Songs that are "thinly veiled attacks" on a specific person

For example:

Beatles: "Sexy Sadie" was originally "Maharishi"
Carpenters: "Mr. Guder" was a way Richard got back at his old boss at Disneyland
John Fogerty: "Vanz Kant Danz" and "Mr. Greed" were slams at Saul Zaentz

Other examples?

I always wondered if some guy was cowering behind his new unlisted address during some of Alanis Morissette's songs.

although Dick Ebersol reportedly won an auction and paid Carly $50,000 to find out exactly who "You're So Vain" is about. There is speculation that it is actually about a composite of several of the men that have been part of Carly Simon's life. All I know of her stating publicly about it is that the person in question has an R in his name.

Some radio company executive, it turns out (so she claims) and it's about his promises about her career, not about sex. Bo-ring!

:D

I haven't seen anything official from her about who it is, but there was a rumor flying around that it was David Geffen (but Simon laughed when she heard that and said Geffen had nothing to do with it). I believe I read that Joni Mitchell's "Free Man In Paris" is about David Geffen though. Then Carly Simon's brother has been saying that it is an amalgamation of "all narcissistic men who somehow hurt her at one point or other." But who do you believe? Even if Carly Simon was to make an official, final statement about it on her deathbed or something, how could we even believe her? She could just as well be lying about it.

at some point if you don't believe the person who wrote/performed the song as to what/who it was about, we can't help you

How about this:

"Carly Simon has laughed off reports record label boss David Geffen is the man who inspired her hit You're So Vain - branding the assumptions a "funny mistake." Simon finally agreed to end nearly 40 years of speculation, by revealing the subject of her iconic 1972 track with a cryptic clue in an acoustic version of You're So Vain on her latest album, Never Been Gone.

It has long been thought the song is about one of Simon's famous ex-lovers, which have included Hollywood legend Warren Beatty and rocker Mick Jagger. Reporters at U.K. newspaper The Sun were adamant they had solved the mystery - insisting Simon whispers Geffen's name in the song.

However, the singer has denied she based the track on her former boss - insisting she hadn't even met the gay star when she wrote it in 1971.

In an email to showbiz411.com, she writes, "What a riot! Nothing to do with David Geffen! What a funny mistake! Someone got a clue mistaken for another mistake! How can this guessing game stop without a lie?"

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2010/03/01/carly_simon_denies_david_geffen_was_so

but there it is

it's david geffen, honey, you're the last person on the planet to get the memo, get over it and move on...

Written during the great Jagger/Richards feud of the mid 80's which almost broke up the Stones. The line "Now you wanna roll the dice? You already crapped out twice" is thought to be Keith's review of Mick's first two solo albums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLl7qheBDDg

"How Do You Sleep" by John Lennon is clearly an attack on Paul McCartney, with lines like "the sound you make is Muzak to my ears," and then McCartney's subsequent "Let Me Roll It" is clearly a counter attack, even making fun of Lennon's primal scream therapy.

John Lydon's first Public Image Ltd single, titled "Public Image" was a clear dedication to his former manager Malcolm McLaren. He didn't even bother being subtle about it. :evilgrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylOCIP54PIQ

:D

Which are both pretty obviously "about" Trent Reznor.

the video makes it fairly clear though lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFnnV595byE

it was pretty measured and nostalgia heavy and they performed together subsequent to its release -- i honestly don't see how anyone would have bad feelings abt having that song written abt them

"how do you sleep?" by john lennon re bro macca, now THAT'S an attack

But that's not unusual: it's just that the moon is full ...

Now you're telling me you're not nostalgic. Then give me another word for it
You who are so good with words and at keeping things vague
'Cause I need some of that vagueness now: it's all come back too clearly
Yes, I once loved you dearly and if you're offering me diamonds and rust, I've already paid

That is a song by someone who felt badly used at the time. Of course, people grow beyond their pasts and forgive and forget, but this is not a pleasant song. It is a brilliant song: the combination of happy memories and gross disillusionment suggests a real emotional rollercoaster. I think I wouldn't be particularly happy to be remembered thus

i saw them w. my own lyin' eyes in baton rouge, louisiana where baez sang that v. song

i believe it was the "rolling thunder" tour

don't know what else to tell you

mature adults accept that at the end of the relationship the memories are complex not simple, dylan is not a stupid man who expects an ass kissing song from the likes of baez

and I doubt if anyone can sing a Dylan song better than Baez. I'll agree it's a complicated song, but it seems to me quite definitely a complaint

about a big fat redneck country DJ that hated hippies.

Someone else mentioned "How Do You Sleep"

About Anton Newcombe.

in Capital G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBWhh5Jq9p4

And the superior Tears For Fears mashup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7qGDA6nB8E

Thanks,Brickbat. :hi:

by the late James Hatfield, published in 2000.

Kinda like a pro-wrestler's theme.

including A Perfect Circle (Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums) and NOFX (Idiot Son of an Asshole and, arguably, Franco-Unamerican).

He embodied everything wrong with this country's leaders.

Although I guess it wasn't really 'veiled' at all - it was pretty blatant.

with a line from 'Glass Onion' in case we needed help:
"Here's a little clue for you all
The Walrus is Paul"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4dBo3WciII

Remember Lennon's postcard in the album mocking McCartney's "Ram" album cover?

:P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCVT7tqO-YA


I ain't got no motherfucking friends
That's why I fucked your bitch
You're fat motherfucker {Take Money}
West Side
Bad Boy Killers {Take Money}
You know who the realist is
niggas we bring it to {Take Money}
(ha ha, that's alright)

First off, fuck your bitch
And the click you claim
West side when we ride
Come equipped with game
You claim to be a player
But I fucked your wife
We bust on Bad Boys
niggas fuck for Life
Plus Puffy tryin' to see me weak
Hearts I rip
Biggie Smalls and Junior Mafia
Some mark ass bitches
We keep on coming
While we running for your jewels
Steady gunning
Keep on busting at them fools
You know the rules
Little Ceasar go ask you homie
How I'll leave you
Cut your young ass up
See you in pieces
Now be deceased
Little Kim,
Don't fuck around with real G's
Quick to snatch your ugly ass, off the streets
So fuck peace
I'll let them niggas know
It's on for Life
Don't let the west side
Ride the night (ha ha)
Bad Boys murdered on Wax and kill
fuck with me
And get your caps peeled
You know, see

but I F#ING LOVE that song. My wife and I blast it in the car when the kid's not around.

Generally considered a swipe at Tom Robinson, though some people seem to think it refers to David Bowie.

I just read the lyrics and they are vicious. I guess someone didn't get what they wanted from whoever is portrayed in the lyrics.

revered by lots of old friends... never thought of him as an object of enmity. Interesting.


So Robinson's working class/gay stance was just a put on?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se8h8cqG6U0

:D

Really subtle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV1dyV9d_1k

on HIStory, volume 2

The name he uses in the song is "Dom Sheldon" - but he was referring to Tom Sneddon, Santa Barbara District Attorney who spearheaded the child abuse investigation in 1993.

I have several of them myself, but luckily the people don't sometimes get the right song - like someone will ask if a certain song is about them, and I can honestly say "no" cleverly omitting that there are others which are..... :D

by carly simon, although not really veiled, i guess

Cuts that woman to shreds.

or maybe not

The first one is infamously about Dave Coulier, the second one was once rumored to be about him as well.

about someone specific, because it seemed such a personal song. I remember when I was in H.S. (like, I know it from one of my dad's albums), I played it for a creative writing class that had to do with "Pick a song and write a poem about it". I thought it summed up two-faced people brilliantly, and thought everyone might know someone like that--and it was like everyone in class did. One girl in the class said, just automatically, "I hope I'm not like that."

(I don't still have the poem I wrote in response though, or the poem I later wrote based on "Tom Sawyer" and "New York State of Mind" based on two other people's songs--which would have been really neat to post here. It's been nearly 20 yrs.)

:evilgrin:

So did Eminem and Everlast.

Tupac and Biggie Smalls had fueds



Good times.

Many believe he was referring to Rock Hudson. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I036OI62Bc

excerpt:

"And that goes for all you punks in the press
That want to start shit by printin' lies
Instead of the things we said
That means you
Andy Secher at Hit Parader
Circus Magazine
Mick Wall at Kerrang
Bob Guccione Jr. at Spin,
What you pissed off cuz your dad gets more
pussy than you?
Fuck you
Suck my fuckin' dick


You be rippin' off the fuckin' kids
While they be payin' their hard earned
money to read about the bands
They want to know about
Printin' lies startin' controversy
You wanta antagonize me
Antagonize me motherfucker
Get in the ring motherfucker
And I'll kick your bitchy little ass
Punk


I don't like you, I just hate you
I gonna kick your ass, oh yeah! oh yeah!"

He blasts Fox News, Rupert Murdoch, Bush, O'Lielly, etc.

Unofficial street video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yydpWtjqa8

Official video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_xECBcSEAk&NR=1

It's sly Fox, cyclops
We locked in an idiot box
The video slots broadcasting Waco Dividian plots
They own YouTube, MySpace
When this ignorant shit going to stop?
They monopolize and lose your views
And the channel you choose
Propaganda, visual cancer
The eye in the sky, number 5 on the down
Secret agenda, frequency antenna
Dr. Mindbender
Remote control so controlling your brain holder
Slave culture, game's over
What's a fox characteristic?
Slick shit, censored, misinformation
Pimp the station, over-stimulation
Reception, deception
Comcast digital Satan
The Fox has a bushy tale
And Bush tells lies and foxtrots
So, I don't know what's real (what's real)


Watch what you're watching
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking outside of the box
And unplugged from the Matrix stopped you
But watch what you say, Big Brother is watching

Watch what you're watching
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking outside of the box
And unplugged from the Matrix stopped you
But watch what you say, Fox Fire is watching


The Fifth Act that got you all riled up
O'Reilly? Oh really? No rally needed, I'll tie you up
Network for child predators, setting them up
MySpace, pimps, hoes and sluts
Y'all exploit rap culture, then y'all flip on us
And you own the Post, and y'all shit on us
What is their net worth?
They're going to try to censor my next verse
Throw them off the roof neck first
While I'm clicking my cursor
Reading blogs about pressure they put on Universal
It gets worse
While I'm clicking my mouse
While they kick in my house
They figured us out
Why a nigger go south?
It's either he caught a body
Don't sleep, they're watching
I watch CBS, and I see BS
Trying to track us down with GPS
Make a nigger want to invest in PBS (see BS)




They say I'm all about murder murder and kill kill
But what about Grindhouse and Kill Bill?
What about Cheney and Halliburton?
The back door deals on oil fields?
How is Nas the most violent person?
Y'all wouldn't know talent if it hit you
Bringing up my criminal possession charges with a pistol
I use Viacom as my firearm
Then let the living split you, who do you rely upon?
Then shoot shells at Leviath-o-n
I'm dealing with the higher form
Fuck if you care of how I write a poem
Only fox that I loved was the red one
Only black man that Fox love is in jail or a dead one
Red rum, political bedlam
Don't let the hype into your eyes and ear drum
Murdoch own fox
Not A-Team with Baracus
And he hates Barack because he march with the marches


I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth
Not the biased truth
Not the liest truth
But the highest truth

I will not be deceived
Nor will I believe in the propaganda
I will not fall for the oke-doke
I am tun1b0ed in...


Watch because they're watching
Watch what you're watching

Better watch because they're watching
Watch what you're watching

M-m-media, misleading you
Watch what you're watching

I can't remember who it's about exactly, but it's vicious.

ETA: I see two others have already mentioned this one. Whoops!