Madonna didn't write "Papa Don't Preach," which deals with abortion. What drew her to the song was the singer standing up to male authority.
Aretha Franklin didn't drive, but one of her biggest hits was a car song: "Freeway Of Love."
The "Don't Stop Believin'" lyric was inspired by Sunset Boulevard, making it perfect for the Rock of Ages musical.
Songwriter Wayne Carson came up with "Always On My Mind" on the phone to his wife when he was apologizing to her for being stuck at the office.
You wouldn't know it from the upbeat melody, but "Walkin' On The Sun" by Smash Mouth is about the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.
Tim McGraw recorded "Live Like You Were Dying" just two weeks after his own father passed away.
The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."
JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.
In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.
When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.
"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."
Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.