead singer
Brandon Boyd explained in a 2004
article/interview ; When we wrote this song and did the video, in no way
was it a lash out against George W. Bush,'' Boyd says. ''I was thinking
specifically, in mind, about a person whose (identity) is inconsequential and,
for lack of a better term, inappropriate. But I think that it's a beautiful
thing that people have attached their own idea en masse to the song. It will
probably go down in history as that 'anti-Bush rock song.' "I hear you
on the radio You permeate my screen, its' unkind but If I met you in a scissor fight
I'd cut off both your wings on principle alone...Wash your hand clean of
yourself baby Maniac, step down, step down...If I were your appendages I'd hold
open your eyes So you would see That all of us are heaven sent..."
Me, Myself And I
By John Prine. Song talks about emotional health areas including loneliness
and self pity and also has references to alcohol addiction and closet drinking.
"...I've been introduced to many people I don't understand. I've been in
the house of lonely...But tonight I'll throw a party and I know just what I'll
do...and in that room there'll be that bottle and me, myself, and I..."
Men In Blue (No Airplay)
By Wyclef Jean. About police brutality, racism and unprovoked violence.
"...One, two. Watch out for the man in blue. Three, four. I keep it raw
and hardcore. Five, six. You're beating us with nightclubs. Seven, eight. I'm
forced to pack a thirty-eight. Nine, ten. You put me in the pen..."
Men In Helicopters
By Adrian Belew. The song is
about the problem of environmental
crimes. "Wouldn't it be great to see the African plains before they
lay them to waste and only the bones remain Wouldn't it be poetry to shoot
holes in the poachers
we see with an elephant gun.
Men in helicopters fly shooting
rhinos from out of the sky Why do we always assume the planet is ours to
ruin? What a legacy we're leaving behind what a legacy..."
Mercedes Benz
By Janis Joplin. Song is about materialistic thinking and people who think
status or importance in life comes from the amount of possessions one has.
"Oh, Lord wont you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive Porches, I
must make amends...Oh, Lord won't you buy me a color TV? Dialing for dollars is
trying to find me..."
Merciless Game
By Running Wild. Song is a cry to stop world hunger. "...We can't
deny it's a shame for our race. It's about time to begin. With a fight against
poverty, distress and pain. To hesitate now is a sin. Cry for innocent children
who die an undignified death..."
The Mercy Killings
By Propain. About the rise of crime, homocide and gang activity in urban
America. "...We're frightened of gunshots in the dark. Praying that our
kids come home before dark...Violence nine to five...Bloodshed overflow. It's
moving too fast for the folks below..."
Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)
By Marvin Gaye. About damage to the environment from various forms of
pollution. "Poison is the wind...Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas, fish full of mercury...Radiation
underground and in the sky".
Merle And Me
By David Allan Coe. Based on actual events when outlaw country rock singers
Merle Haggard and David Allan Coe were incarcerated as teenagers after
commiting the crime of grand theft auto. "We stole a car, old Merle and me
never thinking we'd be put in jail...I was barely seventeen when they put those
bars between old Merle and me..."
The Merry Minuet
By The Kingston Trio. A political commentary about societal ills and the
many problems in our world. "They're rioting in Africa. They're starving
in Spain. There's hurricanes in Florida and Texas needs rain...What nature
doesn't do to us will be done by our fellow man..."
The Message
By Grandmaster Flash. Social commentary about struggling to survive in urban
areas, feeling trapped by the crime, poverty, and despair. " Broken glass
everywhere, people pissing on the stairs, you know they just don't care. I
can't take the smell, I can't take the noise...It's like a jungle sometimes it
makes me wonder how I keep from going under..."
Message From A Black Man
By Temptations. About racism, empowerment and Black Power. "Yes my skin
is black but that's no reason to hold me back...No matter how you try ya can't
stop me now...Together we stand, divided we fall..."
Message Of Peace
By Ray Korona. This song is about hope, optimism,
unity, brotherhood and peace. "...It will grow if we feed it. Don't be
afraid to say that you feel it...Have you dreamed of streets
without anger? Where the children are safe in the park? Of windows and doors
open all night...Where we can feel peace. Let it grow in your heart..."
ME262
By Blue Oyster Cult. About the Me262, the first operational
turbojet fighter which was used by
Mexico
By Jefferson Airplane. A denunciation of President Nixon's 1971 drug
interdiction program or policy known as Operation
Intercept. "...Mexico is under the thumb of a man we call Richard. And
he's come to call himself king...And he doesn't know a thing about how to deal
for you..."
Michael
By Johnny McEvoy. A tribute to Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins.
"On a far off August day. Cold men in ambush lay...So much hate for one so
young. Who was right and who was wrong. Through a thousand years may pass we'll
never know..."
Michael Jordan
By Five For Fighting.
According to the artist, Michael Jordan' is about who and how we
worship icons in our culture today. "...My job, my car, my cash My
house on the hill My piano I'd burn to ashes (yea) I'd get on my knees, my god If
I could I would give anything: To be you..."
Middle Of The Island
By Christy Moore. Song
is a tribute to 15 year old Irish girl Ann Lovett who died in 1984 while
secretly giving birth to her child. A national furor over the incident occured.
"...She was just fifteen years old when she reached her full term. She
went to a grotto, just a field in the middle of an island. To deliver herself.
Her baby died, she died..."
By Terri Clark. According to the
artist, ...There are people who feel like they are in a rut of sorts,
because they look up at 30, and are still standing in the same spot where they
were born. The person in this song sees the town as a blessing and a curse, and
can't bring herself to leave. Midnight is her deadline, and it comes and goes,
and she's still there. There is something of a love/hate relationship going on
between the town and the person in the song. (quoted from the artist's web
site) "...Everyone I run into Has known me all my life There are no
secrets you can call your own Since the age of seventeen I've faced the morning
light Saying this day is the day I'm gonna go All I have to do is drive away
But the things that make me crazy Always make me stay...It's time to face the
fact that I'm not the rebel that I thought 'Cause midnights gone but I'm
not..."
Military Madness
By Graham Nash. About the tragedy of war, senseless death and destruction.
Suffering and needless loss of life. "...And after the wars are over, and
the body count is finally filed. I hope the man discovers what's driving the
people wild..."
Military Man
By Gary Moore/Phil Lynott. An anti-war song. "...Mama take a look at
your boy...He's a soldier, he's colder, he's older, mama...They have trained
your boy to kill. And kill someday he will. They have trained your boy to die.
Ask no questions why..."
Millworker
By James Taylor. A person laments the daily grind of factory work and realizes
it's a deadend job. "...Yes, but it's my life that has been wasted, and I
have been the fool. To let this manufacturer use my body for a tool...Then it's
me and my machine for the rest of the morning, for the rest of the afternoon,
and the rest of my life..."
Mind Your Own Business
By Living Colour. About rumours and gossip. "...Gossip buzzes around
your head like bees in a hive Sometimes I think that's how you stay alive Don't
you hate it when those little facts interrupt? So much more fun just to make it
all up...Why don't you mind your own business Why don't you mind your own
business And leave mine alone..."
A Miner's Life
By The Country Gentlemen. Song is about the health risks and hard work
associated with working in the mines. "Fair warnin' to your neighbor for
all those who labor. At tryin' to make a livin' underground. Matters not for
what you're seeking. Chances are you'll weaken. In time the odds will turn your
life around..."
Miner's Prayer
By Dwight Yoakam. About the dangerous occupation of coal mining. "When
the whistle blows each morning and I walk down to that cold, dark mine. I say a
prayer to my dear Savior. Please let me see the sunshine one more time..."
Mines Of
By Bruce Cockburn. This
song is about
the international problem of land mines.
"...There's a wealth of amputation Waiting in the ground But no one can
remember Where they put it down If you're the child that finds it there You
will rise upon the sound Of the mines
of Mozambique..."
Minutes To Midnight
By Midnight Oil. Song was written
in 1984 when the minute hand of the "Doomsday Clock" was
moved up to three minutes before
Miracle Man
By Ozzy Osbourne. About the crookedness and hypocrisy of televangelist Jimmy Swaggert, who had an
affair with Jessica Hahn. "...Today I saw a miracle man on TV cryin'. Such
a hypocritical man...Now Jimmy he got busted with his pants
down...Self-righteous clown..."
Misery And Gin
By Merle Haggard.
A man's personal relationship with his significant other fails and he turns to
alcohol to deal with his loss. Song was written for the 1980 movie "Bronco Billy"
starring Clint Eastwood. "Memories and drinks don't mix too well and
jukebox records don't play those wedding bells. Starin' at the world through
the bottom of a glass. All I see is a man who's fading fast...But here I am
again, mixing misery and gin..."
Missing In Action
By Ernest Tubb. A prisoner of war who is presumed dead returns home to find his
wife has moved on and remarried. "...For I had been wounded, they left me
for dead...The enemy found me and took me away and made me a prisoner of war so
they say...I returned to the old home, my sweet wife to see...My darling was
wearing a new bridal veil..."
The Mission
By Damn The Machine. About advancements in
science endangering the environment and humanity. Specific reference to
patents and the E.P.A. "...What did we mean to learn? A page we should
have never turned. Sad how science leads the way, takes us to a darker age. Invention can't be done, this mission can
be won..."
The Mission
By Janis Ian. About living in a homeless shelter. "...There's no place
like home inside these walls. Safe from the cold another night falls. What's
mine is mine so I've been told. There's no place like home..."
By Grateful Dead. A personal song about
disappointment, missed
opportunities, and unfulfilled dreams. The setting for this song is San Francisco's Mission District.
"...Ten years ago I walked this street my dreams were ridin tall. Tonight
I would be thankful Lord, for any dream at all. Some folks would be happy
just to have one dream come true but everything you gather is just more that
you can lose...All the things I planned to do I only did half way...Walking
along in the Mission in the rain..."
Mississippi Goddamn
By Nina Simone. Social commentary about the injustice of racism.
"...Don't tell me I tell you Me and my people just about due I've been
there so I know...All I want is equality for my sister my brother my people and
me...You don't have to live next to me Just give me my equality Everybody knows
about Mississippi Everybody knows about Alabama..."
Mississippi Sheiks
By Rory Gallagher. A tribute to the Blues. "I saw the
Miss Williams Guitar
By The Jayhawks. Tribute to musician Victoria Williams. "Sounds
like a field being painted in the delta sun
songs from the book of life for everyone. Miss Williams' guitar I remember
watching her play..."
MMMBop
By Hanson. Song
is about the importance of loyalty and trust in relationships and not taking
good friends for granted. "You have so many relationships in this life.
Only one or two will last...So hold on to the ones who really care. In the end
they'll be the only ones there...In an mmm bop they're gone. In an mmm bop
they're not there..."
Mom And Dad's Waltz
By Iris Dement. A child expresses
his or her love and devotion for their parents. "...My love is real for my
mommy and daddy. I want them to know that I love them so...And I pray everyday
for ma and pappy..."
Momma's Song
By K-Ci and JoJo. Song is about tolerance, love and the willingness to
respect and help out your fellow man. "...Let me tell you what real love is
all about. If you see a man down, don't step on him. Reach down and pick him
up. Pick him up, give him a helping hand..."
Mommie, Ain't That Daddy
By Dolly Parton. An alcoholic father abandons his family and is later
recognized on the street pan handling for money by his kids. "...They
asked me, ain't that Daddy? And yes I had to say...I thought more of the bottle
than our family and our home...You may as well forget me for I'm just too
forward gone..."
Money Changes Everything
By Cyndi Lauper. About
the "price" some people have to pay for fame and fortune. This song was
originally performed by the "Brains" and according to the artist's
web site, she was inspired to record the song because it so perfectly
represented the tragic events surrounding the break up of her group Blue
Angel...She said everybody was always asking her what happened to Blue Angel, she said
her recording of Money Changes everything was inspired by that. "...Money
changes everything Money, money changes everything We think we know what we're doin'
That don't mean a thing It's all in the past now Money changes
everything...They say we'll be your friends We'll stick with you till the end
Ah but everybody's only Looking out for themselves And you say well who can you
trust..."
Money For Nothing
By Dire Straits. Song expresses blue collar workers who envy the lives of
rock stars. In another sense song is a critique or indictment of musicians who
abandon artistic integrity in exchange for commercial fame and financial gain.
"Now look at them yo-yos. That's the way you do it. You play the guitar on
the MTV. That ain't workin'. That's the way you do it. Money for nothin' and
your chicks for free...Maybe get a blister on your little finger. Maybe get a
blister on your thumb..."
Money (In God We Trust)
By Extreme. About greed, the desire for wealth, and how people worship money
and material goods in our society. "...Money, my personal saviour. Money,
a material lust. Money, life's only treasure. Money, in God we trust."
Money Talks
By The Kinks. Song is about the power and influence money has on people and
how it can buy almost anyone or anything. "...There's no one alive who
can't be purchased or enticed. There's no man alive who wouldn't sell for a
price...there ain't no limit to what money can do...money can't breathe
and money can't see but when I pull out a fiver people listen to me...money
talks and when you've been bought, you pay attention everytime money
talks..."
Monica
By Dan Bern. This song is about
tennis star Monica Seles and the
serious problem of stalking.
"I remember Monica At the US Open She might have been 16 Couldn't have
been much more...Do you remember Monica shrieking on her backhand...And then,
Monica The blade came, Monica Like God spitting on you A knife in your
back We read it in the paper...I hope that you win every medal you can win But
it may never be much fun again... "
The Monkee's Theme
By The Monkees. This was the theme song from the short lived but popular
television sitcom "The Monkees." "Here we come walking down the
street. We get the funniest looks from everyone we meet. Hey, hey we're the
Monkees..."
Monkey Gone To Heaven
By Pixies. About global warming, holes in the ozone layer, the greenhouse
effect and the devastating effects of pollution. "...Killed by ten million
pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey. This monkey's gone to
heaven...There's a hole in the sky and the ground's not cold. And if the
ground's not cold everything is gonna burn..."
Monkey Hill
By Gov't Mule. About destroying one's life by using heroin and hurting
friends and family. "...Down on monkey hill saw another brother testifying
this morning. Talkin' 'bout how he lost everything and he said, Gonna get so
high that I just don't know my name..."
Monkey On My Back
By Aerosmith. Deals with drug addiction and the negative effects it has on a
person's life.. "...Well I make believe the devil made me do it. I was the
evil leader of the pack. You best believe I had it all and blew it. Feedin'
that monkey on my back..."
Monkey On Your Back
By Aldo Nova. Deals with drug addiction and the negative effects it has on a
person's life. Song title is slang for drug addiction. "...You know he's
got a problem with life and it isn't very pretty. Because he's got a monkey,
monkey on his back. Dirty monkey..."
Monster
By Steppenwolf. How the American ideals of liberty and justice have been applied
selectively throughout history. Song suggests that these ideals
and values have been twisted or distorted over time and gradually abandoned
or forgotten by many citizens. About the importance of speaking out and participating in the democratic process.
Singer refers to the many people
who have lost interest in the American political processs and fail to vote smart, demonstrating little concern
or regard for the fate of our nation's political institutions. "Once the
religious, the hunted and weary chasing the promise of freedom and hope. Came
to this country to build a new vision...Later some got slaves to gather
riches...While we bullied, stole, and bought a homeland, we began the slaughter
of the redman....The spirit was
freedom and justice and it's keepers seemed generous and kind. It's leaders
were supposed to serve the country but now they won't pay it no mind. Cause the
people grew fat and got lazy, now their vote is a meaningless joke...'Cause
there's a monster on the loose..."
Monterey
By The Animals. A tribute to the Monterey
International Pop Festival which took place at the county fairgrounds in
Monterey, California on June 16, 17, and 18, 1967. References to various
artists that played there including Jimi Hendrix, The Byrds, The Who, Ravi
Shankar, and Hugh Masakelas."...Three days of understanding, of moving
with one another. Even the cops grooved with us. Do you believe me, yeah. Down
in Monterey...Ten thousand electric guitars were groovin, real loud. You want
to find the truth in life, don't pass music by..."
Moon Over the
By Michael Nesmith. About the
beauty and wonder of our natural environment and the healing or restorative
power of communing with nature."...There's
something in the spirit of the language of the land, the eloquent precision,
nothing less and nothing more. So, I want to watch
the moon rise over the
Moonshiner
By Uncle Tupelo. Song is about a person who illegally distills alcohol in
order to make a profit by selling his finished product. References also made to
alcohol addiction. “I’ve been a moonshiner for seventeen long years. And I
spent all my money on whiskey and beer…If whiskey don’t kill me Lord I don’t
know what will…”
More Than You Deserve
By Jim Steinman / Meat Loaf. About pain and heartache
stemming from infidelity and betrayal in a relationship. "From the very
first moment I saw you I Knew our love would be so strong. And the very first
moment I kissed you I knew our joy would last so long. And then I saw you
making love to my best friend. So I looked him right in his eyes and I
said...Have yourself a ball with my good woman. Won't you take some more boy,
it's more than you deserve..."
Morning After
By Maureen McGovern. About the power of faith, hope, and optimism. Song is
from the 1973 Oscar award winning movie “The Poseidon Adventure” starring
Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine and Shelley Winters. “There’s got to be a morning
after. If we can hold on through the night. We have a chance to find the
sunshine. Let’s keep on lookin’ for the light. Oh, can’t you see the morning
after? It’s waiting right outside the storm…”
Morning Breaks on
By Orrin G. Hatch. Song is a
tribute Arlington National Cemetery
and the many brave veterans
who have died in service to our country. "...The lush green grass of Arlington shimmers in the morning
sun as pure white crosses seem to glow
sentinels in perfect rows. Everyone
who lives and breathes wonders at the sight of these who gave to us a gift
beyond compare...And heaven smiles upon each silent one as morning softly breaks
on Arlington."
Mother
By Donna Lewis. A touching tribute to one's mother, expressing love and
gratitude. "...You take my hand, show me the way. You're here to guide me.
You give me strength that I need. You give me shelter, you gave me life, you
gave me love. You are my mother..."
Mother Earth
By Gov't Mule. Song is about being humble, living a simple life and enjoying
what the good earth has to offer instead of relying on material possessions for
satisfaction. "...You may own half the city. Even diamonds and pearls. You
may have your own airplane. And you may fly, fly, fly all over the world. But I
don't give a damn what you're worth. When it all comes down to it, you got to
go back to mother earth..."
Mother Earth
By Tracy Nelson. From the Fish Tree Water
Blues benefit CD for Earthjustice
Legal Defense Fund's campaign to save wild salmon, ancient forests, and freeflowing waterways."...I
don't care how rich you are, I don't care what you're worth / When it all comes
down, you've got to go back to mother earth..."
Mother Earth
By Neil Young. A commentary on the environment and man's disregard for the
well-being of the planet. "...Oh, mother earth with your fields of
green...How long can you give and not receive, and feed this world ruled by
greed...Respect mother earth and her giving ways, or trade away our children's
days..."
Mother Gala
By The Stratovarios Network. About intolerance, environmental awareness and
the slow destruction of planet Earth by humans who pollute and rape the land.
"...How can we change for better? Hate and greed's getting stronger day by
day. Injustice rules the world, killing the lungs of the Earth..."
A Mother's Day
By Jim Brickman. A tribute to mother's. "..She went to the kitchen to
make three school lunches. Another night in a mother's day. put the cereal
bowls out for breakfast. Set the coffee maker for 6a.m. Sewed a loose button on
brother's shirt..."
Mother's Heartbeat
By Archie Roach.
A social
justice song inspired by
actual events. This personal and moving song is sung by one of the thousands
of aboriginal children who were removed from there families in accordance with
the Australian government policy of forced assimiliation between the years 1910
and 1971. "When I was inside my mother her heartbeat kept me whole...my
mother's heart was beating when I first touched the ground safe in my mother's
keeping...my mother's heart stopped beating one dark and dreadful day and all I
heard was weeping the day I went away..."
Mother's Little Helper
By Rolling Stones. This song refers to a
person abusing prescription drugs to help ease the burdens and stress of
everyday life. "...Mother needs something today to calm her down and though
she's not really ill, there's a little yellow pill. She goes running for the
shelter of a mother's little helper. And it helps her on her way, gets her
through her busy day...Doctor please some more of these. Outside the door, she
took 4 more..."
Mother Nature's Angry
By Rubert Hine. About preserving and protecting the environment. Teaching
others to care for and respect nature, not taking this fragile gift for
granted. "...Let's learn first-aid for the planet. Teach it in the
schools. Until the day may come again when Mother Nature rules. Don't make this
world a wilderness. Don't make our home a grave. The roof of her house is
leaking, there's so much beauty to save..."
Moving Day
By Bill Morrissey. A couple say one last goodbye to each other before
they seperate and go their own way after a divorce is final. "Moving day
is over now. This house is just a shell. Say goodbye to the sights and sounds
we know so well...There's no room for the dreams we had..."
Moving Too Fast
By Artful Dodger. A health-related song. Touches on the topic areas of
self-respect, abstinence, self-esteem, and healthy decision making. "You're
moving too fast and I don't think it's right. I'm not giving you my love
tonight...Stop it please 'cos ain't no possibility..."
Mr. Bojangles
By Jerry Jeff Walker. About a
drifter and entertainer who makes his living by dancing for change. The artist
Jerry Jeff Walker grew up in Oneonta, New York.
"...He said I dance now at every chance in honky tonks for drinks and
tips. But most of the time I spend behind these county bars 'cause I drinks a
bit...His name was Bojangles..."
Mr. Brownstone
By Guns N Roses. Deals with the use of illegal substances, specifically
heroin. Also talks about tolerance, when you need increasing amounts of a drug
to get the same effect. '... I used ta do a little, but a little wouldn't do.
So the little got more and more...We been dancin' with Mr. Brownstone. He's
been knockin', he won't leave me alone..."
Mr. Cab Driver
By Lenny Kravitz. A black man feels anger and prejudice when he can't get a
cab because of the color of his skin. "...Mr. cab driver don't like the
way I look. He don't like dreads, he thinks we're all crooks. Mr. cab driver
reads too many story books...Don't ya like my kind of skin?..."
Mr. Coffee
By Lagwagon. A tribute to the popular beverage and stimulant coffee. Mr.
Coffee is also a popular brand of coffee maker. "Morning has broken, Mr.
Coffee has spoken. The familiar wake-up call...I can now face the day on legal
speed, the American way..."
Mr. Crowley
By Ozzy Osbourne. Song is about Aleister Crowley, a well known 19th century
English author who wrote many books about magick and other mystical subjects
and who founded the Law of Thelerma. "Mr. Crowley, what went on in your
head? Mr. Crowley, did you talk to the dead? Your lifestyle seemed so tragic
with the thrill of it all. You fooled all the people with magic..."
Mr. Funny Face
By Sprung Monkey. Deals with our culture of
violence and the societal
problem of bullying. Song is about
social outcasts who are mistreated
subject to ridicule, and shunned by others. Song talks about the consequences
of these actions and how they have an effect and impact on all of us.
Singer is also reminding the listeners of the responsibility
we all share to see that each and everyone is treated with dignity, love,
and respect. Song also relates to the issues of empathy,
personal courage, pride, morality, and values. "...Hey Mr. funny face I
was just wondering what are you feeling? Walking down the street and everyone
is staring at you. Pointing their fingers as you walk on by...having their fun
just trying to make you cry...If I was walking down the street and everyone was
staring at me, pointing their fingers as I walked on by...I'd probably turn my
head, run and hide...You just stand proud as you look them in the eye. No, you
don't run, and you don't cry. You just smile and say hello...I see the way you
hold yourself amongst all the world's adversity. Because there's a tear that
leaves me everytime I see all
the things they've done to you..."
Mr. Nothing
By Grown Men. About the importance of
goal setting, reaching for great heights, and not letting the fear of failure
hold you back. "...Live a slave to broken dreams and keep ambitions meek.
Or leap with faith across the stream to claim the prize you seek...The gate
stands open wide the
road is yours to run. When doubts are cast aside your battles will be
won."
Mr. Siegel
By Tom Waits. Gangster Bugsy Siegel
was the inspiration for this song. "...I wiped off my revolver and
buttoned up my burgundy shirt. I shot the morning in the back with my red wing
tips on...Why are the wicked so strong..."
Mr. Wendal
By Arrested Development. About a homeless person, living on the streets.
"Two dollars is a snack for me, but it means a big deal to you"
Provides another perspective on this issue. "Uncivilized we call him but I
just saw him eat off the food we waste." Respect and compassion for those
who are less fortunate.
Muir Power To You
By Bill Oliver. A tribute to conservationist John Muir. "Long is the legend of the
life of John Muir and many are the dangers he braved. Without his leadership
you can be sure Yosemite would never have been saved...Muir power to
you..."
Mulligan's Stew
By Human Sacrifice. About the financial problems caused by substance abuse.
References made to gateway drugs. "...You've been savin' all your money. 'Cause
you need to buy some buds and some beer. Now your moving up...The price is
getting higher every hit...Your debt keeps coming..."
Mumia Abu-Jamal Was Framed
By Peter Hicks
andGeoff Francis. Song
is about Mumia Abu-Jamal, an African
American journalist, broadcaster and political activist who is on death row
after being tried and convicted for the murder of a
Murder
By David Gilmour. Song expresses feelings of sadness and grief about a
senseless killing. Said to be inspired by, or referring to, events and
circumstances surrounding the death of John Lennon. "Some of them
standing, some were waiting in the line, as if there were something that they
thought they might find...What was it brought you out here in the dark? Was it
your only way of making your mark? Did you get rid of all the voices in your
head?...But none of the tears that we cry in sorrow or rage can make any
difference, or turn back the page."
Murder In The Skies
By Gary Moore. About the downing
of KAL
flight 007 over the
The Murder Of Johnny Gammage
By The Ploughman's Lunch. Song is about Johnny Gammage who died in a
struggle with police after a routine traffic stop on October 12, 1995 in
Brentwood, PA. Speculation looms around what actually happened during the
confrontation with police. Many feel it was a racially motivated incident.
"...Johnny Gammage. Now it was on the 12th of October, 1995. This was the
last night Johnny Gammage was alive...A routine traffic stop ended up in murder...They
did their deadly damage and murdered the life out of poor Johnny
Gammage..."
Murders In The Rue Morgue
By Iron Maiden. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's well known story.
"I remember it as plain as day although it happened in the dark of
night...And then I heard a piercing scream and I rushed to the scene of the
crime..."
Mushroom Cloud
By Grown Men. About the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the insanity of the arms race.
"...All of the generals are part of the plan. Treaties are over. To hell
with test bans. Millions have planned and
worked for this day. targets are locked in it's missiles away...Brighter than
the sunniest day. It's burning, it's boiling, it's melting down."
My Baby's In Love With Eddie
Vedder
By "Weird Al" Yankovic.
This songpays
tribute to Eddie Vedder, lead singer of the grunge rock group
My Boy
By Neil Young. A father realizes how fast time is going by as his son seems
to be growing up so quickly. "Vacation gone, school is out. Summer ends
year in, year out...I thought we'd just begun. Why are you growin' up so fast
my son..."
My Buddy Dr. Clayton
By Willie Smith. This song is
a tribute to musician Peter J. "Doctor" Clayton. "My buddy my
buddy doctor Clayton, he has been here and gone My buddy my buddy doctor
Clayton, he has been here and gone But you know he waved his hand, and told me
to carry on..."
My City Was Gone
By The Pretenders. About the Pretender’s lead singer Chrissy Hynde’s return
to her hometown and commenting on the effects of industrialization and how it
had altered the environment as she had remembered when she was younger. “I went
back to Ohio but my city was gone…All my favorite places…Reduced to parking
spaces…But my pretty countryside had been paved down the middle…The farms of
Ohio had been replaced by shopping malls…”
My Country 'Tis Of Thy People
You're Dying
By Buffy Saint Marie. The artist states... My point of view in this song
is that the American people haven't been given a fair share at learning the
true history of the American Indian. I try to tell the story that's left out of
the history books... "Now that you're wondering how must they feel. Meaning
them that you've chased across America's movie screens...Blankets for your
land, so the treaties attest. Oh well, blankets for land is a bargain
indeed..."
My Dad
By Paul Petersen. About a person who has great admiration and love for their
father. "...My Dad, now here is a man to me is everything strong. No, he
can't do no wrong, my Dad...Oh, he's always there my Dad..."
My Father's Eyes
By Marie Claire Dubaldo. A child has unresolved feelings and issues
regarding his father who left home and never returned. "...They stopped
saying his name. Mother took a lover but I never gave up hope of seeing my
father... He'd always tell me that I was his little dove. But he never said
goodbye and I still feel his love..."
My Father's Town
By Doug Hoekstra.
This song tells the
story of a man trapped in a tourist town, competing with ghosts of generations
past, as he struggles to find his way to a better place embodied in what Yeats
called
My Free Will Ain't Living
By Mojo Nixon. An anti-war song. "...You can't make me kill another
man. You can't make me drop bombs on this land. You can't make me be a part of
all your killing. My free will just ain't willing..."
My Heroin
By E'nuff Z'nuff. An anti-drug song. "Why does everybody dig the
pain?...It's a sin. You can't win. Heroin...It's a choice that you don't have
to choose. One hit, you lose..."
My Hometown
By Bruce Springsteen. A
lifelong resident realizes how many changes in society have altered the way of
life in his small town. Song describes an
emotionally significant place and the people connected to it."...I'd
sit on his lap in that big old Buick and steer as we drove through town. He'd
tussle my hair and say son take a good look around. This is your hometown...Now
mainstreet's whitewashed windows and vacant stores, seems like there ain't
nobody wants to come down here no more....Packing up our bags, maybe heading
south. I'm thirty-five, we got a boy of our own now...Son take a good look
around this is your hometown."
My Last Breath
By Katherine Wheatley. According to the artist...A friend of mine died
tragically while I was recording my CD...He'd been to visit his mother in Vietnam
who was dying of tuberculosis. He contracted the disease and died a few months
later... "...Lord give me peace of mind. My mouth is dry. I'm scared
to death. Will you show me how to draw my last breath?..."
My Last Cigarette
By K.D. Lang. Song is about a person who vows that they will quit smoking.
"...I have a habit I have been trying to lose. Everyone thinks they know
what they want. Sometimes your drug chooses you. There are some things that
I've promised myself...This is my last cigarette..."
My Life
By Iris Dement. A person feels lost
and and lacking direction because she is confused about her own identity. About
the search for meaning and purpose in one's life. "My life it don't count
for nothing...My life, it's half way traveled and still I have not found my way
out of this night..."
My Little Demon
By Fleetwood Mac. About
the dark side of human behavior and the fact that people behave irrationally
even though their conscience tells them otherwise. Ironically, this is one of
President Bill
Clinton's favorite groups. They reunited to perform at his inaugural gala
in January, 1993. "My little demon's turnin' me around. All of my friends
keep on tellin' me that I just ain't the man I used to be...My little demon,
makin' me choose. Making me an offer I can't refuse..."
My Man
By The Eagles. Song is a tribute to deceased country, folk and rock musician
Gram Parsons. "...I once knew a man, a very talented guy. He'd sing for
the people and people would cry. They knew his song came from deep down
inside...He's gone far beyond the pain..."
My My, Hey Hey ( Out of the
Blue )
By Neil Young. Song is dedicated to the Sex
Pistols' Johnny Rotten. "...The king is gone but he's not forgotten.
Is this the story of Johnny Rotten?
It's better to burn out 'cause rust never sleeps. The king is gone but he's not
forgotten..."
My Name Is Liza Kalvelage
By Pete
Seeger. Inspired by actual events song
is almost a verbatim adaptation of a statement given by a woman in May, 1966 in
My Next Thirty Years
By Tim McGraw. Song talks about making positive changes in one's life and
working toward improving your mental, social, spiritual and physical health.
"...My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all my scores...Find a world of
happiness without the hate and fear...I'm gonna watch my weight. Eat a few more
salads and not stay up so late...Raise a little family and hang out with my
wife. Spend precious moments with the ones I hold dear..."
My Nova Scotia Home
By Hank Snow. Song is a tribute to the beautiful and scenic Canadian
province of Nova Scotia. "There's a place I always cherish 'neath the blue
Atlantic sky. Where the shores down in Cape Briton bid the golden sun to
rise... Back in dear, old Nova Scotia..."
My Old Pal Blues (Dedicated
To The Memory Of Leroy Carr)
By Scrapper Blackwell. Song is a tribute to deceased blues pianist Leroy Carr who was a
well known musician in the 1930's. "I woke up in the morning, couldn't
hardly get out of bed. When I got the news that Leroy Carr was dead...The day of
his funeral I hated to see Leroy's face. Because I know there's no one who
could ever take his place..."
My Own Prison
By Creed. A personal or
autobiographical song about
self knowledge, accepting responsibility for your own life, and recognizing
that the source or origins of our problems often lies within."...The walls
are cold and pale. The cage made of steel. Screams fill the room. Alone I drop
and kneel. Silence now the sound...So I held my head up high. Hiding hate that
burns inside. Which only fuels their selfish pride. We're all held
captive..."
My Own Worst Enemy
By Lit. About the dangers of
substance abuse and the "ripple effect" or downward spiral
experienced by alcoholics. "Can we forget about the things I said when I
was drunk...Please tell me why the car is in the front yard, and I'm sleeping
with my clothes on. Came in through the window last night...The smoke alarm is
going off, and there's a cigarette still burning...I am my own worst
enemy..."
My Rainbow Race
By Pete
Seeger. The song
is a call for unity, harmony, and cooperation between all peoples and
countries. "...Now's our last chance to learn to share what's been given
to me and you..."
Mysteries Of The Nile
By Anna Moo. About the longest river in the world, the Nile River. "...Hippos and elephants,
lions and giraffes have come to her waters to drink and take baths. How do they
find their way without a path? The mysteries of the Nile...Does anyone know
where this river began?..."
My Uncle
By Flying Burrito Brothers. Song title is a reference to "Uncle
Sam". About a draft dodger who flees the country and crosses the Canadian
border instead of fighting in the Vietnam War. "...So I'm headed for the
nearest foreign border. Vancouver may be just my kind of town...My uncle...He's
asking me to sign a three year contract. I guess I'll take the first bus out
today..."
My Way
By Frank Sinatra. This classic song
is about
the importance of having self-confidence, thinking independently, and making your own way in
life. "...Regrets I've had a few. But then again too few to mention. I
did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption...But through it all
when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all and I stood
tall; And I did it my way..."
Naked
By Goo Goo Dolls. About
a person who is struggling with many emotions including fear, loneliness, self doubt,
and helplessness. The person seems to be trying to heal his/her emotional
wounds and overcome a difficult experience or possibly an abusive relationship.
"Yeah I'm fadin' and I call out. No one hears me. Never been, never
felt, never thought I'd say a word...You're naked inside your fear. You can't
take back all those years...Yeah I'm hiding in the fallout..."
Name On The Wall
By Unknown. A sad song about a mother who goes to the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall in
Nancy Sinatra
By The Bottle Rockets. A tribute to singer Nancy Sinatra, daughter of entertainer
and actor Frank Sinatra. "...Her name is Nancy, and Frankie is her
pa...Swingin' sounds of the sixties...Drop all my loot. Just to see her standin'
in her go-go boots..."
Narcolepsy
By Third Eye Blind. About a person
suffering and struggling with a sleep disorder. "...And I close my eyes and
dream that I'm awake. I try to keep awake. I try to keep awake. But still I
find this narcolepsy slides into
another nightmare..."
The Nashville Scene
By Hank Williams Jr. Song is about the country music capital of the world
Nashville, Tennessee. Also talks about a reality for a lot of bands in the
music industry... here today, gone tomorrow. "The streets are paved with
tourists and record companies flourish. Lord knows every singer wants to be the
king...And I'm watching the sun go down this evening and soon it will wake this
town thats made of dreams. But before it does a new star will be shining
and thats the way it is on the Nashville scene..."
Native Son
By Bryan Adams. Song is about the Native American's struggle to win back
land and heritage taken from them by the white settlers. "...Like dogs we
were driven from this place. Such injustice time will not erase...Once there
was a time...Before the soldier's guns. When this land was ours...For all we
had there's nothing left..."
NDN
By Keith Secola and Wild Band of Indians.
In a 1997
Phoenix New Times article Secola says this song is about "the richness
of being poor" and is a celebration of the native american spirit of survival. "...My car is dented.
The radiator steams. One headlight don't work. The radio can scream. I got a
sticker that says Indian Power. I stuck it on my bumper. That's what holds my
car together..."
By Bruce Springsteen. About a
serial killer and the nature of evil. Based on actual events occuring in the
The Needle
By Bert Jansch. About the destructive nature of the drug heroin and how the
user cuts themselves off from all personal and social ties. "...One grain
of pure white snow. Dissolved in blood, spread quickly to your brain. In peace
your mind withdraws. Your death so near, your soul can feel no pain...A needle
of death..."
The Needle
By John Trudall. A young man watches his brother ruin his life by shooting
up. "...I saw my brother in a needle. I saw my brother face the gun...Choosing
exile over madness. I saw my brother shooting pain...Until one day, everyday
became the same..."
Needle And Spoon
By Savoy Brown. About the progression of drug addiction and how getting high
becomes the focal point of an addict's life. "...Don't need no women,
don't need no wine. 'Cause life is sweet when you hit the main line...Only one
thing that worries my mind. The stuff it kills you and it treats you
unkind...When your married to "h", you're married for life..."
Needle And The Damage Done
By Neil Young. A personal account of a close friend's struggle and eventual
death as a result of heroin use.
"I watched the needle take another man, gone, gone the damage done."
The Needle And The Spoon
By Lynyrd Skynyrd. About the destructive power of the drug heroin.
"I've been feeling so sick inside, got to get better lord before I
die...You better quit son before your dead, with the needle, with the
spoon..."
Needle In The Hay
By Elliot Smith. About heroin addiction. "...Strung out and thin...you
ought to be proud that I'm getting good marks. Needle in the hay..."
The Needle Lies
By Queensryche. A song about the destructive power of drugs. Another example
of an anti-drug song. "...Don't ever trust the needle, it lies. Don't ever
trust the needle when it cries, cries your name..."
Needle Of Death
By Urban Guerillas. A substance abuse song about
the consequences and dangers of using Heroin. "I lost a friend quite
recently…She put the weirdest things into her veins And now so many lives will
never be the same Just another shot at tryin' to be free Just another, escape
from reality...You got to be strong! You’ve got to sing this song! The needle
of death! It sows a bad seed! Needle of death! Don’t tell me that’s what you
need to be free! …"
Neighborhood
By Space. A tribute to societies outcasts.
Song deals with issues of tolerance, prejudice, individuality, nonconformity,
and acceptance. "Who lives in a house like this?...Oh they want to knock
us down 'cos they think we're scum, but we will all be waiting when the
bulldozers come...Oh if you find the time please come and stay a while in my
beautiful neighborhood..."
Nervous In The Alley
By Smash mouth. About a troubled teenager who runs away from
home and struggles to survive on the streets. "She's 15 and she's leaving
home. Living on the streets where she don't feel alone. Daddy's always gone and
mommy's on the sauce. Living in a mansion it's easy to get lost. She's going to
a place where they understand. Baby on the way her womb's a garbage can. Who
said anything about a good life? This one's bad, bad, bad, bad... Dying in the
alley waiting for her man carrying her child and a sleeping bag..."
Network News
By Robert Plant. Lyrics
deal with the human
and environmental
consequences of war and the new military
weapons and technologies. Song comments on the impact of Television and the role of
the media. Song suggests that respect
for human life has been supplanted by a life or death scramble for wealth and
resources. "Guns death and noise. Sand, oil and
blood. Frontiers drawn on paper. No consideration made for the poor
creature who is living...Behold the techno infidel has come with satellite
bravado and infrared texture...upon these sands such
damage done to spoil God's finest treasure. Hallelujah hallelelujah oil,
oil, oil, oil."
Neutral and Nuclear Free
By Shona Laing. A protest song against nuclear war and the Cold War.
"They can flex those muscles of seventy years. Call me juvenile and naive.
I'll pay no ransom for my life. It's only fools who fight that fight...'Coz I'm
neutral and nuclear free..."
Never Again
By Nickelback. Song touches on various topics including domestic violence,
dysfunctional homelife, child abuse and alcoholism. "He's drunk again,
it's time to fight. She must have done something wrong tonight...I hear her
scream from down the hall. Amazing she can even talk at all..."
Never Die
By Creed. Song is about never losing the carefree "child" in you
as a person gets older. "..."Cause your youth will never die in
searching for substance. We're clouded by struggles haze. Remember the meaning
of playing out in the rain. We swim in the fountain of youth's timeless maze.
If you drink the water your youth will never fade..."
Never Give Up On A Dream
By Rod Stewart. Song is about
the human spirit and the importance of hope,
optimism, and perseverance.
"...Claim the road,
touch the sun, no force on earth could stop you run. When your heart bursts
like the sun never never give up on your dream...Push yourself until the end but don't
you ever give up on your dream..."
Never Going Back Again
By Fleetwood Mac. Aboutmoving
beyond your troubles and looking to the future with hope and optimism.
"...Been down one time. Been down two times. I'm never going back
again..."
Never Kool
By Monty Harper. This song is about saying no to
the dangers of tobacco. "...He says he thinks I'll be too scared to smoke
a cigarette. I tell him I would never smoke because it's unhealthy...Cigarettes
are never cool in any situation..."
Never Surrender
By Corey Hart. Song is about perseverance and believing in yourself.
"...No one can take away your right to fight and never surrender. With a
little perseverance you can get things done. Without the blind adherence that
has conquered some...So if you're lost and on your own, you can never
surrender..."
Never Surrender
By Saxon. Song is about rising from poverty and poor surroundings and
realizing your dreams and goals through hard work and persistence. "...I
was born on the back streets on the rotten side of town. I never had me
nothin'...I started at the bottom but I'm headed to the top. Ain't nobody gonna
hold me back. Never surrender..."
Never Surrender
By Triumph. About working towards your dreams and aspirations. Staying
focused on your goals, and not compromising or settling for less.
"...Modern apathetics, you got plenty of nothing to say...You don't make
committments, no time for regrets. Easy come and easy go and easy to forget.
You don't ever take responsibility...Never surrender, it's easier said than
done. But you got to finish what's already begun..."
New Attitude
By Patti LaBelle. About rediscovering oneself, being the best person you can
be, and taking control of your destiny in life. "...I was running into
overload, that was extreme. I took it so high, so low, so long. There was
nowhere to go like a bad dream...I've tidied up my point of view. I've got a
new attitude..."
New Comer
By Michael Purington and the Messengers. About an alcoholic who starts going
to Alcoholics Anonymous(AA) meetings to face his drinking problem. "Couple
of nights ago you were fallin' on your face. Now you're the most important
person in the place. All the old timers are on you're case. You're a new
comer..."
New Jersey Is My Hometown
By Bruce Springsteen. A satirical song about the state of affairs and
changing economic conditions in New Jersey. “I’m proud New Jersey is my
home…Well, they’re breaking out the tractors to build more interstates. They’re
moving out my neighbors all across the Garden State…They’re closing all the
factories making people lose their jobs. While the fat cats get rich living
high on the hog…”
A New Kind Of Life
By Anti-Flag. Song is a plea for an end to all types of war across the globe
and also is a protest song against government in general. "...Every
nation's leader says that our side is right. Every nation's leader says the
time has come to fight. But they use the common people to settle their scores.
It's time to refuse to fight in their wars...I'd rather fight to spread some
tolerance and unity..."
A New Life
By Marshall Tucker Band. An ex-convict is bound and determined to pick up
the pieces and start his life over. "...Shot a man down in Dearborn...Been
down in Denver jail for four long years and I'm so homesick I could die...But I've
paid my time and a new life is gonna be mine..."
A New Marilyn
By Vonda Shepard. About the legacy of legendary actress Marilyn Monroe and
how talent agents are always looking for someone to be "the next Marilyn
Monroe". "...A new Marilyn. Everybody's looking for a new
Marilyn...Where would she be after twenty-five years. What would she think if
she were to hear...Trying to replace you..."
New Speedway Boogie
By Grateful Dead. Song is about
the tragic events during a free concert given by the Rolling Stones ( see photo taken by Robert Altman ) at the Altamont
Speedway December, 1969. "...Now I don't know but I been told in the
heat of the sun a man died of cold Do we keep on coming or stand and wait with
the sun so dark and the hour so late?...I saw things getting out of hand I
guess they always will..."
New York City
By The Cult. About life in New
York City. Song expresses misconceptions or stereotypes regarding the
dangers associated with an urban area. "...Hell's Kitchen is a crazy place...Hell's Kitchen is a DMZ, I'm
never coming back, no....It'll give you a heart attack...Pressure never stops,
pressure never drops...Times Square
shuffle, Manhattan
flip..."
New York City (A Song For
Humanity)
By Michael Monanaro and Joe Sombrotto. A memorial song for those who
suffered as a result of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. "Standing in
the harbor, the view is still pretty...But I'll never forget how that skyline
used to be. New York city...An inspiration for the world to see..."
New York Had Her Heart Broke
By John Hiatt. Written in response to the World Trade Center attacks on
September 11, 2001. Song talks about hope, optimism and rebirth. "...And
the daylight felt dark. F-160 over Central Park. When New York had her heart
broke. Ah, but she will rise again..."
New York Minute
By Don Henley. About a man reaching middle age and having a mid life crisis.
Also deals with life's uncertainties and feelings of hopelessness, despair and
not taking what you have in life for granted. "...He had a home, the love
of a girl. But men get lost sometimes
as years unfurl. One day he
crossed some line and he was too much in this world. But I guess it doesn't
matter anymore...if you find somebody to love in this world you better hang on
tooth and nail. The wolf is always at the door...in a New York minute,
everything can change..."
New York, New York
By Frank Sinatra. A person longs to be in the "Big Apple", New York City. "...These
vagabond shoes are longing to stray. Right through the very heart of it,
New York,
Next Phone Call
By Rossington-Collins Band. Song is about how bad news and tragedy seem to
follow the bandmates around. Based on guitarist Allen Collin's 2nd drunk
driving car crash in 1980 where he was severely injured. Sadly, Collins was
involved in a third accident in January of 1986 which left him paralyzed.
"...It's 3 A.M., that damn telephone is ringing once again. "I've
been told to call", a stranger says to me. Seems you're best friend
wrapped a car around a tree...I'm so tired of bad news. I wanna tear off the
phone...What's it gonna be? The next phone call..."
Nicotine Stain
By Siouxsie and the Banshees. Song is about the addictive nature of
cigarettes. "It's just a habit when I reach to the packet for my last
cigarette. Until the day breaks and then my hand shakes...I can't
resist..."
The Night Chicago Died
By Paper Lace. Song is about the demise of notorious Chicago gangster Al
Capone and his gang. "...In the heat of a summer night, in the land of the
dollar bill. When the town of Chicago died, and they talk about it still. When
a man named Al Capone, tried to make that town his own...And the sound of the
battle rang through the streets of the old east side. Till the last of the
hoodlum gang had surrendered up or died..."
The Night Hank Williams Came To
Town
By Johnny Cash. Artist reminisces about seeing country legend Hank
Williams Sr. when he was young. "...A thousand people sweltered in the
gym. Then I heard someone whisper,"hey, that's him." That's when the
crowd let out this deafening sound. It was the night Hank Williams came to
town..."
Night Of The Living Baseheads
By Public Enemy. About damaging effects
of drugs and drug dealers, "...Here is a true tale of the ones that deal
are the ones that fail..." Social, political, and economic impact of drugs
in the black community, "...another kilo from a corner from a brother to
keep another-below..." Begins with an excerpt from a speech given by
Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of
Islam.
Night Stalker(Richard Ramirez)
By Macabre. About the "Night Stalker", Richard Ramirez who became
a serial killer in Los Angeles in the 1980's. "He will get you in the
night. Thn he'll take away your life. He's coming to your house with satan in
his head. Looking for a way in..."
The Night They Drove Old Dixie
Down
By The Band. About the U.S. Civil War
from a Southern point
of view, mourning the fall
of Richmond and the end of a way of life. References to General
Stoneman, Robert E. Lee,
911 Is A Joke
By Public Enemy. Song asserts that
the response time for emergency services is much longer in urban and minority
neighborhoods. "...Now I dialed 911 a long time ago. Don't you see how
late they reactin'? They only come and they come when they wanna. So get the
morgue embalm the gonner...911 is a joke we don't want 'em. I call a cab cause
a cab will come quicker..."
19 (Nineteen)
By Paul Hardcastle. About the struggles that Vietnam veterans faced after
their return from the war. Nineteen was the average age of the fighting soldier
in Vietnam. "...In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served a twelve
month tour of duty but was exposed to hostile fire everyday. 19...Destruction
of men in their prime whose average age was 19..."
1945
By Social Distortion. About nuclear war and more specifically the bombing of
Hiroshima in 1945. "Atom bomb, TNT. New disease. Poor city, flying over
Hiroshima. 1945...A blinding flash hotter than the sun. Dead bodies lie across
the path..."
Nine To Five
By The Kinks. Song deals with the monotony of being stuck in a job or work
routine that never seems to change or provides little challenge or
satisfaction. "Answering phones and dictating letters. Making decisions
that affect no one. Stuck in the office from nine until five. Life is so
incredibly dull working from nine to five...and time goes by and the hours tick
away. First seconds, then minutes, then hours into days..."
1916
By Motorhead. About loss of innocenceand the
senseless brutality
and violence
of war. "16
years old when I went to war, to fight for a land fit for heroes...Eager for life and
ahead of the game, ready for history's pages...I heard my friend cry and he
sank to his knees, coughing blood as he screamed for his mother. And I fell to
his side, and that's how we died, clinging like kids to eachother. And I lay in
the mud and the guts and the blood...Now there's nobody remembers our names,
and that's how
it is for a soldier."
1969 (Tie Dye Hangover)
By Subterra. About the rapid pace of change in society and the negative impact
or influence of scientific advances and technology. "...I don't want to
grow up looking like my clone.
Mr. scientist you're godlike with your pride. You really need to have your test tubes tied...1969 was an acid trip,
but drugs can't hold a candle to this...There's a DNA sample on every toothbrush. A vidcam hidden
behind every bush. ( Y2K is gonna
cause God to crash )..."
1976
By Grand Funk Railroad. Song talks about America's bicentennial and how the
American people must continue to take pride in their country and not take our
beautiful lands for granted. "Oh, happy birthday America. Lord knows this
ain't no sweet sixteen. Oh no, but you're beautiful America. We still believe
in the American dream...God put man on this planet. But man forgot that he was
heaven sent. Man takes the planet for granted. You would thought the American
people had more sense...We all better pick up the sticks, in 1976..."
1979
By Smashing Pumpkins. About
the carefree and sometimes reckless nature of youth who live for the moment
and, as they often say, are just having fun. "..With the headlights
pointed at the dawn we were sure we'd never see an end to it all...And we don't
know just where our bones will rest...We don't even care as restless as we
are...Faster than the speed of sound, faster than we thought we'd go..."
1984
By New World Army. Song was written about war torn Ireland. "The vans
they come in convoys now stealing through the dawn...There's road blocks on the
Meden bridge...They're sealing off our villages...This ain't no tinpot story
from a distant shore. But our own sweet green and pleasant land in
1984..."
No Alcohol For Me
By Monty Harper. This song warns about the
dangers of drinking and putting yourself in risky situations. "When they
say everybody does it, I say not my friends and me. When they say come on try a
little. I say a little's too much for me...So the kids who pester me and
advertisers on TV will have to just get used to it - no alcohol for me."
No Blood For Oil
By Jim Lesses. An anti-war song regarding the 2003 war with Iraq.
"…Start your wars for land and oil, and watch our children bleed…No blood
for oil! No oil for your ‘freedom’, Your freedom is worthless; When you pay
with our lives…"
Nobody
By Tracing Shadows. According
to the artist, This
song talks about a boy who feels like he has been rejected his whole life.
He has nowhere to go and no one to talk to until his soul tells him that life is what you make of it. "...Standing
here all by myself. I'm bleeding here with no one's help...Running all the time
is not what I plan to do. Gotta stand my ground and stop people putting me
down..."
Nobody Else Like Me
By Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. About self esteem, identity, individuality
and acceptance of oneself. An excellent song for elementary aged children.
"There's nobody else like me. I'm happy as I can be. From my head to my
toes, yeah everyone knows there's nobody else like me...From the place I reside
to the stories inside. There's nobody else like me..."
Nobody Knows When You're Down
And Out
By Derek and the Dominos. About how fame and fortune will attract so-called
friends and followers who are nowhere to be found when times get rough.
"Well once I lived the life of a millionaire...Then I began to fall so
low. Didn't have a friend nor no place to go...Soon as I get back up on my feet
again. Everyone wants to be my long-lost friend. It's mighty strange, without a
doubt. Nobody wants you when your down and out..."
Nobody's Hero
By Rush. Song is about the AIDS virus, the
emotional and physical suffering of homosexual and heterosexual victims and their
families. Singer expresses compassion
and empathy for those who are ill. Song also comments on the role and
nature of a heroes in our society."I knew he was different in his
sexuality. I went to his parties as the straight minority. It never seemed a
threat to my masculinity...When I heard he was gone I felt a shadow cross my
heart. But he's nobody's--Hero--saves a drowning child curses a wasting disease. Hero--lands the
crippled airplane. Solves great mysteries..."
Nobody Told Me
By Puddle of Mudd. About fear,
despair, regrets, and learning to cope with the uncertainty of life and
adulthood. "Looking back in my childhood wasn't to bad but it wasn't that
great I carried the luggage like a bag of bricks feels like it's holding me
down again staring down a pitch black road painted lines show me the direction…Nobody
told me where to go Nobody told me where to run…"
No Chance
By Lou Reed. From the "Magic and
Loss" CD which is "Dedicated to Doc and especially to Rita...Between
two
Aprils I lost two friends..." A personal song about regrets and the
death of a friend. "...I see you in the hospital your humor is intact. I'm
embarrassed by the strength I seem to lack...I wish I'd known that you were
going to die. Then I wouldn't feel so stupid, such a fool that I didn't call.
And I didn't get a chance to say goodbye..."
No Drama
By Mary J. Blige. A young and reckless person makes some poor and unhealthy
decisions. As they mature and get older they decide to remove all the negative
influences from their lives and concentrate on becoming a better person.
"So tired, so tired of these dramas. No more, no more. I wanna be free...I
was young and restless but that was long ago. I don't wanna cry no more...It's
up to us to choose..."
No Education
By Lightnin' Hopkins. Song is about illiteracy. "...I can't read, can't
even write my name...Ain't it a shame the way things happened to me. I went to
school only one day and I didn't learn my ABC's..."
No Fear
By Terri Clark. According to
the artist, "It is a song about reaching down deep inside yourself to find
that place where only love exists, where you can completely be who you are, and
do, and have what you want . To approach life with "No Fear" is a
challenge we all face, and a goal we should all strive to achieve..."
(quoted from artist's web site) "...I used to hit every wall there was I
used to run away from love All I ever wanted was right here
But I had to reach way down inside I had to have faith I'd find No
fear...And when I need two arms around me
And there's no one near When I'm alone let the only sound be No
fear..."
No Happy Holidays
By Mary J. Blige. A woman expresses
regret and remorse regarding the time and emotion she invested in a
relationship with a married man. "I can't believe after all this time I'm
in love with a man who can never be mine...Christmas you weren't with me. On
New Years's Eve you were not around...Your family has never met me and you've
never met mine. No happy holiday..."
No Hero
By The Offspring. A person tries to accept the emotional consequences of
their friend's suicide and wonders if tehy could have done anything else to
stop them. "Once you said you'd stick it out until the end. I guess you
lied, they call it suicide. Now you're gone. What was so wrong that you
couldn't find a way to carry on? Second guess. Did I do my best..."
No Hope=No Fear
By Soulfly. About the importance of individuality and believeing in yourself
and your own abilities. "...So lose yourself to find yourself. Don't need
to act like nobody else. Sometimes it feels as if the road is blocked. I'll
find a way, I'll move those rocks..."
No Man's Land
By Billy Joel. About urbanization
and the rapid growth of suburbia.
Destruction of the natural environment. Specific reference to the "Long
Island Lolita", Amy Fisher.
No More
By Neil Young. A man comes to grips with his drug addiction. References made
to tolerance, denial and drug dependency. "...You don't know what drug is
right. Can't decide which way you want to go. It had a hold on me...Seemed like
the easy thing to let it go for one more day...searchin' for quality...now
scroungin' for quantity...No more..."
No Nuclear War
By Peter Tosh. A warning about the dangers
of nuclear weapons and warfare. "...We don't want no nuclear war. With
nuclear war we won't get far. It's just another Holocaust and we can't take no
more..."
No One To Run With
By Allman Brothers Band. A man realizes that all his friends have either
moved away or now are grown up and have responsibilities or families to take
care of. "Everybody wants to know where Jimmy has gone. He left town, I
doubt if he's coming back home. Well Tony got a job, three kids and a lovely
wife. Working at the commerce bank for the rest of his life. Nobody left to run
with anymore. Nobody left to do the crazy things we used to do before..."
No Remorse
By Metallica. An anti-war song about senseless
violence. "No mercy for what we are doing. No thought to even what we have
done. We don't need to feel the sorrow. No remorse for the helpless ones. War
without end. No remorse..."
By Jethro Tull. Song is about industrial greed and
companies profiting from exploration and offshore drilling for oil in the North Sea. "...Black and viscous,
bound to cure blue lethargy. Sugar plum petroleum for energy. Hot air balloon,
inflation will soon make you pay. Riggers rig and diggers dig their shallow
grave. But we'll be saved and what we crave is North Sea oil..."
North To Alaska
By Johnny Horton. About the Klondike
Gold Rush of the late 1800's. "...Where the river is windin', big
nuggets they're findin'. North to Alaska, go north the rush is on...They
crossed the Yukon River and found the bonanza, gold. Below that old white
mountain just a little southeast of Nome..."
No Self Control
By Peter Gabriel. About compulsive behaviors and lack of control over
certain aspects of a person's life. "Got to get some food, I'm so hungry
all the time. I don't know how to stop. Got to get some sleep, I'm so nervous
in the night. I don't know how to stop..."
No Sex
By Limp Bizkit. A person has
regrets after rushing into a sexual relationship without first taking the time
to get to know their sexual partner on an emotional or intellectual level.
"Went too fast way too soon. I feel disgusted and you should too. It's no
good when all that's left is the sex...You couldn't respect yourself cuz I didn't respect myself
...Realize that I'm worth more than that..."
No Shelter
By Rage Against The Machine. About the
excesses and abuses of capitalism/market economies. The growing power of media
companies and corporations and their influence on society. "The main
attraction - Distraction... What you need is what they sellin'. Make you think
that buyin' is rebellin'. From tha theaters to malls on every shore, tha thin
line between entertainment and war...They fix tha need, develop the taste. Buy
their products, or get laid to waste..." Song Also deals with the
commercialization and marketing of history, with a specific reference to the case of the Amistad Revolt.
"...Speilberg tha nightmare works, so push it far. Amistaad was a whip,
tha truth was feathered and tarred. Memory erased, burned, and scarred, trade
in ya history for a VCR..."
No Son Of Mine
By Genesis. A coming of age song
about about parental love and rejection. Tells the story of a young man who
leaves home at an early age to escape from an abusive
environment. Later in life he tries unsuccessfully to reconcile with his
father and come to terms with his past. "The key to my survival was never
in much doubt. The question was how I could keep sane trying to find a way
out... I didn't think much of it 'til it started happening all the time. Soon I
was living in fear everyday of what might happen at night...They say time is a
healer and now my wounds are not the same. I rang the bell with my heart in my
mouth. I had to hear what he'd say. He sat me down to talk to me. He looked me
straight in the eyes, he said; You're no son, no son of mine. You're no son, no
son of mine. You walked out, you left us behind..."
No Sure Way
By Loudon Wainwright III. Written in response to the World Trade Center
attacks. Artist describes a sobering subway ride from his home in Brooklyn
Heights to Manhattan. "...Chamber Street, a closed ghost station. Passing
through we seemed to glide like prisoners inside compartments. On some house of
horrors ride..."
(Glad I'm)Not A Kennedy
By Shona Laing. About the so called "Kennedy
curse" where tragedy and death seem to follow this famous political
family. Song includes audio excerpts from John F. Kennedy speeches.
"...Imagine being a Kennedy. Rule without remedy. To watch
your family die...The cost of freedom is always high. Yet one path we shall
never choose..."
Not An Addict
By K's Choice. A person is in denial about the addictive nature of their
drug use. References made to invincibility which young people often
have."...The deeper you stick it in your vein. The deeper the thoughts
there's no more pain. I'm in heaven, I'm a god...It's not a habit, it's
cool..."
Not A Pretty Girl
By Ani Difranco. About the problem of stereotyping and people who judge
others by appearance. Also about the importance of individuality, independence,
being your own person, and not trying to live up to other peoples standards or
expectations. "I am not a pretty girl that is not what I do. I ain't no
damsel in distress...I am not a kitten stuck up a tree...Don't you think every
kitten figures out how to get down whether or not you ever show up...I want to
be more than a pretty girl."
Not Gon' Cry
By Mary J. Blige. About marital
infidelity. Song expresses the anger, disappointment, and pain of a spouse who
has been betrayed. "While all the time that I was loving you, you were
busy loving yourself. I would stop breathing if you told me to. Now you're busy
loving someone else...Through sickness and health till death do us part. Those
were the words that we said from our heart. So now when you say that you're leaving
me, I don't get that part..."
Not Gonna Give In To It
By Oliva Newton John. An inspirational song written by the artist after she
was diagnosed with breast cancer. "...And I feel so alone for although you
care. No one else can share. It's my own misery. In the end it's all up to
me...Oh, I'm not gonna give in to it..."
Not To Blame
By Joni Mitchell. Song is about
the problem of domestic violence and the
physical and emotional abuse that often accompany it. "...They said you
beat the girl you loved the most. Your charitable acts seem out of place with
your fist marks on her face..."
Nothing Compares 2 U
By Sinead O'Connor. About the breakup of a relationship and the emtional
turmoil that accompanies it. "It's been seven hours and fifteen days since
you took your love away...It's been so lonely without you here. Like a bird
without a song. Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling. Tell me baby
where did I go wrong? 'Cos nothing compares 2 U..."
Not If You Were The Last Junkie
On Earth
By The Dandy Warhols. About a person's amazement and concern over their
friend's continual heroin use and eventual addiction. "...You never
thought you'd get addicted, just be cooler in an obvious way...I never thought
you'd be a junkie because heroin is so passe..."
Now More Than Ever
By John Cougar Mellencamp. About compassion, respect and love for one
another. "...Now more than ever the world needs love. Not just a slogan but
the world needs love. Now more than ever I can't stand alone. Now more than
ever...
No Woman No Cry
By Bob Marley. Inspired by actual events, song reveals Bob Marley's memories of hardship
and poverty in Trenchtown,
Now That The Children Are Gone
By Electric Bonsai Band. A married couple slowly drift apart after all the
children have grown up and left the family setting. "...We hold our faces
through a hard situation. We seem to soften as we dream about moving on. No
need to suffer through the cold embrace now that the children are gone..."
Nuclear Attack
By Gary Moore. About nuclear
proliferation, the arms race, the Cold War, and the growing danger of nuclear war. "Out on the
street they're all livin' in fear, you can hear their hearts pound as the
moment draws near. One push of a button is all it would take...The Russians are
ready, The U.S. is armed, the giants tell us there is no cause for
alarm..."
Nuclear Winter
By Sodom. About the devastation caused by a potential nuclear war.
"...Make us die slowly. Nuclear winter. Clouds of dust will hide the sun
forever...Causing the premature burial of nature..."
Numb
By The Cure. About how drug addicts will continue to self medicate in order to
kill or deaden the pain of living. "...Hopelessly, helplessly broken
apart. He finally falls. He doesn't want to think, doesn't want to
feel...Because he's in love with a drug..."
Number One Crush
By Garbage. About an obsessive and potentially violent relationship and the
important issue of stalking.
“I would die for you I would die for you I've been dying just to feel you by my
side, to know that you're mine… See your face every place that I walk in Hear
your voice every time that I'm talkin' You will believe in me, and I will never
be ignored…”
Nutbush City Limits
By Tina Turner. A tribute to the artist's birthplace, Nutbush, Tennesee.
"...Old little town down in Tennesee. A real quiet community...Hey, the
people keep the city clean. Nutbush city, Nutbush city limits..."
O (top)
The Office Song
By Ray Korona. This song is about the
struggle and strain of cubicle
life, being taken advantage of by your employer, and the daily grind of the
corporate cog.
"They stretch you like a rubber band. They twist you like a paper clip.
They smear you with correction fluid. Replace you with a micro chip...Do you
get honest work for honest pay or minimum wage for a maximum day? Do you work
overtime without compensation while they take the profits and a
vacation..."
Of Rage And War
By Savatage. A protest song against nuclear war, nuclear arms and the
countries who use them. "...Every country's got the bomb, the scientists
are working on. Chemical weapons to melt the flesh. With no source of
defense...better disarm the missles..."
Oh! Camil (The Winter Soldier)
By Graham Nash. Song
is about Vietnam veteran and political activist Scott
Camil, who gave testimony during the Winter
Soldier Investigation. "...Oh! Camile. Tell me why are you
in this place? When you stood up
for justice your country replied by throwing it back in your face. When you
tell me
your story are you making amends for all of the hatred you saw..."
Oh Father
By Madonna. A person looks back in anger as they remember the physical and
emotional abuse they received from their father when they were a child. "...It's
funny that way. You get used to the tears and pain...You can't hurt me know, I
got away from you..."
Oh How The Years Go By
By Amy Grant. About two friends sticking together and seeing each other
through hard times. "...And when the storms came through they found me and
you back to back together... Well we'll always be where we should be I'm there
for you, and I know you're there for me."
Ohio
By CSNY. About the shooting at Kent State
O.J. Simpson Blues
By Dan Scanlan. About the trials and tribulations of fallen sports star and
movie star O.J. Simpson who received loads of negative publicity after he was
found innocent of killing his wife Nicole Simpson. "He could carry the
ball ever so fine...O.J. what did you say to your mother on the telephone
line?...Ever since King LAPD jumps on the sensitive train. Oh my, he's camera
shy. This killin' has carved out such pain..."
Okie From
By Merle Haggard. This 1969 song
attacks the liberal hippies that came to
represent the dramatic social and political changes unfolding in
By Dan Bern. About the tragic bombing
in Oklahoma City. Song is also a
tribute to the human spirit and healing power of love. “On the 19th day of
April in 1995 there was the worst car bombing. Near 200 people died. In Oklahoma City on Wednesday
nine 0’clock. They struck the federal building. Took out near half the
block…But when we stand strong together and let love enjoy it’s will.
Misfortune can’t defeat us, it makes us stronger still…”
Oklahoma
By Billy Gilman. A boy who has spent most of his life in foster homes
finally is reunited with his biological father. "...And he said I'm the
man who looks like you. Who cried because I never knew about the pictures that
they showed me...Never again will you ever be alone. Son, welcome to your home
in Oklahoma..."
Oklahoma
ByVan Zant. A tribute to the people who lost their lives in the Oklahoma
City bombing and their surviving families. "...Standing in the ruins, a
picture of our times. Searching through the rubble for pieces of our lives.
Well, our spirit won't be broken...We stand together in the rain.
Oklahoma...".
Oklahoma U.S.A.
By The Kinks. A woman who is stuck in a dead end existence daydreams about
bettering her life and being someone and somewhere else. "...She lives in
a house that's near decay, built for the Industrial Revoltion. But in her
dreams she is far away in Oklahoma U.S.A. with Shirley Jones and Gordon
McRea...She walks to work but she's still in a daze. She's Rita Hayworth or
Doris Day, and Errol Flynn's gonna take her away to Oklahoma U.S.A..."
Old Admirals
By Al Stewart. This song is a tribute to
British naval leader, Admiral Sir
John Fisher, who encouraged the development of the dreadnoughtships prior to
Old Before My Time
By Allman Brothers. A personal song about struggling with personal demons
and substance abuse. "When I was younger, thought I'd rule the world. It
was an oyster at my feet. Dancing tomy own drum, fishing out the pearl. Guess I
could ahve been more discreet...It made me old before my time..."
Old Cape Cod
By Patti Page. A tribute to scenic and popular vacation spot Cape Cod,
Old Days
By Chicago. A person looks back and fondly remembers the carefree days of
their childhood. "Old days, good times I remember. Fun days, filled with
simple pleasures. Full of love and laughter...Boyhood memories..."
The Old Dope Peddler
By Tom Lehrer. An anti-drug song. Denounces people that sell drugs for a
living. "...He gives the kids free samples because he knows full well.
That today's young innocent faces will be tomorrow's clientele..."
Old Father Time
By Peter, Paul and Mary. About the irony of life and how the years seem to
go by so fast in life that people often fail to enjoy everything that it
offers. "...Remember when we used to laugh at old father time. All in all
the joke's on him and he don't even mind...Isn't it funny how time
flies..."
Old Glory
By C.W. McCall. About patriotism, loyalty to your country and a tribute to
our great American flag. "...And so every morning he stood beside his desk
with his hand over his heart. And promised to respect her for the rest of his days...She
was old and beautiful and wise..."
The Old Playground
By Bruce Hornsby and the Range. About playground or pick-up basketball which
is played in urban parks and playgrounds all over our nation. These games often
produce local legends who never play in college or professional
basketball. "Walking on the sidewalk, roundball under my arm. Everybody
knows how you play is who you are...Take me to the old playground. Where the
old ones rule and the young ones do their time..."
Ollie, Ollie Off Scott Free
By Roy Zimmerman. The song is about Oliver
North one of the key players in the Iran-Contra
Affair. "...You may recall Ollie up against the wall. Squaring his
chin and leaving his grin...And later on contradicting George and Ron...They
never found a shred of evidence!..."
On An Underground Railroad
By Kinny Landrum. Song is about the "Underground Railroad"
where black slaves had a chance to escape slavery and find freedom. References
made to many people involved and also to the Fugitive Slave Law. "...The
spark of freedom was so strong...Those who helped went by names. There was Harriet Tubman...And Levi Coffin, they
called president..."
One
By Creed. About social change and putting an end to intolerance, prejudice
and racial hatred. Song is encouraging people to reach out and helpothers so we
can build a peaceful community
of different races and cultures.
"...The goal is to be unified. Take my hand, be my brother...Society blind
by color. Why hold down one to raise another... We may rise and fall, but in
the end we meet our fate together. One..."
One
By Metallica. Song is about feeling imprisoned in your body,
looking out from within and realizing you are trapped
in a situation. Lyrics represent the thoughts and feelings of a soldier who is
suffering from horrible injuries caused by a landmine.
"...fed through the tube that sticks in me, just like a wartime novelty.
Tied to machines that make me be, cut this life off from me...Oh please God, wake
me...I cannot live. I cannot die. Trapped
in myself. Body my holding cell. Landmine
has taken my sight. Taken my speech. Taken my hearing. Taken my arms. Taken my
legs. Taken my soul..." This song was inspired by the movie, "Johnny Got His
Gun", which had been adapted from the Dalton
Trumbo novel.
One
By U2. This song is about
the importance of compassion, love and unity. Other
themes may include the unification of
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One
Beer
By George Thorogood. Song has many health related topics including binge
drinking, tolerance, using alcohol to solve problems and alcohol dependency.
"...Well I ain't seen my baby since I don't know when. I've been drinking
bourbon whiskey, scotch and gin. Gonna get high man...Gotta get a drink, I'm
gonna get gassed...I ain't had enough, need me a triple shot of that
stuff..."
One Bright Day
By Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. About unity and getting along with
your fellow man. Ziggy is the son of deceased reggae musician Bob Marley.
"One bright day the pweople will get together...There will be celebrations
around the nations. Love without no care...Life without the fear..."
One Country
By Midnight Oil. About unity,
cooperation, and people joining together for the sake of humanity and the
planet. "...One vision, One people, One landmass...One ocean, One
policy...One instant, One difference, One lifetime, One understanding..."
175 Canucks
By Rick Miller. A lesson in itself about the history of Canadian
musical artists. As the song title says, 175 Canadian musicians are mentioned
in the song. "...These fine folks call
1 Million Bottlebags
By Public Enemy.
About alcohol abuse. "...An oh lemme tell you 'bout shorty He about
seventeen lookin' like 40 Treats his 40 dog better than his g When he gets a
big b-o-t-t-l-e Oh he loves tha liquor But look watch shorty get sicker...He's
just a slave to the bottle and the can..."
One More Parade
By Phil Ochs. An anti-war song. "...Cold hard stares on faces so proud.
Kisses from the girls and cheers from the crowd. And the widows from the last
war cry into their shroud. Here comes the big parade...War is a game...So start
the parade..."
One More Time
By Joe Jackson. About a person who does not want to end a relationship and
is in denial over the pending breakup. "Tell me one more time as I hold
your hand that you don't love me. Tell me one more time as teardrops start to
fall. Shout it to me and I'll shout it to the skies above me that there was
nothing after all. Baby, baby, tell me that you never wanted my loving. Baby,
baby, tell me that you never. Tell me, tell me one more time, one more
time..."
One Night Stand
By Janis Joplin. About promiscuity, risk taking and poor decision making.
Song paints an unhealthy picture of sexual intercourse. "...Just because
we loved tonight, please don't you think that it's gonna stay that way. Don't
you know that you're nothin' more than a one night stand. Tomorrow I'll be on
my way an' you can catch me if you can..."
One Of Us
By Joan Osbourne. A spiritual or religious song about faith and the desire to know God. "...If God had a
face, what would it look like? And would you want to see if seeing mean that
you would have to believe...What if God was one of us?..."
One Tin Soldier
By Coven. Song was written in 1971 for the movie "Billy Jack"
which starred Tom Laughlin and Delores Taylor. "Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in
the end...On the bloody morning after...One tin soldier rides away..."
One Voice
By Billy Gilman. About spirituality and having faith in times of trouble.
"...One voice, one simple word. Hearts know what to say. One dream can
change the world. Keep believing 'til you find your way..."
One Way
By Fury in the Slaughterhouse. Song is about using substances in order to
"mask" or "cover up" your insecurities. "...Let's
drink another or whatever it takes. To help cover all of your fakes. So that no
one sees how desperate we are...This is a one way dead end street..."
One Week
By Barenaked Ladies. Song is about
the ups and downs of a quarrelsome couple. Numerous references in this
rap-style pay tribute to pop culture. According to the artist, I never
thought I'd finish that song, As soon as I started I was afraid to write it.
Hip-hip and rapping and freestyling have been a part of what we do as a live
band since the beginning, and we're big fans of that kind of music. But it's
never really reared its head on any of our recordings, although it's a huge
part of what we do live We're always freestyling. "It's been one week
since you looked at me cocked your head to the side and said I'm
angry...Yesterday you'd forgiven me but it'll be two days till I say I'm
sorry...How can i help it if I think you're funny when you're mad. Trying hard
not to smile though I feel bad..."
One World
By Sting. Song is about the plight of so
called "third world" or underdeveloped nations. A call for people of
all nations to unite
and help their fellow man. "...I
don't want to bring a sour note, remember this before you vote. We can all sink
or we all float, "cos we're all in the same big boat..."
Only A Pawn In Their Game
By Bob Dylan. Inpired by and based on
actual events this song is a painful
reminder of the senseless
murder of civil rights leader Medgar
Evers. Song deals with the legacy of racism
and its institutional or systematic qualities. "A bullet from the back of
a bush took Medgar Evers' blood...A South politician preaches to the poor white
man...You're better than them, you been born with white skin...He's been taught
in his school from the start by the rule. That the laws are with him to protect
his white skin. Too keep up his hate...And he's taught how to walk in a pack.
Shoot in the back. With his fist in a clinch. To hang and to lynch. To hide
'neath the hood...But it ain't him to blame. He's only a pawn in their
game..."
Only A Polyp
By Nancy Schimml. Song relates to science education. The main topic area of
the song is coral reefs. "I am only a polyp, I am not very big...I am as
small as a dime and as soft as a sigh. But I am building an island three
hundred feet high..."
Only In
By Brooks and Dunn. About patriotism and the land of opportunity,
Only The Good Die Young
By Billy Joel. Growing up, issues of dating, and pressure to become sexually
active. Relates to various health topics; identity, choice, self-esteem, peer
pressure and values. Includes numerous references to Catholicism, it's beliefs
and practices. "Come out
Only The Strong
By Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Song relates to mental and social health as it has themes that
deal with individuality, self esteem, taking control of one's
own destiny and always trying your hardest to meet your goals.
"...Deviate, no need to conform. All it takes is some confidence. Seize
the day...Face the truth and control your fate. Set the pace, never hesitate. Only
the strong survive..."
Only Women Bleed
By Alice Cooper. Woman
suffering at the hands of an abusive spouse or boyfriend. Deals with domestic violence and substance
abuse. "...He slaps you once in a while and you live and love in
pain...She cries alone at night too often. He smokes and drinks and don't come
home at all..." The effects of domestic violence are also explored in Richard
Frost's poem, "Neighbor
Blood".
Onslaught
By Blues Traveler. About the endless history of hate, war, and violence that
has plagued this planet. Song includes references to numerous historic
examples. "...Cause if you look around you might just feel like me. And
you might notice no one was ever really free...War they come and go, no telling
where the wind will bow. Pain was always there, sad reminder that you care.
Hate, the price you pay for thinking you got the only way..."
On The Radio
By Cheap Trick. About the power of music, disc jockeys and radio stations in
general. "...All the rock and roll DJ's, got their fingers on the world.
'Cause they play the songs that make me and you feel so good. Turn on the radio,
I love the music on the radio..."
On The Road Again
By Willie Nelson. About the joys of traveling and spending time on the road
making music. "...On the road again. Goin' places that I've never been.
Seein' things that I may never see again. I can't wait to get on the road
again..."
On With The Action
By UFO. References made to gang life, hate crimes, and violence.
"Something's going on at the corner of the block. It's the kids down
there, they were startin' to rock...When the Greek kid pulls a knife and puts
it in his face...Then someone cuts a blind man who just can't make a run...On
with the action...If you can't run you ain't gonna survive..."
On
By Gordon Lightfoot. Song is a tribute to the artist's birthplace of
Toronto,
Ooh La La
By Rod Stewart. A young boy does not heed the advice of his grandfather
regarding the "dangers" of love and romance. This is a timeless song
about the innocence of youth
and the knowledge or wisdom
people acquire with age. As the sayings go..."There's no teacher like
experience" and "Youth
is wasted on the young." Recently this catchy song has been
associated with Mitsubishi as an excerpt of it is heard in their popular car
commercial. Unfortunately, the issue of 20/20 hindsight
can also relate to more serious and sobering topics. "Poor old Grandad I
laughed at all his words...He spoke of women's
ways. They'll trap you then they use you...Poor young grandson, there's
nothing I can say. You'll
have to learn just like me...I wish that I knew what I know now when I was
younger. I wish that I knew what I know now when I was stronger..."
Open Letter (To a Landlord)
By Living Colour. About so called "slum lords" related topics;
rent control, gentrification. "...This is my neighborhood This is where I
come from I call this place my home You call this place a slum...We lived here
for so many years Now this house is full of fear For a profit you will take
control Where will all the older people go? There used to be when kids could
play Without the scourge of drug's decay...You've got a right To fight for your
neighborhood!"
Open Letter To My Teenage Son
By Victor Lundberg. A different kind of protest song recorded during the
Vietnam War era. This song criticized draft dodgers and protestors who rebelled
against the war effort. "...If you decide to burn your draft card then
burn your birth certificate at the same time. Because from that moment on I
have no son..."
Open Your Eyes
By Staind. Song takes a look at some of
the harsh realities of our society today. References made to poor parenting
skills, drug addiction, prostitution, overpopulation and environmental issues.
"...A boy just 13 on the corner for sale. Swallows his pride for another
hit...A shot rings out from a roof overhead. A crack head asks for change
nearby...You turn away..."
Opium Trail
By Thin Lizzy. About the impact of the opium trade in
By Rossington-Collins Band. Song is about not being judgemental about other
people's mistakes they have made in the past, persevering in times of adversity,
and continuing to strive for something better. "There's been times when I
have stumbled over my mistakes. And there's been times when I've fallen flat on
my face. But when you can tell me there's never been a day like that for you.
Then I'll stop and listen to what you think I should do. Opportunity is
for the taking, look inside yourself you'll see. Let them clean up their own
backyard. Leave my yard to me..."
By Will Powers.
From the 1983 concept album "Dancing For Mental Health" performed and
produced by portrait photographer Lynn Goldsmith in collaboration
with Sting, Steve Winwood, Todd Rundgren and other recording artists. Songs on
the album promote a positive mental health message and deal with the importance
of goal setting, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-image, and not being afraid
to strive for your dreams and desires. "...I'm Miguel. I Live in
Orange Crush
By R.E.M. About the impact
and effects of the vietnam war. Song includes a specific reference to the
weapon Agent Orange.
"Follow me, don't follow me. I've got my spine, I've got my orange
crush...High on the roof, thin the blood, another one climbs on th waves
tonight, comin' in you're home..."
Ordinary Day
By Great Big Sea. Song deals with having a positive outlook on life and
accepting the good with the bad. "...I'll win now but sometimes I'll lose.
I've been battered but I'll never bruise...It's a beautiful life but there's
always some sorrow...And it's all your state of mind. At the end of the day,
you've just got to say, it's all right..."
Ordinary Man
By Christy Moore. About a man who loses his factory job after twenty years
of employment due to downsizing. References in the song to the lack of balance
of wealth between classes and lack of job security. "...Now they say the
times are hard...Tonight they're going to shut his factory down...For twenty
years I served them best I could...The owner...He's richer now than ever he was
before. Now my cheque is spent and I can't afford the rent..."
Orion
By Jethro Tull. Song is about the constellation
Orion. "...Orion, light your lights, come guard the open spaces from
the black horizon to the pillow where I lie. Your
faithful dog shines brighter than it's lord and master. Your jewelled sword
twinkles as the world rolls by..."
Osteoporosis
By Mohan Embar. About the importance of calcium and drinking milk for strong
teeth and bones. Osteoporosis is a brittle bone disease
caused by a deficiency of calcium especially prevelent in females."...If
you do not drink your milk you will be in bad shape indeed. And then your bones
and teeth will start to rot and you will start to feel weak. And you'll get osteoporosis. It's the weakening of the
bones..."
The Ostrich
By Steppenwolf. About "looking
the other way" and ignoring all the bad things that are happening in
our world. References made to environmental issues. "The water's
getting hard to drink. We've mangled up the country side. The air will choke
you when you breathe...It's progress folks...We'll stick our heads in the sand.
Just pretend that all is grand..."
The Other Man's Grass Is Always
Greener
By Petula Clark. About self acceptance and liking yourself for who you are
instead of wishing for something better or to be someone else. "...There's
someone else in your imagination. You wish you were standing in their shoes.
You'd change your life without much hesitation. But would you really if you had
to choose?...Get your feet on the ground. It's much better by far to be just
who you are..."
The Other Side of Town
By Steve Earle. People
rying to escape their troubles and struggling with despair and loneliness.
"...On the other side of town Where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody walks around With a shadow cross their minds When that midnight
train rolls by And they hear that lonesome sound They just hang their heads and
cry On the other side of town.."
Our Black Founding Fathers
By Shoanna Z. About the contributions of many black men who had an impact on
American history. "Our black founding fathers, we wasn't told...Crispus Attucks, the 1st
Black Patriot to pay his dues...Peter Salem, a
black man in 1776 fought with a vengence in the
Our House
By
Out In The Fields
By Gary Moore. Song was written in reponse to the continuous wars that are
occuring in
Outlaw
By Riot. Song is about a criminal who is now on the lam after robbing a
bank. "Down below the border. Robbed a bank in
Out of Work
By Bruce Springsteen. Song is about economic hardship and people struggling
with unemployment, a slow economy, and a recession. "8 AM, I'm up and my
feet beatin' on the sidewalk. Down at the unemployment agency all I get is
talk. I check the want ads but there just ain’t nobody hiring. What's a man
supposed to do when he's down and he's out of work…"
Outside The Rain
By Stevie Nicks. About the desire or yearning for inner peace and happiness.
About
the elusive and mysterious quality of love. "...Love is a word -I've been
trying to find. Words don't matter, they don't matter at all...And the heart
skips a beat so you're lonely...Love is a word that some entertain. If you find
it you have won the game..."
Overnight Bag
By Rory Gallagher. About the loneliness of a traveling musician and life on
the road. "Packed my things in an overnight bag. A toothbrush and a
guitar, no tail to drag…my heart is heavy as a sky full of rain…"
Over The Hill
By Ten Years After. About drug addiction and realizing that living this
lifestyle will result in death. The song title is a reference to getting old
before your time caused by drug use. "...Like a cripple and his crutch. I
have leaned a bit too much...Now it seems plain to see that the stuff is
killing me. Got to quit so I'll be free again..."
Overworked and Underpaid
By Randy Bachman. An ode to the working class. "From daybreak til the
sun goes down It's just another day of the blues Some work nine to five, some
work all night Everybody's gotta pay some kind of dues Overworked and
underpaid...It's a treadmill existence with no way out"
By Bob Dylan. Inspired by actual
events, song is a tribute to James Meredith,
first African American to attend the University
of Mississippi. "...He went down to Oxford Town. Guns
and clubs followed him down. All because his face was brown. Better get away
from
Oye Como Va
By Tito Puente. About the joy and inspirational power of music. Specifically, the
feel, flow, rhythm, and sound of Latin music. Song was later
covered and popularized by the group Santana.
"Listen to how it goes, my rhythm... Good to have fun with..."
P (top)
Paapri De
By Suman Chatterjee. About a four year old girl from
Pack It Up
By Jay Nash. A protest song about the
problem of urban sprawl and
commercial development. "Well they're creeping in with quick stops and
strip malls I looked outside to see the sun but now my window faces a wall And
Aw shucks they're putting up another brand new starbucks They tore down the
town playground and widened main street for the buses and the dump trucks This
is our last chance to take a stand it's now or never If we don't we can kiss
our American
dream good-bye forever...Baby we can pack it up tonight Or we could shake things
up baby, wake people up and get them fighting for our side..."
Pac Man Fever
By Buckner and Garcia. A tribute to the very popular video game Pac Man
which originated in the 1980's. "I got a pocket full of quarters and I'm
headed to the arcade...I'm gonna eat'em all up as soon as they turn blue...I've
got'em on the run and I'm looking for the high score...I've got Pac-Man
fever..."
Padrino
By Smash mouth. A humorous song
about the mafia or organized crime. Song makes reference to many commonly held
stereotypes and prejudices. "...I'm a connoisseur of the finer things in
life. I'll take any flick with Al Pacino.
I'm a man of respect and I prefer to be addressed as padrino...I
know it's not a wise thing to do, writing funny songs about the mob...Stay out
of the papers. Don't get caught. Leave the singing to Sinatra and always
keep your big trap shut. Capice?..."
Paid My Dues
By Anastacia. Song touches on the topics of self esteem, pride, inner
strength, and perseverance. "You can say what you want about me...But you
cannot stop me...I'm too proud, I'm too strong...Held my head high. Knew I'd
survive..."
The
By Al Stewart. This song is about the
impact and legacy of the French
Revolution. "The wands of smoke are rising from the walls of the
Bastille...The kings have all departed. Their servants are nowhere. We burned
out all their mansions in the name of Robespierre...And
Bonaparte
is coming with his army from the south. Marat
your days are numbered and we live hand to mouth...The ghost of revolution
still prowls the
Panda
By
Panic Attack
By Biohazard. About a person experiencing severe anxiety which results in a
panic attack. "...Heart is racing, my mind's a blur. Cold sweat,
palpatations occur...Heart racing faster, just might explode. It's all in my
head. That's what I'm told...Get this monkey off my back. Anxiety, the panic
attack..."
Papa Don't Preach
By Madonna. About poor decision making that leads to
teenage pregnancy. The individual is trying to decide whether to have the baby and is asking for
guidance and acceptance from her father and family."...You always taught
me right from wrong. I need your help, Daddy please be strong...But my friends
keep telling me to give it up, saying I'm too young, I ought to
live it up..."
Papa Was A Rolling Stone
By Temptations. About a child who wants to know more about his father who
has died. Song deals with numerous issues including parenting, substance abuse,
abandonment, dysfunctional families. "..I never got a chance to see him;
never heard nothin' but bad things about him...Spend most of his time chasin'
women and drinkin'...Papa was a rollin' stone. Wherever he laid his hat was his
home. And when he died, all he left us was alone..."
Paper Lies
By Marillion. Song takes a swipe at
the media and tabloid journalism in general for not always writing or
portraying the truth. "Paper lies...Its a sign ot the times. We believe
anything...When you kill the truth you can make a killing...You might just make
losing look like winning...Paper lies..."
By Jim Steinman / Meat Loaf. Song deals with dating, teenage sexual activity, raging hormones, and
the results or consequences of going "all the way". Metaphorical use
of baseball with audio by "The Scooter", Phil Rizzuto. "I
remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday. Parking by the
lake and there was not another car in sight...And now are bodies are oh so
close and tight. It never felt so good, it never felt so right. We were glowin'
like the metal on the edge of a knife...'cause we were barely seventeen and we
were barely dressed..." (* Go to the "Gallery" section
of our web site to read two student essays/interpretations of this song.)
By Arc Angels. Song is about college kids who get a "free ride"
from their parents and then spend their college years partying rather than
studying. "...When your momma pays the tuition. And your daddy pays the
rent. You could learn alot in college although you never went. Now you ain't
that funny and you ain't that smart. But you became a model student when you
step up to the bar. Drinking your life away, at the paradise cafe..."
Paranoid Eyes
By Pink Floyd. A man uses alcohol to avoid and cover-up feelings of
disappointment, insecurity, and self-doubt. "...You believed in their
stories of fame fortune and glory. Now you're lost in a haze of alcohol soft
middle age. The pie in the sky turned out to be miles too high and you hide
hide hide..."
Pardon Denied Again
By Robert
Pete Williams. An autobiographical blues song about the artist's continuous
requests for parole being denied. He was eventually set free from jail and
became a popular blues musician. "Lord, I got myself on the pardon board.
You know I got denied again. Been on the board three times. Each time I was
denied...Lord have mercy on me..."
Parents Just Don't Understand
By DJ Jazzy and Fresh Prince. A common complaint from young people and
teenagers of any generation. References also made to many health related issues
including peer pressure, conformity, and parental expectations. "You know
parents are the same. No matter time, nor place. They don't understand that us
kids are going to make some mistakes...parents just don't understand...My
mom took me shopping...I asked her for Adidas and she bought me Zips...And when
I walked into school, it was just as I thought. The kids were cracking up,
laughing at the clothes Mom bought...There's no need to argue. Parents just
don't understand..."
Part Time Poppa
By Bandanna Girls. Song laments a man who is rarely around for his family
and who is not comitted to monogomy. "...He don't want one woman,
not even three or four. 'Cause he's got a million women and he wants a million
more. He's a part time poppa, don't mean nobody no good. Wouldn't treat you
right even if he could..."
Party For Your Right To Fight
By Public Enemy. About
self-improvement and empowerment. The song is a call to action,
encouraging people to renew political and social activism.
Song pays tribute to the Black Panther
Party and various civil rights leaders. "Power equality and we're out
to get it...With a pro-Black
radical mix...J. Edgar Hoover,
and he coulda' proved to 'ya he had King and X set up also the party
with Newton, Cleaver and Seale...Know who you are to be
Black..." Includes an audio excerpt from a speech given by Malcolm X.
Partytime
By 45 Grave. About the deadly consequences of taking part in risky
behaviors. "Very young, gettin' kicks. Cruisin' around, 56. Drinkin' beer,
drivin' fast. This party will be their last..."
Pass It On
By John Gracie. A song of hope. It's message is one of sharing, caring and
helping our fellow man. Used as a theme song for food banks in
Pastures Of Plenty
By Woody Guthrie. A traditional song about the life of migrant workers.
"It's a mighty hard road that my poor hands have hoed. My poor feet have
traveled a hot, dusty road...Wherever the crops were, I've lent you my
hands...I come with the dust and I go with the wind..."
Patchwork Quilt
By Phil Lesh and Friends. Written by Warren Haynes in memory of Jerry Garcia, and played with Phil &
Friends. "I never knew you But then who really did?...A patchwork quilt of
a life Memories embroidered On your soul...And what do we do with our lives now
anyway? Now that our North Star can no longer be found But there's a banjo moon
in a tie-dyed sky..."
Paul Robeson
By Sumishta Brahm. A tribute to artist and activist, Paul Robeson.
"...In the middle of a war, Paul
Robeson. With microphone and speakers in the air. Sending his beautiful
voice everywhere...The guns stopped killing..."
Pawn Shop Ain't No Place For A
Wedding Ring
By Whiskeytown. A man laments over his impending divorce as his significant
other has pawned her wedding ring. "...It's a shame that your not
satisfied with me...Pawn shop ain't no place for a wedding ring. Six months
from now what will that money mean?..."
P.C.P
By Manic Street Preachers.
Song is about
P.E.A.C.E.
By Urban Guerillas. An anti-war song.
"...Leaders of the world say you’re a good idea! Then they go and leave us
to live in fear! P.E.A.C.E. Oh! Oh! Oh!…Well you have to learn to forgive and
forget! Understand each other and always respect! Responsibilities to our
fellow man!…"
Peace Is
By Fred Small. About the sad
history of human pain and suffering during times of war. Singer reminds
listeners they have the power to create
a world based on peace, tolerance, and understanding. “…We have known the
atom, the power and pain. We've seen people fall beneath the killing rain. If
the mind still reasons and the soul remains it shall never be again…Peace grows
from a tiny seed. As the acorn grows into the tallest tree. Many years ago I
heard a soldier say, when people want peace, better get out of the way…”
Peace Of Mind
By
Peace On Earth
By Adrian Belew. This songcomments on
a multitude of societal problems and deals with the important issue of social responsibilty. "...All the broken
people in a world of hurt and all the hungry people crying in the dirt all the
living people dying to be free from all the suffering in between I turn my eyes away from it all
but still a wall of pain resides in me..."
Peace Train
By Cat Stevens. Song is a cry for peace among all races and countries.
"Now I've been happy lately thinking about all the good things to come.
And I believe it could be, something good has been. Oh, and I've been smiling
lately, dreaming about the world as one...Everyone jump on the peace
train..."
Peace Tree
By Linda Beck. A song
to promote peace,
love, and understanding. "...Plant a peace tree for the children It
will remain here when we go Plant a peace tree for the children Give it love
and watch it grow Verse 2 Through the ages we’ve been fighting Now it’s time to
make a change Cast aside those crazy weapons Time to quit our foolish
games..."
By Dr. Clayton. Song is about the Japanese air raid on
People Are People
By Depeche Mode. Song challenges prejudice and hatred in our society.
"...I can't understand What makes a man Hate another man Help me understand
People are people so why should it be You and I should get along so
awfully..."
People Got To Be Free
By The Rascals. About unity, brotherhood and living in a world free of hate
and racism. "...If there is a man who's down and needs a helpin' hand. All
it takes is you to understand and to pull him through...People everywhere just
want to be free..."
People, Let's Stop The War
By Grand Funk Railroad. A protest song about the useless killings that
occured during the Vietnam War. "Hey all you people, for goodness sake.
Let's get together, what does it take. To make you understand the value of a
man. I'm talkin' 'bout your son and neighbor, yes I am. Oh, people, let's stop
the war..."
People Of
By Midnight Oil. About treating
the environment with care and respect. Song also refers to the plight of the
Aborigines. The group
People Of The Sun
By Rage Against The Machine. About
Spanish conquests during the colonial period. Indigenous people in
People Puttin' People Down
By John Prine. Song is about people who don't feel good about themselves and
because of their low self esteem make fun of and put down others. "...The
people who don't fit. Get the only fun they get from puttin'
people down. So cold, sometimes it gets so cold..."
People Who Died
By Jim Carroll. A disturbing song about risk taking,
depression, death, and suicide. "Teddy sniffing glue. He was 12 years old.
Fell from the roof on East 29th. Cathy was 11 when she pulled the plug. On 26
reds and a bottle of wine...Mary took a dive from a hotel room. Bobby hung
himself from a cell in the tombs...These are people I know..."
Perfect
By Alanis Morrisette. A young person's feelings about parental expectations and the
pressure to be "perfect".
Addresses topics of identity, self-esteem and depression. "...Be a good
girl, you've gotta try a little harder. That simply wasn't good enough to make
us proud..."
Perfect
By Simple Plan. Song is about
a child struggling to meet parental expectations and the
pressure to be "perfect".
"...But it hurts when you disapproved all along And now I try hard to make
it I just wanna make you proud I'm never gonna be good enough for You can't
pretend that I'm alright And you can't change me 'Cause we lost it all
Nothin' lasts forever I'm sorry I can't be perfect Now it's just too late And
we can't go back I'm sorry I can't be perfect..."
Perfect Day
By Lou Reed. About having a wonderful
time with a special person, enjoying a day together with someone you love.
"Oh it's such
a perfect day, I'm glad I spend it with you, Oh such a perfect day...Just a
perfect day problems all left alone, weekenders on our own it's such fun..."
The Perfect High
By Shel Silverstein.
Often used by substance-abuse counselors, this song examines
the futility of seeking a "higher" level of existence
through the use of natural or synthetic substances. The writer reminds listeners that
emotional, spiritual, or physical well being comes from within. "There
once was a boy named Gimmesome Roy. He was nothing like me or you. 'Cause
laying back and getting high was all he cared to do. As a kid, he sat in the
cellar, sniffing airplane glue. And then he smoked bananas -- which was then
the thing to do. He tried aspirin in Coca-Cola, breathed helium on the sly, And
his life was just one endless search to find that perfect high...Here's one
more burnt-out soul, Who's looking for some alchemist to turn his trip to gold.
But you won't find it in no dealer's stash, or on no druggist's shelf. Son, if
you would seek the perfect high -- find it in yourself..."
The Perfect Virus
By Annihilator. About the destructive nature of computer viruses.
"Creeping through the system. Spreading like a disease. A cancer-like
affliction to bring us down to our knees. Created for the masses. Systematic
crash and burn. To pillage and to plunder this cyber hungry world..."
Perfect Water
By Blue Oyster Cult. Relates to
environmental health. Song talks about the sea being a
complete and perfect environment and one that has not been destroyed by human
kind and technology. References to ocean explorer, Jacques-Yves
Cousteau. "Perfect water, the dark wind braids the waves that grey
birds 'ware the tree. Is this our destiny? To join our hands at sea and slowly
sink and slowly think. This is perfect water...To flow inside the spiral tide.
To drown my eyes like a blind ride...A life of perfect order! A strange and
perfect water..."
Perfect World
By Ace of Base. Song talks about the promise of love and unity among people
as they come together to work for a better world. "They say the time has
come for us to start again, I believe that's true. They say the time has come
for us to make amends, and I believe that too...for a perfect world..."
Personal Bottom
By Michael Purington and the Messengers. A person with an alcohol problem
hits "rock bottom". "Gimme just one more last straw to break my
drunken back. Fight me to a draw so I'm faced to face the facts...When am I
gonna hit my personal bottom?..."
Peter on the
By Al Stewart. Inspired by actual
events, song is a
tribute to Peter
the Great. "...
Pet Names
By Smash mouth. About breaking up,
coping with rejection and the end of a relationship."Just when I thought
everything would be OK. Just when I started to believe that everything was
going my way. Out came the cloud from under my feet crashing back down to
reality. You used to call me pumpkin now I'm Halloween...I
remember when I used to be the king. Your honey sweety darling baby everything.
I used to be your talk dark mystery man. Now I'm just straight up history
man..."
Phantasmagoria
By Annihilator. Song is about a strange phenomenon called phantasmagoria, a
psychological disorder where the victim has visions of ghosts in their mind.
These apparitions eventually multiply driving the victim to mental insanity.
"...Someone here is calling out your name. Look out, I play inside your
brain. Fleeing from my shadows you'll never pass my test. Don't you know that
ghosts never rest. Phantasmagoria..."
Phantom of The Opera
By Iron Maiden. Inspired by Gaston Leroux's acclaimed novel
of the same name."...You've been living so long in hiding behind that
false mask. And you know and I know that you ain't got long now to last. Your
looks and your feelings are just the remains of your past..."
By Neil Young. Song was written for the movie "
Phil Ochs
By
Philomena
By Thin Lizzy. Song was written by the artist as a tribute to his mother.
"...If you see my mother please give her all of my love. For she has a
heart of gold..."
Photograph
By Def Leppard. Song was supposedly written about actress and sex symbol
Marilyn Monroe. "...I see your face everytime I dream. On every page,
every magazine...Such a woman, you
got style. You make every man feel like a child. You got some kinda hold on
me. You're all wrapped up in mystery..."
Photographs And Memories
By Jim Croce. A person reminisces about somebody who was very important to
them at another time in their past. "Photographs and memories...All that I
have are these to remember you...Take me to another time. Back to a happier
day..."
Pickin' Time
By Johnny Cash. Song is about living off the land and the importance of
harvest season to a family's daily existence. "...I got cotton in the
bottom land. It's up and growin' and I got a good stand. My good wife and them
kids of mine, gonna get new shoes come pickin' time..."
Pieces of Man
By Doug Hoekstra.
A social responsibility song
about compassion, empathy, and the importance of taking action and reaching out to
those who are less fortunate or in need. Song also comments on the media and
glorification of war. "...I pitched him a dime and dropped my fate between
the bars of a subway grate..This
blind man with his hollow
eyes. He ain't living on the street by design. But in my home, safe and
secure I can hold my baby, I can be so sure. Love trickles down like molasses.
Into the canyon between the classes. Has my imagination run amuck? Or have some
run out of more than luck?..."
Pieces of You
By Jewel. Song is about
the societal problems of fear, intolerance, hatred, and prejudice.
"...She's an ugly girl, does that make you feel safe?...Do you hate her
cause she's pieces of you?...You say he's a faggot, are you afraid you're just
the same?...You say that he's a Jew as though being born were a sin...Do you
hate him cause he's pieces of you?"
Pigs, Sheep And Wolves
By Paul Simon. Song is an anti-death penalty allegory. “Sheep in the meadow
nibbling on some clover. One of the sheep wanders over sits by a rock…Where'd
he go? Don't know well he was here a minute ago. I don't know sheep's
dead… Let's give that wolf a lethal injection. Let's get him, yeah get him, let's kill him, let's get him. All
around the world
The Pilgrim; Chapter 33
By Kris Kristofferson. The
song title was inspired by an actual experience while traveling in
The Pilgrim's Address
By Fish. Song is an open letter to world leaders about the destructive
nature of war. "Mr. President...I just can't help wondering why that the
shells we fired, they now kill our own...Mr. President you don't know my name
but you could find it if you really cared. It's on a black wall, it's on a
cross of stone in the Balkan States the Gulf and close at home..."
Pills
By Primer 55. A substance abuse song about a person who must learn to cope
with difficulties and stress. Instead, this person uses drugs to avoid or
escape personal problems and issues. "...give me room so I can breathe
walls keep closing in I’m feeling claustrophobic, increase the dosage so I can
feel alive again don't wanna feel sober, don't wanna feel pain I really don't
wanna feel the emptiness, the stress and all those things that make me take
those pills."
Pinball Wizard
By The Who. A symbolic song from the rock opera, Tommythat deals
with abuse, autism, and childhood trauma. According to Pete
Townshend, There was a parallel within the shape of the autistic child,
so the hero had to be deaf, dumb, and blind so that seen from our already
limited point of view, his limitations would be symbolic of our own. "...He
ain't got no distractions Can't hear those buzzers and bells, Don't see lights
a flashin' Plays by sense of smell. Always has a replay, 'n' never tilts at
all...That deaf dumb and blind kid Sure plays a mean pin ball..."
Pine Tar Wars
By C.W. McCall. Song is about
the infamous "Pine
Tar Incident" where George Brett of the baseball
Pipes Of Peace
By Paul McCartney. An anti-war song. Also about hope, understanding and
making the world a positive and safe place for our young people.
"...Little children being born to the world. Got to give them all we can
'til the war is won...Help them to learn songs of joy instead of burn baby
burn..."
Planet Earth 1988
By The Ramones. A social commentary about the world's state of affairs in
the late 1980's. "The solution to peace isn't clear. The terrorist threat
is a modern fear. There are no jobs for the young. They turn to crime, turn to
drugs...Our jails are filled to the max. Discrimination against the blacks..."
Plastic Flowers On The Highway
By Drive By Truckers.
According to the band's web site; It pays tribute to a good friend and
comrade Chris Quillen who 4 out of 5 of us played with in the past, and was set
to be a member of this band before being killed in a car crash a couple of
weeks before our 1st gig. Salute! "He was ready for the big trip, he
was moving to the city; he had packed his prize possessions and gave away the
rest. He was almost doing ninety, the sky was blue, sun was shining. All the
shit, he left behind for the big world waiting there. He was almost out of
Leighton, when that phone truck didn't see him. Hit the brake and slided
sideways, he never had a chance..."
Pleasant Valley Sunday
By The Monkees. A
critique of the 'Burbs
and the people who call it home. "...Another Pleasant Valley Sunday.
Charcoal burning everywhere. Rows
of houses that are all the same and no one seems to care...Here in status
symbol land...Creature comfort goals. They only numb my soul and make it hard
for me to see..."
Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk
This Christmas
By John Denver. A man's alcohol addiction is putting a huge stress on his
home and family life. "Please Daddy, don't get drunk this Christmas. I
don't want to see my mama cry. You came home a quarter past eleven and fell
down underneath our Christmas tree..."
Please Take Our Poison
By Donald Keesing. A protest
song that raises awareness
about Yucca Mountain and Skull Valley.
In 1982 the Nuclear
Waste Policy Act instructed the Department of Energy to identify and study
potential sites as permanent repositories for nuclear waste. "Please take our
poison, we've had it too long. Please take our poison, our poison's too strong.
We're losing our profits, we're losing our face. 'Cause nobody wants our nuclear
waste...Leave liability to the tax payer. We'll make false tests to say that
moving is safe..."
PMS Blues
By Dolly Parton. About pre-menstrual syndrome and the mood swings that
accompany it. "...Most times I'm easy going, some say I'm good as gold.
But when I'm PMS I tell ya, I turn mean and cold...You know we can't help it,
we don't even know the cause. But as soon as this part is over, then comes the
menopause..."
Pocahontas
By Neil Young. A tribute
to Pocahontas,
song deals with the abuse, exploitation, and murder of Native Americans.
"...Paddles cut the water in a long and hurried flight. From the white man
to the fields of green...They killed us in our teepee. And they cut our women
down...They massacred the buffalo..."
Point Of Know Return
By
Poison In The Well
By Natalie Merchant. About
dumping of toxic waste, specifically, polluted land and ground water in Love Canal,
Poison Whiskey
By Lynyrd Skynyrd. About a man who slowly kills himself with alcohol, as
seen through the eyes of his son. "...Daddy was a cajun babe raised on
southern land...well, they rushed him down to see the doctor. Hey, doctor check
his head. The only thing that was wrong with him was Johnny Walker's Red. He
drank ol' poison whiskey until it killed him dead..."
Police Story
By Anti-Flag. Another song about the racially motivated killing of black man
Johnny Gammage by five white policemen after a routine traffic stop on October
12, 1995 in mostly white Brentwood, PA. "...Driving in a neighborhood
that's reined by whites. Ain't healthy for a black man trying to live a lengthy
life. All those cops they walked off free, but him he's in his grave. His name
is Johnny Gammage..."
Political Science
By Randy Newman. A tongue-in-cheek look at the threat of nuclear war and the
Politics Of The Sneaker Pimps
By Public Enemy. About the problem of branding and the influence of corporate
sponsors on young athletes. "...Been paid since the 8th grade, 11th grader
pop the champagne, 12th grade start the campaign...Behind the wheels and
enforcement deals is the politics...High school and college coaches gettin'
dollars with kickbacks in scholarships..." Song also addresses issue of globalization and the exploitation of foreign workers to manufacture
their product in other countries. "...I see corporate hands in
foreign lands...200 a pair..I heard they made 'em for a Buck-8 in
Polluting Is Fun
By Ray Korona. This song relates to
science and environmental education. Raises
awareness about human activity that damages and harms our planet Earth.
"...Polluting is easy. Polluting is fun. As long as you escape from Earth
before the party's done...We'll redecorate the planet, paint it a chemical
gray. You could learn to love the air this
way..."
Pollution
By Tom Lehrer. This song is about
how our cities, waterways, and environment are being overtaken by human waste.
"If you visit an American city. You will find it very pretty. Just two
things of which you must beware. Don't drink the water and don't breathe the
air. Pollution. They got smog and sewage and mud...Fish gotta swim and birds
gotta fly. But they don't last long if they try. Pollution..."
Pollution
By Neurosis. Environmental awareness song. "The corpse of mankind is
floating down your stream...Raping everything but keeping the image clean. Is
it will or is it gain?..."
Poor Bill Can't Tell The Truth
By Peter Hicks
and Geoff Francis. A satirical look at ex-president Bill Clinton and his
dubious ways. "...There was a time I did smoke dope, but I never did
inhale...Monica? I never went near her though maybe she touched me...I never
did anything with Gennifer...I just can't tell the truth..."
Popular
By Nada Surf. About the need of adolescents to be liked, feel wanted and to
be part of the "in" crowd. References also made to teenage
stereotypes where athletes and cheerleaders are often seen as the popular or
"in"crowd. "...I'm a quarterback. I'm popular. My mom says I'm a
catch. I'm popular. I'm never last picked. I'm a cheerleader chick..."
Positive
By Spearhead. An excellent health song. A couple decide to get tested for
the HIV virus before they become sexually active. Many issues are brought out
including unprotected sex with others in the past, testing procedures and the
emotional roller coaster of waiting for the results. "...If I love you
then I better get tested...How am I gonna live my life if I'm positive? Arrive
at the clinic...Take a nervous number...Think about all the time I neglected
makin' sure I was protected..."
The Post War Dream
By Pink Floyd.
About a person who is disappointed and discouraged by the failure of nations
and world leaders to avoid warfare and maintain peaceful
relations in the years following WWII. "...Is it for this daddy died?
Was it for you? Was it for me?...What have we done Maggie
what have we done...What happened to the post war
dream?..."
Poverty
By Bobby "Blue" Bland. About the life of the working class and
struggling to make ends meet. "...Lord have mercy on a working man, I
guess I'm gonna die just like I live. In poverty. My pay goes down and my tax
goes up. Poverty..."
POW 369
By Darryl Worley. A tribute to
soldiers and POW's. "...The
things we take for granted in this life for me are tragic. We should be
ashamed. He left his home and family cast his fate across the sea...I should
salute you from this heart of mine And thank you for placing your life on the
line For me, I'm free...Mr. P.O.W.
369..."
Powderfinger
By Neil Young. Young man sees an approaching ship, representing a dangerous
or threatening force. The exact nature or meaning of this "threat"
has been extensively
discussed and debated. In a greater sense it might be considered a
coming of age song about angst, loss of innocence, senseless killing, and
how a war or conflict can gradually escalate, then quickly
spiral out of control. "...So the powers that be left me here to do
thinking. And I just turned twenty-two. I was wonderin' what to do...Raised my
rifle to my eye. Never stopped to wonder why... Shelter me from the powder and
the finger. Cover me with the thought that pulled the trigger..."
Power
By Peter, Paul and Mary. A protest song against nuclear power. Also, a
pro-environment song. "Just give me the warm power of the sun. Give me the
steady flow of a waterfall...Give me the restless power of the wind...But
please take all of your atomic poison power away..."
Power And Glory
By Lou Reed. From the "Magic and
Loss" CD which is "Dedicated to Doc and especially to Rita...Between
two
Aprils I lost two friends..." A personal song about death and the loss
of a friend to cancer. "...I saw a great man turn into a little child. The
cancer reduce him to dust. His voice going weak as he
fought for his life with a bravery few men know..."
Power And The Glory
By Saxon. About the desensitation of military soldiers and their training
for battle. "I'm a soldier of fortune, I'm trained and I'm ready to
kill...Give me an order, command me I'll fire at will. I've got no
emotions...I'm trained and I'm ready to die..."
The Power Inside Me
By Richard Marx. About self realization, believing in yourself and striving
to reach your potential. "...Never knew what I could be. I never felt the
power inside of me. Now I stand in all the wonder that the mirror couldn't see.
I have the power inside of me...I feel like today's the day I was finally
born..."
The Power Of A Moment
By Chris Rice. A philosophical song about the importance of finding peace of
mind and making the most of your time here on Earth. "...Right now's the
only moment that matters...Teach me about the power of a moment...I get so
distracted by bigger schemes. Show me the importance of the simple
things..."
The Power Of The Dream
By Celine Dion. A song of optimism and inner strength to accomplish what you
want in life. "...There's so much strength in all of us. Every woman,
child and man. It's the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that
you can..."
By Randy Bachman. Artist fondly looks back on his youth growing up in
Pray To The Junkiemaker
By Fishbone. An anti-drug song. "Lie to you to start. Choking your poor
heart...Time to die, do the lie. Block everything that makes you cry...Mind's
full of smoke. Everything's a joke..."
Prejudice
By Accept. Song is about hatred, prejudice and lack of social harmony in our
society. "...If we could manage to just get along instead of blaming each
other for what's wrong. Education is the secret, the future is in our hands.
Burn the fields of hate..."
Prejudice
By Soul Fly. Song is about discrimination, hatred, and prejudice in our
society. "Prejudice, shame of a nation. Breeding hate, don't cause
annihilation...See a man's face but you can't see his heart. Don't even know
him but you tear him apart. Them kind of things, they're just killing off the
Earth..."
President Kennedy
By Ry Cooder. About the assassination
of president John F. Kennedy. "Late one Friday evening everybody was
sad. We lost the best president we ever had...Some low down rascal took the
president's life..."
Pressure
By Billy Joel. About handling life's everyday challenges and learning to
deal with stress in a positive and healthy way. "...You have to learn to
pace yourself. Pressure. You're just like everybody else. Pressure...But you
will come to a place where the only thing you feel are loaded guns in your
face. And you'll have to deal with pressure... Nowhere to look but inside where
we all respond to pressure..."
Pretty Angry (For J. Sheehan)
By Blues Traveler. Song was written in response to the death of bassist
Bobby Sheehan who died from a heroin overdose on
Pretty Boy Floyd
By Woody Guthrie. Song is about notorious gangster, criminal and bank robber
Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd. "Well gather round children, a story
I will tell. About Pretty Boy Floyd the outlaw,
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
By U2. This song pays tribute
to Martin Luther King, Jr.,
and the ideals of
equality, love and tolerance. "...Early morning, April four shot rings
out in the
Prince of Darkness
By Indigo Girls. About
loss of hope, depression, despair and the determination to rise up and overcome
difficult circumstances or situations. "...I don't know when I noticed
life was life at my expense. The words of my heart lined up like prisoners on a
fence. The dreams come in like needy children tugging at my sleeve. I said I
have no way of feeding you so leave...No one can convince me we aren't gluttons
for our doom...And I will not be a pawn for the prince of darkness any
longer.."
Prison Bound
By Social Distortion. A repeat offender is once again facing the harsh
realities of returning to the prison
system. Song also questions the validity of the prison system.
"...Well, they say I'm being punished and they say I can be reformed. But
someday I'll return...There's a lesson to be learned here but what a price to
pay. You know, I may never learn..."
Prison Song
By System of a Down. About the American prison system where
incarceration instead of treatment for drug offenders is the norm. Song also
looks at the consequences of the "drug world" and its impact on
society. "...Minor drug offenders fill your prisons, you don't even
flinch...Well, research
and successful drug policy shows that treatment should be increased..."
The Privateer
By Running Wild. About privateers
who were commissioned by governments to attack merchant ships of other nations.
"The privateer is
watching, the moon provides the only light. Roaring winds are blowing, a flag
appears out of the night. Guns are spitting fire, the cannonball tears up the
rail...A furious fight is raging..."
Process Man ( The Chemical
Worker's Song )
By Great Big Sea. About the health risks of industrial work and the dangers
of working with hazardous materials. "...A process man am I and I'm
telling you no lie I work and breathe among the fumes that trail across the sky
There's thunder all around me and poison in the air There's a lousy smell that
smacks of hell and dust all in my hair...There's overtime and bonus
opportunities galore The young men like the money and they all come back for
more But soon you're getting on, you look older than you should For every bob
made on the job you pay with flesh and blood..."
Prologue/ Someday (
By
Proud To Be Black
By Run DMC. About identity, self esteem, and black power or pride. "You
know I'm proud to be black y'all
and that's a fact y'all...Now Hariett Tubman, was born a slave She was a
tiny black woman, when she was raised
She was livin to be givin there's a lot that she gave...I'm black and I'm
proud, and I'll say it out loud..."
Psychedelic Child
By Barclay James Harvest. Song
takes a nostalgic look at the hippie era of the 1960’s. Many references to
people and places of the era. “My Little Red Book, Day Tripper, UFO Club, Pink
Floyd, Soft Machine. Talk about a heavy scene. I’m a psychedelic child…Talk
about love and the power of rock and roll…”
Push Comes To Shove
By Donna the Buffalo. About
damage to the environment, human suffering, and violence which are attributed
to the power and influence of businessmen, generals, and politicians. "All
you Wall Street bloodsuckers thinking you're so swell...Go tell the hungry it's
your superior destiny that allows you diamond buttons on your coat..."
"...I went to see the president, he had a bruise on his shoulder where big
business places it's thumb..." Chorus offers a message of hope and
redemption, encouraging the listener to find a better way, "When good
turns to evil and push comes to shove we must save the world with an act of love."
The Pusher
By Steppenwolf. About drug dealers and their indifference to the pain and
suffering they cause. "...You know I've seen a lot of people walking
'round, with tombstones in their eyes. But the pusher don't care if you live or
if you die..."
Pusherman
By Curtis Mayfield. About a drug dealer. "…I'm your doctor when in
need. Want some coke? Have some weed. You know me, I'm your friend. Your main
boy, thick and thin. I’m your pusherman…"
Putting Out the Vibration (and
Hoping It Comes Home)
By Richie Havens. A positive song about the power
of love, hope and optimism.
"Brighter days ahead Step out from the shade Brighter days ahead See what
you have made Of yourselves Of your lives...Brighter days ahead See the morning
from your knees Peace at noontime saves the sun See the evening if you please Love and peace and life
are one..."
Put Down That Weapon
By Midnight Oil. Song is a plea to
stop wars from happening and to put an end to the bloodshed and mindless
killings..."Put down that weapon or we'll all be gone. I must know
something to know it's so wrong...Some things aren't meant to be..."
Quality Of Mercy
By Michelle Shocked. The song is from and inspired by the motion picture "Dead Man
Walking" which is based on a true story.
Song examines the brutal nature of violence in our society. Also about the
importance of accepting responsiblity for one's actions and the healing or redemptive
power of unconditional love and forgiveness.
"...Yes vengeance and revenge are just two words for pain. And the quality
of mercy is not strained...Yes for love if it's love is changing but unchanged.
And the quality of mercy is not strained..."
Quality Time
By Iris Dement. Song is about how
children are too often "forgotten" by parents who are busy
concentrating on careers and obtaining material wealth. "...And they've
got big houses and they've got nice cars. And it looks from the outside like
they're really going far. But there's trouble...If some mom and dads don't
start hanging around..."
Quark Sing-a-long
By Lynda Williams.
This song is a tribute
to the quark.
"...Quarks
carry a color charge. They come in red, green and blue. You'll never see a
quark all by itself cuz they stick together with a strong force glue. Quarks
carry electric charge. A fraction of electricity. Quarkscombine together so
the total charge is a multiple of unity!..."
Quasimodo
By Lifehouse. According to band
member Jason Wade, Quasimodo' is a character who's chained down by people
trying to get him to conform...He goes along with it 'cause he's afraid.
But by the chorus, he's breaking out of that ... So it ends hopefully. "You
can be right And I'll be real Oh, and it still won't be a pain That you will
have to feel Cause I don't need your approval To find my worth I'm trapped
inside of my own mind Afraid to open my eyes cause of what I'd find and I Don't
wanna live like this anymore..."
Queen Jane Approximately
By Bob Dylan. Song refers to Lady Jane Grey Queen of England ( July
10, 1553 - July 19, 1553 ) In a broader sense song is about the
capricious, tentative, and sometimes tragic nature of fame, fortune, and power.
"...Now when all of the flower ladies want back what they have lent you.
And the smell of their roses does not remain. And all of your children start to
resent you. Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?..."
Quest For Fire
By Iron Maiden. About prehistoric man and his search for fire. "In a
time when dinosaurs walked the earth, when the land was swamp and caves were
home. In an age when prize possesion was fire, the search for landscapes men
would roam...Drawn by quest for fire,
discovery of man...."
Quicombo
By Soulfly. Song is about the place of refuge called Quicombo where
Brazilian slaves escaped to hundreds of years ago. "This is the story of a
slaveman who fled his people from the white man...Thirty thousand Zumbi
refugees. Fight for the right. Fight to be free..."
Quit Playing Games (With My
Heart)
By Backstreet Boys. Song is about dating and relationships. Deals with
issues of love, identity, self-esteem and emotional health. "...Even in my
heart I see, you're not bein' true to me. Deep within my soul I feel, nothing's
like it used to be...quit playing games with my heart..."
R (top)
Racing In The Street
By Bruce Springsteen. Song is
about muscle cars and street racing. Lyrics express the pleasure and enjoyment people
derive from racing. The song also deals with the competitive spirit and the
search or desire for recognition and glory. "I got a sixty-nine Chevy
with a 396 Fuelie
heads and a Hurst
on the floor...Me and my partner Sonny built her straight out of scratch...Some
guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece.
Some guys come home from and wash up, and go racin' in the street. Tonight,
tonight the strip's just right I wanna blow 'em all out of their seats. Calling
out around the world, we're going racin'
in the street..."
Racist Friend
By The Specials. Song is about racism and offers
advice on how to deal with a friend or family member who is prejudiced.
"If you have a racist friend now is the time, now is the time for your
friendship to end. Be it your sister, be it your brother. Be it your cousin, or
your uncle, or your lover...Either change their views or change your friends..."
Radar Gun
By The Bottle Rockets. Song is about a man who fulfills his dream by
becoming a police officer in the small town he grew up in. "Straight from
twelth grade into junior college...Passed my exam. Makin' me a law enforcement
person. Got me a badge and a gun, I'm a man. Radar gun...I'm makin' money and
I'm havin' fun. With my brand new radar gun..."
The Railroad
By Grand Funk Railroad. Song is about the hard and laborious life of a
railroad worker. "Up each morning at
Railroad Song
By Lynyrd Skynyrd. About the trials and tribulations of the latter day hobo.
"I jumped off a boxcar down around Tennesee. I was cold and tired and
dirty hungry as could be. But I had my guitar and a hundred railroad songs. So
I asked the policeman, can I stay here long? He said Mr. Hobo you got to go
now, we don't want you round..."
The Rain Came Down
By Steve Earle. About the
economic struggles and hardships faced by generations of family farmers. "...And they settled down
hard on a government grant. With six mouths to feed and forty acres to
plant...Fall turned to winter another year gone over and over again...And the
good lord he giveth and he taketh away. And the restless shall go and the
faithful shall stay...So don't you come around here with your auctioneer man.
'Cause you can have the machines but you
ain't taking my land."
Rain On The Scarecrow
By John Mellencamp. About the
decline of the family farm. Economic hardship, feelings of despair, loss of
hope and pride. "...This land fed a nation, this land made me proud and
son I'm just sorry they're just memories for you now..."
Rain On Me
By
Ramones
By Motorhead. Song is a tribute to
one of New York City's first punk bands, The Ramones. "...Ramones, bad boy
rock and roll...Keep it up, rock and roll. Good music save your
soul...R.A.M.O.N.E.S..."
The Rape Of The World
By Tracy Chapman. About the slow and steady destruction of mother Earth due
to technological advances. "...You've seen her strip mined. You've heard
bombs explode underground. You know the sun shines hotter than ever before...We
are all witness to the rape of the world..."
Rats In The Cellar
By Aerosmith. About drug use and addiction. "Goin' under, rats in the
cellar Goin' under, skin's turnin' yellow Nose is runny, losin' my connection
Losin' money, getting no affection...See my body, pushin up the
daisies..."
Rats In The Hallway
By Rancid. Song is about living in a poor and destitute part of town.
References made to alcoholism, drug use, violence and gangs. "...I live in
the land of the welfare state...It's a rat infested cocaine run...Drunken bum.
Rats in the hallway again..."
The Raven
By Alan Parson's
Project. From the album "The
Tales of Mystery and Imagination" which is based on the poems of Edgar Allan Poe. "The clock struck
midnight And through my sleeping I heard a tapping at my door I looked but
nothing lay in the darkness And so I turned inside once more To my amazement
There stood a raven Whose shadow hung above my door Then through the silence It
spoke the one word That I shall hear for evermore..."
Reach
By Gloria Estefan. This was the theme song for the 1996 Summer Olympics held
in
Reach
By S Club 7. About the positive aspects of friendship and reaching for your
hopes and dreams in life. "When the world leaves you feeling blue. You can
count on me, I will be there for you...Reach for the stars. Climb every
mountain higher. Reach for the stars. Follow your heart's desire..."
Reaching For My Goal
By Brian McKnight. Many health related issues covered including self-esteem,
believing in yourself, goal setting and individuality. "...It doesn't
matter what it takes. I'm reaching for my goal...To achieve all you've got to
do. Is just believe...I've got too much desire. I'm reaching for my
goal..."
Reach For The Light
By Steve Windwood. About the
importance of optimism, personal goal setting, aspiring for greatness, and
never giving up. "...The voices inside you can lead your soul astray.
Believe in what you dream. Don't turn away don't you turn away. Reach for the
light you might touch the sky..."
Reach For The Sky
By Gary Moore. An inspirational
song about the power of faith, hope, and
optimism. "Sometimes it seems, that you've had more than enough. As your
life is going nowhere, and you feel like giving up...Don't lose your heart when
things go wrong. You know what to do now. Just turn your back and carry on, come on. reach
for the sky. come out with your hands up..."
Real Men
By Joe Jackson. About prejudice and intolerance. Song examines
societal attitudes and stereotypes regarding gender roles and identity.
"...What's a man now - What's a man mean...Now it's all change - it's got
to change more 'cause we think it's getting better but nobody's real sure...But
now and then we wonder who the real men are...Man makes a gun - man goes to
war...Kill all the blacks - kill all the reds. And if there's war between the
sexes then there'll be no people left..."
The Real Thing
By Terri Clark. According to the
artist, "This song is a really fun song we did about being tired of trying
to pre-occupy oneself in order to avoid thinking about the lack of a love life.
Many of us stay busy so as not too have too much time to "think." We
have ALL been there! And I really do like Cracker Jacks too."
(quoted from artist's web site) "I've been looking for a way to fill this
empty place With everything from poetry to love in cyberspace
I contemplate my future, I analyze my past I twist myself up like a pretzel
in my yoga class I find attraction in small distractions It's a piece that I've
been missing A voice when I really listen A groove thats going to make me sing
A feeling only love can bring I'm ready for the real thing..."
Re-arranged
By Limp Bizkit. This songis
about a relationship that's gone bad. Deals with issues of betrayal,
communication, irony, love, paradox, trust, and weakness. Interestingly, these same issues or themesare explored in
William Shakespeare's well known work, Macbeth. "...Lately I've
been skeptical. Silent when I used to speak. Distant from all around me who
witness me fail and become weak. Life is overwhelming. Heavy is the head that
wears the crown. I'd love to be the one to disappoint you when I don't fall
down...It seems that you are not satisfied. There's too much on your mind...
Heavy is the head that wears the crown..." (* Go to the "Gallery"section of
our web site to read a student essay interpreting this song. )
Reasons I Cheat
By Randy Travis. An aging and discontented man tries to rationalize why it's
okay to cheat on his wife. "...My children keep on growing, my age keeps
on showing...So I'm getting older, my life's growing colder. Just some of the
reasons I cheat..."
Reason To Believe
By Bruce Springsteen. A testament to the enduring and undying nature of
faith, hope, and optimism. "...Now Mary Lou loved Johnny with a love mean
and true...One day he up and left her and ever since that she waits down at the
end of that dirt road for young Johnny to come back. Struck me kinda funny,
funny yeah indeed, how at the end of every hard earned day you can find some
reason to believe..."
Rebel To Rebel
By 38 Special. Group leader Donnie Van Zant's tribute to his deceased
brother Ronnie. "...Callin' out his name as night is falling. A brother's
voice is calling sending messages through the past. To rebels like me and
you...I can see his face as I watch the stars..."
Recycle
By Bill Oliver, Glen Waldeck and the
Red Alert
By Saxon. Song is about the nuclear power plant accident that happened in Chernobyl, Russia.“We were at the Russian
border when the news began to break. Of a nuclear reactor melting down sending
clouds of dust into the atmosphere…We didn’t know how serious the situation was
that many people to the north had died…Red alert…”
Redemption Song
By Bob Marley. About
the struggle to overcome slavery in Jamaica. In a broader sense
it's about resisting oppressive forces/governments while fighting for freedom and
social justice. Could also relate to nationalist movements opposing colonial
rule. "...We forward in this generation triumphantly. All I ever had, is
songs of freedom. Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom. Cause all I
ever had, redemption songs, redemption songs...Emancipate yourself from mental
slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds..."
By U2. This song is about
the coal miner's strike that occured in
Red Rag Top
By Tim McGraw. Emotional song that deals with the controversial issue of
abortion. "I was twenty and she was eighteen...Well the very first time
her mother met me, her green eyed girl was a mother to be for 2 weeks...life
was fast and the world was cruel We were young and wild, we decided not to have
a child So we did what we did and we tried to forget..."
Red Rain
By Peter Gabriel. About the
impact of denying or repressing one's feelings, and the ensuing emotional
storm. "...red rain, putting the pressure on much harder now to return
again and again just let the red rain splash you..."
Red Skies
By The Fixx. About the threat of nuclear war.
"...Someone's taking over and it looks like they're aiming at you.
Somebody says, "We'll be dead by the morning." Someone cries,
leaving...Red skies at night, red skies at night...Should have taken
warning..."
Red Tide
By Rush. About environmental pollution. Specific reference to air pollution,
acid rain, depletion of the ozone
layer, health risks. "...Stay out of the sun. It only burns my skin. Sky full of poison and
the atmosphere's too thin..."
Reduced To Ash
By Annihilator. A picture of what the Earth would look like after a nuclear
war. "The sky is falling, timbers they rush dowmn. All is in rubble...Contrived
devastation. All is ruined...Reduced to ashes..."
Red, White, and Blue
By Lynyrd Skynyrd. A post 9/11
patriotic tribute to blue collar values. “My hair's turning white, my neck's
always been red, my collar's still blue, we've always been here just trying to
sing the truth to you. Yes you could say we've always been, Red, White,
and Blue…You want to know where I have been just look at my hands…My Daddy
worked hard, and so have I, paid our taxes and gave our lives to serve this
great country so what are they complaining about…”
Reefer Madness
By Hawkwind. An anti-drug song about the use of marijuana. Reefer is a slang
term for marijuana. "...When they turn on their morals are gone. They don't
really know what their doing. It's a teenage malaise, a dangerous craze.
Leading their bodies to ruin. Reefer madness..."
Reflections
By Charlie Daniels Band. Song was written as a dedication to former Lynyrd
Skynyrd leader Ronnie Van Zant. References also made to the deaths of musicians
Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin. "It was October in
Regarding Steven
By Blues Traveler. Song is structured as an open
letter to Satan. Singer recalls his childhood friend and wonders if he was
ever able to escape the negative tendencies or influences that controlled his life.
Also deals with issues of self esteem, choice, and decision making
skills."...I'd like to discuss our mutual friend. I can't help but feel
that I left him behind. Does he still stay with you or did his pain ever
end?...I had the strength to look you in the eye and say good-bye. I was lucky
and I didn't have to play. Does he still stay with you or did he get
away?..."
Relief Is Just A Swallow Away
By George Jones.
About alcohol abuse and using alcohol
to cope. "Well I was standin' in the tavern a-feelin' blue. My foot on the
rail just a thinkin' 'bout you. But I won't be blue all day because relief is
just a swallow away..."
Remembrance Day
By Bryan Adams. About Remembrance
Day, which commemorates the end of fighting on
Rent, Groceries And Gasoline
By Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. About abusing credit cards to buy material
possessions and finally realizing that the simple way of life is less expensive
and more satisfying. ""I used to live the luxury life. A new house,
three cars to drive. Steppin' over the credit line. I was payin' a heavy
price...I was in way too deep. Straightened out my priorities...Just rent,
groceries and gasoline..."
Rest In Peace
By Extreme. About peace on earth, unity, and brotherhood. "Let's talk
about peace. Sounds so cliche...Make love, not war sounds so absurd to me. We
can't afford to say these words lightly or else our world will truly rest in
peace..."
Rest In Pieces (April 15,
1912)
By
The Return Of The Red Baron
By Royal Guardsmen. About the Peanut's comic strip character Snoopy and his
nemesis the Red Baron. "...Hey, watch out little Snoopy you're really in a
mess. You thought you were through with the bloody Red Baron but it looks like
he's not down yet..."
Reuben James
By The
Revenge
By Papa Roach. Song is about physical abuse, domestic violence,
dysfunctional relationships and drug use. "She finally left him, she had
enough of her man's rage. Band-aids covered her scars...It's alright we're in
love. Can't live with or without...While the drama gets deeper I puff on the reefer..."
Revisionism Street
By Bob Seger. About how many people tend to evaluate and reconsider public
figures over time, often forming a more negative/critical view of these people.
This song indirectly deals with the topic of historical revisionism and how it
relates to teaching social
studies.
Rhiannon
By Fleetwood Mac. This song is About
a woman with magical powers. The
goddess Rhiannon
also comes from Welsh
mythology. "...She is like a cat in the dark and then she is the
darkness. She rules her life like a fine skylark and when the sky is
starless..."
Rhyme And Reason
By Dave Matthews Band. References in the lyrics made to substance abuse,
depression and overdose. "...Needle in the vein my friend. In my grave,
lying in my cold grave...Body falls cold and I see heaven..."
Rhythm of Hearts
By Grown Men. A timeless song about lost
love and thoughts of what might have been. "...Was it so long ago, that
rhythm of hearts. Was it so far away, we fell apart...But wishing won't bring
us together again. can love that was broken, find some way to mend..."
Rich
By Marillion. Song is about
realizing humans make mistakes, making the most of second chances in life and
the importance of self acceptance. "...If you have made mistakes there's
always another chance for you. You can start over again at any moment...We
don't see things as they are, we see them as we are...You don't need money to
be rich anyhow...Spend yourself and get rich now..."
Rich Girl
By Hall and Oates. About personal wealth and responsibility. "You’re a
rich girl, and you’ve gone too far ’cause you know it don’t matter anyway You can rely on the old
man’s money You can rely on the old man’s money...Say money but it won’t
get you too far, Get you too far..."
Rich Man
By Bottle Rockets. A man dies unexpectedly after working his whole life away
in order to save for a rainy day that never came. "Work two jobs everyday,
never had no fun. You really did rack up the pay but now your days are done.
Saving for the times ahead, never got that far. A heart attack has left you
dead, now you can't save no more...Rich man in the graveyard...In the end how
much did you save..."
Richard Cory
By Simon and Garfunkel. Striving to obtain inner peace /happiness, which no
amount of money can buy. How appearances can be deceiving. Taken from a poemof the
same name by Edwin
Arlington Robinson. "...Born into society, a banker's only child. He
had everything a man could want; power, grace, and style...So my mind was
filled with wonder when the evening headlines read: Richard Cory went home last
night and put a bullet through his head."
The Richest Guy In The
Graveyard
By Etta Jones. Song is about working your life away instead of enjoying it.
"Woke up this morning, it was a fine sunny day. I said daddy please stay
but he had to run away. 'Cause he was busy makin' lots of gold. So I told him
better have some fun before you're old. You'll be the richest guy in the
graveyard..."
Ride The Lightning
By Metallica. This song deals
with the issue of capital punishment. Sung from the point of view
of a person about to die in the electric chair. "...death in the air,
strapped in the electric chair..."
Ridin' The Rodeo
By Vince Gill. About life on the rodeo circuit as a rodeo rider.
"...Ride cowboy ride. Hold on for your life. Eight seconds is a long, long
time when you're sitting on dynamite. You can't make money buddy if you get
thrown. That's the life of a cowboy ridin' the rodeo..."
Right Field
By Peter, Paul and Mary. About how often times little league coaches put the
least athletically gifted baseball player on their team in right field. Also
brings up the argument against choosing teams before you play games because the
last person chosen always feels left out or bad. "...The fastest and
strongest played shortstop and first. The last one they picked were the
worst...Right field, it's easy you know. You can be awkward and you can be
slow..."
Right Now
By Van Halen. About the importance of goal setting, taking action and not
procrastinating or avoiding your responsibilities. "Don't wanna wait 'til
tomorrow. Why put it off another day?...Make future plans ,don't dream about
yesterday...Right now, catch the magic moment, do it. Right here and now...Tell
me, what are you waiting for? Turn this thing around."
Right Side Up
By Van Zant. A person comes to grips with their addiction and starts to live
their life in a more healthy manner. "It was a bad day in the mirror.
There I stood the living dead...I was suddenly stone cold sober when I heard a
voice callin' out loud. He said boy you're heading down a road that leads
nowhere...Once you get straight you're headed in the right direction..."
Right Where You Want Me
By Ballistic. Song was written in response to lead singer David Fox's battle
to quit smoking cigarettes. "Sometimes I feel like your drivin' me insane.
In a slow, creepy painful way...You've got me right where you want me...They
spend all their money just to keep you in their home..."
Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
By Iron Maiden. A tribute to Samuel Taylor
Coelridge's epic poem.
"Hear the rime of the ancient mariner, see his eye as he stops one of
three. Mesmerises one of the wedding guests, stay here and listen to the
nightmares of the sea..."
Ring Of Fire
By Johnny Cash. Written by his wife, June Carter Cash, this song is about
love and courtship. She once said of Johnny , I was frightened of his way of
life…it’s just like a ring of fire. Carter Cash passed away on
Ring Neck Loon
By Gordon Lightfoot. A tribute to a beautiful bird, the ring neck loon.
"Hear the call of the ring neck loon. Hear the sound, he will be home soon.
Hear the cry in the afternoon...How could anyone ask for more..."
The Ripper
By Judas Priest. Song is about serial killer Jack the Ripper who stalked London’s
“…In
Ripple
By Grateful Dead. Song is about the intimate
relationship between an artist (poet, songwriter...) and his/her audience. Also
refers to Eastern philosophy/religion
and seeking the proper road or
"way" to spiritual fulfillment. "...You who choose to lead must follow. But if you fall, you
fall alone. If you should stand then who's to guide you? If I knew the way I
would take you home." The song's chorus is an example of haiku. Some of these same
issues are explored in the Limp Bizkit song "A Lesson Learned".
R.I.P. Tupac
By Master P. A tribute to deceased gangster rapper Tupac Shakur.
"...You're a legend in your own time...'Cause you're real to the
fullest...You made history..."
R.I.P. ( Undone )
By Overkill. Insrumental. Musical tribute to savatage guitarist Criss Oliva
who was killed in a car rash in 1994.
Rival
By Pearl Jam. Song is said to be inspired by
the tragic events at
River
By Natalie Merchant. A tribute
to River Phoenix, song is
about loss of innocence and the costs or trappings of fame, fortune, and the
celebrity lifestlyle. "Young and strong Hollywood son in the early morning
light this star fell down...Young and strong beautiful one we embraced so close
is gone...I saw cameras expose your life. I heard rumors explode with
lies...The loss and pain of it, crime and shame of it, you were gone."
The River
By Bruce Springsteen. The song is About lost dreams missed
opportunities, and adolescent identity. Feeling regret after marrying too
young, and having
children. The river as a metaphor for life experiences. "...Then I got
Mary pregnant and man that was all she wrote...And the judge put it all to
rest. No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle. No flowers, no wedding
dress..."
The River
By Garth Brooks. About striving for one's dreams and goals. Never giving up
or losing hope. Don't settle for less. "Like a bird upon the wind, these
waters are my sky, I'll never reach my destination if I never try...So don't
you sit upon the shoreline and say you're satisfied."
River Runs Red
By Midnight Oil. Talks about how
corporations have stripped the land of it's natural resources and how the holy
dollar wins out over preserving nature. References to pollution and
technological advances that are slowly killing our Earth. " So we cut all
the tall trees down, you poisoned the sky and sea. You've taken what's good
from the ground, but you left precious little for me...there should be enough
for us all, but the dollar is driving us still...river runs red, black rain
falls..."
Roads To
By Al Stewart. This song is about the
German invasion of
The
By Traditional. About actual events
that occured on September 20, 1893 when a mixture of racism, rumor and violence
unleashed a vengeful mob in Roanoke, Virginia resulting in the lynching of an
innocent black man. Nine other people died and thirty-four were wounded during
this event. "...All because of a dirty low down Negro...Some were shot
thru the heart while many others were shot through the head...Some suggested
they burn him at the stake for the awful crime attempted...All looked on him to
see him burn..."
Rockin InThe Free World
By Neil Young. About serious social and economic issues facing society.
Singer suggests that public leaders too often fail to adequately address these
critical issues instead responding with catchy phrases and political rhetoric.
"...I see a woman in the night with a baby in her hand. There's an old
street light near a garbage can. Now she puts the kid away and she's gone to
get a hit. She hates her life and what she's done to it...We got a thousand
points of light for the homeless man. We got a kndler, gentler, machine gun
hand...Got a man of the people says keep
hope alive..."
Rock Soldiers
By Frehley's Comet. Song is about actual events that happened to KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley who in the
summer of 1983 was involved in a serious drunken driving accident. “It was in
the summer of ’83…I was slipping and sliding, drinkin’ and drivin’…With a
trooper in the mirror and Satan on my right. I went the wrong way down a one
way road hitting everything in sight…”
Rocky Mountain High
By John Denver. About the peace of mind and serenity felt by a person when
they go to the
Rocky Top
By Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Song is a tribute to the city of
Rocky Top
By The Osbourne Brothers. A tribute to the
Rodney King's Blessing
By Fred Small. Song is about
the brutality
of racism and the importance of tolerance and understanding. Song consists
entirely of words spoken by Rodney
King. “People can we all get along Can we all get along People you
know we're all stuck here for a while Let's try to work it out People I just
want to say you know can we get along Can we all get along Can we stop making
it making it hard For the older people and the kids…”
Roland The Headless Thompson
Gunner
By Warren Zevon. About a mercenary fighting in
Romeo & Juliet
By Dire Straits. Re-telling of Shakespeare's classic tale of star-crossed lovers.
"Juliet says hey it's Romeo you nearly gave me a heart attack."
Ronnie
By Metallica. The song
is inspired by actual events. Based on a school shooting incident in 1995
in the state of
Ronnie And Neil
By Drive-by Truckers. Song is about famous musicians Ronnie Van Zant and
Neil Young. References made to Neil Young's "Southern Man" song and
Lynyrd Skynyrd's response song, "
Ronnie's Song
By Jimmy VanZant Band. A tribute to deceased Lynyrd Skynrd singer Ronnie VanZant. Jimmy is the
younger brother of Ronnie. "...There comes a time in everyone's life when
you lose someone you love...Now your gone and the songs live on. And now it's
time to carry on...And Ronnie can you hear me..."
Room 19
By Bob Geldof. Song is
about a room at an "Institute
of the Brain" in
Rooster
By
Roots To Branches
By Jethro Tull. This song is about religious
intolerance and how the doctrines or principles of a religion are sometimes
distorted or "twisted" to promote violence and warfare between
different ethnic and religious groups. "Words get written. Words get
twisted. Old meanings move in the drift of time...True disciples carrying that
message to colour just a little with their personal touch...Crusades and creeds
descend like fiery flakes of snow..."
Rory Is Gone
By Christy Moore. Song is a tribute to deceased guitarist Rory Gallagher who
died of cirrohsis of the liver caused by excessive drinking. "And Rory's
gone to play the blues in heaven...The songs are strong and the notes hang in
the air...Died too young and much too premature. Another rock-n-roller, gone
but not forgotten..."
Rosty-Mon
By Roy Zimmerman. This song is about
former U.S. Congressman Dan
Rostenkowski who in April, 1996 was sentenced to seventeen months in jail
for mail fraud. Rostenkowski was one of Bill Clinton's pardons in 2000 before
he left office. "...Allegedly he done a terrible crime. Allegedly he
pocketed the government dime...And now his picture's on the post office wall.
He's Rosty Mon..."
Roy Rogers
By Elton John. A tribute to Roy Rogers,
also about nostalgia, remembering the innocence and security of childhood.
"Sometimes you dream. Sometimes it seems there's nothing there at all. You
just seem older than yesterday...Lay back in my armchair, close eyes and think
clear, I can hear hoofbeats ahead
Royal Oil
By Mighty Mighty Bosstones. About substance
abuse and the harmful effects or consequences of drug use. "Oil"
is a street or slang
term for several types of illicit drugs. "Royal Oil, come on bubble
and boil. Stabs like a dagger, make you stagger...When you smoke or poke the
poison. You lose the
chance to be tomorrow...Royal Oil has cut many down to size...Big trouble
brewing. Long, lonely road, long road to ruin. Wrong path to take, great big
mistake..."
R.P. McMurphy
By Manic Street Preachers.
This song
is about the lead character from "One Flew Over The
Cuckoo's Nest", a Ken Kesey novel . Character was played
by actor Jack Nicholson in
Milos Forman's
1975 Oscar winning adaptation. "Straight jacket your own beauty. Because
it is just a breakdown anyway...I just wanna lie down in my bed. Make myself
different from the rest..."
Rudi, A Message To You
By The Specials. A person offers advice
and warns a friend to "straighten up", settle down, and change his
ways before he gets in trouble. "Stop your messin' around. Better think of
your future...Creatin' problems in town. Rudi, a message to you...Better think
of your future or else you'll wind up in jail..."
Rumors
By Timex Social Club. Song is about the art of gossip and passing around
hearsay. "...Did you hear about Tina? Some say she's much too loose...Did
you hear about Michael? Some say he must be gay...Did you hear about Susan?
Some say she's just a tease...How do rumors get started? They're started by
jealous people..."
Rumors Of War
By Billy Bragg. Citizens prepare for the coming of war to their part of the
world. "There were soldiers marching on the common today...I must buy
whatever tinned food is left on the shelves. They're testing the air raid
sirens...I saw a man build a shelter in his garden today..."
A Rumour In
By Lynn Ahrens. About Anastasia,
the daughter of Czar Nicholas II who ruled
Run
By Ignite. Song is about domestic violence and child abuse. "...What
could make you so mad to beat your children black and blue?...You call yourself
a man. Your children black and blue...Abusive husbands. A childhood
lost..."
Run-around
By Blues Traveler. About
miscommunication or misunderstanding in a relationship and feeling manipulated
or mislead by your partner. "...Yeah humor me and tell me lies And I'll
lie too and say I don't mind. And as we seek so shall we find. And when you're
feeling open I'll still be here. But not without a certain degree of fear of
what will be with you and me...Oh I like coffee and I
like tea. I'd like to be able to enter a final plea..."
Runaway
By Blue Murder. About a troubled teenage girl who runs away from a broken
home and has turned to prostitution and a life on the streets. "There's a runaway child on the streets
tonight...She don't know why mama never cared or cried. And Daddy's little girl
has her deepest scars inside...All alone when the cold wind blows, she'll sell
a piece of her soul..."
Runaway
By Marillion. Song is about a
troubled teenager who runs away from home and is regretfully returned to her
parents. "...So you cower in the town's forgotten places...At least you've
got your freedom but that's all you've got...You're damned if you'll give them
the satisfaction of going back...Did you cry when they dragged you
home?..."
Runaway Train
By Soul Asylum. Song deals
with feelings of depression, hopelessness, and teenage angst. References
made to losing control and possibly suicidal
thoughts. "...It seems no one can help me now. I'm in too deep, there's no
way out. This time I have really led myself astray...Can you help me remember
how to smile. Make it somehow all seem worthwhile. How on earth did I get so
jaded. Life's mystery seems so faded..."
Runnin' Back To
By The Guess Who. This song pays tribute
to the city of Saskatoon.
"...Moose Jaw saw a few, Moosomin too Runnin' back to Saskatoon Red Deer,
Terrace and a
Running To Stand Still
By U2. Inspired by actual events, song is about
the impact of poverty and substance abuse in the
Runnin' Out Of Landfill
By Enuf! An environmental awareness song. References made to landfills,
trash, overpopulation and pollution. "We're running out of landfill space
for all our waste...With so much trash and so much waste. There's too many
people in the human race...Out of mind is not out of sight..."
Run Silent, Run Deep
By Iron Maiden. Song was inspired by the 1958 movie of the same name that
starred Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. “…Running silent, running
deep. We are your final prayer. Warriors in secret sleep, a merchantman’s
nightmare. A silent death lies awaiting for all of you below…”
Run That Body Down
By Paul Simon. About the importance of maintaining physical health and
taking care of your body throughout your whole life. "Went to my doctor yesterday. She said,
I seemed to be okay. She said, Paul you better look around. How long you think
that you can run that body down? How many nights you think that you can do what
you been doin'? Now, who you foolin'?..."
Run Through The Jungle
By Creedence Clearwater Revival. Song was written as a protest song during
the Vietnam War. The jungles are a reference to the terrain that the soldiers
were fighting in. "Whoa, thought it was a nightmare. Lo, it's all so
true. They told me don't go walkin' slow. "Cause the devil's on the loose.
Better run through the jungle..."
Run To The Hills
By Iron Maiden. About the advance of European explorers/settlers, and their
impact on native people. "White man came across the sea. Brought us pain
and misery. Killed our tribes killed our creed, took our game for his own
need..."
Rush Hour Blues
By The Kinks. Song is about getting
caught up in the rat race of life and having to deal with the daily commute
to work that many people face. "He gets up early, about
Russians
By Sting. Song is about the danger of nuclear warfare and the insanity of the arms race during
the Cold War. Song is also about the universality of love and it serves as a
reminder that we are all united
as one race, the human race. Includes references to Reagan, Kruschev, and
"Oppenheimer's deadly toy". "In
Russians And Americans
By Al Stewart. About the nuclear
arms race and the dangers of nuclear war.
"So here we stand at the edge of 1984, bracing ourselves once again. For
the storm approaching is those who long before huddled in caves from the
rain...Two runners caught in the thrill of the race, the finishing line is as
far as the stars that the satellites chase...Russians and Americans, can turn
the world to dust. So much to live for, so much undiscussed. So much in common,
so little trust..."
