Answer Song - Example Answer Songs

Example Answer Songs

• Woody Guthrie's anthem “This Land Is Your Land” was written in 1940 as an answer to “God Bless America” written by Irving Berlin in 1918 (and revised in 1938). Guthrie originally called his response "God Blessed America for Me".
• “It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”, written by J. D. "Jay" Miller in 1952 and originally sung by Kitty Wells, was a response to “The Wild Side of Life”, made famous that same year by Hank Thompson.
• "Mannish Boy" (1955) by Muddy Waters was a response to Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man", which also happened to be a response to "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man", an earlier song by Muddy Waters in 1954.
• That Makes It was Jayne Mansfield's response to The Big Bopper's “Chantilly Lace” (1958), suggesting what the girl may have been saying at the other end of the line.
• Short Mort (1959) by Carole King was a response to Annette Funicello's "Tall Paul" (1959), referencing "Tall Paul" in the line, "You can keep Tall Paul, I'll take Short Mort."
• I’ll Save The Last Dance For You by Damita Jo answers “Save The Last Dance For Me” (1960) by The Drifters, sung by Ben E. King. Her 1961 "I'll Be There" was also in response to Ben E. King singing "Stand By Me" (1960).
• “He'll Have to Stay” (1960) was Jeanne Black's response to Jim Reeves' “He'll Have to Go” (1959).
• (I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too (1960) was Skeeter Davis' response to Hank Locklin's “Please Help Me, I'm Falling” (1960).
• Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight (1960) was Dodie Stevens's response to Elvis Presley's “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (1960).
• Hey Memphis (1961) was LaVern Baker's response to Elvis Presley's “Little Sister” (1961).
• I'm The Girl From Wolverton Mountain (1962) was Jo Ann Campbell's response to Claude King's "Wolverton Mountain" (also 1962).
• Judy's Turn to Cry (1963) was Lesley Gore's response to her own It's My Party (And I'll Cry If I Want To), which had been released earlier in the same year. The song chronicles her revenge on Judy, by 'kissing some other guy' to make Johnny jealous and leave Judy for the song's protagonist once again.
• Blackhead Chinaman (1963) was Prince Buster's response to Derrick Morgan's “Housewives Choice”. Specifically, Buster claimed that producer Leslie Kong stole hooks that Buster had created. Morgan responded with “Blazing Fire” and “No Raise, No Praise”. The musical feud reportedly engulfed Jamaican culture to a level where the government ordered the two to appear in public together to calm the frenzied nation.
• Queen of the House (1965) was Jody Miller's response to Roger Miller's “King of the Road” (1964).
• That's My Life (My Love And My Home) (1965) by Alfred Lennon, John Lennon's father, was a response to his son's song "In My Life" (1965).
• “Blackberry Way” (1968) was The Move's response to The Beatles' “Penny Lane” (1967).
• “Sweet Home Alabama” (1974) was Lynyrd Skynyrd's response to Neil Young's “Southern Man” (1970) and “Alabama” (1972).
• From His Woman to You (1975) sung by Barbara Mason was the response to "Woman to Woman" (1974) sung by Shirley Brown.
• Superstar (1983) by Lydia Murdock was an answer song to "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.
• "Taxi (Take Him Back)" was Anne LeSear's 1984 response to J. Blackfoot's 1983 song "Taxi".
• “The Boy Is Mine” (1998) by Brandy and Monica was a response to “The Girl Is Mine” by Michael Jackson featuring Paul McCartney.
• “F.U.R.B. (Fuck You Right Back)” (2004) was Frankee's response to Eamon's “Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)”, promoting rumors that the two had been dating. It was the first answer song to reach No. 1 in the United Kingdom. Both songs had topped the charts in that country.
• "Me and Mr. Jones" (2006) on the Back to Black album by Amy Winehouse was an answer song to—at least a riff off the title of—"Me and Mrs. Jones" (1972) made famous by Billy Paul.
• "Boys, Boys, Boys" (2008) on The Fame album by Lady Gaga's was a response to "Girls, Girls, Girls" by Mötley Crüe.
• "California Gurls" by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg was a response to "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys. It was the first answer song to reach No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100. Both songs had topped the charts in that country.
• "I Wrote Holden Caulfield" (1994) was Screeching Weasel's response to "Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?" by Green Day.
• "I Didn't Just Kiss Her" was Jen Foster's response to "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry.
• "New York City Gurls" was Kat DeLena's response to "California Gurls" by Katy Perry.
• Marina and the Diamonds' cover of "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber (2012) is an answer song to the original tune, the lyrics adapted of the original adapted to give it a female perspective.
• Travis Tritt wrote and released the song "Strong Enough to Be Your Man" in 2002 in response to Sheryl Crow's "Strong Enough".
• KJ-52 released the song Dear Slim (2002) in response to Eminem's song Stan (2000).
• Drake and Lil' Wayne made the song "The Motto" (2011) in response to Nickelback's "If Today Was Your Last Day" (2009). However, Lecrae made the song No Regrets (2012) in response to The Motto.
• Camera Obscura made the song "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken" (2006) in response to Lloyd Cole and the Commotions 1984 song "Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?".