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    A self-referential song is a song that refers directly to itself. A song must directly refer to itself, rather than just describe a song that could fit the current song. Songs in alphabetical order.





    top

    0–9

    "I can't believe that I write this shit."


    I think that

    You should know

    That I forced this song.


    "Twelve reasons why

    Twelve reasons why I wrote this love song

    It's off the cuff

    I jotted down a shopping list of love

    Of love, of love, of love

    A reminder that there's nothing that can touch her."


    I was dreamin' when I wrote this

    Forgive me if it goes astray

    . . .

    I was dreamin' when I wrote this

    So sue me if I go too fast

    (see also "Deacon Blues" by Steely Dan, below)


    Ronnie was much more my style, she wrote songs just like this.

    . . .

    Amaranta, here's a kiss, I chose you to end this list.




    Hast du etwas zeit für mich

    singe ich ein Lied für dich

    von 99 Luftballons

    auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont.

    Denkst du vielleicht grad' an mich

    singe ich ein Lied für dich

    von 99 Luftballons

    und daß sowas von sowas kommt"


    translation

    "If you have some time for me

    then I'll sing a song for you

    of 99 balloons

    on their way to the horizon

    Perhaps you'll think of me

    and I'll sing a song for you

    of 99 balloons

    and that nothing begets nothing" literally: "and that something comes of something"






    top

    A

      "A Cappella Choir In The Sky" by The Bobs
    "Come on and gather 'round, ye chillin'

    To the gospel I'm a-spillin'…"


    "I am not afraid

    of repeating the last line.

    I am not afraid..."


    "This is the story of a girl…"


    "Put a dime in my jukebox, you'll only hear this song

    It won't be fun for long"


    "If we're adding to the noise

    Turn off this song"


    "This is the theme song of Jimmy Neutron."


    "This song is called 'Alice's Restaurant'; it's about Alice... and the restaurant... But 'Alice's Restaurant' is not the name of the restaurant, it's just the name of the song... That's why I call the song 'Alice's Restaurant'..."

    . . .

    "...Remember Alice? It's a song about Alice..."

    . . .

    "And the only reason I'm singing you this song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar situation, or you may be in a similar situation, and if you're in a situation like that, there's only one thing you can do and that's walk into the shrink wherever you are, just walk in, say 'Shrink... You can get anything you want at Alice's restaurant.' And walk out..."


    "Every time I look into your sparkling eyes

    I see it all come true

    Now I'm writing you this song

    Because I love you so"


    "This song is good, don't ask me why, it's all the hype that your money can buy."


    "I almost wrote a song about you today

    but I tore it all up and I threw it away"


    "It's hard to know the meaning of this song..."


    "That's why I wrote this song..."


    "This is not a love song

    This is not a love song

    I don't sing my mother tongue

    No, this is not a love song"


      "Amphetamines" by Eve6
    "This is the last song I'll send your way

    I smelled you on my shirt today"


    "Make a hole with a gun perpendicular

    To the name of this town in a desktop globe

    Exit wound in a foreign nation

    Showing the home of the one this was written for"


    I'm afraid that if I write this song, she might break my heart in two


    "Why must we sing this stupid song?

    It's getting really annoying.

    We apologize for its length.

    We are filled with shame."


    This is another boring b-side

    Another load of tat

    It has no redeeming features

    And we're really proud of that

    If the A-side makes a hit we don't care if this is missed

    'Cos the sooner we get finished, the sooner we go home


      "Another Song About The Rain" by Cracker
    "Another song about the rain

    Coming down it burns through me

    Another song about the rain"


    "Well I know they've always told you

    Selfishness was wrong

    Yet it was for me, not you

    That I came to write this song"


    "This is my forty-fifth depressing tune"


    "Feel this composition, it's a brand new dub

    First thing I did was went to the pub"


    "Uh, heh heh, stop, Clef, can I rock, yo?

    Get out the bathroom, let me go again from the top

    Feel this composition, I wrote it in the tub

    First thing I did was went to the pub

    Tequila, worm, lemon, salt and no rocks

    'Cause when it hits my chest, it gots to be hot

    Huh, stop, Clef can I rock?"


    You always asked why I had not

    Written you a verse or two

    Since that's the one thing I regret

    I dedicate this one to you

    Are you happy now?

    Are you?

    Shindell has said in interviews that when he first started performing this bitter, yet funny, song about a Halloween breakup, his friends would come up afterwards to ask him if he was all right, not realizing that it was fictional.

      "A Song From Under The Floorboards" by Magazine
    "This is a song from under the floorboards

    This is a song from where the wall is cracked

    My force of habit, I am an insect

    I have to confess I'm proud as hell of that fact"


    "Maybe I shouldn't be singing this song

    Ranting and raving and carrying on"


    "This song will become the anthem of your underground"




    top

    B
    "so don’t tell me what to write

    and don’t tell me that I’m wrong……

    and don’t tell me not to reference my songs within my songs"


    "This is the ballad of Dorothy Parker"


      "Beautiful Disaster" by 311
    I try not to be like this

    but I thought it'd make a good song

    there's nothing to see, show's over

    people just move along


    I'm-a stop singing this song, because I'm high

    I'm singing this whole thing wrong, because I'm high

    And if I don't sell one copy, I'll know why, yeah yeah

    Cause I'm high, cause I'm high, cause I'm high


    I'm a great lyricist

    I can write words like this

    I like songs that always rhyme

    That's why I made this one rhyme

    Words this good don't write themselves

    That's why I wrote them myself


    When I was a little girl, My Dad left my Mom

    He used to always fart and sing this special song


    There's no combination of words

    I could put on the back of a postcard,

    no song that I could sing, but I can try for your heart


    Oh Universal King

    My love for only you shall bring

    The Light of Truth Eternal upon

    The mysteries found in this song


    "'Cause life's been so hard and so long

    That's why I'm writing you this song"


    Then I held her in my arms

    And told her of her many charms

    And I kissed her while the fiddles played

    "Bonaparte's Retreat"


    I'm singing this borrowed tune

    I took from the Rolling Stones

    Alone in this empty room

    Too wasted to write my own


    this song goes out to girls

    that we haven't met just yet

    this song is for stupid girls

    who think that every boy is all about them


    Oh, none of us knew his checkout time would come so soon

    But before his brain stopped waving, he composed this tune:


    When the toast is burned,

    And all the milk has turned

    And cap'n crunch is wavin' farewell.

    When the big one finds you

    May this song remind you

    That they don't serve breakfast, in hell


    And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd

    'cause these words are my diary screaming out loud,

    and I know that you'll use them however you want to


    I wrote a song once about her

    Called "The Brides Have Hit Glass"


    And if you don't like my melody

    I'll sing it in a major key

    I'll sing it very happily

    Now if everybody is on board

    I'll take it back to that minor chord


    And if I get killed for this rap

    I got a million in cash

    That says I will get you back in Hailie's name




    top

    C

    "Please close your eyes and concentrate

    With every thought you think

    Upon the recitation we're about to sing

    Calling occupants of interplanetary craft"


    Even this lyric is a "white man's burden"

    Simply written by a worker bee


    "I remember that time when you told me, you said,

    'Love is touching souls'

    Well surely you touched mine

    'Cause part of you pours out of me

    in these lines from time to time."


    "This is how I thought I'd start my song

    And it seems a little silly when I think of it

    But now I'm so far along"

    "Now I'm in the middle and I just don't know

    If I'll make it any further if the words don't flow"

    "This is the ending of my song. . .

    And if I should die tomorrow it will carry on"


    I know that there's something wrong with this song,

    I just don't know what it could be.


    "And right about then I should have asked if she knew,

    What the Chelsea charged if we got a room for two.

    But I didn't and I know I'm a schmuck, don't you doubt it,

    The only thing I did was write this stupid song about it.

    If I was Leonard Cohen or some other song-writing master,

    I'd know to first get the oral sex and then write the song after."


      "Children of the Korn" by Korn
    Said in the the chorus.


    And so all things, time will mend.

    So this song will end.


    "I know what's wrong--

    Chuck E's in love with the little girl who's singing this song

    Chuck E's in love with me"


    "Rhythm ga tsuranatte ("The rhythm flows together")

    This song kokoro ni hibiku yo" ("this song echoes in my mind")


    "This song sounds good for you and me"


    This bridge was written

    To make you feel smitten-er

    With my sad picture

    Of girl getting bitter-er...


    If you're listening to this song

    Everything is going wrong


    "Complete control, even over this song!"


    "My song’s totally cool no yesterday’s news

    Really hot okay, really not too gay

    I’m coming here to stay"


    "When you're feelin lonely,

    You know just what to do,

    Put on track eleven,

    Get on with the groove."


    "I don't care if it takes too long,

    I don't really care about this song."


      "CSS Descramble (This Function Is Void)" by Joe Wecker
    (The lyrics to this song comprise a description of the DeCSS algorithm)
    "I hate the DMCA

    It makes this song illegal"


    "Apprehension creeping like a tube-train up your spine

    Will the tightrope reach the end?

    Will the final couplet rhyme?"

    The final couplet is the only one that does not rhyme:

    "And suddenly it strikes you that they're moving into range

    And Doctor Strange is always changing size"




    top

    D

    "This is the night of the expanding man

    I take one last drag as I approach the stand

    I cried when I wrote this song

    Sue me if I play too long

    This brother is free

    I'll be what I want to be"


      "Death To Death" by Stars
    "I have a way of seeing and it's nearly gone

    and nobody was listening so I wrote this song

    and when you know the chorus you can sing along

    you destroy the thing you love

    even though you know it's wrong"


    Daddy couldn't be all wrong

    (Not gonna let you slip away, I'm gonna be there)

    And my mama made me learn this song

    (You're gonna bring your love to me, I'm gonna get you)



    CHORUS

    The Deil's awa, the Deil's awa,

    The Deil's awa wi th' Exciseman!

    He's danc'd awa, he's danc'd awa,

    He's danc'd awa wi th' Exciseman!


    The Deil cam fiddlin thro the town,

    And danc'd awa wi th' Exciseman,

    And ilka wife cries: — "Auld Mahoun,

    I wish you luck o the prize man!"


    "We'll make our maut, and we'll brew our drink,

    We'll laugh, sing, and rejoice, man,

    And monie braw thanks to the meikle black Deil,

    That danc'd awa wi th' Exciseman."


    There's threesome reels, there's foursome reels,

    There's hornpipes and strathspeys, man,

    But the ae best dance e'er cam to the land

    Was The Deil's awa wi th' Exciseman.


      "Desert Song"
    The desert song, calling,

    Its voice enthralling,

    Will make you mine.


    "Right on time. will you stay

    through the pouring rain?

    Right on time...through the night,

    your laughter is my light

    Right on time, desperation song"


    "I can't think of words to this music"


    "Every song has a you

    a you that the singer sings to

    and you're it this time.

    Baby, you're it this time."


      "Distracted" by I5
    "When I’m standin’ in a line at the ATM

    When I’m stirrin’ my sugar in my café mocha blend

    When the radio is playin’ a song like this

    I float away suddenly dreamin’ of your kiss."


    "I want a song that gets attention

    This is the way it goes"


    "Do the Bearcat

    Mmmmmm, that's the name of this song"


      "Doin' The Things That We Want To" by Lou Reed
    "I wrote this song 'cause I'd like to shake your hand

    Doin' the things that we want to

    In a way you guys are the best friends I ever had

    Doin' the things that we want to ..."



      "Doornails" by NOFX
    "This song is for winning losers

    It's for lucky substance abusers"


      "¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones?" by Shakira
    ¿Dónde están los ladrones, dónde está el asesino?

    quiza alla revolcandose en el patio del vecino

    ¿y qué pasa si son ellos? ¿y qué pasa si soy yo?

    ¿él que toca esta guitarra, o la que canta esta cancion?


    translation:

    Where are the thieves, where's the assassin?

    maybe snooping in the neighbor's backyard

    and what if it's them, and what if it's me?

    the one that plays this guitar, or the one that sings this song?


    "The words I'm singing now mean nothing more than meow to an animal"


    "Here is a little song I wrote

    You might want to sing it note for note

    Don't worry be happy "


    "He piloted this song in a plane like that one"


    "I'm tryin' to get some sleep, but these motel walls are cheap.

    Lincoln Duncan is my name, and here's my song.

    Here's my song."


    "I got that dust pneumony, pneumony in my lung,

    I got the dust pneumony, pneumony in my lung,

    An' I'm a-gonna sing this dust pneumony song.

    ...

    Now there ought to be some yodelin' in this song;

    Yeah, there ought to be some yodelin' in this song;

    But I can't yodel for the rattlin' in my lung."




    top

    E

    "What am I singing?

    A song of seeds."


    "I wrote this in a Boston jail"


    "How stupid is it

    I can't talk about

    I gotta sing about it

    and make a record of (my heart)"


    "I walked out on the mesa

    And I stumbled on this song"


    "Only buy this if you're lonely

    Only listen if you're blue

    If you are married and you are happy

    This song is not to do with you"


    A story told from the point of view of a singer on a stage wanting to finish the song he's singing so he can meet a woman he's seen in the audience. The verses reference how far along the song is, e.g. the first verse ends with "But the song it was long / And I'd only begun," the second verse ends with "But the song it was long / And there was more to be sung," etc. At the end he finally finishes only to find that she has left -- "So I picked up my guitar / And began the next song."


    "I wrote these words

    For everyone who struggles in their youth"


    "And now this song is over now, and now this song is over now."



    top

    F
    "All my life I've been singing them sad songs

    trying to get my message to you.

    But this is the only song I can sing

    and when I get to singing my message will be to you.

    It goes: Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa"


    "At this point, the boy who's listening to this song

    is probably saying it's easier said than done and it's true"


    "Second verse, the same as the first

    I forgot the words again

    . . .

    Take me to the bridge"


      "The Fear" by Pulp (nearly all of the song is self-referential)
    "This is our music from a bachelor's den

    The sound of loneliness turned up to 10

    A horror soundtrack from a stagnant waterbed

    And it sounds just like this"


    "...Here comes the coda."


    "These lyrics are so frivolous

    They really have no meaning

    but I wrote them for you..."


    "Dark eyes, dark hair, and looks that need a song."


    "I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song

    I just can't remember who to send it to"


    and on my easel I drew

    while I was thinking of you

    and on the roof of my head

    in came this five string serenade


    "I think I saw you in an ice-cream parlour,

    Drinking milk shakes cold and long,

    Smiling and waving and looking so fine,

    Don’t think you knew you were in this song…"


    "You were the best thing and the worst thing

    To ever happen to me all rolled up into one

    And it's taken me this long to write a song about you"


    "We only wanted to finish this record with the minimum amount of effort which we are doing very successfully..."


    "This track is dragging on...do you think it’ll ever end?"


      "Fohat Digs Holes in Space" by Gong
    "Well help me help me sing this song

    I wanna stay living for much too long

    Now I wanna ride this big brass gong"


    "If you wonder how long I'll be faithful,

    Well, just listen to how this song ends…"


    A song that satirizes the pure power pop stylings of Fountains of Wayne by imagining a hotline for flailing songwriters. Explicit self-references include

    "Slightly distorted melodic solo!"

    "Try a wider interval!"

    and something about "these three chords".


    "And if you don't believe in me, we'll play this tune over again."


    "I Write This Alone On My Bed"


    "In this song I say fuck 93 times"


      "Fuckin' An Animal" by GWAR
    "I'm not willing to spend anymore time on this song"


    (Fugitive Alien)
    "This is the song written for the train chase

    This is the chase, Rocky and Ken

    He tried to kill me with a forklift!

    Olé!


    (Fugitive Alien: The Musical from Star Force: Fugitive Alien II)
    "This is the song starting off our medley!

    Our favorite Fugitive Alien song!

    Don't try to kill us with a forklift!

    Won't take very long;

    Relax and sing along.

    . . .

    And that's our song! We hope that you enjoyed it.

    And if you thought that it was stupid and trite,

    Come on and kill us with a forklift!

    All we wanna do, with love from us to you,

    Is sing... the Fugitive Alien song!"


    "Will this song have a happy ending?

    Only the woman knows."




    top

    G
    These songs are all about you

    And I'm tellin' everyone I'm doin' fine without you

    ...

    I deserve some credit

    Or at least an edit

    Take out the part that breaks my heart

    And makes me sound uncaring

    If you eliminate the swearing

    Then I could show my mother

    That you can go from one chord to another

    ...

    She's aware it's all been done before

    It's another song in this key

    Yeah but this one's about me


      "Gabriel's Mother's Highway Ballad
    "The sun come up while I wrote this song"


    "Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through

    Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

    Georgia, Georgia, a song of you

    Comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines."


    "Ooh! Get me away from here I'm dying

    Play me a song to set me free

    Nobody writes them like they used to

    So it may as well be me"


    "I'm singing this note 'cause it fits in well

    With the chords I'm playing

    I can't pretend there's any meaning here

    Or in the things I'm saying"


    "Me, well I was staying

    I said 'Hey, what'd I do wrong?'

    When a voice from up above said

    'You're the schmuck who wrote this song.'"


    "I don't have to tell you how much it sucks to be shot in the face

    So I guess I'll save some time by not even writing this song at all"


    "We're the Groovie Ghoulies yeah, yeah!"

    "G-R-O-O-V-I-E G-H-O-U-L-I-E!!"


    "In fact, she's probably listenin' to this station right now..."

      (liner notes read: "In fact she's probably reading these liner notes right now...")

    "And so we dress to kid ourselves into thinking that we have nothing left" ...

    "So you think you can change the way things are?

    Well, give me the pen and I'll write the first sentence

    It won't be a thesis or a blank question

    It will be a song and will start out with 'and so we dress'"


    "So this final verse

    Is a contradiction

    And the more we learn

    The less we know


    We've been talking about a feeling

    We both know inside, but couldn't find the words

    I couldn't write this verse

    I've seldom been so sure

    About anything before


    And they're comin' to the chorus now...


    "I know by the time I finish this line I'mma hear this on the radio"


    "I'm too drunk to light the bong

    I'm to stoned to write the song"


    This is the part of the song

    That's really quiet

    We play very soft

    It sounds like a ballad


    And this is the part

    Where we play real hard

    It's much louder

    Than at the beginning


    And we go back

    To the quiet part

    Again

    If the whole song was this way

    It would be boring


    So we go back to playing loud

    It's like the first time

    But slightly louder

    This is usually the place

    Where it would be quiet again

    But we don't want it to be

    Too predictable

    Predictable

    Predictable


    last line

    And that's all I have to say about that.




    top

    H
    The entire song


    Intro - Spoken

    "Yo, I can't sing.

    I feel like singing."


    Verse 3 - Rapped

    "Man, if I could sing, I'd keep singing this song to my daughter."


    Outro - Spoken

    "I told you I can't sing.

    Oh well, I tried."


    "Well, it goes like this: the fourth, the fifth

    The minor fall and the major lift"


      "Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With" by King Crimson
    And when I have some words

    This is the way I'll sing

    Through a distortion box

    To make them menacing


    Yeah, then I'm gonna have to write a chorus

    We're gonna need to have a chorus

    And would seem to be as good as any other place to sing it till I'm blue in the face


    And for a second verse

    Of terse economy

    I'll brew another pot

    Of ambiguity


    Then I'm gonna have to write a chorus

    We're gonna need to have a chorus

    And this would seem to be as good as any other place to sing it till I'm blue in the face

    Yes, we're gonna need to have a chorus

    I'm gonna have to write a chorus

    And this would seem to be as good as any other place to sing it till I'm blue in the face


    Happy with what you have to be happy with

    you have to be happy with what you have ...


    Then I guess I'll repeat the chorus!

    We're gonna repeat the chorus!

    I guess I'll repeat the chorus!

    We're gonna repeat the chorus!

    Then I guess I'll repeat the chorus!

    We're gonna repeat the chorus!

    I guess I'll repeat the chorus!

    We're gonna repeat the chorus!


    "This is a hate song just meant for you

    I thought that I'd write it down while I still could

    I hope when you hear this you'll want to sue"


    "Let me tell you that this song’s useful

    Yes this song’s useful when you’re really drunk!

    And you gotta learn the difference ‘tween I love ya

    The difference ‘tween I love ya and whatever"


    Verse 1

    "I was walking along some downtown avenue

    I was singing a new song to myself

    it went it went something like this one

    but I just couldn't get it to end

    I was talking about this song to a friend of mine

    and she sang me a new song of her own."


    Final Verse

    "I was walking along some downtown avenue

    I was sharing the sidewalk with my friend

    we were singing this song together (and it sounded so good)

    we said we said "let's sing it again!" (and it had no end)..."


      "Heartsong" by Zwan
    "but heart songs

    are still on my mind

    there's never the time

    to write down these lines";


    "I love the babes, don't get me wrong.

    Hey, that's why I wrote this song!"


    "Her arms are wicked and her legs are long

    When she moves my brain screams out this song"


      "Here Again" by Rush
    "I said I played this song so many times before

    That the melody keeps repeating.

    Growing new ideas, flowing chords and notes,

    Like a mountain river bleeding."


    "Because they haven't played this song on the air

    Not that anyone but me even cared"


    "Hey there Delilah, don't you worry about the distance

    I'm right there if you get lonely, give this song another listen"

      "Hidden Bonus Track" by The Bobs. The entire song "talks" about itself as a "track", but the specific song self-reference is:
    "That was a decent solo.

    Too bad it's in this song."


    "Some people think the title of this song is irrelevant — but it's not irrelephant, it's a hippopotamus."

    . . .

    "The hippopotamus was no ignoramus

    And sang her this sweet serenade..."


    "Hit, who's calling this a

    Hit, well I deserve a

    Hit, calling this a

    Hit, I don't deserve it."


    "Not you the one behind ya girl"

    I done spit 2 verses tryin' to find ya girl."


    "This sad song stays on my mind…"


    "I'm sorry I wrote this song for you

    If it makes you feel bad I didn't mean it to..."


    "Expecting everyone to bow and kiss your feet,

    Don't you see respect is not a one way street?

    Blaming everyone for all that you've done wrong,

    I'll get my peace of mind when you hear this song."


    "There is something amiss, I am being insincere.

    In fact I don't mean any of this, still my confession draws you near.

    To confuse the issue I'll refer to familiar heroes of long ago;

    No matter how much Peter loved her, what made the Pan refuse to grow

    Is that the Hook brings you back."


    "This is a verse consisting of words to get the song started;

    Throw in a little love and someone broken-hearted.

    This part coming up is what you're waiting for:

    The line that's got to bring you to the record store.

    We'll beat this hook line over and over until you've got it memorized."


    "Hey, it's on.

    Everybody knows this song."

    later in the song:

    "If I say fuck, two more times,

    That's forty-six fucks in this fucked-up rhyme."




    top

    I
    "Man, I can't, I shan't, formulate an anthem

    Where the words comprise mnemonics,

    Dreaded mnemonics, for pi."


    And I believe that if I'm crying while I write these words

    Is it absurd or am I being real?

    . . .

    I believe that if you're bristling while you hear this song

    I could be wrong, or have I hit a nerve?


    "I bet they won't play this song on the radio

    I bet you they won't play this new bleep song

    It's not that it's buzz or beep beep controversial

    Just that the dinging words are awfully strong"


      "I Don't Care if You Disrespect Me (Just So Long as You Love Me)" by The Frogs
    "That was a good drum break"


    "I hate working around the house

    I hate mowing the lawn

    I hate doing my homework

    I even hate this song"


      "I Hope I Didn't Just Give Away the Ending", by New Radicals
    "By the way this girl was sexy and she wouldn't touch you. That may not be true but I said it so you'd feel involved with the song"


    "Now you're probably wondering by now

    Just what this song is all about

    What's probably got you baffled more

    Is what this thing here is for.

    It's nothing

    It's something I learned over in England."


    "so the radio plays

    'I Think I Need a New Heart'

    just for you"


    "Ja, dat is dus een slechte compositie, slecht arrangement, slechte productie, slecht gezongen, slechte tekst, slecht gespeeld, dus dat zal wel weer een hit worden, maar dat is logisch."

    (translation: "Well, so that is a bad composition, bad arrangement, bad production, badly sung, bad lyrics, badly played, so I guess that will be hit, but that is logical.")


      "I Wrote This Song" by Monica
    "I love my baby so

    But he's not here no more

    Hard for me to understand

    So I wrote him this song

    Couldn't look him in his eyes

    Knew I couldn't change his mind

    So I wrote this melody

    And I'm singing sweet goodbye"


      "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" by R. Kelly
    "How did I ever let you slip away

    Never knowing that I'll be singing this song someday"


      "If You Buy This Record Your Life Will Be Better" by The Tamperer

      "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" by Jim Croce
    "Every time I tried to tell you

    The words just came out wrong

    So I'll have to say I love you in a song"


    (Xander) "She clings, she's needy

    She's also really greedy

    She never --"

    (Anya) "His eyes are beady!"

    (Xander) "This is my verse! Hello?!"


    "Second verse, same as the first" (Improvised; not part of the original music hall song by Fred Murray and R. P. Weston)


    "I'm so worried about

    Whether people like this song."


    "I'm too sexy for this song."


      "I'm the Man Who Murdered Love", by XTC
    "It's the middle of the song..."


    "Still I pray to God

    This song will end happily."


    A secret all along, unless I've got this wrong

    unless she hears this song

    unless she hears it

    on a tape inside her car

    with her new husband and she

    turns to him and says "I think that's me"


    In the garage

    Where I belong

    No one hears me sing this song


      "In The Springtime of His Voodoo" by Tori Amos
    "Standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona

    And I'm quite sure I'm in the wrong song"


      "Independent Love Song" by Scarlet
    "You could say this was an independent love song ...

    You might say this another boring love song"


    "Like the words here in this song

    We'll go on and on and on with our love"


    "I designed this rhyme

    To explain in due time"


    "My tragic tale I won't prolong,

    And if you do not enjoy my song,

    You've yourselves to blame if it's too long,

    You should never have let me begin, begin,

    You should never have let me begin."


    "Gotta write a hit I think this is it

    It's a hit

    And if it's not

    Then it's a holiday for a hanging"


    "And if I play the same three chords,

    Will you just yawn and say

    It's all been done"


    "This is the theme to Garry's show,

    The theme to Garry's show,

    Garry called me up and asked if I would write his theme song.

    I'm almost halfway finished,

    How do you like it so far?

    How do you like the theme to Garry's show?"


    "This ain’t a song for the broken-hearted"




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    J

    "Little ditty, about Jack and Diane."


    "I'm coming over and I wont be long,

    Just let me finish writing this song"


    "This is the song that I'm going to be singing to you which is called 'Jesus is the answer'"


    "All's quiet, except for this song. "


    "Judy, you're just trying to find and keep the dream of horses

    And the song she wrote was 'Judy and the Dream of Horses'"

    ...

    "If you're ever feeling blue

    Then write another song about your dream of horses

    Write a song about your dream of horses

    Call it 'Judy and the Dream of Horses'"


    "Second verse, same as the first.

    . . .

    Third verse, different from the first."


    "And I'm wondering who could be writing this song"


      "Jug of Punch", Traditional & Robert Burns(?)

    | The Jug of Punch
    |
    | Bein' on the twenty-third of June,
    | As I sat weaving all at my loom,
    | Bein' on the twenty-third of June,
    | As I sat weaving all at my loom,
    | I heard a thrush, singing on yon bush,
    | And the song she sang was The Jug of Punch.
    |
    | What more pleasure can a boy desire,
    | Than sitting down beside the fire?
    | What more pleasure can a boy desire,
    | Than sitting down beside the fire?
    | And in his hand a jug of punch,
    | And on his knee a tidy wench.
    |
    | When I am dead and left in my mould,
    | At my head and feet place a flowing bowl,
    | When I am dead and left in my mould,
    | At my head and feet place a flowing bowl,
    | And every young man that passes by,
    | He can have a drink and remember I.

    "Yeah, this album is dedicated"


    "This song ... is called Justice Is Might

    okay it's about ... sonic life ... that's right

    ...

    this song is called Justice is Might"


    "Another Damn song, Just another damn song"


    "Ah, remember this?

    Why, I must have been thirteen when this came out!

    Or was it fourteen?

    Or was it twenty-two?

    I could have been twelve actually."

    ...

    "There are two basses in this. I hope you all appreciate that."



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    K

    "This is a public service announcement...

    ...with guitar!"


    "Isn't that what you said?

    what you thought this song meant?"


    "This is our song of exultant joy"




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    L


    "This is the last gay song that I will ever write

    Oh it's the last gay song that I will ever

    It's the last gay song that I will ever write

    Oh it's a good thing

    It's almost over


    But when the chorus is in

    Oh when the chorus is in

    You know, you know, you know, you know I'm gonna fuck it up

    And when the chorus is in

    Oh when the chorus is in

    Ha ha ha ha"


    "Now all my love is out

    It's just for you

    It's not a love song

    It's the last song for you"


    "It's the last song I'll ever write for you

    It's the last time that I'll tell you

    Just how much I really care

    This is the last song I'll ever sing for you

    You'll come looking for the light

    And it won't be there"

    . . .

    "So I'll write you one more song

    But it's the last time that I'll ever try"


    "This is the last song that I will dedicate to you"


    "This may be the last thing that I write for long

    Can you hear me smiling when I sing this song?

    For you and only you"

    . . .

    "This is the last song"


    "This won't be the first time

    I ever wrote a song without you

    But this will be the last time I ever write about you"


    "This song, your song,

    is the last song I'll ever do"


    "This is the last song

    This is the last song I'll sing for you

    This is the last song

    This is the last song I can give you"


    "I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song.

    I'm twenty-two now but I won't be for long.

    Time hurries on.

    And the leaves that are green turn to brown..."


    "Sing a song for the wrong

    and the wicked and the strong

    and the sick as thick as thieves..."


    "Yo, Pep, I don't think they're gonna play this on the radio"


    "Live a life less ordinary

    Live a life extraordinary with me

    If I could name you in this song

    Would it make you smile and sing along?

    This is the goal: to get into your soul"


    We got to let the music play

    What the people need

    Is a way to make ’em smile

    It ain’t so hard to do if you know how

    Gotta get a message

    Get it on through


    "They're pretty good musicians

    But it don't make no difference

    If they're good musicians

    Because anybody who would buy this record

    Doesn't give a fuck if there's good musicians on it

    Because this is a stupid song

    and that's the way I like it."


    "Little miss, little miss, little miss can’t be wrong

    what’cha gonna do to get into another one of these

    rock ’n’ roll songs?"


    "This is for all the lonely people

    Thinking that life has passed them by

    Don’t give up until you drink from the silver cup

    And ride that highway in the sky"


    "Our time has come

    And we must overcome at last...

    As we symbolically stick their fucking foot

    up their fucking ass... GUITAR!"


    "I don't believe these words I'm singing…"


    "Lost in this world

    I even get lost in this song"


    "Now this here's a story about an escaped convict called long-gone lost John

    It's got a nice chorus so...if anybody wanna join in: hear the way it goes..."

    . . .

    "If anybody asks you who sung the song,

    tell 'em Lonnie Donegan been here and gone"


      "Love Is How Y Make It" by Gong
    "That is why we sing this song, and why there is a band called Gong"


      "Love Song" by k-os
    "Contrary to popular belief, this is not a love song"


    "I'm gone, but I just want you to know

    (Love song)

    This is not a love song that I want to sing"


    "Just for you here's a Love Song

    Just for you here's a Love Song

    And it makes me glad to say it's been a lovely day

    And it's OK"




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    M

    "This is the story of Ma Baker,

    the meanest cat from ol' Chicago town"


    "Chorus:" (just before first chorus)


    "We talked until the moon came up

    About how life without love

    Isn't worth very much

    Then I played this song"


    "You know I'd like to get to know you

    but I ain't got the time, and I'm

    I'm findin' it harder and harder

    to make this damn thing rhyme"


      "Medio-Core" by NOFX
    "This song sounds like fifteen you've heard before

    It's Medio-Core"


    "And can't the band play on

    Just listen, they play my song"


    "Until hell freezes over, Maybe you can wait that long

    But I don’t think Ronnie Milsap’s gonna ever record this song"


    "Merciful God, this is a prayer…"


    "If there's one point we'd like to make

    With this festive holiday song,

    It's that Christmas comes just once a year,

    So for a few days, for crying out loud,

    Can we all just get along?!"


    "Here comes another song about Mexico

    I just can't help myself

    . . .

    Here comes the same old verse about Mexico

    We just can't help ourselves"


    "In case you're wondering we're singing

    about growing up..."


    "This is the first song for your mix tape

    and it's short just like your temper"


    "Song's not over yet"


    "I'm writing desperate songs

    while you're fast asleep inside"


    "Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?

    Mother, do you think they'll like this song?"


    "Have you ever heard the words

    I'm singing in these songs?"


    This was supposed to be my first single

    But I just fucked that off so

    Fuck it lets all have fun, lets mingle



    I realize it's no one's fault

    Ultimately I'm still a stranger

    Even when I dream the same dream swarming in the light

    I just feel uncomfortable

    (There are more through-out the song)

    "She didn't have to leave me

    She didn't have to run

    She didn't have to go without a word to anyone

    I hope she's doing alright

    I got no way to know

    Unless she gets to hear this song

    Hear it on the radio"


    "This, this is our new song

    Just like the last one

    A total waste of time

    My iron lung"


    Now you're clean

    And so discreet

    I won't say a word

    But most of all this song is true

    Case you haven't heard


    The words of this song describe how he plays it, naming the chords, runs, etc. Apparently it started as an exercise he would play before concerts, and then made up words to go with it.




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    N
    "Oh Natasha, all I can do

    Is write a song for you"


    "Never ask us to play this song, or that song about our pants, or our Kitty-Doggie."


    "I was 21 years when I wrote this song

    I'm 22 now but I won't be for long"


      "New Happy Birthday Song?" by NOFX
    "We all want to embarrass you

    That's why we're singing this song"


    "I've been waiting for so long

    To come here now and sing this song

    ...

    This is a song to all my friends"


    "This isn't the last song

    There's no violin

    The choir is quiet

    And no-one takes a spin

    This is the next to last song

    And that's all"


    "I wrote about you baby in this song

    ‘Cause I want to get next to you"


      "The Nicest Girl I Know" by Vroom
    "Your hair is soft, your skin's snow white

    Like a clouded day, like the stars at night

    Your eyes are blue like the sky in June

    My love is true that's why I wrote this song for you

    All I ever wanted was to see your face again"


    "So I woke up in the morning,

    With an idea for a song,

    And I knew that this would come out,

    And I knew it wouldn't be long"


    "This is a rap song in which

    no lyrics contain that fifth capital"


      "No Language in Our Lungs" by XTC
    I would have made this instrumental

    But the words got in the way


    No Bad Religion song can make your life complete


    I can't listen to the quiet

    So I'll hum this mindless tune

    I stole from some dumb country rock star

    And I don't even know his name


    The nothin' song sticks to your mouth

    Like peanut butter on the brain

    Nothin' ever stays the same


    Who should be sleeping

    but's writing this song

    Wishing and hoping

    he weren't so damned wrong


      "No. 1 Song in Heaven" by Sparks: Perhaps the least modest of self-referential songs, "No. 1 Song in Heaven," claims to have been written by God:
    This is the Number One Song in Heaven

    Written, of course, by the mightiest hand.


      "Number Three" by They Might Be Giants is a song about writer's block, and how the song was written in spite of there only being "two songs in me". It is the third track on their self-titled album
    "There's only two songs in me, and I just wrote the third

    Don't know where I got the inspiration or how I wrote the words

    Spent my whole life just diggin' up my music's shallow grave

    For the two songs in me and third one I just made"


      "Nitro Burning Funny Bong" by GWAR
    "Another stupid stoner song"


      "Nitro Burning Funny Cars" by Dead Milkmen contains a list of things no one will ever do with or about a nitro burning funny car, including have lunch and go camping. But the capper to the list, and last line of the song, is:
    "No one will ever write a song called Nitro Burning Funny Cars"




    top

    O

    "Please, please, explain to me, how this all has come to be, we forgot to mention something here."



    "There's a band playing on the radio

    with a rhythm of rhyming guitars.

    They're playing

    Oh Yeah

    on the radio.

    And so it came to be our song"


      "OK I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don't" by Brand New

    "I hope this song starts a craze

    The kind of song that ignites the airwaves

    The kind of song that makes people glad

    To be where they are, with whoever they're there with

    ...

    Every line is about who I don't wanna write about any more"


      "Old Shoes (and Picture Postcards)" by Tom Waits
    "Well I'm singing this song, cause it's time it was sung

    I've been putting it off for a while"


    I'll start this off without any words

    ...

    One more special message to go

    And then I'm done then I can go home


    I woke up and I drove to work on the wrong side of the road

    And what the hell would I do? I must admit, I didn't know

    And Andrew came along, y'all, to add a couple of lines or so

    I've got one I finished yesterday, and I've got 3.6 to go


    One down and 3.6 tomorrow, and I'm out of here

    One down and 3.6 tomorrow, and I'm out of here


    People tell me, "Ben, just make up junk and turn it in"

    But I never was all right with turning in a bunch of shit

    I don't like wasting time with music that won't make me proud

    But now I've found a reason to sit right down and shit some out


    One down and 3.6 tomorrow, and I'm out of here

    One down and 3.6 tomorrow, and I'm out of here


    "I love you more than any man has loved before

    I love you more than all the stars up in the sky

    I think that we should settle down and live happily forever after"

    What do you think of that?


    I'm really not complaining, I realize it's just a job

    And I hate hearing belly-aching rock stars whine and sob

    'Cause I could be bussing tables, I could well be pumping gas

    But I get paid much finer for playing piano and kissing ass

    This is one I wrote just and hour ago, and 3.6 at last


    One down and 3.6 tomorrow, and I'm out of here

    One down and 3.6 tomorrow, and I'm out of here

    One down and 3.6

    One down and 3.6 tomorrow, and I'm out of here


    This one goes out to the one I love

    This one goes out to the one I've left behind

    A simple prop to occupy my time

    This one goes out to the one I love


    "People will know when they see this show

    The kind of a guy I am"


    Just one more chance

    I know I was wrong

    Don't give up so easily

    Don't you know it's killing me?

    Just one more chance, to sing this song

    I'll never let you down, no

    Just one more chance


    "This is just a little samba, built upon a single note"


    This is not some Bible like on the road

    It's just a song about coming home


    When you're listening to this song

    You might think that the chords are going wrong

    But they're not

    He just wrote it like that


    When Mr. Oogie Boogie says

    There's trouble close at hand

    You'd better pay attention now

    'Cause I'm the Boogie Man

    And if you aren't shakin'

    There's something very wrong

    'Cause this may be the last time

    You hear the boogie song, ohhh


      "Open Road Song" by Eve 6
    "My pile shakes as I hit eighty on the open road

    This is an open road song"




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    P
    "And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others,

    This song is for you my brother"


      "Pilgrims, Martyrs, and Saints" by David J
    "Don't stone the martyr

    It'll only make him strong

    He's a stone's throw from the masochist

    And an arm's length from this song"


    "Early mornin' sunrise come and pull the song from me

    So I can turn away and rest my tired eyes

    I can't escape the haunting of a lonely melody

    It runs around and `round without a compromise

    So where you gonna go, what you gonna do

    You know I can't say no, can't say good-bye to you

    I can't stop the flow 'till you've decided to"

    (The entire song is about itself)

    (Wheeler couldn't fall asleep until she wrote this song)


    Won’t you play some simple melody?

    Like my mother sang to me.

    One with a good old fashioned harmony.

    Play some simple melody.


    Do me a favor, would you sing this to me slow?

    Cause I'm thinking it's my song


      "Please Don't Release This Song" by Mitch Benn is a supposed lost John Lennon track in which he begs the record company not release it posthumously.
    Please don't release this song

    Just 'cos I'm dead and gone

    You know I wasn't satisfied with it

    If I'd meant it to be heard

    I'd have finished off the words

    Instead of da-da-da-da-da this bit


      "Please Play This Song on the Radio" by NOFX
    "We wrote this song, it's not too short, it's not too long

    It's got backup vocals in just the right places

    It's got a few oohs and ahhs

    And it takes a little pause

    Just before I sing the anthem

    Please play this song on the radio

    Almost every line is sung on time

    Almost every verse ends in a rhyme

    The only problem we had was writing enough words

    But that's okay, because the chorus is

    Coming up again now

    Please play this song on the radio

    Please play this song on the radio

    ... (silent pause)...

    Right about this time,

    Some shithead will be drawing a fat fucking line

    Over the title on the back sleeve.

    What an asshole!

    So Mr. DJ

    I hope you've already made your segue

    Or the FCC is gonna

    Take a shit right on your head.

    You can't play this song on the radio

    You can't play this song on the radio"


    "This song is a poem to myself

    It helps me to live"


    "Third verse, same as the first"


    "I could be right

    I could be wrong

    I feel nice when I sing this song"


    "There are so many fuckin' robots out there

    and this is just a punk rock song"




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    Q
      "Que fait-tu lá, Petula?" written and recorded by Petula Clark, about the British public's reaction to her French stardom
    "en esta frase sólo pido tu perdón

    por qué no escribo algo mejor"

    (Translation: "In this line, I'm asking you to forgive me

    For not writing something better")





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    R
      "Radio Song" by Jet
    "This won't be played on your radio tonight"


      "Railroad Bill" by Andy Breckman
    "I got the pen in my hand, I can do what I want

    I'm a bright new young talent on the rise

    So get your ass up that tree or I swear you ain't

    Gonna get out of my folksong alive."


    "Here I go again

    Seems I'm back to rambling words I know of you again

    When I think that I've got something new to say

    I remember it's the same thing I said yesterday . . . "


    "Nothing to hold on to

    We'll use this song to lead you on

    And break the truth with more bad news. . ."


    "Won't you help me sing, this song of freedom"


    "So I went to the park, took some paper along

    And that's where I made this song."


      "Referee's Alphabet" by Half Man Half Biscuit which is a recited alphabetical list to music as given by a fictional football referee. Blackwell also remarks on the bird noises played over the song.
    "W is for Walter Pidgeon whose Mr. Griffiths in How Green was My Valley

    I may have started to sound like during this song"


    "Whatever happens

    If we're still speaking

    Pick up the phone

    Play me this song."


      "Reuben James" by