Songs directly addressed to someone non-famous (a friend or lover or half-brother, perhaps) who is named in the song but not in the title

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a whole bunch of Spoon songs do this ("Black Like Me," "Eddie's Ragga," "They Want My Soul" off the top of my head)

Simon H., Thursday, 11 January 2018 19:51 (six years ago) link

"Eddie's Ragga" (which never mentions anyone named Eddie) takes the unusual step of invoking some's full name:

You can break my legs, you can kick me downstairs
But there ain't no getting over Joanie Hale-Maier

Simon H., Thursday, 11 January 2018 19:55 (six years ago) link

"Venus in Furs" by VU

Josefa, Thursday, 11 January 2018 20:05 (six years ago) link

this thread made me realize that 8 out of 11 songs on "music for big pink" are either entirely in the second person or have at least a verse / chorus in the second person.

the only one that might belong here is "the weight" for the "take a load of, fanny" lyric

budo jeru, Thursday, 11 January 2018 20:06 (six years ago) link

Seasons in the Sun, but only in the last verse ("Goodbye Michelle...").

gjoon1, Friday, 12 January 2018 01:36 (six years ago) link

Maybe Fire and Rain (Suzanne directly addressed in 1st verse).

gjoon1, Friday, 12 January 2018 01:45 (six years ago) link

Bobby Conn "Angels" largely concerns someone named "Richard" who has a bad trip at a party. it's in third person but the chorus is pretty much addressed to them.

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 12 January 2018 01:59 (six years ago) link

"Ballad of a Thin Man"

Newb Sybok (Doctor Casino), Friday, 12 January 2018 02:49 (six years ago) link

good one

flappy bird, Friday, 12 January 2018 02:49 (six years ago) link

Mr. Marks in McCartney's "Temporary Secretary." I feel like Paul has soooo many of these but I'm spacing beyond that one and "Get Back" which was already mentioned.

flappy bird, Friday, 12 January 2018 02:51 (six years ago) link

how about Laurie Anderson "O Superman"? is the military industrial complex a person? feel like 'o judge' counts. at the very least there's always mom (hi mom!)

flappy bird, Friday, 12 January 2018 02:53 (six years ago) link

"Stacy's Mom" is just outside the ring, as the song is addressed to Stacy, not the mom, but her name is there nonetheless.

Newb Sybok (Doctor Casino), Friday, 12 January 2018 02:56 (six years ago) link

The Cure - 'The Drowning Man': "Oh Fushia, you leave me breathing like the drowning man".

LeRooLeRoo, Friday, 12 January 2018 16:44 (six years ago) link

Laura Nyro - "Wedding Bell Blues" is addressed to Bill

justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Friday, 12 January 2018 16:54 (six years ago) link

Mansion - Stripper Vicar

“Dear Mavis, I'm compelled to write this letter...”

faust apes (NickB), Friday, 12 January 2018 16:59 (six years ago) link

lol autocorrect, that should be Mansun obv

faust apes (NickB), Friday, 12 January 2018 17:00 (six years ago) link

This is a song for Karen!

JoeStork, Friday, 12 January 2018 17:13 (six years ago) link

Don't Look Back In Anger?

Colonel Poo, Friday, 12 January 2018 17:17 (six years ago) link

or does that not count because it just mentions a random name?

Colonel Poo, Friday, 12 January 2018 17:18 (six years ago) link

"This bottle, of Stephen's" - from Weezer's 'Say It Ain't So' (Rivers' Cuomo's stepfather)

PaulTMA, Friday, 12 January 2018 17:18 (six years ago) link

yeah I think that's the same, doesn't really count because it's not addressed to Stephen?

Colonel Poo, Friday, 12 January 2018 17:19 (six years ago) link

Kurt Cobain's father in 'Serve the Servants.' Although his name isn't mentioned: "I tried hard to have a father but instead I had a dad / I just want you to know that I don't hate you anymore / There is nothing I could say that I haven't thought before."

flappy bird, Friday, 12 January 2018 18:45 (six years ago) link

on that note see "Grandma take me home" in Nirvana's "Silver".

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 12 January 2018 19:00 (six years ago) link

Future of the Left "Arming Eritrea" is directed, angrily, to someone named "Rick." I remember it getting hyped on ILM and me being totally baffled as it seemed to be the whiny screechings of a teenaged lout, grounded by his stepdad.

Righteous wax chaperone, rotating Wingdings (Doctor Casino), Thursday, 18 January 2018 16:01 (six years ago) link


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