Songs that feature a person’s name can sometimes take on a special meaning when you can relate to both the name and a situation with that person that reminds you of the song. In some cases, it’s almost as if the song was custom written for you. I would share my personal favorites but that would be sharing too much. Instead I’ll leave you with these:
4 Songs with a Person’s Name in the Title: featuring CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival), Aerosmith, Three Dog Night & Jon Bon Jovi
Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Proud Mary is a song by the southern rock band CCR, a.k.a., Creedence Clearwater Revival (1967-1972). It was written by the band’s singer/guitarist John Fogerty who later went on to pursue a solo career.
This upbeat number, released in 1969, lasts a little over 3 minutes. Proud Mary was featured on the second studio album Bayou Country. The song is also known as Rolling on a River as the chorus starts includes the lyrics “rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.”. The song reached number 2 at the US charts. Many people interpret the song’s meaning as getting high by the river with references to “Mary” (as is the song by Rick James: “Mary Jane”), “burning” and “rolling.”
Sample lyrics:
Left a good job in the city,
Workin’ for the man ev’ry night and day,
And I never lost one minute of sleepin’,
Worryin’ ’bout the way things might have been.[Chorus:] Big wheel keep on turnin’,
Proud Mary keep on burnin’,
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.
Here’s what I would consider rolling on the river:
Image via: Van Wagner (musician)
Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog by Three Dog Night
Famous rock n’ roll song Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog was written by singer/ songwriter Hoyt Axton and performed by the band Three Dog Night. The song was released in 1971. It is also called Joy to the World, although Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog is the better known name.
The song was also covered by CCR. The song’s lyrics, as admitted by its writer, don’t really make much sense.
Sample lyrics:
Jeremiah was a bullfrog, he was good friend of mine.
I never understood a single word he said but I helped him drink
his whine. He always had some mighty fine wine. Sing it Joy to the
world…all the boys and girls now , joy to the fishes in the deep blue
sea and joy to you and me.And if i were the king of the world , i tell you what i would do. Id throw
away the cars and the bars in the world and id make sweet love to you.
Sing it now : Joy the the world , all the boys and girls , joy to the fishies
in the deep blue sea , joy to you and me.
Janie Don’t You Take Your Love to Town by Jon Bon Jovi
Janie Don’t You Take Your Love to Town is from Jon Bon Jovi’s second solo album Destination Anywhere (1997). The album, contributed by songwriter Desmond Child and Bon Jovi keyboard player David Bryan, notably did better at Canada and UK, than in the US.
Jon Bon Jovi mentioned in an interview that he was inspired to write the song after he had a fight with his wife Dorothea.
The track’s video features footage from the short film starring Demi Moore & Jon Bon Jovi (shot for the album Destination Anywhere), while Jon plays his guitar at the movie theater the movie is playing at and the viewers are throwing popcorn at him.
The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi.
Sample lyrics:
I remember how it used to be
I was you and you were me
We were more than just the same
Now these shoes don’t fit, my skin’s too tight
When you want a kiss, I take a bite
Let your heart call up the cops, read me my rights
Last night I drank enough to drown
Raise a toast to your good looks and to my health
Look, we both know how much I’ve let you down
Janie, don’t you take your love to townJanie, don’t you take your love to town
Janie, don’t you take your love to town
If I gotta beg, I’ll beg, just don’t walk away
Janie, don’t you take your love to town
Janie’s Got a Gun by Aerosmith
Janie’s got a gun is featured on Aerosmith’s Pump (1989) album and is one of the band’s (and the album’s) best liked tracks. The song was written after a guy friend of Steven Tyler‘s, but the title later changed. The song had great chart success worldwide. Janie’s Got a Gun was written by the band’s front man Steven Tyler and bassist Tom Hamilton. Tom also co-wrote the hit Sweet Emotion.
The song’s video was directed by the twice Oscar-nominated director David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network) and it is centered around the controversial theme of incest. The video clearly implies a dad abusing his own daughter.
Sample lyrics:
Janie got a gun Janie got a gun Her whole world’s come undone From looking straight at the sun What did her daddy do? What did he put you through? They say when Janie was arrested They found him underneath a train But man, he had it comin’ Now that Janie got a gun She ain’t never gonna be the same Janie got a gun Janie’s got a gun