List of songs about politicians
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This is a list of songs about politicians.
[edit] President of the United States
[edit] George H. W. Bush
- "Bush League" by Lost Dogs
- "Kalhoun" by Daniel Amos
- "Bush Killa" by Paris
- "N.W.O." by Ministry
- "Let it be Me" by the Indigo Girls
- "Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young
- "This Administration" by Cindy Lee Berryhill (written by Kirk Kelly)
- "Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers" by Primus, about Bush and his administration
[edit] George W. Bush
- "137 Executions And Not One Innocent Man" by Rod MacDonald [1]
- "All Our Dark Tomorrows" by Bruce Cockburn
- "American Idiot" by Green Day
- "Bin Laden" by Immortal Technique and DJ Green Lantern
- "Bushleaguer" by Pearl Jam
- "Bushy" by Tiny Masters Of Today
- "BYOB" by System of a Down
- "Commander" by Girlyman
- "Chelsea Smile" by 8 Foot Sativa
- "Could He Treat You Better?" by The Posies
- "David" by Nellie McKay (references Bush)
- "Dear Mr. President" by P!nk
- "Deify" by Disturbed (intro has Bush giving speech about how our country is strong)
- "Dubya (a.k.a. "Movie Love)" by Fræbbblarnir
- "Empire" by Dar Williams
- "Favorite Son" by Green Day
- "Go to Hell, Mr. Bush" by Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet
- "Guerrilla Radio" by Rage Against the Machine referenced in the line "more for Gore or the son of the drug lord, none of the above, fuck it, cut the cord"
- "Holiday" by Green Day "Zeig heil to the president gasman" (references Bush)
- "I'm With Stupid" by Pet Shop Boys. Discusses the Blair-Bush relationship.
- "Idiot Son of an Asshole" by NOFX
- "I Want You Gone" by Laura Love
- "It's a Hit" by Rilo Kiley
- "Jet Pilot" by Son Volt
- "Let's Impeach The President" by Neil Young
- "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire" Chuck Brodsky
- "Megalomaniac" by Incubus
- "Mosh" by Eminem
- "Not Ready to Make Nice" by Dixie Chicks about their public spat with Bush
- "Seconds" by Le Tigre
- "Shoot The Dog" by George Michael
- "Some Humans Ain't Human" by John Prine
- "Square Dance" by Eminem
- "Sweet Neo Con" by Rolling Stones
- "Take A Bow" by Muse
- "Ugly Man" by Rickie Lee Jones
- "We Got Back The Plague" by The Fiery Furnaces
- "When the President Talks to God" by Bright Eyes
- "When U Find Someone" by Ken Stringfellow
- "World That He Wants"" by Jamiroquai
- "World Wide Suicide" by Pearl Jam
- "I Wanted to be Wrong" by R.E.M
- "Der Sheriff" by Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft
- "W's Duty" by Jonathan Coulton
- "Operation Iraqi Liberation (O.I.L)" by Anti-Flag (introduction is one of the president's public speeches)
- "King Me" by Truckee Brothers
- "Come Whatever May" by Stone Sour
[edit] Bill Clinton
- "Bad Boy Bill" by Loudon Wainwright III regarding President Clinton [2]
- almost everything from The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem
- "Subway Ride" by Sheryl Crow
- "Underground Network" by Anti-Flag (mentions Clinton/Lewinsky)
- "Bill Clinton" by Wesley Willis
- "Bloody Bill" by The Scared Weird Little Guys
[edit] Calvin Coolidge
- "Louisiana, 1927" by Randy Newman, also recorded by Aaron Neville about supposed Presidential visit to damage of Flood of '27
[edit] Dwight Eisenhower
- "Eisenhower Blues" by JD Lenoir
- "Post World War II Blues" by Al Stewart, refers to Dwight Eisenhower (as "Uncle Ike")
[edit] James Garfield
- "President Garfield" by Juliana Hatfield about James Garfield
- "Mister Garfield" by Johnny Cash
[edit] Warren Harding
- "Warren Harding" by Al Stewart
[edit] Herbert Hoover
- "Jubilee Train" by The Blasters, and later their songwriter Dave Alvin, mentions Hoovervilles and promise of the New Deal
- "Those Were the Days (Theme from "All in the Family)" (references Herbert Hoover)
[edit] John F. Kennedy
- "Abraham, Martin, and John" by Dion DiMucci, about Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and Kennedy (also Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy–not in title)
- "Bullet" by The Misfits
- "Catholic Day" by Adam & the Ants, 1979, speaks about JFK's policies, extramarital affairs, and assassination.
- "Crucifixion" by Phil Ochs [3]
- "Happy Birthday Mr. President" by Marilyn Monroe
- "I Shot JFK" by Black Velvet Flag
- "I Shot JFK" by Brother's Keeper
- "Kings" by Steely Dan, about Richard I and John of England (speculated representation of Nixon and Kennedy)
- "Sad Day in Texas" by Otis Spann, about his assassination
- "That Was the President" by Phil Ochs [4]
- "Brain of J*" by Pearl Jam, about the conspiracy theory that the brain of JFK is preserved some where
[edit] Andrew Jackson
- "Battle of New Orleans" by Jimmy Driftwood, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- "Jacksonville" by Sufjan Stevens ("Andrew Jackson, all I'm asking...")
[edit] Abraham Lincoln
- "Decatur" by Sufjan Stevens "Abraham Lincoln was the great emanicipator."
- "Talkin' World War III Blues" by Bob Dylan (references Abraham Lincoln)
[edit] William McKinley
- "White House Blues" by Bill Monroe, Doc Watson & also Charley Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, about the assassination of President William McKinley
[edit] Richard M. Nixon
- "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "Campaigner" by Neil Young
- "Kings" by Steely Dan, about Richard I and John of England (speculated representation of Nixon and Kennedy)
- "The Love of Richard Nixon" by Manic Street Preachers
- "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (references Nixon)
- "You Haven't Done Nothing" by Stevie Wonder
- "He's Misstra Know It All" by Stevie Wonder
- "Richard Nixon" by Rodd Keith
- "Dickie's Such an Asshole" by Frank Zappa
- "H20Gate Blues" by Gil-Scott Heron
- "Nixon's The One" by Mono Puff
- "Tricky Dicky" by Country Joe MacDonald
- "Postcards form Richard Nixon" by Elton John
- "Saint Nix" by The Residents
[edit] James K. Polk
[edit] Ronald Reagan
- Main article: List of songs about Ronald Reagan
- "Common Man" by The Blasters, also mentions Abraham Lincoln
- "End of the Innocence" by Don Henley referred to as "the king"
- "The Fletcher Memorial Home" by Pink Floyd references Reagan
- "The Man with Glooey Hands!" by The Aquabats references Reagan with the line, "Ronald Reagan, can you help me?"
- "You Happy Puppet" by 10,000 Maniacs referred to as "happy puppet"
[edit] Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "Dear Mrs. Roosevelt" by Bob Dylan and The Band
- "Jubilee Train" by The Blasters, and later their songwriter Dave Alvin, mentions Hoovervilles and promise of the New Deal
- "President Roosevelt" by Big Joe Williams
- "Tell Me Why You Like Roosevelt" by Otis Jackson
[edit] Harry Truman
- "Harry Truman" by Chicago
- "Harry Truman" by Mindless Self Indulgence
- "Harry Truman" by Stan Ridgway
- "I'm Just Wild About Harry (Truman)" although the original 1920s Eubie Blake hit was not about Truman a revised version became popular during Truman's presidential campaign.
[edit] George Washington
- "Washington at Valley Forge" by Ashley Hutchings
- "George Washington Slept Here" by Dean Friedman
[edit] Other
- "Abraham, Martin, and John" by Dion DiMucci, about Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and John F. Kennedy (also Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy–not in title)
- "American Idiot" by Green Day, generally about all polititians as a whole.
- "Dead Presidents" by Willie Dixon (also by Little Walter) about presidents on currency.
- "Governator" by Green Day, centered on the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the disillusionment surrounding it. The name comes from one of Schwarzenagger's most famous movies, 'Terminator' combined with the word 'Governor'.
[edit] British monarchs and prime ministers
- "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John (1997 version), rewritten in eulogy to Diana, Princess of Wales (originally about Marilyn Monroe)
- "Elizabeth My Dear" by The Stone Roses, about Queen Elizabeth II
- "The Evil Queen of England" by Marty Willson-Piper, about Margaret Thatcher
- "Fotheringay" by Fairport Convention, about Mary, Queen of Scots
- "God Save the Queen" by the Sex Pistols, about Queen Elizabeth II
- "Kings" by Steely Dan, about Richard I and John of England (speculated representation of Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy)
- "I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am" by Harry Champion, later cover by Herman's Hermits. Henry VIII of England is only a vague inspiration for lyrics
- "I'm With Stupid" by Pet Shop Boys. Discusses the Tony Blair- George W Bush relationship.
- "The Fletcher Memorial Home" by Pink Floyd, about Margaret Thatcher among others
- "The Looking Glass" by Peter Bellamy, about Queen Elizabeth I
- "Margaret On The Guillotine" by Morrissey
- "Miss Maggie" by Renaud, about Margaret Thatcher
- "Mr. Churchill Says" by The Kinks, references and quotes Winston Churchill
- "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" by Pink Floyd (references to Margaret Thatcher)
- "Post World War II Blues" by Al Stewart, references Winston Churchill and Harold Macmillan
- The Entire "Six Wives of Henry VIII" album by Rick Wakeman, about Henry VIII of England and his wives.
- "Shoot The Dog" by George Michael refers to Tony Blair, and also his wife, Cherie Blair
- "She'll Have To Go" by Simply Red, about Margaret Thatcher
- "Stand Down Margaret" by The English Beat (about Margaret Thatcher)
- "The Queen Is Dead (Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty)" by The Smiths, about Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles
- "Tramp the Dirt Down" by Elvis Costello, about Margaret Thatcher
- "Queen Victoria" by Leonard Cohen
- "Taxman" by the Beatles (references to Harold Wilson and Edward Heath)
- "Victoria" by the Kinks
- "You and Whose Army?" by Radiohead about Tony Blair
[edit] Civil rights advocates
- "Abraham, Martin, and John" by Dion DiMucci, about Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and John F. Kennedy (also Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy–not in title)
- "Angela" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, about Angela Davis
- "Asimbonanga (Mandela)" by Johnny Clegg & Savuka (references Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, Victoria Mxgenge, and Neil Aggett)
- "Biko" by Peter Gabriel, about Steve Biko
- "Shami Chakrabarti" by The Dastards about Shami Chakrabarti [5]
- "Free Nelson Mandela" by The Special AKA
- "He Was My Brother" by Simon & Garfunkel, about Andrew Goodman
- "Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder, about Martin Luther King, Jr.
- "Marcus Garvey" by Burning Spear
- "MLK" by U2, about Martin Luther King, Jr.
- "Only a Pawn in their Game" by Bob Dylan, about Medgar Evers
- "Pride (In the Name of Love)" by U2, about Martin Luther King, Jr.
- "Oxford Town" by Bob Dylan - about James Meredith
- "Sweet Black Angel" by the Rolling Stones, about Angela Davis
- "Wake Up" by Rage Against the Machine - about Martin Luther King
- "Shed A Little Light" by James Taylor - about Martin Luther King
[edit] Other
- "All For You Sophia" By Franz Ferdinand About Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophia assaination
- "American Pie" by Don McLean (may reference several 1960s-era political figures, depending on interpretation; see article for details)
- "Big Norm" by Ebony, about Norman Kirk
- "California Uber Alles" by the Dead Kennedys, about Jerry Brown
- "Civil War" by Guns N' Roses
- "Die klügsten Männer der Welt" by die ärzte, about politicians in general
- "El Presidente" by Drugstore about Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet
- "Exhuming McCarthy" by R.E.M., about Joe McCarthy and comparing him to Ronald Reagan
- "George Murphy" by Tom Lehrer, about Sen. George Murphy, lauding him as, "... a senator who can really sing and dance."
- "Good Evening Mr Waldheim" by Lou Reed, about Kurt Waldheim
- "He Was My Brother" by Simon and Garfunkel, about Andrew Goodman
- "Hitler Was A Sensitive Man" by Anal Cunt
- "I Shall Be Free" by Bob Dylan (references John F. Kennedy and Charles de Gaulle)
- "I Shall Be Free No. 10" by Bob Dylan (references Barry Goldwater)
- "Joan of Arc" by Leonard Cohen
- "Kingfish" by Randy Newman, about Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long
- "Le Bruit et l'odeur" by Zebda, references Jacques Chirac and some of his words said about the noise and the smell of immigrant people.
- "Le Grand Jacques" by Mickey 3D, references Jacques Chirac
- "Less than Zero" by Elvis Costello, about Oswald Mosley
- "My My Metrocard" by Le Tigre about Rudy Giuliani
- "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello (references Oliver Cromwell)
- "Politician" by Cream
- "Politicians" by Switchfoot
- "Post World War II Blues" by Al Stewart, references Robert F. Kennedy and Aneurin Bevan
- "Quark (neuer Text - 135 % politisch korrekt)" by Die Ärzte, about Helmut Kohl
- "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, references Alabama Gov. George Wallace
- "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones (references Czar Nicholas II, Anastasia Romanova and the Kennedys)
- "Two Little Hitlers" by Elvis Costello, about Adolf Hitler
- "Rasputin" by Boney M, references Czar Nicholas II and his advisor Rasputin.
- "Chirac en prison" by Les Wampas
- "Adlai Stevenson" by Sufjan Stevens about Adlai Stevenson
- "He Lied About Death" by Stars the band says is dedicated (sarcastically, or as an insult) to Dick Cheney
- "Henry Kissinger" by Monty Python
[edit] See also
- We Didn't Start the Fire, a song by Billy Joel