Lucinda Williams wrote and recorded "Passionate Kisses" four years before it was a hit for Mary Chapin Carpenter.
"London Calling" by The Clash was written amid widespread fears that the Thames River was going to flood the city.
Rihanna's 2012 hit "Diamonds" was written by Sia Furler, who two years later had a huge hit on her own with "Chandelier." Sia also wrote the David Guetta hit "Titanium."
"Instant Karma" is one of John Lennon's most hopeful songs, written and recorded in one day at a time when he felt people were pulling together in a positive direction.
AC/DC's "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)" is titled after a phrase Roman gladiators said heading into battle: "We who are about to die salute you."
The third verse of "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies ("they shook and lurched all over the church floor...") was inspired by girl whose parents would speak in tongues at their Pentecostal service.
Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.
A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.
Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.
Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.
Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.
How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?