There were two hit songs about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 by the Enola Gay B-29 Superfortress Bomber

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Enola Gay (1980)
d5XJ2GiR6Bo

Gary O' - Shades of 45 (1985)
ai6PlftGOIM

Gordon Lightfoot
"Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
1976
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuzTkGyxkYI

Bob Dylan
"Hurricane"
1975
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpZvg_FjL3Q

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
"Ohio"
1970
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1PrUU2S_iw

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
"Woodstock"
1970
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lx86B6a3kc

Buffalo Springfield
"For What It's Worth"
1966
about the 1966 Sunset Strip riots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80_39eAx3z8

Beatles
"Ballad of John & Yoko"
1969
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZnm_s3wZeo

Several good examples already!  O0

This song is autobiographical -

Mamas and Papas - Creeque Alley (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsknj1Up4sA

How about -

Dion - Abraham, Martin and John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN4ZlST1tGc

In 1971, Pierre Trudeau, Canada's then Prime Minister, caused a minor scandal when he was accused of swearing in the House of Commons, but he claimed he said the words "Fuddle Duddle".  That same year, two novelty songs about it were released and both became hits in Canada

Antique Fair - Fuddle Duddle
oNGr01ien1M

The House of Commons - Do the Fuddle Duddle
ihhhUEvtJWY

The Special AKA - Free Nelson Mandela (1984)
AgcTvoWjZJU

Peter Gabriel - Biko (1980) written about South African activist Steve Biko
3ncVyxQRw70

Arlo Guthrie
"Victor Jara"
1976
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4BdVB5t_Vg

Bob Dylan
"Song To Woody"
1962
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOWfCVQBixs

Donovan
"Remember The Alamo"
1965
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jDCOVs3HX4

John Stewart
"Armstrong"
1969
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiDc9S0zIdM

Rick Nelson
"Garden Party"
1972

Rick wrote this song about performing at the "Rock & Roll Revival" show at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 1971, alongside other 1950s luminaries like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Nelson was booed and greeted with hostility by the crowd for having long hippy-like hair and playing songs such as "Honkey Tonk Woman" by the Rolling Stones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OukwGBpnuXE

Al Stewart
"Roads to Moscow"
1973
This classic tells of the German invasion of Russia during World War II, as seen through the eyes of a Russian soldier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOx1qNUMnCc

"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody with music and lyrics by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honor of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier. In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song, "Candle in the Wind 1997", as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g
Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire

Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire


Are we counting songs like this that are about a whole series of events in quick succession rather than a singular event? I suppose in the broadest sense we could say this song is about "the 60s" as an event. But that's pushing it a bit.

Rolling Stones
"Claudine"

An outtake from their 1978 "Some Girls" album that made it onto the deluxe reissue. A song about actress-singer (and one-time wife of Andy Williams) Claudine Longet who, in 1976 murdered her lover, Olympic skier Spider Sabich, by shooting him in the private parts. She claimed the gun accidentally went off when Sabich  was showing her how to use it. A likely story! Forensic evidence shows Sabich was in a position inconsistent to demonstrating a firearm. Amazingly, she got off almost scot free, on a charge of "negligent homicide", having to serve only a 30 day prison sentence which she elected to serve on weekends only! This was due largely to procedural errors made by police who didn't have a warrant when blood samples (indicating she was high on coke) were taken and who also didn't have a warrant when they took diary indicating Longet's relationship with Sabich had soured. So these items were disallowed as evidence in the trial.  Some also claim that the fact she was young and pretty influenced the jury.

This sordid 70s tale was tailor made for a Stones song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnl1tnAOuTM

Are we counting songs like this that are about a whole series of events in quick succession rather than a singular event? I suppose in the broadest sense we could say this song is about "the 60s" as an event. But that's pushing it a bit.

I guess a whole series of events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiwgOWo7mDc
Nena- 99 Red Balloons
How about this one?  ???

"Man on the Moon", the song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from their 1992 album, Automatic for the People. Lyrically, the song is a tribute to the comedian and performer Andy Kaufman, with numerous references to his career, including his Elvis impersonation, wrestling, and the film My Breakfast with Blassie. The song's title and chorus refer to the Moon landing conspiracy theories, as an oblique allusion to rumors that Kaufman's death in 1984 was faked.

O0PV0M6-j9w
Eric Clapton wrote Layla about George Harrison’s wife Pattie Boyd, who he was in love with.

Eric Clapton wrote Layla about George Harrison’s wife Pattie Boyd, who he was in love with.


Good one!

The Animals
"Monterey"
1968

About the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd7TShVWbwg


Melanie
"Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)"
1970

About Woodstock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDQcgVJuGbk

Bryan Adams co-wrote two songs about Vancouver born Dorothy Stratten, the famed 1980 Playboy Playmate of the Year who was murdered by her husband.  The first one was a single by the rock band Prism in 1980.  The 2nd one appeared as an album track on Adams' 1983 album Cuts Like A Knife

Prism - Cover Girl (1980)
I_HSPuyXAv8

Bryan Adams - The Best Was Yet to Come (1983)
iGRULOLFmV0

"The Ballad of Ira Hayes"
Johnny Cash
1964

The folk classic, written by Peter Lafarge, but here in it's best known version by Johnny Cash. Ira Hayes was a Native American and one of the six US Marines who became famous for having raised the flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Hayes returned home to the US only to come to a sad end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itQg-SUQDAE


The Byrds
"He Was A Friend of Mine"
1965

The Byrds rearranged this traditional folk song into a song about the assassination of John Kennedy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRanxGWKF8M

This song was written about the 1972 escape of a group of inmates from Millhaven Institution, a maximum security prison in South Eastern Ontario, Canada.  Despite only peaking at #41 in Canada, this song was immensely popular where I live because the prison and band are both local

The Tragically Hip - 38 Years Old (1990)
Y_1CaxVFoJY

--------------------------------------

This 2005 hit song is about the infamous North American Ice Storm of 1998

The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)
0ozdCLrTrtA

Calypso-John Denver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35x_rwyBh-8


Cat

Calypso-John Denver

Cat


O0 Love it!

How about -

Chicago - Harry Truman (1975)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC6z0nz03JI

Al Stewart
"Warren Harding"
1973

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMCTORbBXXQ

Al Stewart
"Warren Harding"
1973


O0 New to me - cool song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJN850qHklw
Paul Hardcastle- 19

In January 1979, a 16 year old girl opened fire on an elementary school in Cleveland because she didn't like mondays ...

The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays (1979)
ek4k6rZfFsk

------------------------------------

This band was a big fan of Smokey Robinson.  The bass line/sax riff is an homage to Tears of A Clown ...

ABC - When Smokey Sings (1987)
BTV5FvNCbhk

In January 1979, a 16 year old girl opened fire on an elementary school in Cleveland because she didn't like mondays ...

The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays (1979)
ek4k6rZfFsk





I was gonna post this one but you beat me to it.


Cat

I was gonna post this one but you beat me to it.


Cat
Tell me why?  ;D

This band was a big fan of Smokey Robinson...


Speaking of fans...

George Harrison - Pure Smokey (1976)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU7lR1grqg0

And who can forget this one -

George Harrison - All Those Years Ago (1981)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85Smw33PKJA

George's tribute to John Lennon

And who can forget this one -

George Harrison - All Those Years Ago (1981)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85Smw33PKJA

George's tribute to John Lennon



And then there is this one:

When We Was Fab

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVu6nPTVbBQ



Cat

Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m57gzA2JCcM


https://calendar.songfacts.com/img-410-19226.jpg


Cat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBd5W9IA7n0
Culture Club - The War Song

Sunday, Bloody Sunday-U2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv5U0A10hrI


Cat

"New Year's Day" the song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their 1983 album War and was released as the album's lead single in January 1983. The lyric had its origins in a love song from Bono to his wife, but was subsequently reshaped and inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday-U2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv5U0A10hrI


Cat


I just realized that this could also be put in Same Title, Different Song.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday-John & Yoko Plastic Ono Band (about the same incident as the U2 song).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uftIGkxe4Ys


Cat

John Lennon
"Oh Yoko"
1971

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itk-ndTnNWc

Paul McCartney
"The Lovely Linda"
1970

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7Ka6elvA0

I have to.  ;) :D ;D ;D


Alexander Hamilton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ECzlMYRKLg

BTW, if you haven't seen this on Disney+ I HIGHLY recommend it. It is OUTSTANDING!!!!



Cat

And who can forget this one -

George Harrison - All Those Years Ago (1981)

George's tribute to John Lennon




That same year, Elton John also did one

Elton John - Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)
SWyy7Huc6KA

Black Velvet- Alannah Myles (about Elvis)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkXNEmtf9tk


Cat

"Joey" the epic story-song from Bob Dylan's 1976 album Desire. It was written by Dylan and Jacques Levy, who collaborated with Dylan on most of the songs on the album. Like another long song on the album, "Hurricane", "Joey" is biographical. It tells the story of the life and death of mobster Joey Gallo, who was killed on his birthday at Umberto's Clam House in Little Italy, on April 7, 1972. The song was produced by Don DeVito.

Beatles
"Ballad of John & Yoko"
1969
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZnm_s3wZe

It was this day in 1969 (May 26th), John Lennon and Yoko Ono began an eight-day 'bed in', in room 1742 of The Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Canada, to promote world peace. They recorded 'Give Peace a Chance' in the hotel room (Petula Clark can be heard on the chorus). The song was credited to Lennon & McCartney, even though Paul had nothing to do with the record.

Also, this song, in my opinion contains the best drumming on a Beatles record. For Lennon and McCartney recorded the song without their bandmates George Harrison, who was abroad, and Ringo Starr, who was filming The Magic Christian, so Paul McCartney played the drums instead.

Leon Russell
"Elvis & Marilyn"
1978

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdo7znqhx8w

And while we're at it...

Marty Balin
"Elvis & Marilyn"
1981

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuG_CNRbbSY

Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple

"Amy, Wonderful Amy" is a 1930 popular song, written by Joseph G. Gilbert and composed by Lawrence Wright (some sources credit him under his pseudonym Horatio Nicholls) about British aviator Amy Johnson (1903-1941, she flew in the Second World War as a part of the Air Transport Auxiliary and disappeared during a ferry flight). It was recorded by Jack Hylton and his orchestra on 2 June 1930, with J. Pat O'Malley providing vocals, and released on HMV B-5836. The banjo and ukelele arrangement was provided by Alvin Keech. While at least ten songs were written about her at the time, "Amy Wonderful Amy" is the most famous.

Yet to mention this one -

Paul McCartney & Wings - Picasso's Last Words
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NobdV5Kxw8

Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
"Pablo Picasso"
1976

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm6Z08vKwwE

Don McLean
"Vincent"
1971

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciLNMesqPh0

Bob Dylan
"Blind Willie McTell"
1983

Bob Dylan: Piano
Mark Knopfler: Guitar

"Nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uf5gi3E_rQ

Judy Collins
"The Hostage"
1973

Judy Collins sings Tom Paxton's song about the 1971 Attica State prison uprising in New York.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAKE2na5hhE

Paul McCartney & Wings
"Give Ireland Back To The Irish"
1972

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_O3cCs9qmM

Paul McCartney & Wings
"Give Ireland Back To The Irish"
1972


O0 Good pick!

jYn41PerLok
Mainstreet, Bob Seger

“Seger has stated that the street he was singing about is Ann Street, just off Main Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he grew up. There was a pool hall there where they had girls dancing in the window and R&B bands playing on the weekends.”

That’s really something. Every time I went to U of M hospital over the last year and a half, we took Main Street to Ann Street then took Ann straight to the hospital. There will be more times. I’ll definitely have to do a little more digging on this.