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I'll Take "Songs About People" for $200

Truth be told there really was no Maybellene, but Chuck made her sound like a real person when she started doing the things she used to do.  And there was also no Layla, but there clearly was Patty Harrison with the name changed to protect the innocent.  Was there a ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann or even a Caroline to say no to?  I don't know, but I do know that there was a real Prudence of Beatles fame.  And there really was an Elizabeth Reed.  So my question is, what are other songs that feature the name of a person in its lyrics are actually about real people?
128x128onhwy61
larryi
3,718 posts
 
Plenty of biographical songs, like Dylan's "Hurricane" (Rubin "Hurricane" Carter) and Joan Baez' "Joe Hill" (labor organizer).  
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Hey Jude - Julian Lennon
Maybe I'm Amazed - Linda McCartney
American Pie -  Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper
Philadelphia Freedom - Billie Jean King
Candle in the Wind - Marilyn Monroe


larryi
3,718 posts
 
If you are an outlaw or a killer, you are more likely to be immortalized in song.  Google songs about Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Bonnie and Clyde and the like and you will see.  If you do something really horrific, a nursery rhyme will be written about you: "Lizzy Borden took and axe, gave her mother 40 whacks..."
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