Textbooks that could be written about just one SONG...

As Sgt. Pepper now turns 50 I've been immersed in some of the books I have that detail the album and/or the musical and culture shift it sparked.

On a similar but isolated note, what songs are so significant, detailed, or fascinating that a "Pop Music 101" book could be written solely about them? Not songs that we personally like and wish had a book, but songs that have the lore and general interest to be the subject of an entire book.

The ones I first thought of would likely be agreed upon by many and are probably the usual suspects. The first two that hit me off the bat were:

Strawberry Fields Forever: The Beatles
Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin

I feel both songs have such a rich history of origin, recording, lyrical symbolism, cultural significance that an entire book could easily be written about either.

Some others that also crossed my mind as possibilities...

Sympathy For The Devil: The Rolling Stones
Revolution 9: The Beatles
A Day In The Life: The Beatles
Like A Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan
We Are The World: USA For Africa

This is one of those kind of threads where later on I'll be certain that I'm missing some very obvious songs. But hopefully this makes a good starting point.

 

A number of Kate Bush songs could qualify, if only because she has said so little about them herself.

"Suspended In Gaffa" has already generated textbooks of discussion on the Usenet group rec.music.gaffa and its accompaning website gaffa.org. People can't even agree on the definition of "Gaffa" or how one would be suspended in it.

 

Why do we need a new thread for this? We already have the "Music Corner" on this forum, isn't that a good enough place for such discussions?

 

I would be shocked if Don McLean's "American Pie" hasn't already had a textbook written about it.

Film critic Roger Ebert would spend an entire school year discussing a single film - Citizen Kane. Different lectures would focus on different aspects of filmmaking - lighting, costumes, dialogue, etc.

 

I thought I posted this in the music forum!

 

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
The Holy or the Broken

 

Yes, that's a good candidate. Films are indeed wonderful for isolated breakdowns / discussion.

 

I'm sure there's a large handful of Kinks songs that could each have their own book.

 

On a side note, of all the books named after songs, Helter Skelter is probably the best selling.

 

Close to the Edge. It is after all, rock's greatest achievement

Seriously though...I could see an entire book about CTTE.

Some others:
Rush - Xanadu
Pink Floyd - Shine on you Crazy Diamond
Beach Boys - Good Vibrations

 

Wild Honey Pie (The Beatles)

 

Tragically, you are probably right. Yet the song is unfortunately not the subject (in itself). Although, ironically, "Revolution 9" was said to play the biggest role in Manson's White Album fascination, and I did propose a possible book for that track (although I was thinking primarily for its construction).

 

this one

Like a Rolling Stone

 

Revolution 9 may be the Beatles most talked about song. I do not think there are any backwards clues in Helter.

 

Was that really about Brian Jones?
Or was that just the Mr. Jones song?

 

"Strawberry Fields Forever", certainly. A miracle that combined cutting-edge songwriting with then-current technology.

 

I know. It was tongue-in-cheek. I was just mocking those morons who are always heaving and whining and complaining whenever someone starts a new thread.

 

"Good Vibrations"
Beach Boys

 

"She's Your Lover Now" (solo piano version) - Bob Dylan

 

the book is only about Like a Rolling Stone

 

"God Save The Queen"
The Sex Pistols

 

Emojis Matter

(Especially the sarcastic smiley ones)

 

Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones

 

Yes, that one was the song that inspired this thread. I know myself that I have long enjoyed trying to "put the song together" and I still keep learning new things about it. Just its recording details could fill a book, then when you add in the innovative studio techniques and its structure, plus Lennon's use of lyrics, plus its point in time as a recording that led to what would shortly be known as the new "Sgt Pepper" album, the material to document is almost limitless.

And I didn't even get to things like the promo video (cited as one of the most influential music videos at the time) or its influence in causing variety shows to be a bit more lenient in broadcasting "psychedelic music", etc.

Strawberry may be the lone song that could actually fill two textbooks, let alone one!

 

Box of Rain - Grateful Dead
Melissa - The Allman Brothers Band

Both of these songs could be book subjects unto themselves, and also as jumping off points.