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

[Vexed]

Many songwriters are inspired to write from events that happened to them or their band members. What are some that you know?

"Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple -- written about the fire at the Montreux Switzerland, Frank Zappa concert, that Deep Purple's members were in the audience and they got safely out to a nearby restaurant and watched the smoke gather across Lake Geneva.

[MaVolta]

Piano Man - Billy Joel

Based on his experiences while playing at a piano bar in Los Angeles.

[Vexed]

A Christmas classic with a surprising story.

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" - written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne

    Performed and recorded by many genres and people since 1962. 

In 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War, they were in a recording studio listening to the radio. They were afraid they would be obliterated by nuclear missiles. So they wrote the song about the nativity scene as a cry for peace.

[BeatleloverKT]

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 🎼💜

[EricC28201]

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.

[Raynyky]

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

[MaVolta]

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.

[Raynyky]

I’m so Tired-Beatles 

John was going through a 3 week bout with insomnia. 

[BeatleloverKT]

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

[EricC28201]

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.

[Vexed]

"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. 

[BeatleloverKT]

Circus, Eric Clapton

It’s about his last experience with his son

who tragically died young 

[1968Hoya46]

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.

[EricC28201]

Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles (Harrison)

George had gotten fed up with Apple Records and one April day decided to take a drive to the country and visit Eric Clapton, "it seems as if winter in England goes on forever, by the time spring comes you really deserve it. The relief of not having to go see all those dopey accountants was wonderful, and I walked around the garden with one of Eric’s acoustic guitars and wrote ‘Here Comes The Sun.’”.

This song and Something (in the way she moves) were Harrison's contributions to the Abbey Road album and turned out to be something of a bellwether for his musical career.

[1968Hoya46]

Alice's Restaurant Massacree: Arlo Guthrie (need anything more be said?)

[BeatleloverKT]

You’re so vain, Carly Simon

Lots of speculation over the years as to

who this song is about. Carly has maintained

that one verse is about Warren Beatty but the

rest of the song is about two other men. She

has only divulged that and some initials. I 

think she will take it to her grave 🎼💜

[MaVolta]

Dancing With The Moonlight - Scorpions 

It’s about the night their plane got caught in a turbulent thunderstorm, getting tossed about, and at one point started to go down. The pilot managed an emergency landing, and after checking everything out, they were on their way again. 

[BeatleloverKT]

Sara, Fleetwood Mac

I read about two versions of the origin

for this song. Version 1 has Stevie claiming

it was written partially about her good friend

Sara, who married Mick Fleetwood, who she

had an affair with. Version 2 has Don Henley

claiming the song was about their unborn

child. Stevie has disputed this story and there

is no mention of what became of the child,

leaving us to draw our own conclusions

[EricC28201]

Our House - CSN

Our House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCFb1-MRw5I 

Described by Graham Nash as "An ode to countercultural domestic bliss" he wrote it while he was living with Joni Mitchell. Inspired by the events of an ordinary day. Walking to their car after breakfast at Art's Deli, a vase in an antique store window caught Joni's eye and they bought it. The weather was chilly and rainy so when they got home Graham said, "I'll light a fire. Why don't you put some flowers in that vase that you just bought?"

After the track was recorded Nash said he became bored with the song, but kept playing it because audiences liked it so much...Must confess to the opposite response...thought it sounded kinda cheesy at first, but like it a little more at each listening.

This one could probably also go in the Cross Generational thread.

[Vexed]

"Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce (was a great songwriter )

Written when his wife told him she was pregnant. 

To me is makes me want to cry. Will put it under sad songs also.

[Vexed]

"Every Breath You Take" - Sting - Police

Sting said he had a mental breakdown after the breakup of his first marriage. Said it sounds like a love song, but it is really a nasty little stalking song.

[BeatleloverKT]

A new day has come, Celine Dion

Written about the birth of her first born

son after struggling with infertility for

years

[EricC28201]

All Of My Love - Led Zeppelin

Written in remembrance of Robert Plant's son Karac who died while the band was on tour in 1977.

[MaVolta]

Strawberry Fields - The Beatles

…was the name of an orphanage where John would go to play with other kids. His Auntie Mimi told him to stay away fearing they would be a bad influence, to which John responded, “What are they going to do, hang me?”

And thus came…Nothing to get hung about. 

[EricC28201]

Sue Me Sue You Blues - George Harrison

Venting about the miriad law suits that followed The Beatles break-up and dogged his solo career for years.

[Raynyky]

Cold Turkey-John Lennon

Deals with John and Yoko’s withdrawal from drugs. 

[MaVolta]

Brother Loves’s Traveling Salvation Show - Neil Diamond

Diamond said that while traveling across the South, he attended a revival meeting in Jackson, Mississippi. It was held in a large tent. He  was curious, but soon got into the music, clapping and singing along with the rest of the crowd, which inspired him to write this song. 

[BobH07]

I Wanna Learn A Love Song:  Harry Chapin

This is a true story about how Harry met his wife Sandy.

Sandy was married to another man. Sandy met Harry and asked him to teach her how to play the guitar. They fell in love and the rest is history.

[WebWiseWoman]

"Dawn's Highway" ~ Jim Morrison - The Doors

#StaySafe

[Raynyky]

Norwegian Wood-Beatles 

Lyrics are about an extramarital affair John had. 

[BeatleloverKT]

No one set the bar higher with songs

about their inner relationship toils

then Fleetwood Mac. Here are a few

more, just off the cuff:

Little Lies

Never going back again

Second hand news

Silver Springs

Storms

I bet there’s more, but that’s for

another day 🎼💜