In Memory Of: Songs About the Dearly Departed
- Posted by Pat Pemberton
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'Wonderful Life'
Gwen Stefani
When she was 14, Stefani's boyfriend -- her first kiss -- introduced her to Depeche Mode. Later, years after the ex-boyfriend committed suicide, Stefani wrote this 2006 techno dance song in his honor, asking, "How could you think you were better off?" In the ultimate tribute to her former friend, she had Depeche Mode guitarist Martin Gore contribute to the track.
'Tears in Heaven'
Eric Clapton
It had taken the guitar god a few years to get into the groove of fatherhood, but it finally happened when he took 4-year-old Conor to the circus in March of 1991. After spending his first day alone with his son, Clapton felt the pride of being a dad. But the next day, as Clapton prepared to take Conor to the zoo, tragedy struck: Conor fell out the window of his mother's New York condo, 53 stories above ground. Devastated, Clapton wrote this 1992 song with Will Jennings.
'The Last Song'
Foo Fighters
Since everyone was interpreting every Foo Fighters song to be about Dave Grohl's former bandmate Kurt Cobain, Grohl wrote this one in 2005, belting out the lyrics, "This is the last song that I will dedicate to you." While many other Foo Fighters songs were erroneously connected to Cobain, Grohl admits the song 'Friend of a Friend' was indeed about his time with Nirvana bandmates Cobain and Krist Novoselic.
'Gypsy,'
Fleetwood Mac
This 1982 song originally began as a Stevie Nicks solo effort about her early days with bandmate and former bed mate Lindsey Buckingham. But as her friend Robin Anderson became ill with leukemia, the line Nicks had included for her -- "I still see your bright eyes" -- became much more powerful, and Nicks saved the tune for Fleetwood Mac. Anderson died two days after giving birth to a baby boy.
'Are You Here'
Corinne Bailey Rae
The singer's second album, released in January 2010, arrived two years after her husband, Jason Rae, died of an accidental drug overdose. Some of the songs on 'The Sea' were written before the tragedy, including the title track, which is also about a lost loved one -- Corinne's grandfather, who was killed in a boating accident.
'One Tree Hill'
U2
In 1986, Greg Carroll, a friend and U2 assistant, went to retrieve Bono's motorcycle in Dublin. While delivering the bike to the U2 frontman, he was killed by a drunk driver. One Tree Hill is the name of a volcanic peak in Carroll's native New Zealand. "He died doing me a favor," Bono told the Sydney Morning Herald after penning the song in 1987. "I don't know what to say."
'All Those Years Ago'
George Harrison
Harrison had written an earlier version of this song for his former Beatles mate Ringo Starr. But when John Lennon was murdered a month after the song was recorded, Harrison changed the lyrics, making this a timely tribute to a fallen friend. The song, featuring Ringo on drums, and Paul and Linda McCartney on vocals, makes reference to Lennon classics, including 'Imagine' and 'All You Need Is Love.'
'Lucy'
Julian Lennon and James Scott Cook
Lucy Vodden's claim to fame came in the '60s after a young Julian Lennon drew a picture of his classmate and described it to his father as "Lucy in the sky with diamonds." More than 40 years after that picture inspired a very famous Beatles song, Vodden passed away from Lupus, so Lennon and Cook (whose grandmother has lupus) recorded this 2009 song with proceeds benefiting lupus research.
'Good Night, Travel Well'
The Killers
The final track from the Killers' 2008 album, 'Day & Age,' this was written after the death of guitarist Dave Keuning's mother, who succumbed to cancer at age 56. The song came about during conversations between Keuning and frontman Brandon Flowers, whose own mother was battling a brain tumor with chemotherapy and radiation.
'Back on the Chain Gang'
The Pretenders
June 1982 would mark the beginning of a trying year for the Pretenders. First, Pete Farndon, who had become increasingly unreliable due to drug abuse, was kicked out of the band. Two days later, James Honeyman-Scott died of a drug overdose. That November, the survivors released this song, about their fallen guitarist. The following April, Farndon became the band's second OD casualty in 10 months.
'Go On'
Jack Johnson
Normally known for his breezy, stoke-inspired acoustic guitar songs, Johnson dedicated his 'Sleep Through the Static' album to his wife's cousin, Danny Riley, who died of a brain tumor at age 19. Before his death, Riley lived with the Johnson family and even recorded backing vocals for the song 'If I Had Eyes.' This 2008 song contrasts Johnson watching his son grow older while watching Riley pass away.
'Camera'
R.E.M.
Before he became the face of alternative rock, Michael Stipe was an art student studying photography at the University of Georgia, Athens. Another Athens photographer, Carol Levy, was a friend who took R.E.M.'s photo for the back of the 'Radio Free Europe' single sleeve. After she died in a car accident, Stipe wrote this 1984 song in her memory.
'Breathe No More'
Evanescence
As a depressed teen, Amy Lee would often write dark song lyrics, prompting her mother to suggest therapy. The future Evanescence singer had a reason to be down: When she was 6, her 3-year-old sister had died of a still-unknown illness. "When that happened, my whole perception of life changed," Lee, known for goth-tinged lyrics, said. "It sounds strange, but that was when I became an artist. This music is my attempt to heal myself." This 2004 song is one of three written for her late sibling.
'Maureen'
Sade
Sade Adu wrote this 1985 song about her best friend from childhood. The lyrics for this song need no decoding: It's a straightforward tribute to the good times the duo shared, starting out with the sad lyrics: "Maureen/It's hard to explain/I'm never going to see you again/And you'll never meet my new friends."
'Terry's Song'
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
After working at a club owned by Clarence Clemons, Terry Magovern became Springsteen's personal assistant for 23 years. Written a day before Magovern's funeral, this late addition to the 2007 'Magic' album appeared as an unlisted track. The album's liner notes included an old photo of Magovern and the Boss's words: "His presence and his spirit have been an unspoken part of my music for the last two decades and will continue to be."
'100 Percent'
Sonic Youth
Joe Cole, an aspiring actor and roadie for the Rollins Band, was walking home from the video store with his friend and roommate Henry Rollins in 1991 when two gang bangers held them at gunpoint. Rollins escaped but his friend died of a gunshot to the head. Members of Sonic Youth, who were also friends with Cole, wrote two songs for him, this one, from 1992, and 'JC.'
'Afterimage'
Rush
A song about dealing with the loss of a friend, this tune was dedicated to Robbie Whelan, who died in a 1983 car accident en route to the recording studio. Whelan, an assistant recording engineer, had worked on several early Rush albums. Later, drummer Neil Peart would use the 1984 song's opening lyrics -- "Suddenly you were gone from all the lives you left your mark upon" -- as a dedication to his late wife and late daughter in his memoir 'Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road.'
'Being Boring'
Pet Shop Boys
Neil Tennant recently said a best friend who died of AIDS provided inspiration for three Pet Shop Boys hits. 'It Couldn't Happen' was about their teenage years, 'Your Funny Uncle' was about the friend's funeral, and this 1990 song -- with a line inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald -- was about a party they threw.
'An Original Man (A Song for Keith)'
The Yardbirds
Though the Yardbirds are known for launching the careers of three great guitarists -- Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck -- bass player Chris Dreja recently told Spinner that singer Keith Relf was an underrated songwriter. "He was a little overshadowed at the time," says Dreja, who wrote this tribute to Relf in 2003. Relf was killed in a freak accident -- electrocuted while playing guitar at his home -- in 1976.
'August 7, 4:15'
Bon Jovi
In 1996, 6-year-old Katherine Korzilius stepped out of her family car to retrieve the mail, then asked if she could walk to their home a few yards away. Minutes later, her family found the little girl battered and mortally wounded. The mystery behind her subsequent death has never been solved. Jon Bon Jovi had a personal connection to the girl -- her father was the band's business manager -- and wrote this song, which starts out like a news story recalling the horrific events of that day.
- Filed under: The Hit List
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