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- Songs of true stories that happened to the songwri...
Songs of true stories that happened to the songwriter(s)
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Songs of true stories that happened to the songwriter(s)
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.
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"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.
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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.
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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 🎼💜
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 🎼💜
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There were a lot of relationship songs on the Fleetwood Mac '77 Rumors album.
"Go Your Own Way" - written by Lindsey Buckingham - about breaking up with Stevie Nicks.
"Dreams" - written by Stevie Nicks - about breaking up with Lindsey Buckingham.
"Don't Stop" - written by Christine McVie - about looking ahead to life without John McVie.
"You Make Loving Fun" - written by Christine McVie - about her new romance.
"The Chain" - written by them all - Stevie Nicks - Lindsey Buckingham - Christine McVie - John McVie - Mick Fleetwood - about the group's ode to ending of relationships.
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Two of us, Beatles
Although many believe it’s about John&Paul,
it’s actually about Paul&Linda. They used to
take long rides together and she would
encourage him to get lost on purpose. On
one such trip, she got out to explore and
he sat in the car and wrote this song. Or
so the story goes 🎼💜
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Signs - Five Man Electrical Band
While traveling on California’s Route 66, singer Les Emmerson noticed so many billboards “blocking out the scenery” leading him to question the authority of who makes such rules anyway. Then he had a few other things to go on about! 😎✌️
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