Classic Songs About Songs

I have expressed what music means to me. What do you think it means to the musicians? Songs effect the artists themselves in the same way they influence you or me. That is why there are so many songs about songs. These musicians share with us how the music makes them feel.

Here is a small collection of songs that is all about the music:


Sad Songs (Say So Much) by Elton John


State Of Mind by Clint Black


I Go Back by Kenny Chesney


The Song Remembers When by Trisha Yearwood


Heard It In A Love Song by the Marshall Tucker Band


Which song above do you feel is the best song about the magic of music? Please feel free to add to this list!

Updated: I have been talking about this song list over at Blog Catalog. Some of the members have come up with some great songs to add to this list.

The Thrift Shop Romantic suggested "Your Song" by Elton John. "It is about the process of writing a song" she noted.

Aningeniousname of News Direct suggested "Killing Me Softly" by Roberta Flack. "Which was about how she felt when she heard a Don McLean song" he said.

Legbamel of One Step Forward suggested "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" by Robert Randolph & The Family Band. He said "This one is more about genres than songs, but it's one of my favorites". A song about music genres fits right into this list I think!

Thanks for the great suggestions. Let's keep this list going!

500 Best Songs Ever Gone Wrong

When I was in my early teens, a radio station was doing a countdown of the best 500 songs ever. If you have read any of my previous post, you know that my family is over the top when it comes to the Eagles. We listened to the countdown over the course of several days. None of us had a doubt in our minds that Hotel California would be named as the #1 best song ever.

Well, our expectations were not met and we felt robbed! We were in disbelief when American Pie was put in the winning slot as the best song of all time. Now, don't get me wrong, it is a good song and many would think it was well a well deserved win. Yet, us die hard Eagles fans found it hard to accept.

I have never been totally sure what the song American Pie was all about or what it meant. I found a great YouTube video just now that explains it all. Here is the meaning of American Pie. (but to me, it still means that my Eagles got robbed!)

Seals And Croft's Summer Breeze

Summer Breeze by Seals and Croft is the classic song for summer. This one truly takes me back in time. It really does not matter what time of year I hear it, I can easily imagine the smell of fresh cut grass when it starts playing.

I think of being a kid in my favorite season, summer. Running around outside while it was hot and then coming back into a cool house. I think of catching lightening bugs and playing in a sprinkler. Back then, summer seemed to go on forever and there was not a care in the world.

My oldest son amazes me sometimes with his familiarity with music. Summer Breeze came on somewhere when we were out and he said exclaimed how much he loves the song. It shows it is an ageless song that will be around for all the summers to come. What pictures does it draw it your mind?

What Makes A Song Meaningful To You?

I think of music as the background of life. It adds flavor and enhances emotions. Music compliments your experiences just as a good wine might. What is it though, that makes certain songs really stand out in your mind?

Some songs seem like they speak right to you. They reflect what is going on in your life right now. These types of songs are quick to become favorites. You can identify with what they are saying and the words can help soothe you.

Other songs you might have heard a few times and enjoyed, but didn't think too much of it. Then, you find yourself in a very fun social situation and that song is playing. The next time you hear it, you find yourself turning it up and remembering that fun time you had.

Every now and then, a song is love at first hear. (?that works, right?) It is just downright catchy and you are immediately drawn to it. You scan the radio stations in hopes of hearing it again. Finally, you just break down and buy the CD!

Any other theories?

What Does This Song Mean To Me Has A Theme Song!

I decided that this blog needed a theme song. It didn't take me very long to figure out which one would suit it best. It is "Listen To The Music" by The Doobie Brothers!

Many years ago, I went to a concert that had several bands playing in it. One of the bands was The Doobie Brothers. I always liked their songs but they were not the main band I was going to see. The funny thing is, I don't even remember who the other bands were now because the Doobies stole the show! They were absolutely phenomenal live. Gotta love the Doobie Brothers.

Listen To The Music is really self explanatory. The song explains how music effects us and why we need it. Therefore, I officially proclaim it as this blog's theme song! Take a listen to it and let me know what it means to you.

Please, Don't Close Your Eyes

Kix is a band that is local to my area. They hit the big time and had a lot of popular songs in the late 80's and early 90's. Their song "Don't Close Your Eyes" has special meaning to me.

My first experience with death was when I was 15. I had a cousin named David. He was quite a bit older than me, he was 24. He worked for my Dad so he was around our house often. My sister and I used to refer to him with each other as the brother we never had and the son my dad never had. We had also met his best friend Eddie several times. In fact, my sister used to work with him.

On the morning of the first day of school for my sophomore year, the phone rang. It was my aunt telling my father that David would not be showing up for work. David and his best friend Eddie were both killed the night before in a car accident. Two young men lost at the age of 24. Wow, did this ever hit my family hard.

The song "Don't Close Your Eyes" had just come out around this time. Although the song is actually about suicide, I related it to the death of my cousin. It was many, many years before I could hear this song without crying. Although it will be 19 years since the tragic accident, it can easily still bring tears to my eyes. In fact, I just listened to it when I looked it up on YouTube for this post and once again, it had the same chilling effect.

My oldest son's middle name is David in honor of my cousin. That is what this song means to me. Does it mean anything to you?

Daniel Re-Done For My Son

I have three little boys. My youngest son is named Daniel. When I would rock him and feed him in the middle of the night, the tune "Daniel" by Elton John would go through my mind. I started changing the words around a little bit here and there. After more sleepless nights holding a newborn went by, I had a completely different version of the song just for my son.

Christmas was approaching and I wanted something special for my new little man. I started wondering how I could get this song onto a CD for him. I absolutely CAN NOT sing so I needed a singer and instruments. I found a wonderful company called Demo My Song. They recorded it for me and now I have my song to my "baby" forever on a CD. He loved it and recognized it the first time I played it for him. It always soothes him if he is upset even now that he is almost two.

Go ahead and listen to my version of "Daniel" for my son. I still love the real version of "Daniel" by Elton John, but now this is what the song means to me.

What Does Hotel California Mean To Me?

Although most of the songs I plan to blog about will be in no particular order, Hotel California had to come first. It is my very favorite song of all time. This is a song that I grew up on and the one song I would choose if I had to pick only one.

Hotel California is a pure comfort song for me. It takes me back to the innocence and security of my childhood. It reminds me of great times with my family when everything was right with the world. If I hear it on the radio now, it makes me feel like everything is going to be alright. Even if I am down, it picks me right back up and reminds me that everything will work out fine. There has always been a lot of controversy as to what this song actually means. Some people claim that you can play it backwards and it is a form of devil worshiping. Get real people!

My take on it is that we are all prisoners of our own bad habits. Whether it be greed, vanity or laziness. You are you, living your life and it is up to you to create what you want it to be. You can never escape yourself, but you have the ability to make it good or bad. Your choice. Take a quick trip to the Hotel California. Awesome song and one of the best guitar rifts ever. It will always hold the number one spot in my heart for music. What does it mean to you?

About What Does This Song Mean To Me?

Music has always played a big part in my life from the time I was a small girl. My dad was always listening to music and made a game of it with my sister and me. He would always say "Quick, quick! Who sings this song?" Even at a very young age, I would be able to give the answer within seconds of the song's beginning. Sometimes I would know it after the first two notes.

Basically, I grew up on rock-n-roll. Those songs from my childhood are now known as Classic Rock. The biggest musical influence in my life has been the Eagles. They were my family's favorite group that we listened to constantly. When we started out on the road for a vacation, we would always start the trip out right with an Eagles tape. My sister and I were determined to freeze hell and get the Eagles back together, so we started writing them letters urging them to reunite. Many years later, our dreams came true and we saw the Eagles live on their Hell Freezes Over reunion tour.

As my life went on, I continued to enjoy current rock-n-roll. I loved the hair bands of the 80's and the grunge of the 90's. My boyfriend (who is now my husband of many years) introduced me to country music. There were a few country songs I liked before that however. My grandfather was a country junkie and there are many classic country songs that still remind me of him. Yet, my hubby is the one that got me into it full force. Now my oldest son seems to control the radio in my truck and country reigns for the most part. I am proud to say that the same son who is only 9, knows most of the words to the great classic rock songs too! Needless to say, he is a big Eagles fan too.

What I find interesting is how a song's meaning can evolve as you grow older. Life experiences can shape how you listen to a song. Maybe a song that I have always enjoyed means a lot more now because I relate to it differently now. Music can completely change my mood, take me back in time and enrich my life.

That about wraps this up. I hope to hear from you about the different songs on here and what they might mean to you. Share how a song has effected your life and why. Music ties people together because it gives them a common ground. I look forward to sharing it with you!