
Elvis Costello says "Everyday I Write The Book" is a knockoff of Nick Lowe's "When I Write the Book."

John Lennon's lead guitar work on Yoko Ono's "Walking On Thin Ice" proved to be his final creative act. It was upon their return home after completing laying down the track that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman.

Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The U.S.A." was inspired by the book (later a movie) Born On The Fourth Of July by Ron Kovic, a Vietnam veteran who protested the war when he returned home.

Billie Eilish set the rumors about her sexuality to rest with "Lunch," an anthem about wanting to devour a girl like a mid-day feast. The singer, who's attracted to both men and women, had her first romantic experience with a girl while she was writing the song.

The line, "Gotta keep 'em separated" in "Come Out And Play" by The Offspring came to lead singer Dexter Holland when he was a medical student and needed to keep bacteria samples away from each other.

The motto for Boys Town, which was a Nebraska home for troubled youth, inspired the song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Hollies.
Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.
How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.
An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.
Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.
Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.
How did The Edge get his name? Did they name a song after a Tolkien book? And who is "Angel of Harlem" about?