In the title, but not the lyric

A comment I made in another thread got me to thinking. I mentioned that Baba O'Riley by The Who is one of the rare hit songs that never references the title in the song's lyrics. But, come to think of it, it isn't that rare of a phenomenon.

Off the top of my head, I can think of several examples: A Day in the Life by The Beatles; Suite: Judy Blue Eyes by Crosby, Stills and Nash; Funeral For a Friend by Elton John (no lyrics at all!); Positively 4th Street by Bob Dylan come to mind immediately.

There have to be many more. C'mon, help me recall them!

 

Oooooh. I immediately thought of Danny's Song (Kenny Loggins / Loggins & Messina) and Young Turks (Rod Stewart.)


Also pretty much every Panic! At the Disco song (at least the ones I 'm familiar with, I don't own any of their albums but like a few of their radio singles) and Love Song by the Cure.

 

Nice ones! Not familiar with Panic! At the Disco material, so I'll take your word for it. Do they qualify as "hits?"
Danny's Song is a great one. Reminds me that Simon and Garfunkel had a minor hit with Kathy's Song. Love that tune.

 

Led Zeppelin Black Dog.

 

Over the Hill and Far Away
They have others.

 

One of my favorites: "Banditos," by the Refreshments.


--- merged: Feb 28, 2016 at 4:05 PM ---

Apparently it's just the one album that's like that... the song titles are quotes from other things. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage," "Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off," "There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought of It Yet," and so on.

 

IIRC, the Talking Heads have many songs with unusual titles that aren't part of the lyrics (sorry, I'm not exactly a fan so no examples).

 

Oh excellent one. Life During Wartime immediately comes to mind.

 

Years ago I read an interview with a member of TH. The writer asked about their song titles, mentioning that some felt as though they were some kind inside joke with TH; the TH member was serioulsy pissy in his reply. It sticks in my mind because I thought if you're going to use unusual/bizarre song titles, you should expect to be asked about them.

 

I think those all qualify. The ambiguity of the term "hits" leave a lot of room for interpretation. Subterranean Homesick Blues by Dylan and For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield both qualify, in my mind.

 

Subterranean Homesick Alien, too. There are several Radiohead songs that I had in my head for this thread, then I lost them. Ugh.

 

Siberian Khatru by Yes.

Anything by Jean Michel Jarre?