Songs with cool stories behind them

[prohornblower]

What are some songs that have interesting stories behind them? These stories may be well-known, or hardly known, but I'd like to see a list of songs with a neat backstory.

I'll start: "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" by the Beatles.

As I understand it, this was a song written by George Harrison late in the Beatles' days. The other 3 members didn't like it enough to record it. After much frustration, Harrison showed the song to buddy Eric Clapton, who thought it was terrific.

Clapton dropped by the studio one day and all the Beatles were on their "best behavior" and Eric sort of let it be known that he thought this song was great and should be recorded. The Beatles obliged, and allowed Eric to play the guitar solo that is heard in the song. Apparently, after they listened to the recording, Eric said "It isn't Beatlesy enough." and advised them to add some effect and slow it down a bit.

Thus was born a great song! One of my favorites by the Beatles. I'm sure many of you know this stuff, but maybe some don't. Let's hear other stories of the advent of great songs [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[blinden84]

Phil collins saw this guy drown, and someone stood idle and didn't help the dying man...

[Phresh]

Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

It's about a guy who could've saved that other guy from drowning. But didn't. Phil saw the whole thing and at a show he found him.

[prohornblower]

Another: "Layla" by Derek and the Dominoes (Clapton)

Eric Clapton wrote this song about George Harrison's then-wife. He had fallen madly in love with his good buddy's girl. The song "worked", and Clapton subsequently had the sexytime with his friends wife.

Years later the two remained friends, even despite the fact that Clapton had stolen his girl briefly.

[XXXNoahXXX]

[ QUOTE ]
Another: "Layla" by Derek and the Dominoes (Clapton)

Eric Clapton wrote this song about George Harrison's then-wife. He had fallen madly in love with his good buddy's girl. The song "worked", and Clapton subsequently had the sexytime with his friends wife.

Years later the two remained friends, even despite the fact that Clapton had stolen his girl briefly.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.ericclaptonfaq.com/songs/...backstory.html

[wet work]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Another: "Layla" by Derek and the Dominoes (Clapton)

Eric Clapton wrote this song about George Harrison's then-wife. He had fallen madly in love with his good buddy's girl. The song "worked", and Clapton subsequently had the sexytime with his friends wife.

Years later the two remained friends, even despite the fact that Clapton had stolen his girl briefly.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.ericclaptonfaq.com/songs/...backstory.html

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea. That's a good one. Although her name was Patty I think. Probably hard to write a good song using the name Patty though.

Another Clapton one is "Tears in Heaven" about his son that fell out of the window.

[wet work]

Bob Dylan "Hurricane", about the Rubin "Hurricane" Carter murders.

[prohornblower]

Cool site!

[gusmahler]

[ QUOTE ]
Years later the two remained friends, even despite the fact that Clapton had stolen his girl briefly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Briefly? Clapton was married to her for 10 years!

She also inspired Wonderful Tonight (Clapton was waiting for her to get ready for a party).

The whole Layla album is about his love for her. Also poignant is the blues cover "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" about loving your best friend's wife.

According to wikipedia, Patti left George Harrison after George had an affair with Ringo Starr's wife.

[gusmahler]

Another famous album about a woman is Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, supposedly about the breakup of his marriage with Sara Dylan (mother of Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers). Lots of classic songs about lost love.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_on_the_tracks

He also wrote Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands about her.