Songs of true stories that happened to the songwriter(s)

Creeque Alley: Mama’s & Papa’s

The story of the early days of the individuals who eventually came together to form the M&P’s.

Circus, Eric Clapton

It’s about his last experience with his son

who tragically died young 

"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" - Creedence Clearwater Revival 

John Fogerty wrote it about his brother Tom leaving the group in '71. John said he didn't want it to make him sad anymore.  When he sings it, he wants to think of his daughter and rainbows. 

Layla - Derek and the Dominos

At the same time Clapton was reading a tragic love story written in the 12th century, he was in love with Patti Boyd who was married to George Harrison. The name of the Princess in the love story was Layla.

What’s the matter here?  10,000 Maniacs

Natalie Merchant wrote the song about a

young boy in her neighborhood who was

neglected and abused. Every time she

walked by she heard a voice screaming

obscenities at him, which she never understood

I’m so Tired-Beatles 

John was going through a 3 week bout with insomnia. 

Mothers Of The Disappeared

 Bullet The Blue Sky     

by U2

Both songs were inspired by a trip that Bono made to El Salvador, mid-80’s, during the civil war. MOTD: He met with a group of women whose children were stolen and they didn’t know if they were dead or alive. 
BTBS: He camped out in the hills with guerrilla fighters where he heard the bombs coming from American supplied fighter jets, and knew that a lot of innocent people in villages were being killed in the process.It was a protest song against American involvement.

Early Days-Basically a story of John and Paul in the early Liverpool days. Paul questioning what people write about their early days. 

This title was just begging to be researched:

Our Lawyer Made Us Change the Name of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued - Fall Out Boy

After the meteoric rise of their fortunes with their first album the song is a warning about the trappings of fame, originally called “My Name Is David Ruffin And These Are The Temptations,” a reference to how Ruffin tried, but failed to change the Temptations' name to “David Ruffin and The Temptations,” which Motown had done with “Diana Ross and The Supremes.” Ruffin died of a drug overdose in 1991.
Fall Out Boy’s lawyers intervened and made them change the title to avoid the risk of a lawsuit from Ruffin’s estate.

Dancing in the moonlight, King Harvest

Sherman Kelly wrote the song after getting

 attacked by a gang in St. Croix. He was left

for dead with various injuries and while

recovering he wrote this song about an

alternate reality of a peaceful and joyful

celebration of life. He first sang it with his 

own band before his brother introduced it 

to King Harvest, who he was the drummer

for. The rest is history 🎼💜