Complete Gaslight song/artist references list

i agree, many of these are stretches, and probly are just coincidences. but as for the Don't Think Twice line, i think that came up because of all the other Dylan references in that song (Mixing up the medicine, thinking 'bout the government)

look at this page and see what you think: https://thegaslightanthem.forumotion.com/song-meanings-f2/angry-johnny-and-the-radio-t236.htm

It would be interesting to know which ones Brian actually intended...

Jukebox Romeo wrote:

i agree, many of these are stretches, and probly are just coincidences. but as for the Don't Think Twice line, i think that came up because of all the other Dylan references in that song (Mixing up the medicine, thinking 'bout the government)

look at this page and see what you think: https://thegaslightanthem.forumotion.com/song-meanings-f2/angry-johnny-and-the-radio-t236.htm

yeah, that one makes sense

Brian has a friend named John

I'm willing to hedge a bet that Waltzing Matilda was Brian referencing Tom Waits' Tom Traubert's Blues which was referencing the traditional folk song... But I could be wrong... wouldn't be the first time...

Yep, I think we mentioned that one.

Stalls_Standing wrote:

You think that's crazy? Listen to
Social Distortion - Don't Drag Me Down

Very similar start!

haha wow, I love that.

Not sure if this has been mentioned...

On Dillinger Four's 2nd 7" they put out, it was named 'I Coulda Been A Contender'

Stalls_Standing wrote:

Not sure if this has been mentioned...

On Dillinger Four's 2nd 7" they put out, it was named 'I Coulda Been A Contender'

IDK, I'd venture to guess it's a more direct reference to On The Waterfront. They reference a lot from old movies and such (i.e. Here's Lookin at You Kid).

At the end of Casanova, Baby!

But it's past a quarter to three
And it's past the midnight hour
Mustang Sally's left the building

Midnight Hour and Mustang Sally refer to two Wilson Pickett songs. Also two songs performed by The Commitments in the film of the same name. But I don'tt hink Brian would have seen that before.

Vibes wrote:

Does anyone know what the 84 in "Angry Johnny" refers to? I've always wondered

I've no idea. But I'm guessing it's not the year, coz Brian would have been 4, or something like that (based on the opening line to Rivers Edge)

i always imagined 84 was a freeway, 84 takes a lifetime, makes sense to me

or maybe he had to read "1984" and didn't enjoy the book, took him a lifetime to get through...haha im just throwing stupid suggestions out there!

Even Cowgirls Get The Blues

The line "But not me, pretty baby..." could be a reference to the line "But not me, baby, I got you to save me" in Tom Petty's "Yer So Bad".

To begin with, I'd thought it a bit of a stretch, but since the next line is "I still love Tom Petty songs..." it might make sense. Just a though there!

There is a Nils Lofgren song called I Came To Dance and I'm quite sure some other band have made a song called We Came To Dance.
I guess the similarities are just coincidence though...

So I was checking out random folk songs on youtube, and I stumbled upon a song called High Lonesome Sound. Do you think Brian was influenced by that because he is into folk and stuff?

steph wrote:

i always imagined 84 was a freeway, 84 takes a lifetime, makes sense to me

Route 84 sure is a long one at 1,919 miles, running from Colorado to Georgia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_84

steady now steady now wrote:

steph wrote:

i always imagined 84 was a freeway, 84 takes a lifetime, makes sense to me

Route 84 sure is a long one at 1,919 miles, running from Colorado to Georgia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_84

haha. maybe it wasnt such a bad guess!

Especially since this is after it:

I don't drive nowhere,
Without the radio on.

haha. what do i win??

steph wrote:

haha. what do i win??

superiority

enjoy.

Daire wrote:

At the end of Casanova, Baby!

But it's past a quarter to three
And it's past the midnight hour
Mustang Sally's left the building

Midnight Hour and Mustang Sally refer to two Wilson Pickett songs. Also two songs performed by The Commitments in the film of the same name. But I don'tt hink Brian would have seen that before.

Totally agree with the Wilson Pickett reference.

Man every time I'm feeling down I listen to him and feel 100% better.

His swagger/style/confidence is really uplifting - 'LORD, HAVE MERCY!'

"No Retreats, No Regrets" from River's Edge:

No Retreat - No Surrender by Bruce
No Regrets - Song of the same name by the Bouncing Souls

that bouncing souls song is called "say anything"

.

andy.mac wrote:

steph wrote:

haha. what do i win??

superiority

enjoy.

why thank you! ill use my powers of superiority at every chance i get...
but only for good, of course

Ok I did a quick skim through to make sure these haven't been mentioned yet. If they have been, I apologize.

At the beginning of Navesink Banks - "All hope abandon, ye who enter here" - I think it's a reference to the Boondock Saints, it's written on a door in the movie. Or it could just be the phrase in general flipped around?

Miles Davis And The Cool - "Now honey, put on your red dress, And your diamond soul shoes" - reference to Paul Simon's Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes?

Say I Won't (Recognize) - "We're having a party, everybody's swinging, Tonight won't you come down, Don't make me dance all night alone" - reference to Rod Stewart's We're Having a Party. ("We're having a party, everybody's swinging, dancing to the music, on the radio")