"Light My Fire" was the first song Doors guitarist Robby Krieger wrote. Looking for a universal theme, he decided to write about one of the four elements (air, earth, water, fire).
One of the last hits with a track made up almost entirely of uncleared samples is "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deee-Lite in 1990. Soon after, courts ruled that samples needed to be cleared.
"Mother" by Danzig is about censorship, specifically the Parents Music Resource Center, which pushed record labels to put warning stickers on albums with explicit lyrics.
"Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" was written by Boy George about his relationship with Culture Club's drummer Jon Moss.
The song "Without You," a hit for Nilsson in 1972 and Mariah Carey in 1994, was written and originally recorded by Badfinger in 1970.
There really is a China Grove (in Texas), but Tom Johnston didn't know about it when he wrote the Doobie Brothers song.
Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.
10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces
The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.
Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.
Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?
The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."