Amazing Grace
Having survived a horrific storm, a slave trader promptly gave up his livelihood, became a Christian, and penned the hymn "
Amazing Grace" in thanksgiving.
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American Girl
The Tom Petty song "
American Girl" was based upon a student's suicide at the University of Florida.
B.B. Class Road
A song appearing on the final Byrds album was sung by a
roadie.
Because
The Beatles' song "Because" is Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" played
backwards.
Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan stole the song "
Blowin' in the Wind" from a New Jersey high school student.
Dead Man's Curve
Jan Berry of Jan & Dean had a near-fatal automobile accident on the very same road the duo had sung about in their hit "
Dead Man's Curve."
Diary
The Alicia Keys song "
Diary" has prompted a deluge of calls to her old phone number.
Fire and Rain
James Taylor's song "
Fire and Rain" is about the death of his girlfriend in a plane crash.
Fortunate Son
The Creedence Clearwater Revival song "
Fortunate Son" was inspired by Al
Gore, Jr.
Gloomy Sunday
The song "
Gloomy Sunday" was once banned because of its connection to many suicides.
Happy Birthday
The song "
Happy Birthday" is still protected by copyright.
Hotel California
The Eagles' "
Hotel California" is about devil worship.
I Don't Like Mondays
The Boomtown Rats song "
I Don't Like Mondays" was inspired by a deadly school shooting.
In the Air Tonight
Phil Collins wrote "
In the Air Tonight" after witnessing a drowning.
It Is No Secret
Billy Graham and John Wayne had a hand in the creation of the song
"
It Is No Secret."
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Jenny (867-5309)
The Tommy Tutone song "
Jenny (867-5309)" drove the phone companies nuts.
Louie Louie
The lyrics to "
Louie Louie" are really dirty.
Mother and Child Reunion
Paul Simon took the title of his song "
Mother and Child Reunion" from the name of a chicken-and-egg dish he spotted on a Chinese restaurant's menu.
Precious Lord
In response to the death of his wife and child, famous big band leader Tommy Dorsey wrote the song
"Precious Lord."
Puff the Magic Dragon
"
Puff, the Magic Dragon" is a song about marijuana.
Taps
Fighting on opposite sides, father and son meet one last time on a Civil War battlefield. Found in the dying boy's pocket is the melody now known as "
Taps."
Tears in Heaven
Eric Clapton's "
Tears in Heaven" is a tribute to his preschooler son, who died in an accident.
You Oughta Know
Alanis Morissette wrote "
You Oughta Know" about Dave Coulier.
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