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.
Page 43
The title of the David Crosby song "
Page 43" is a reference to the New Testament.
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.
Takin' Care of Business
A
pizza delivery man played the piano part on the Bachman-Turner Overdrive hit "Takin' Care of Business."
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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