“Meta” is a word that is becoming more popular these days to describe things that refer to themselves. In the world of computers meta data is data about other data. A popular culture example would be 30 Rock, which is a TV show about a TV show. I’ve never heard a song about a song being called meta, but it definitely fits.
David Bromberg “Tennessee Waltz” (Cowboy Copas)
After a bit of a break I’m back taking mandolin lessons. This is one of the songs I’m learning and I was struck with just how meta it is. It’s a song about how how I lost my woman while they were playing a song about about how I lost my woman while they were playing a song about how I lost my woman. It’s an endless hall of mirrors.
There’s something that’s always bugged me about the lyrics on this song. If they were playing a song while my friend stole my woman I wouldn’t consider that song to be “beautiful” even if I thought it was before my woman left me. That’s why I like this version. Mr. Bromberg sings it with a little bit of an edge. He sounds like the whole experience still sticks in his craw.
Billy Paul “Your Song” (Elton John)
This is probably the most soulful cover I’ve ever heard of an Elton John song. This is also one of the lamest love songs ever written. He admits that he can’t even remember what color his lover’s eyes are and then says, hey I wrote a song about how much I like you. I can’t think of too many people who would be proud to tell people that it’s their song.
The DeRellas “You’re So Vain” (Carly Simon)
I wrote this song about what an asshole you are and you’re such an asshole that you think I wrote it about you, you asshole. It’s a shame that Carly Simon finally copped to who she wrote the song about. I liked the idea of millions of baby boomers going to their graves tortured by the question.
Al Pierson’s Big Band U.S.A. “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” (B.J. Thomas)
It seems that the most meta songs fall somewhere on the scale from melancholy to self-pitying and this one’s no different. It’s a sad song about wanting to hear a sad song because your woman done you wrong. But this version is surprisingly chipper. It’s also delightfully cheesy, all the more so because it’s played completely straight and sincere by Mr. Pierson and his big band.
Big Daddy “I Write the Songs” (Captain And Tennille)
I’ve loved Big Daddy and their “lost 50s band” schtick for quite some time. And they don’t disappoint on this song about writing songs.
By 20 Rock, I assume you mean 30 Rock, yes? :p
And if you haven’t heard of songs about songs being referred to as meta, clearly you aren’t a tvtroper: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HeavyMeta
Two of my favorite meta songs (which I don’t think have been covered) are XTC’s “The Mayor of Simpleton” and John Doe’s (of X fame) “Take #52.”
Thanks for that catch neminem. I am not a tvtroper, thanks for that link. I think I’ll be spending more time there.
Manilow made it famous, but I Write The Songs was written by Bruce Johnston from the Beach Boys. Which adds another level of meta to the whole thing, in my opinion.
Elton John & Bernie Taupin are responsible for some of the most insipid, sappy lyrics ever uttered. I think EJ intentionally slurs his words out of some underlying embarrassment even as he’s skipping to the bank, Billy Paul does them no favor by enunciating so well.
“This is the Theme to Garry’s Show” from “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show”
This is the theme to Garry’s show
The theme to Garry’s show
Garry called me up and asked if I would write his theme song
I’m almost halfway finished
How do you like it so far?
How do you like the theme to Garry’s show?
This is the theme to Garry’s Show
The opening theme to Garry’s show
This is the music that you hear as you watch the credits
We’re almost to the part
Where I start to whistle
Then we’ll watch It’s Garry Shandling’s show
[whistling]
This was the theme to Garry Shandling’s show
This is not the greatest song in the world, no, this is just a tribute.
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tenaciousd/tribute.html
Another nice set of covers, thank you! You can never go wrong with Big Daddy, tell you what. I always found it funny that NO ONE KNOWS who wrote “I Write the Songs”!
Until Bruce Johnston manages to work it into every interview.
Erik, I agree that writing a song about writing songs for somebody else to sing is very meta.
Thanks for sharing that Scarlet. I wasn’t able to find a cover of that one, unfortunately.