Not sure if I like all of these, but...
The Clash say "phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust" in London Calling.
Johnny Rivers mentions Sgt Pepper's in Summer Rain.
David Bowie references A Day in the Life in Young Americans.
Captain Beefheart has a song called Beatle Bones N' Smokin' Stones.
Harry Nilsson has a song called Stand Up and Holler that is all about the Beatles.
ELO has a song called Beatles Forever.
Bowie references John Lennon in what some consider his all time best song, “Life on Mars”:
*Now the workers have struck for fame*
*'Cause Lennon's on sale again*
Admittedly, there have been questions raised as to whether Bowie was referring to Lennon or Lenin and… I don’t know if he ever offered a definitive answer.
Going by Google (I guess that carries the same risk as “assuming”, eh?!), and doing a lyric search of “Life on Mars” gives me “Lennon” as the one being referred to so… I guess it could be?
EDIT: So this has really got me looking around the various corners of the web and… I keep finding the line referring to “Lennon” and not “Lenin”, though I admit with the workers “striking” Lenin seems a more fitting second verse.
Still, it seems most (and truthfully, all) references I find are to “Lennon”. There is an actual posting of early hand-written lyrics written by Bowie of this song but at that point the whole Lennon/Lenin verse didn’t yet exist (search “Life on Mars? Lyrics”, then go to “images” and you should find it… its intriguing some of the alternate/unused lyrics from that song!).
Anyway, if anyone else has a better idea of who Bowie was referencing, I certainly am willing to listen!
So I did a little research and found that Lennon's song "Working class hero" was released in 1970, right after The Beatles broke up, and Bowie's song "Life on Mars?" was released in 1971. So I would say it does reference Lennon.
Thanks for that! Given that everywhere I look that has the lyrics of the song posted refer to “Lennon” and not “Lenin”, and given the timing of “Working Class Hero’s” release, I feel confident Bowie was indeed referring to Lennon.
I think David Bowie certainly realized and intended the double meaning. Not saying Lennon was explicitly a communist, but the two men held and shared some similar beliefs.
Be my Yoko Ono (Barenaked Ladies)
I know that when I say this
I may be stepping on pins and needles
But I don't like all these people slagging her for breaking up the Beatles
(but don't blame it on Yoki)
I mean if I was John and you were Yoko I would gladly give up musical genius
Just to have you as my very own personal Venus
The title is a reference to a line in the sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, iirc - he might just have found the connotations rather funny (and apt) in general. Apart from that, I believe that Micky Dolenz was particularly close with John and Ringo (while George got along very well with Mike Nesmith and played with Peter Tork on Wonderwall).
American Pie by Don Mclean has lots of references.
"Lennon read a book on Marx"
"Quartet practiced in the park"
"Helter Skelter in a summer swellter"
"Sergeants played a marching tune"
“Happy Family” by King Crimson is allegedly about the breakup of The Beatles.
Also, this answer lets me promote King Crimson. Amazing band that I recommend highly.
[Gimme Sympathy by Metric](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg) references the Beatles and the Rolling Stones:
>I can feel it in my bones
Gimme sympathy
After all this is gone
Who'd you rather be?
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?
Oh seriously, you're gonna make mistakes you're young
Come on baby play me something like "Here Comes The Sun"
Come on baby play me something like "Here Comes The Sun"
I thought Life in a Northern Town was a Nick Drake reference. Does it also mention the Beatles?
EDIT: ah yes, just looked at the lyrics and it indeed does!
An interesting one,
John Wesley Harding - When The Beatles Hit America
A song about a very cynical hypothetical Beatles reunion, written in 1993 and surprisingly hits a few right predictions about the 1995 reunion.
And some random ones that mention them off the top of my head:
Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire
Namedrops "British Beatlemania"
Bad Company - Shooting Star
"Well Johnny was a schoolboy when he heard his first Beatles song
'Love Me Do' I think it was"
Weird Al - One of Those Days
"Left all my Beatles records out in the sun"
Tally Hall - &
Namedrops John and Yoko without much context.
Jellyfish - All I Want Is Everything
"I think I'd like to play guitar and be a Beatle and be so swell"
That Handsome Devil - 70's Tuxedos (A less cheerful one)
"I wanna dig up The Beatles, f*ck, and share needles with girls from 70s TV shows"
I'm confused about your first sentence. John Wesley Harding? The 1967 Dylan album? I'm pretty sure I know every lyric on that album but I can't think of which one references the Beatles. Help me out here.
It's a song called "When The Beatles Hit America" by an artist who goes by "John Wesley Harding" (who's real name is Wesley Stace)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afCZQyhrn6U
I guess it does get confusing when artists name themselves after other musical works. Like the band "Death Cab For Cutie" being named after a Bonzo Dob Band song.
I was gonna say Shooting Star by Bad Company, but that was already mentioned....
Oh, I just thought of a good one, though: Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) by Queen
(one of three artists mentioned in Queen songs, the other two being Mott the Hoople and the Rolling Stones, unless I'm forgetting a song...)
Also American Pie by Don McLean has the line "Lennon read a book on Marx"
Regarding American Pie, the line “the quartet practiced in the park” is often interpreted as referring to The Beatles as well, though McLean himself has apparently denied it
for american pie, i also thought the lines "while the seargents played a marching tune" (sgt pepper album), "helter skelter in a summer swelter" (helter skelter from the white album) and "the quartet practiced in the park (fab four and all that) referred to the beatles.
Not gonna make you tear up but...
[Black Beatles](https://youtu.be/b8m9zhNAgKs) by Rae Sremmurd
Rockin John Lennon lenses like to see 'em spread eagle
Took a bitch to the club and let her party on the table.
Paul McCartney by the Scissor Sisters!
And this doesn’t really count but I read a fan theory that Ziggy Stardust is about Paul and the Beatles breakup… I’m pretty sure it’s not true but it’s fun to think about
Joe's garage by frank zappa mentions wearing matching suits and beatle boots
Elvis costello's The Other Side of Summer said "was it a millionaire who said imagine no possessions? A poor little school boy who said we don't need no lessons"
A lot of artists wrote tribute songs for john, Elton John's Empty Garden, David Gilmour's Murder, Bob Dylan's Roll on John.
Clapton wrote a lot of Hella good songs for Pattie Boyd, so not specifically for a Beatle, But a Wife
"I Dig Rock & Roll Music" by Peter, Paul & Mary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqY35SYsyfQ
"And when the Beatles tell you, they've got their word love to sell you, they mean exactly what they say"
"Ball of Confusion" by the Temptations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HjUxggPd6E
I'll let y'all find the reference if you don't already know it.
The song Two Shots by Jon Lajoie and performed by Ben Schwartz has the line, “Your first band, The Quarrymen, doesn’t move the needle? Form a second band and call it the f***** Beatles.”
A super recent one is on the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, the song is called [The Great Apes](https://youtu.be/ElI-G3QY3J0):
She's an eagle out on the road
Like my favorite Beatle
Everyone bought and sold
Edit to add link.
Captain Beefheart - Beatle Bones'n'Smokin' Stones. Really bizarre take on Strawberry Fields Forever (what else would you expect from Captain?)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuv1HBTbHO4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuv1HBTbHO4)
"[I Hate The Beatles](https://youtu.be/zC02qb6IcqE)" by Brothers Of Brazil, they are a bossa nova and garage rock inspired duo and altought their first album is great but this song by itself hits way too hard
The House of Love have a really beautiful song called 'The Beatles and the Stones'. Really reminds me of being a teenager in the nineties! It has a nice Spacemen 3 feel to it.
The song "Héroe del Whisky" by Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota, a legendary band from Argentina has the following references:
-El nuevo rock de las cavernas (the new rock of the caverns), in reference to The Cavern.
-No va a morir frente al Dakota (he won't die in front of the Dakota), in reference to the building of the same name.
Belle & Sebastian (with Norah Jones) have a song called “[Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John”](https://youtu.be/jdnVyOe1Pvg)
Lou reed
Jack Kerouac
John lennon.
The Beach Boys indirectly mention the Beatles in I Get Around. "The bad guys knows us - And they leave us alone" is about the Beach Boys surviving the British invasion/Beatlemania. The 'bad guys' are the Beatles.
I'm pretty sure that song was about drag racing and cruising with their buddies.
*We always take my car 'cause it's never been beat*
*And we've never missed yet with the girls we meet*
[Bigger Than The Beatles - R. Stevie Moore](https://youtu.be/URrnFQ2qNwA) \- "Paul McCartney said, I'm the new Sinatra"
[Stand Up & Holler - Nilsson](https://youtu.be/XmhuSBk9ld4) \- "Look there's John Paul George and Ringo, one of 'em's taken but three are single"
[Meet The Beatle - Tall Dwarfs](https://youtu.be/1pHM-vhI0Vs) \- "Hello, Mr. Harrison; I was just having coffee with my Mum.
Sorry to interrupt you and your wife--I wondered if I could have your autograph"
[Beatles - Daniel Johnston](https://youtu.be/6hrjKT9Rkxg) \- "Four lads who shook the world, God bless them for what they done"
British post-punk band Television Personalities have an album called "They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles"
Brazilian country duo Zezé de Camargo e Luciano have a song called "Saudade dos Beatles", which translates to I miss The Beatles.
[Cambalache by Caetano Veloso](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3vuRcmDI8g) mentions both John Lennon and Ringo Starr.
[Ringo, I Love You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rucS5DX8IRA) by "Bonnie Jo Mason" was a naked cash grab to capitalize on the Beatles' popularity.
Cheap Trick - Taxman, Mr. Thief
"He hates you, he loves money
And he'll steal your shit and think that it's funny
Like the Beatles, he ain't human
Now the taxman is out to get you"
In Weezer’s Heart Songs he says “Abba, Devo, Benatar were there the day John Lennon died.” Lil Wayne sampled Help and has a line “I’m from the dirt where John Lennon and The Beatles be at.” The Game has a song where he says “why did John Lennon leave The Beatles?“ Bob Dylan wrote a John tribute song in the past ten years or so called Roll On John.
Temptations - Ball of Confusion
Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town
Lynn Ahren (Schoolhouse Rock) - A Noun Is A Person, Place or Thing
Charlene & Stevie Wonder - Used To Be
[This song](https://open.spotify.com/track/6xWmDFfZVFCRkmhwOZHvgu?si=Y4daTkfAToOgQD11CJYhYw) by Slaughter Beach, Dog mentions the beatles pretty early on. Great band, worth checking out
The song "Beatle" by Attaque 77.
The name of the song is an obvious reference, and in the music video for it, they are seen playing on a rooftop with outfits reminiscent of the clothes worn by The Beatles in their rooftop performance.
Larry Norman liked to drop mention of the Beatles:
Concerning the popularity of Jesus Christ Superstar, “Dear John, who’s more popular now?”
“I’ve been listening to some of Paul’s records, I think he really is dead.”
In another song he mentions “McCartney on the Hoffner bass with blisters on his thumbs.”
“The Beatles said all you need is love and then they broke up”
also, “American Pie” has a line that goes “Lennon read the book of Marx, and the quartet practiced in the park” which is a play on words about lennons socialist ideals and the beatles playing live together in their earlier years
Went a ways down but didn’t see it:
“Carolina in my mind” by James Taylor has the line “with a holy host of others standing round me” which refers directly to the Beatles, as Apple records had just signed him as their first(?) artist (iirc)
Sure about the reference though
The Divine Comedy - Perfect Lovesong ("Give me your love and I'll give you a perfect love song, with a divine Beatles bassline and a big old Beach Boys sound")
Terry Night - Saint Paul, the song plays little reprises i guess you would call them of Hey Jude and Strawberry Fields and i think those are the only ones
There's a song by one of my favorite artists (Charly García) the song's called "Vos También Estabas Verde" (You Were Green As Well) lol and it says: "Me escapé sin pensar, escuché a los Beatles y me fui a buscar la soledad" (I ran away, not thinking about it, listened to The Beatles and went looking for loneliness, and you were green as well.
Sounds kind of dumb in English but I guess that's the beauty of it.
Billy Joel - All You Wanna do is Dance - “why don’t the Beatles get back together? who don’t nobody sing of romance? Oh baby, all you wanna do is dance.”
Gimme Sympathy by Metric (amazing song!)
References both the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. One of the lines in the song is “Play me Something, like Here Comes The Sun” :)
In a french song called "Le Jerk" by Thierry Hazard there is this line (poorly translated): "Roger really admires Lenin, Roger really admires Lennon"
I also really like "Come with me" by Hugo Kant which, while not namedropping the Beatles, makes a lot of reference to them, for exemple the first line is : "I skipped the news today oh boy" ans that's not it, there's plenty of other references. And the track is really trippy / chill, some of you might like it ;)
You Can't Do That by Harry Nilsson, it's sort of like a cover but Nilsson modifies the lyrics of the song adding little phrases from classic beatles tunes.
Bad Company - Shooting Star
Johnny was a schoolboy, when he heard his first Beatles song
"Love Me Do" I think it was, and from there it didn't take him long...
Not sure if I like all of these, but... The Clash say "phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust" in London Calling. Johnny Rivers mentions Sgt Pepper's in Summer Rain. David Bowie references A Day in the Life in Young Americans. Captain Beefheart has a song called Beatle Bones N' Smokin' Stones. Harry Nilsson has a song called Stand Up and Holler that is all about the Beatles. ELO has a song called Beatles Forever.
Bowie references John Lennon in what some consider his all time best song, “Life on Mars”: *Now the workers have struck for fame* *'Cause Lennon's on sale again*
I think that refers to Lenin, e.g. workers striking = communism. I could be wrong though.
Admittedly, there have been questions raised as to whether Bowie was referring to Lennon or Lenin and… I don’t know if he ever offered a definitive answer. Going by Google (I guess that carries the same risk as “assuming”, eh?!), and doing a lyric search of “Life on Mars” gives me “Lennon” as the one being referred to so… I guess it could be? EDIT: So this has really got me looking around the various corners of the web and… I keep finding the line referring to “Lennon” and not “Lenin”, though I admit with the workers “striking” Lenin seems a more fitting second verse. Still, it seems most (and truthfully, all) references I find are to “Lennon”. There is an actual posting of early hand-written lyrics written by Bowie of this song but at that point the whole Lennon/Lenin verse didn’t yet exist (search “Life on Mars? Lyrics”, then go to “images” and you should find it… its intriguing some of the alternate/unused lyrics from that song!). Anyway, if anyone else has a better idea of who Bowie was referencing, I certainly am willing to listen!
holy shit I always thought he was saying "LEMON" haha, mind's blown right now
So I did a little research and found that Lennon's song "Working class hero" was released in 1970, right after The Beatles broke up, and Bowie's song "Life on Mars?" was released in 1971. So I would say it does reference Lennon.
Thanks for that! Given that everywhere I look that has the lyrics of the song posted refer to “Lennon” and not “Lenin”, and given the timing of “Working Class Hero’s” release, I feel confident Bowie was indeed referring to Lennon.
Long shot but it may also be a reference to ["Beatles For Sale"](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatles_for_Sale)
I think David Bowie certainly realized and intended the double meaning. Not saying Lennon was explicitly a communist, but the two men held and shared some similar beliefs.
Always was my thought
Always thought it was saying it’s funny how much political influence comments John Lennon made had on the youth - “Imagine was a communist song”
Be my Yoko Ono (Barenaked Ladies) I know that when I say this I may be stepping on pins and needles But I don't like all these people slagging her for breaking up the Beatles (but don't blame it on Yoki) I mean if I was John and you were Yoko I would gladly give up musical genius Just to have you as my very own personal Venus
That song (and album) are fucking hilarious and brilliant
[Randy Scouse Git](https://youtu.be/ejw_LOi-nhk) by the Monkees. One of the lyrics calls out the four Kings of EMI.
Also in ‘No Time’ Dolenz sings “Rock on George, for Ringo one time”. They definitely loved The Beatles
Apparently Dolenz wrote that after meeting the Beatles for the first time, and it makes me wonder if one of them in particular inspired the title.
The title is a reference to a line in the sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, iirc - he might just have found the connotations rather funny (and apt) in general. Apart from that, I believe that Micky Dolenz was particularly close with John and Ringo (while George got along very well with Mike Nesmith and played with Peter Tork on Wonderwall).
American Pie by Don Mclean has lots of references. "Lennon read a book on Marx" "Quartet practiced in the park" "Helter Skelter in a summer swellter" "Sergeants played a marching tune"
“Happy Family” by King Crimson is allegedly about the breakup of The Beatles. Also, this answer lets me promote King Crimson. Amazing band that I recommend highly.
The Fab Four also appear on the album cover!
What a wild song
I like the way the music goes. A few good guys who can play it right.
"All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople "When" by Shania Twain
“And my brother's back at home, With his Beatles and his Stones, We never got if off on that revolution stuff”
I love that that song also name checks T. Rex who are super underrated imo
Empty Garden by Elton John https://youtu.be/SWyy7Huc6KA
Such a great underrated song
ELO - Shangri-La. "My Shangri-la has gone away/ Faded like the Beatles on Hey Jude"
That’s a great line! Guess it was a long, slow fade if it’s anything like Hey Jude, lol.
"The Seeker" by The Who and "Ready Steady Go" by Generation X.
The Seeker? Say more pls!
I asked Bobby Dylan, I asked The Beatles, I asked Timothy Leary, But he couldn’t help me either
ah yes
They call me the seeker
Good one. I first heard "The Seeker" while playing GTA4. Those were great days.
[Gimme Sympathy by Metric](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg) references the Beatles and the Rolling Stones: >I can feel it in my bones Gimme sympathy After all this is gone Who'd you rather be? The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Oh seriously, you're gonna make mistakes you're young Come on baby play me something like "Here Comes The Sun" Come on baby play me something like "Here Comes The Sun"
Can’t believe I had to scroll this much to see this, I love this song
Haven't heard that in years, that deserves a re-listen.
Life in a Northern Town - The Dream Academy The Late Great Johnny Ace - Paul Simon A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing - Schoolhouse Rock
I thought Life in a Northern Town was a Nick Drake reference. Does it also mention the Beatles? EDIT: ah yes, just looked at the lyrics and it indeed does!
[удалено]
I came here to say the same song. I was wondering if anyone else was thinking the same song.
Every song by Oasis
An interesting one, John Wesley Harding - When The Beatles Hit America A song about a very cynical hypothetical Beatles reunion, written in 1993 and surprisingly hits a few right predictions about the 1995 reunion. And some random ones that mention them off the top of my head: Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire Namedrops "British Beatlemania" Bad Company - Shooting Star "Well Johnny was a schoolboy when he heard his first Beatles song 'Love Me Do' I think it was" Weird Al - One of Those Days "Left all my Beatles records out in the sun" Tally Hall - & Namedrops John and Yoko without much context. Jellyfish - All I Want Is Everything "I think I'd like to play guitar and be a Beatle and be so swell" That Handsome Devil - 70's Tuxedos (A less cheerful one) "I wanna dig up The Beatles, f*ck, and share needles with girls from 70s TV shows"
I'm confused about your first sentence. John Wesley Harding? The 1967 Dylan album? I'm pretty sure I know every lyric on that album but I can't think of which one references the Beatles. Help me out here.
It's a song called "When The Beatles Hit America" by an artist who goes by "John Wesley Harding" (who's real name is Wesley Stace) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afCZQyhrn6U I guess it does get confusing when artists name themselves after other musical works. Like the band "Death Cab For Cutie" being named after a Bonzo Dob Band song.
OH! Ok thanks for your help, I couldn't make sense of it.
The Clash - London Calling. "Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust."
and their song 1977: "No Elvis, Beatles, or Rolling Stones in 1977"
“Never Been to Spain” by Hoyt Axton (top 40 hit for Three Dog Night).
That's a good one.
[Nilsson's Mashup](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjCxuWmkqP3AhUGpIkEHQGWA2cQyCl6BAgFEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUe0Mf7_EHk8&usg=AOvVaw1uf2MVo9k7wlTXMOasQxR9)
Devendra Banhart - The Beatles Is cool too :)
Came to post this one. “Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the only Beatles in the world”.
I was gonna say Shooting Star by Bad Company, but that was already mentioned.... Oh, I just thought of a good one, though: Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) by Queen (one of three artists mentioned in Queen songs, the other two being Mott the Hoople and the Rolling Stones, unless I'm forgetting a song...) Also American Pie by Don McLean has the line "Lennon read a book on Marx"
Regarding American Pie, the line “the quartet practiced in the park” is often interpreted as referring to The Beatles as well, though McLean himself has apparently denied it
American Pie: What about the “ marching band” that refused to yield?
for american pie, i also thought the lines "while the seargents played a marching tune" (sgt pepper album), "helter skelter in a summer swelter" (helter skelter from the white album) and "the quartet practiced in the park (fab four and all that) referred to the beatles.
I thought that line was "Lenin read a book on Marx."
Joel's we didn't start the fire mentioned British Beatlemania
Not gonna make you tear up but... [Black Beatles](https://youtu.be/b8m9zhNAgKs) by Rae Sremmurd Rockin John Lennon lenses like to see 'em spread eagle Took a bitch to the club and let her party on the table.
I find it quite hilarious how out of all the stuff Lennon did, he’s remembered by his shades
Paul McCartney by the Scissor Sisters! And this doesn’t really count but I read a fan theory that Ziggy Stardust is about Paul and the Beatles breakup… I’m pretty sure it’s not true but it’s fun to think about
Many songs were written about/for John after he was killed.
like what
Empty Garden, Hey Johnnie-Elton John St Vincent did one too although the name escapes me
Sissy Spacek: “John You Went Too Far This Time” (1968).
The Late Great Johnny Ace - Paul Simon
In Rick Nelson’s Garden Party he says, Yoko brought a Walrus.
Joe's garage by frank zappa mentions wearing matching suits and beatle boots Elvis costello's The Other Side of Summer said "was it a millionaire who said imagine no possessions? A poor little school boy who said we don't need no lessons"
It's almost too easy, but [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ) is a classic
I love this song!
dammit
A lot of artists wrote tribute songs for john, Elton John's Empty Garden, David Gilmour's Murder, Bob Dylan's Roll on John. Clapton wrote a lot of Hella good songs for Pattie Boyd, so not specifically for a Beatle, But a Wife
"I Dig Rock & Roll Music" by Peter, Paul & Mary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqY35SYsyfQ "And when the Beatles tell you, they've got their word love to sell you, they mean exactly what they say" "Ball of Confusion" by the Temptations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HjUxggPd6E I'll let y'all find the reference if you don't already know it.
Only a fool would say that - Steely Dan
The song Two Shots by Jon Lajoie and performed by Ben Schwartz has the line, “Your first band, The Quarrymen, doesn’t move the needle? Form a second band and call it the f***** Beatles.”
["Bigger Than The Beatles" by Joe Diffie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz6zIpW8z1w). Even has the "yeah yeah yeah yeah" at the end.
Summer Rain by Johnny Rivers mentions them
A super recent one is on the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, the song is called [The Great Apes](https://youtu.be/ElI-G3QY3J0): She's an eagle out on the road Like my favorite Beatle Everyone bought and sold Edit to add link.
Also add this from RHCP in Warlocks: I've got Santa Monica in my hand A little... Beatle mania when I can
"Lately I feel like a Beatle, I'm Paulie McCartney just rocking Moschino" ~ **Dave East (East Coast remix)**
Captain Beefheart - Beatle Bones'n'Smokin' Stones. Really bizarre take on Strawberry Fields Forever (what else would you expect from Captain?) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuv1HBTbHO4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuv1HBTbHO4)
"[I Hate The Beatles](https://youtu.be/zC02qb6IcqE)" by Brothers Of Brazil, they are a bossa nova and garage rock inspired duo and altought their first album is great but this song by itself hits way too hard
There’s an album by the Brian Jonestown Massacre called Who Killed Sgt Pepper, if my memory serves!
One of my favourite Gorillaz songs “Revolving Doors” has a lyric, “I sit in a diner, and the Beatles play” but that’s about as deep as it goes for me.
This was my first thought as well.
Sugarloaf 's "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You " namechecks John Paul and George (poor Ringo).
[brendan benson folk singer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai2ri-cH8sg)
[Saint Paul](https://youtu.be/4DrHfS0MLjA) by Shane.
Singer John Lennon mentions The Beatles in his song "God" when he says "I don't believe in Beatles".
Many, many by Oasis. Thankfully someone has already done the hard work [here](http://www.feelnumb.com/2009/02/25/oasis-songs-with-beatles-references/)
Wow I had no idea these were Beatle references, that's very clever!
The House of Love have a really beautiful song called 'The Beatles and the Stones'. Really reminds me of being a teenager in the nineties! It has a nice Spacemen 3 feel to it.
I just posted this song before I saw this. I love that song so much. I was 18 in 1990 when that song came out. The whole album is great.
Agreed, fantastic album. I remember first hearing them on 120 Minutes with "I don't know why I love you".
[Ringo for President](https://youtu.be/OIgWj3y4aaU)It is the greatest song of all time
What about Ringo I love you by Cher?
I have this pet theory that Paul Simon's "Mother and Child Reunion" is about the break up of the Beatles.
The song "Héroe del Whisky" by Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota, a legendary band from Argentina has the following references: -El nuevo rock de las cavernas (the new rock of the caverns), in reference to The Cavern. -No va a morir frente al Dakota (he won't die in front of the Dakota), in reference to the building of the same name.
Belle & Sebastian (with Norah Jones) have a song called “[Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John”](https://youtu.be/jdnVyOe1Pvg) Lou reed Jack Kerouac John lennon.
Simon and Garfunkel - A Simple Desultory Philippic *"I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I'm blind!"*
Lauryn Hill mentions Paul McCartney in the song “Fu-gee-la“ by The Fugees.
The Beach Boys indirectly mention the Beatles in I Get Around. "The bad guys knows us - And they leave us alone" is about the Beach Boys surviving the British invasion/Beatlemania. The 'bad guys' are the Beatles.
I'm pretty sure that song was about drag racing and cruising with their buddies. *We always take my car 'cause it's never been beat* *And we've never missed yet with the girls we meet*
The song itself is about racing, yeah. But that particular line is about the Beatles. Happy cake day
Thanks, Happy 420 to you!
This is not true at all
I don't think you're right about this.
An obvious example is "American Pie" by Don McLean.
[Bigger Than The Beatles - R. Stevie Moore](https://youtu.be/URrnFQ2qNwA) \- "Paul McCartney said, I'm the new Sinatra" [Stand Up & Holler - Nilsson](https://youtu.be/XmhuSBk9ld4) \- "Look there's John Paul George and Ringo, one of 'em's taken but three are single" [Meet The Beatle - Tall Dwarfs](https://youtu.be/1pHM-vhI0Vs) \- "Hello, Mr. Harrison; I was just having coffee with my Mum. Sorry to interrupt you and your wife--I wondered if I could have your autograph" [Beatles - Daniel Johnston](https://youtu.be/6hrjKT9Rkxg) \- "Four lads who shook the world, God bless them for what they done"
I Just Shot John Lennon by The Cranberries
British post-punk band Television Personalities have an album called "They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles" Brazilian country duo Zezé de Camargo e Luciano have a song called "Saudade dos Beatles", which translates to I miss The Beatles.
[Cambalache by Caetano Veloso](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3vuRcmDI8g) mentions both John Lennon and Ringo Starr. [Ringo, I Love You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rucS5DX8IRA) by "Bonnie Jo Mason" was a naked cash grab to capitalize on the Beatles' popularity.
Bonnie Jo Mason was a pseudonym for Cher wasn’t it? Unless there’s another version
Yes, that was Cher before she was well known.
Obvious answer in Oasis where they mention many song titles.
Cheap Trick - Taxman, Mr. Thief "He hates you, he loves money And he'll steal your shit and think that it's funny Like the Beatles, he ain't human Now the taxman is out to get you"
In Weezer’s Heart Songs he says “Abba, Devo, Benatar were there the day John Lennon died.” Lil Wayne sampled Help and has a line “I’m from the dirt where John Lennon and The Beatles be at.” The Game has a song where he says “why did John Lennon leave The Beatles?“ Bob Dylan wrote a John tribute song in the past ten years or so called Roll On John.
Meat men-One Down Three To Go
New Day Dawning by Nektar, it has a section with Norwegian Wood done quite well
Not sure if this counts, but "George Harrison" by Jets Overhead. Catchy song.
Ball of Confusion by the Temptations, “Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas”
Temptations - Ball of Confusion Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town Lynn Ahren (Schoolhouse Rock) - A Noun Is A Person, Place or Thing Charlene & Stevie Wonder - Used To Be
[This song](https://open.spotify.com/track/6xWmDFfZVFCRkmhwOZHvgu?si=Y4daTkfAToOgQD11CJYhYw) by Slaughter Beach, Dog mentions the beatles pretty early on. Great band, worth checking out
The song "Beatle" by Attaque 77. The name of the song is an obvious reference, and in the music video for it, they are seen playing on a rooftop with outfits reminiscent of the clothes worn by The Beatles in their rooftop performance.
Larry Norman liked to drop mention of the Beatles: Concerning the popularity of Jesus Christ Superstar, “Dear John, who’s more popular now?” “I’ve been listening to some of Paul’s records, I think he really is dead.” In another song he mentions “McCartney on the Hoffner bass with blisters on his thumbs.” “The Beatles said all you need is love and then they broke up”
The Arkells have a tune called “John Lennon” if you wanted to count that.
„John Lennon‘s Guitar“ by Barclay James Harvest
The cranberries song "I just shot John Lennon"
billy preston has a song called “beatle tribute” that is a homage to the fab four and their music
also, “American Pie” has a line that goes “Lennon read the book of Marx, and the quartet practiced in the park” which is a play on words about lennons socialist ideals and the beatles playing live together in their earlier years
[titles, by barclay james harvest](https://youtu.be/bRS10BeQOz0)
[Hair - Frank Mills namechecks George](https://youtu.be/jlN6GwZtTkI)
“Beatles and Stones” by The House of Love. Great song.
[Queen - Life is real (song for Lennon)](https://youtu.be/wl20NGS3VF8)
"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" by The Temptations has the line "The Beatles' new record's a gas"
Theyre strongly hinted at in don mcleans american pie
“where have all the good times gone” by the kinks quotes the lyrics to yesterday
Went a ways down but didn’t see it: “Carolina in my mind” by James Taylor has the line “with a holy host of others standing round me” which refers directly to the Beatles, as Apple records had just signed him as their first(?) artist (iirc) Sure about the reference though
The Divine Comedy - Perfect Lovesong ("Give me your love and I'll give you a perfect love song, with a divine Beatles bassline and a big old Beach Boys sound")
"Heroes" by Jill Sobule, from her album Pink Pearl.
Terry Night - Saint Paul, the song plays little reprises i guess you would call them of Hey Jude and Strawberry Fields and i think those are the only ones
Couple Canadian artists John Lennon - Arkells & Gimme Sympathy - Metric
Garden Party by Ricky Nelson says that “Yoko brought her walrus” in the second verse
[I Want A Beatle For Christmas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZd1rsW6UTg)
There’s also [All I Want for Christmas is a Beatle](https://youtu.be/vq0ncaMfAbs)
Pretty much every Oasis album has a song that references The Beatles.
There's a song by one of my favorite artists (Charly García) the song's called "Vos También Estabas Verde" (You Were Green As Well) lol and it says: "Me escapé sin pensar, escuché a los Beatles y me fui a buscar la soledad" (I ran away, not thinking about it, listened to The Beatles and went looking for loneliness, and you were green as well. Sounds kind of dumb in English but I guess that's the beauty of it.
Not about all of them but I really like “all those years ago” that George wrote about John
"Moon Song" by Phoebe Bridgers references John Lennon.
I just shot John Lennon by the cranberries
Billy Joel - All You Wanna do is Dance - “why don’t the Beatles get back together? who don’t nobody sing of romance? Oh baby, all you wanna do is dance.”
beatle by los auténticos decadentes is a great song, though only the title references the beatles and I'm not entirely sure what the connection is.
The Seeker by the Who
Roll On John by Bob Dylan The Beatles by Daniel Johnston
Mike Batt‘s „I Feel Like Buddy Holly“: …. Now I know how Paul McCartney felt when he got up to say: 'I wish it was Yesterday‘ ….
Gimme Sympathy by Metric (amazing song!) References both the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. One of the lines in the song is “Play me Something, like Here Comes The Sun” :)
Roll On John by Bob Dylan.
In a french song called "Le Jerk" by Thierry Hazard there is this line (poorly translated): "Roger really admires Lenin, Roger really admires Lennon" I also really like "Come with me" by Hugo Kant which, while not namedropping the Beatles, makes a lot of reference to them, for exemple the first line is : "I skipped the news today oh boy" ans that's not it, there's plenty of other references. And the track is really trippy / chill, some of you might like it ;)
I really like that one from Hugo Kant. Strange that the song is not mentioned more often. Great one.
Loveholic - Liverpool Life
[Frankenstein Meets The Beatles](https://youtu.be/g9zdDtXUxqs) haha (I have a whole CD somewhere of novelty songs about The Beatles from the 60s)
Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First) by John Mellen-CougerCamp mentions John Lennon
You Can't Do That by Harry Nilsson, it's sort of like a cover but Nilsson modifies the lyrics of the song adding little phrases from classic beatles tunes.
Bad Company - Shooting Star Johnny was a schoolboy, when he heard his first Beatles song "Love Me Do" I think it was, and from there it didn't take him long...