Non-rap examples of lyrics where the artist refers to him/herself by name

Too Much Joy - the Otter Song

I wanna be Tim Otter Quirk

Numerous Bo Diddley tracks. Almost as many Bootsy Collins tracks.

"I'm just a dead boy
You know that I'm just a dead boy
I wanna be a dead boy
I'll die for you, if you want me to"

One of Kevin Rowland's regular moves in Dexy's, eg Kevin Rowland's 13th time ("My name is Kevin Rowland and I'm the leader of this band"), plus a few others where he berates/encourages himself, like Keep It pt.2.

Sly & the Family Stone, "Life"

"You might be scared of something
Look at Mr. Stewart
He's the only person he has to fear"

Another Cohen one, from "Ballad of the Absent Mare":

But my darling says
"Leonard, just let it go by
That old silhouette
on the great western sky"
So I pick out a tune
and they move right along
and they're gone like the smoke
and they're gone like this song

Al Stewart, "You Should Have Listened To Al"

Jens Lekman's "A Postcard to Nina" where he sings "yours truly, Jens Lekman"

"Which Martin is that?"

Martin Fry from ABC, The Look of Love.

it is the background singers, but since Green Gartside (we assume) wrote the lyric, he's effectively calling back to himself - it's Scritti Politti's "Overnite"

Nick Drake used the same trick - backing choir talking back to him about himself - on "Poor Boy"

Conceptually it's still way different, your example clearly is meant to emulate the sort of call-and-response routine that's common on live gigs, the name isn't part of the narrative within the lyrics rather than the context of the live performance (even if the recording isn't really live). This sort of name-calling is common in non-rap music too, but I was more interested in cases where the artist name is part of the lyrical narrative.

"And then my mom came in and I didn't even know she was there she called my name / And I didn't even hear it, and then she started screaming: MIKE! MIKE!"
(Suicidal Tendencies - Institutionalized)

Not sure you were looking for this either, but it's an example of a subcategory identified in this thread where it's not so much the singers talking about themselves (as in "It's Britney, bitch" or "This is Phil/Sarah Nixey talking") but a second or third person being evoked talking to the singer/writer (as in "they say, Martin..." or "She said, 'Gordie, baby'...") - still both are different from the call-and-response.

That's correct. Here's another:

"Then he showed me his house
It was as big as a star
He said to me, "Patrick
What d'you think so far?""

("The Devil Came A-Calling", Prefab Sprout)

My Life Is Good by Randy Newman:

He said, "Rand, I'm tired
How would *you* like to be the Boss for awhile?"

There has to be a lot of these

"You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy"

(... that's Dylan, for Tuomas' information)

― The Doug Walters of Crime (Tom D.), Wednesday, December 7, 2016 6:17 AM (two hours ago)

disqualified because didn't someone once say that Dylan is a rapper

"She walks up to me, makes the sign of the cross and says, Julian H. Cope, you're a real dead loss"

David Wiffen - Mr. Wiffen (Is Incommunicado Today)

Harry Belafonte's cover of this song is confusing because keeps the original title but changes the lyric to "Mr. Harry".

there's a few Jake Thackray songs where he does this, I guess french chanson style stuff is another genre where it's fairly common?

Your rosebuds are numbered
Gather them now for rosebuds' sake
And if your hands aren't too encumbered
Gather a bud or two for Jake

So let this be understood
That our family name is mud
Our sheep are black, our cheques are dud
But we survive, we're alive so it's up with the Thackrays

Yeah, this sort of division is interesting... Based on these answers I might suggest that these lyrics can be divided into three categories:

1) Lyrics where the vocalist is doing a narrative about his artist persona, so the name-calling refers to that. Typically they are using their artist name (Bootsy, Madonna, Nas, Flavor Flav, Mr. Mercury, etc) if they have one, and not their birth name. These are very common in rap, and also appear in soul, R&B, and funk, but seem to be pretty rare in other genres, and often the examples in other genres ("it's Britney, bitch") seem to be inluenced by rap.

2) Lyrics where the vocalist is doing a first-person narrative, but it isn't about his artist persona rather than something that happened to him as a "regular" person (rather than as a famous musician). Often the name is only referred to when another person in the narrative mentions it (she started screaming, "Mike!"; but my darling says, "Leonard, just let it go by"; she said, "Gordie, baby, I know exactly what you mean"). Type 2 seems to by way more common in rock and pop than type 1.

3) Lyrics that emulate call-and-response in live performances, where the name-calling is outside the context of the lyrical narrative. Can be found in any genres where call-and-response is common in actual live performances.

Of course there's also overlap between these categories, but IMO it's interesting that type 1 is often associated with "black" popular music, and type 2 with "white" popular music. I'm sure there's plenty of studies on differences between the lyrical styles of, say, rap and rock, so I guess this would be a part of a larger difference in how narratives are constructed in these genres?

(xxxxpost)

Go Kart Mozart - Lawrence Takes Over

tMG - Going to Cleveland

I hear the cuyahoga calling, now I know
what was I was born for
and you say 'hey John where are you going?'
but that's not my name anymore

guess french chanson style stuff is another genre where it's fairly common?

Jacques Brel, "Jackie"

Funkadelic - P.E. Squad/Doodoo Chasers

"Which one's George Clinton?"

Habitual with The Fall too, under a variety of names - Mark, Mr Mark Smith, M.E.S., Mr and Mrs Smith

(Prefab Sprout might have more examples too, eg "Paddy Joe… Don't you remember me?" in We Let the Stars Go)

Hey, hey: we're the Monkees.

Now when I start making love to my woman
I don´t stop until I know she´s sas-ified
And I can always tell when she gets sas-ified
´Cause when she gets sas-fied she start calling my name
She´d say: ´Clarence Carter, Clarence Carter, Clarence Carter
Clarence Carter, ooooh shit, Clarence Carter´
The other night I was strokin´ my woman
And it got so good to her, you know what she told me
Let me tell you what she told me, she said:
´Stroke it Clarence Carter, but don´t stroke so fast
If my stuff ain´t tight enough, you can stick it up my´ woo!

(Haha I knew there were other Sprout things, Woof, but I wanted to get in quick because I was cross that you beat me to the Dexys one.)

haha that ´Clarence Carter, Clarence Carter, Clarence Carter´ part is the only thing that prevents that from being the perfect karaoke song

also still laughing @ the fact that he had to self-censor "ass" but not "shit"

Presumably he censored it because of buttsex taboo, not because ass itself is so strong.

"Sincerely, L. Cohen"

I know, its still funny to me

even worse is "I stroke it to the north, I stroke it to the south, I stroke it everywhere, I even stroke it with my.........ahhhhh!!!"

The Auteurs - "Some Changes"

This kid comes up to me
Says "You've got to raise your game"
This kid is half my age
"Pleased to meet you, Mr Haines"

oh yeah, Ween has a ton of these, especially in their early days

"the letter" and "killing two birds" by kristin hersh

Are you ready Steve? uh-huh
Andy? Yeah
Mick? Okay
Well all right fellas, let's go!

xxpost "What Deener Was Talkin' About" is a good one and their best song imo

Super Furry Animals - Arnofio/Glo in the Dark

I said: "Why do you do what you do?"
"Oh why do you do what you do?"
(Guto glows in the dark)
(Bunfy glows in the dark)
"Why do you do what you do?"
(Dafydd glows in the dark)
(Cian glows in the dark)
"Why do you do what you do?"
(Gruffy glows in the dark)
(Gorwel glows in the dark)

"Sincerely, L. Cohen"

already mentioned

Jerry Lee Lewis is the master of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b92tpwTCC2I

(We are) The Orange Alabaster Mushroom

"How do you do? I don’t think that we’ve met.
My name is Ian and I’m from Minor Threat."

When I was seventeen (tell us about it Green)
There was a world to know about (check it out)
Everyday she'd call me (what'd she say?)
Is it over yet? Do you love me?

― woke cop, boo! (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, December 7, 2016 4:21 AM (four hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

oh good i was just about to post this one

Doesn't exactly fit the thread, but Dan Bejar has managed to fit the word "Destroyer" into a bunch of songs:

I was a desert in love with extremes
You married well, a gentlewoman of means who
Kept the word "Destroyer" embroidered on her jeans, too

and

I guess the streets will suffice 'til everybody makes nice
But there's a rumor going 'round even Destroyers have a price

+ several other songs

Mandy Moore in "Candy"

old 97's, 'barrier reef'

The Empty Bottle was half empty, tide was low, and I was thirsty
Saw her sitting at the bar, you know how some girls are
Always making eyes, well she wasn't making eyes
So I sidled up beside her, settled down and shouted, "Hi there."
"My name's Stewart Ransom Miller, I'm a serial lady-killer."

John Lennon's "Hold On, John"

Hold on John
John hold on, it's gonna be alright
You're gonna win the fight

Some of those Mark E. Smith examples:

This is Mr. and Mrs. Smith
To whom you are speaking

And sometimes they say
"Hey Mark, you're spoiling all the paintwork"

Watch out makers of fads
It's MES in shoulder pads

Too Much Joy - the Otter Song

I wanna be Tim Otter Quirk

― how's life, Wednesday, December 7, 2016 6:52 AM (five hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Yes! Also, "Theme Song"

"To create, you must destroy /
Smash a glass and cry, Too Much Joy"

Move over, Rover,
And let Jimi take over

Gary Wilson, "Gary's In the Park"

multiple Black Oak Arkansas songs (Hot n Nasty, Jim Dandy, etc.)

mandy moore "candy"

There's that one of the fifty-billion versions of "Two Tribes" where they do a roll call before "Mine is the last voice that you will ever hear."

No my first name ain't baby
It's Janet
Miss Jackson if you're nasty

Beatles - Glass Onion

"...the walrus was Paul..."

White Stripes - It's True That We Love One Another

...I love Jack White like a little brother.

There must be more by them, I feel like Jack White talks about himself a lot

Beatles - Glass Onion

"...the walrus was Paul..."

that was John singing, though.

Jonathan Richman thirded. Also came to mention some additional Lou Reed, from "Coney Island Baby," but it was already mentioned on this similar thread: Songs where the singer mentions his own name

Said Captain, said WOT?

although, that's rap, I guess...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_YYC2N_lxY

also: michael chapman - wrecked again... & i seem to recall lee hazlewood did this on occasion

Stevie Wonder - Please Don't Go

so baby please don't leave
don't leave Steve

Pet Shop Boys - Single Bilingual

and after work explain how I feel
"Perdóneme, me llamo Neil"

Kevin Barnes from of Montreal does this a fair bit.

The voice said, "Don't worry, friend
The darkness is just a suggestion
No, don't worry, kid
The darkness is just suggestion
No, don't worry, Kevin"

Serge Gainsbourg has done that a lot (even a whole album : "L'Homme A Tête De Chou" !)

So basically, as this thread proves, it's a common songwriting trick.

Burton to this Taylor

Tori references herself as "T" in the song Twinkle

Yeah, this sort of division is interesting... Based on these answers I might suggest that these lyrics can be divided into three categories:

1) Lyrics where the vocalist is doing a narrative about his artist persona, so the name-calling refers to that. Typically they are using their artist name (Bootsy, Madonna, Nas, Flavor Flav, Mr. Mercury, etc) if they have one, and not their birth name. These are very common in rap, and also appear in soul, R&B, and funk, but seem to be pretty rare in other genres, and often the examples in other genres ("it's Britney, bitch") seem to be inluenced by rap.

2) Lyrics where the vocalist is doing a first-person narrative, but it isn't about his artist persona rather than something that happened to him as a "regular" person (rather than as a famous musician). Often the name is only referred to when another person in the narrative mentions it (she started screaming, "Mike!"; but my darling says, "Leonard, just let it go by"; she said, "Gordie, baby, I know exactly what you mean"). Type 2 seems to by way more common in rock and pop than type 1.

3) Lyrics that emulate call-and-response in live performances, where the name-calling is outside the context of the lyrical narrative. Can be found in any genres where call-and-response is common in actual live performances.

Of course there's also overlap between these categories, but IMO it's interesting that type 1 is often associated with "black" popular music, and type 2 with "white" popular music. I'm sure there's plenty of studies on differences between the lyrical styles of, say, rap and rock, so I guess this would be a part of a larger difference in how narratives are constructed in these genres?

I'd still be interested in discussing these differences.

The table is rumbling
The glass is moving
"No, I was not pushing that time"
It spells : S.T.E.V.E.N

Morrissey, obv.

Freddie Slack of the Will Bradley Trio “Down the Road Apiece”:

“The drummer-man’s a guy they call Eight-Beat Mack
You remember Doc and old ‘Beat Me Daddy’ Slack”

And then later on the Stones updated it for Charlie Watts:

“The drummer's man's a cat they call Charlie McCoy
You know, remember that rubber-legged boy?”

Hideous Lump brought up the B-52s upthread - add "Wig" to their resume for this one, also in the "Ready, Steve? Andy?" genre which should also include the Ramones' "Little Ramona."

Nilsson must have done this a bunch, though examples aren't popping into my mind.

In "Piano Man" we learn of a bartender who addresses the singer as "Bill."

"They Might Be Giants" and "Big Country" are borderline cases, I suppose, since they are just using these phrases in lyrics, not singing about the band.

"We've been trying to reach you, Thom"

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin' got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys

Willie Nelson does a duet w/ Kacey Musgraves called "A Willie Nice Christmas"

I cheated on you, you cheated on me
And this is not the way that things supposed to be
So tell me girl, is this for real or just an illusion?
I pinch myself to make sure that Wyclef ain't dreamin'

Wyclef - Cheated (Rock Remix)

There was that one song on Liz Phair’s terrible s/t record where she sings “you don’t even know who Liz Phair is.”

Are you State Phair?
Are you Play Phair?
Are you Trade Phair?
Who wants to know? Who wants to know?

My wife lies down in a chair
And peels a pear
I know she's there
I'm making coffee for two
Just me and you
But I come back in with coffee for three
Coffee for three?

My dead wife sits in a chair
Combing her hair
I know she's there
She wanders off to the bed
Shaking her head
"Robyn," she said
"You know I don't take sugar!"

didn't see my favourite mentioned, from Sly's 'Thankful & Thoughtful':

someone should've come
and taken me away
but the main man thought Syl should be here another day
and that's why I've got to be
thankful/thoughtful

Girlpool - "Dear Nora"

In SF we were driving over bridges
We were singing to "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
Cleo was tired
Harmony was hyper
We switched driving
In the middle of the highway

Blind Willie McTell. So many blues artists did this...

Answer the phone
"Harry, you're no good alone
Why are you sitting at home on the floor?
What kind of pills are you on?"
Ringin' the bell
And nobody's coming to help
Your daddy lives by himself
He just wants to know that you're well

Harry Styles • As It Was