3 Classic Rock Songs That Were Inspired by True Stories

Sometimes life imitates art. Sometimes a work is so good that those who take it in start to act like it. They often quote it or just find themselves in situations that resemble it. But in other cases, sometimes art imitates life. We’ve all seen it in movies in the opening credits, “Based on true events.” But that is not just reserved for film. It can happen in music, too. With that in mind, let’s look at a trio of tracks from the classic rock genre that were created because of true events or ideas that were ripped out of the headlines of newspapers at the time. Indeed, these are three classic rock songs that were inspired by true stories.

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“Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Single, 1970)

On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard was on the campus of Kent State University when they shot and killed four students and injured nine more. That horrible event led Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to write a song about the deaths, the American government, betrayal, and more. The result, “Ohio”, became a public protest anthem decrying brutal authoritarianism.

“Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We’re finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio

Gotta get down to it, soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been gone long ago
What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?“

“Hurricane” by Bob Dylan from ‘Desire’ (1976)

Inspired by the wrongful imprisonment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Bob Dylan penned this track for his 1976 LP, Desire. In the song, Dylan tells the story of Carter. Specifically, Dylan explores how Carter was wrongfully accused of murdering people in a robbery. Dylan sings about how racism and profiling led to Carter’s fate in the trial, which was later overturned. On this classic rock offering, the Bard croons:

“Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
She sees a bartender in a pool of blood
Cries out, “My God, they killed them all”

Here comes the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin’ that he never done
Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been
The champion of the world.”

“Jeremy” by Pearl Jam from ‘Ten’ (1992)

The Seattle-born grunge band Pearl Jam was inspired to compose the classic rock song “Jeremy” after hearing the news of one young student from Texas. The student in question pulled out a gun in class and ended his own life. What could be more tragic? Lead singer Eddie Vedder had to tell the world about how bullying led to this type of choice from someone so young. It’s almost too sad to even talk about. Yet, Vedder belts:

“At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
The dead lay in pools of maroon below

Daddy didn’t give attention
To the fact that mommy didn’t care
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world.”

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