Ten Songs about Writers and Writing

I challenged myself to compile a list of songs about writers and writing. Of course, I could have just searched for a list online, but I wanted this to be a real challenge, so I limited myself to songs that I already have in my personal music collection. Sadly, I don’t know any songs about copywriters or editors, so I have expanded the list to include novelists, poets, songwriters, and book lovers.

(Song titles are linked to YouTube videos when available. Be advised that some songs contain adult language and subject matter.)

1. Paperback Writer

Songwriters: John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Recording Artists: The Beatles

Premise: A writer is desperate for publication.

2. Hemingway’s Whiskey

Songwriters: Guy Clark, Ray Stephenson, and Joe Leathers

Recording Artist: Guy Clark

Premise: Ode to Hemingway’s taste in strong whiskey.

3. Just Say She’s a Rhymer

Songwriter: Mary Gauthier

Recording Artist: Mary Gauthier

Premise: Post-breakup advice from a songwriter.

4. Earthquake

Songwriter: Mickey Newbury

Recording Artist: Mickey Newbury

Premise: Hermit has poems rejected by the New York Times.

5. A Poem on the Underground Wall

Songwriter: Paul Simon

Recording Artists: Simon & Garfunkel

Premise: A poet (or graffiti artist) uses a crayon to write a one-word poem on a subway wall.

6. There She Goes, My Beautiful World

Songwriter: Nicholas Edward Cave

Recording Artists: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Premise: The loss of a creative muse leads to writer’s block.

7. Sylvia Plath

Songwriters: Ryan Adams and Richard Causon

Recording Artist: Ryan Adams

Premise: Man pines for a girlfriend similar to the troubled writer.

8. Lady Writer

Songwriter: Mark Knopfler

Recording Artists: Dire Straits

Premise: Bitter television viewer compares female writer to a former girlfriend.

9. Write Your Own Songs

Songwriter: Willie Nelson

Recording Artist: Willie Nelson

Premise: Country music executives should write their own songs before judging songwriters.

10. When I Write the Book

Songwriters: Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner, and T. Williams

Recording Artists: Rockpile

Premise: A man plans to write a memoir of his romantic failures.

And a few honorable mentions:

Everyday I Write the Book

Songwriter: Elvis Costello

Recording Artists : Elvis Costello and The Attractions

Premise: The phases of a romance are compared to the chapters in a book.

Love in the Library

Songwriters: Jimmy Buffett and Mac McAnally

Recording Artist: Jimmy Buffett

Premise: Book lovers find romance in (you guessed it!) the library.

Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

Songwriter: Rupert Holmes

Recording Artist: Rupert Holmes

Premise: Man responds to a personal ad—written by his current girlfriend. (Okay, this one is a stretch. But it’s still a catchy tune!)

Now that you’ve gotten a peek into my music collection, be sure to tell me about your favorite writing-related songs!