63 Songs About Writing (Pop, Rap & More)

Foundations of Music

63 Songs About Writing (Pop, Rap & More)

I. Rap Songs About Writing

1. Lose Yourself by Eminem

Artist: Eminem
Album:
Year: 2002

The song is about never giving up on your dreams, no matter how hard life gets. Eminem is rapping about how he used to be a nobody from Detroit, but he never gave up on his dream of becoming a successful rapper. He talks about how he used to have to hide his rhyming books from his mom, and how he used to have to borrow money from friends just to get by. But he never gave up, and now he’s one of the biggest rappers in the world.

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2. Not Afraid by Eminem

Artist: Eminem
Album: Hits June 10
Year: 2010

The song is about overcoming fears and being strong in the face of adversity. It is a motivational song that encourages people to face their fears and to be confident in themselves.

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3. Rap God by Eminem

Artist: Eminem
Album: The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Year: 2013

The song is about Eminem’s journey to becoming one of the greatest rappers of all time. He talks about how he has been able to overcome all the obstacles in his life and become the rap god that he is today.

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4. Stan by Eminem

Artist: Eminem
Album: The Marshall Mathers LP
Year: 2000

The song “Stan” by Eminem is about a fan who takes his admiration for the rapper to dangerous levels. Stan writes letters to Eminem, but when he doesn’t receive a response, he becomes increasingly obsessed and violent. In the end, Stan kills himself and his pregnant girlfriend, leaving their child orphaned.

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5. Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur

Artist: Tupac Shakur
Album:
Year:

The song is a tribute to Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur. He talks about how she was a strong black woman who raised him by herself and how she always put her children first. He talks about how she was always there for him, even when he was in trouble. He talks about how she is the reason he is the man he is today and how he will always love her.

6. Changes by Tupac Shakur

Artist: Tupac Shakur
Album: Greatest Hits
Year:

“Changes” is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur, which was recorded in 1992 and released as a single in 1998. The song addresses the issue of racism in America, and Shakur’s hope for a future where people of all races can live together in peace.

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7. Keep Ya Head Up by Tupac Shakur

Artist: Tupac Shakur
Album: Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Year: 1993

The song is about keeping your head up through tough times. No matter what happens, you have to keep going.

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8. Hit Em Up by Tupac Shakur

Artist: Tupac Shakur
Album: 2Pac Live
Year:

The song is about Tupac’s beef with the East Coast, specifically Biggie Smalls and Puff Daddy. He talks about how he’s going to kill them and how they’re fake.

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9. All Eyez On Me by Tupac Shakur

Artist: Tupac Shakur
Album: Special
Year:

The song is about Tupac’s rise to fame and how he is always watched by the media and the public. He talks about how he is not perfect and how he has made mistakes, but he is still loved by many.

II. Latest Songs About Writing

1. Better Man by Little Big Town

Artist: Little Big Town
Album: The Breaker
Year: 2017

The song is about a woman who is in a relationship with a man who is not good to her. She is trying to convince herself that she is better off without him.

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2. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter by Fats Waller

Artist: Fats Waller
Album:
Year:

The song is about a person who is going to sit down and write a letter to themselves. They are going to tell themselves how much they miss them and how they are doing.

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3. The Writing on the Wall by Iron Maiden

Artist: Iron Maiden
Album: Senjutsu
Year: 2021

The song is about a man who is living in a city that is being destroyed by war. He is trying to escape the city, but he is captured by the enemy. He is put in a cell with other prisoners, and he sees the writing on the wall that says “the end is near.” He knows that he is going to die, but he is not afraid.

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4. I Could Write a Book by Dinah Washington

Artist: Dinah Washington
Album:
Year:

The song is about a woman who is in love with a man who is not returning her affections. She sings about how she could write a book about him and all the things she knows about him.

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5. Can’t Stop Writing Songs About You by Kylie Minogue, Gloria Gaynor

Artist: Kylie Minogue, Gloria Gaynor
Album: Disco
Year: 2020

The song is about a person who is in love and can’t stop writing songs about the person they are in love with.

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6. Daylight by Taylor Swift

Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Lover
Year: 2019

The song is about a relationship that ended suddenly and unexpectedly. The speaker is trying to figure out what went wrong and how to move on.

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7. A Poem On The Underground Wall by Simon & Garfunkel

Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
Album: FM Broadcasts 1965-1970, vol. 2 (Live)
Year: 2020

The song is about a man who falls in love with a woman he sees on the subway. He writes a poem about her and puts it up on the wall in the hopes that she will see it and know how he feels.

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8. Sorry For Writing All The Songs About You by Clara Mae

Artist: Clara Mae
Album:
Year:

The song is about a girl who is sorry for writing all the songs about her ex-boyfriend. She says that she is sorry for making him the center of her attention and that she is moving on.

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9. Mr. Writer by Stereophonics

Artist: Stereophonics
Album:
Year:

The song is about a Mr. Writer who is a journalist who writes about the band. He is always critical of the band and their music. The band is tired of his negative reviews and they decide to write a song about him. The song is a message to the Mr. Writer telling him to stop being so critical and to just enjoy the music.

III. Country Songs About Writing

1. The River by Garth Brooks

Artist: Garth Brooks
Album: Ropin’ the Wind
Year: 1991

“The River” is a song written and performed by Garth Brooks. It was released in 1992 as the fourth single from his album Ropin’ the Wind. The song is a ballad in which the narrator talks about making a decision to follow his dreams, despite the risks.

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2. The Dance by Garth Brooks

Artist: Garth Brooks
Album: Garth Brooks
Year: 1989

The Dance is a song about life and how it is a never-ending cycle. The song talks about how we go through ups and downs, but in the end, life is a dance that we all must participate in. No matter what happens in life, we must keep dancing.

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3. Songwriters by Keith Urban

Artist: Keith Urban
Album:
Year:

The song is about the dedication and hard work that goes into being a songwriter. It is a tribute to those who have written hits for other artists and have never received credit or recognition. Keith Urban sings about how these songwriters are the ones who make the hits come to life and how they should be appreciated.

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4. I’m a Songwriter by Hank Williams Jr.

Artist: Hank Williams Jr.
Album: Five-O
Year: 1985

The song is about Hank Williams Jr. being a songwriter and how he writes songs about his life. He talks about how he writes about the good and the bad times, and how he tries to make his songs as real as possible.

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5. Songwriter by Jimmy Buffett

Artist: Jimmy Buffett
Album:
Year:

The song is about a songwriter who is down on his luck. He is living in a run-down apartment and working at a dead-end job. His only escape is his music. He writes songs about his life and the people he knows. He dreams of one day making it big, but he knows that it is unlikely.

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6. The Songwriter by George Strait

Artist: George Strait
Album:
Year:

The song is about a songwriter who is reflecting on his life and career. He talks about how he has been able to write songs that have connected with people and how he has been able to make a living doing what he loves. He talks about how he has seen a lot of success, but he has also had his share of heartache and disappointment. In the end, he is grateful for everything that he has been able to achieve and he is hopeful for the future.

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7. The Writer by Elton John

Artist: Elton John
Album: Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Year: 1975

“The Writer” is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was released in 1972 as a single and was later included on the album Rock of the Westies. The song is about a struggling writer who is trying to find success.

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8. She’s a Songwriter by Dierks Bentley

Artist: Dierks Bentley
Album: Black
Year: 2016

The song is about a woman who is a songwriter and how she is able to express her feelings and thoughts through her songs. The songwriter is able to connect with people through her songs and she is able to make a living off of her talent.

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9. Songwriter by Alan Jackson

Artist: Alan Jackson
Album:
Year:

The song is about a songwriter who is trying to write a hit song. He is struggling to come up with the right words and is feeling frustrated. He is about to give up when he finally comes up with the perfect lyric.

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IV. R&B Songs About Writing

1. Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur

Artist: Tupac Shakur
Album:
Year:

The song is a tribute to Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur. He talks about how she was a strong black woman who raised him by herself and how she always put her children first. He talks about how she was always there for him, even when he was in trouble. He talks about how she is the reason he is the man he is today and how he will always love her.

2. The Wanderer by Dion DiMucci

Artist: Dion DiMucci
Album: Runaround Sue
Year: 1961

The song is about a man who is a wanderer and has no home. He has been everywhere and seen everything. He is tired of moving around and wants to find a place to settle down.

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3. Writing on the Walls by Underoath

Artist: Underoath
Album: Define the Great Line
Year: 2006

Writing on the Walls is a song by American metalcore band Underoath. The song was released on May 25, 2010, as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Ø (Disambiguation). The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart.

Lyrically, the song is about lead singer Spencer Chamberlain’s battle with addiction and depression. The song was written during a period when Chamberlain was struggling with addiction and was unsure if he wanted to continue with the band. The song is about Chamberlain’s decision to get clean and turn his life around.

The song was well received by critics. Critics praised the song’s lyrical content and Chamberlain’s vocals. The song was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

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4. The Letter by The Box Tops

Artist: The Box Tops
Album: The Letter/Neon Rainbow
Year: 1967

The song is about a guy who is writing a letter to his girlfriend, telling her how much he misses her. He says that he is thinking about her all the time, and he can’t wait to see her again.

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5. The Pen by Ryan Lewis

Artist: Ryan Lewis
Album: This Unruly Mess I’ve Made
Year: 2016

The song ‘The Pen’ by Ryan Lewis is about a man who is in love with a woman who is in love with someone else. The man is trying to tell the woman that he loves her and that he is the one who can make her happy.

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6. A Letter to Myself by The Chi-Lites

Artist: The Chi-Lites
Album: A Letter to Myself
Year: 1973

The Chi-Lites sing about how they would write a letter to themselves, telling their younger selves to stay in school, stay off drugs, and to be careful who they trust. They also advise their younger selves to never give up on themselves and to always believe in themselves.

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V. Pop Songs About Writing

1. Paperback Writer by The Beatles

Artist: The Beatles
Album: A Collection of Beatles Oldies
Year: 1966

The song is about a man who wants to be a paperback writer so he can earn enough money to buy his love a paperback book.

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2. Papercut by Linkin Park

Artist: Linkin Park
Album: Hybrid Theory
Year: 2000

The song is about feeling like you’re being watched and followed. It’s a feeling of paranoia and anxiety. The lyrics talk about how the world is a big place and it’s easy to get lost in it. The song is about feeling like you’re being watched and followed. It’s a feeling of paranoia and anxiety. The lyrics talk about how the world is a big place and it’s easy to get lost in it.

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3. The Writer by Ellie Goulding

Artist: Ellie Goulding
Album:
Year:

The song is about a girl who is in love with a writer. She is fascinated by his ability to create stories and she wants to be with him all the time. She is willing to do anything to make him happy and she is always thinking about him.

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4. The Ghost of You by My Chemical Romance

Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Year: 2004

The song is about a person who is struggling to cope with the death of a loved one. They are haunted by the ghost of the person and can’t move on.

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5. Writing’s on the Wall by Sam Smith

Artist: Sam Smith
Album: Bravo: The Hits 2015
Year: 2015

The song is about a relationship that is ending and the singer is accepting that it is over. They are looking back at all the happy times they had together and how they are now just a memory. The singer is trying to be strong and not show how much they are hurting, but the writing is on the wall and they know that this is the end.

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6. Imflammatory Writ by Joanna Newsom (Not on Spotify, but find it here)

Artist: Joanna Newsom (Not on Spotify, but find it here)
Album:
Year:

The song is about a relationship that is falling apart. The narrator is trying to figure out what went wrong and why the other person is now acting differently.

7. Writing on the Walls by Underoath

Artist: Underoath
Album: Define the Great Line
Year: 2006

The song is about a person who is struggling with their mental health and is considering suicide. They write messages on the walls of their room in an attempt to communicate their feelings and thoughts. The song is hopeful and encourages the listener to seek help if they are struggling.

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8. Books Written For Girls by Camera Obscura

Artist: Camera Obscura
Album: Underachievers Please Try Harder
Year: 2003

The song is about a girl who is in love with a boy who is in love with someone else. She is trying to figure out how to tell him that she loves him.

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9. The Story by Brandi Carlile

Artist: Brandi Carlile
Album: The Story
Year:

The song is about a young girl who is telling her story. She talks about growing up in a small town and how she always felt different. She talks about how she was always looking for something more and how she finally found it when she met her first love. She talks about how that love changed her life and how she is now living her dream.

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10. Read, Eat, Sleep by The Books

Artist: The Books
Album: Thought for Food
Year: 2002

The song ‘Read, Eat, Sleep’ by The Books is about a person’s daily routine. They wake up, eat breakfast, read, eat lunch, take a nap, read some more, eat dinner, and then go to sleep. Throughout the song, the person reflects on their day and how they enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

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11. Open Book by Cake

Artist: Cake
Album: Fashion Nugget
Year: 1996

The song is about a relationship that is not working out. The singer is trying to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.

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12. Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend

Artist: Vampire Weekend
Album: Vampire Weekend
Year: 2008

The song is about the importance of the Oxford comma.

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13. I Write the Songs by Barry Manilow

Artist: Barry Manilow
Album: Tryin’ to Get the Feeling
Year: 1979

The song is about a songwriter who writes songs that make people feel good. He says that he writes the songs that make people’s hearts sing and that make them feel happy. He says that he writes the songs that make people’s feet tap and their hands clap. He says that he writes the songs that make people’s spirits soar.

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14. Superman (It’s Not Easy) by Five for Fighting

Artist: Five for Fighting
Album:
Year: 2000

The song is about a person who is struggling with life and how difficult it is to be a superhero. The song talks about how the person wants to be able to save the world, but they can’t because they are human.

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VI. Rock Songs About Writing

1. Romeo And Juliet by Dire Straits

Artist: Dire Straits
Album: Making Movies
Year: 1980

The song is a ballad about the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet. The song reflects on the Romeo’s perspective and how he regrets not being able to save Juliet from her tragic fate.

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2. The Times They Are A-Changin’ by Bob Dylan

Artist: Bob Dylan
Album: The Times They Are a-Changin’
Year: 1964

The song is about how the world is constantly changing and how people need to change with it. Dylan sings about how the old ways of doing things are no longer effective and how people need to adapt to the new ways. He also talks about how the future is always unknown and how people need to be prepared for it.

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3. The Weight by The Band

Artist: The Band
Album:
Year:

The Weight is a song written by Robbie Robertson and originally performed by The Band in 1968. The song is about a traveler who arrives in a small town and is asked to stay with a family there. The traveler is then asked to do various tasks for the family, including carrying their groceries and picking up their laundry. As the traveler does these things, he thinks about the people he has left behind and the things he has left undone. The song is about the choices we make in life and how they can weigh us down.

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4. Paperback Writer by The Beatles

Artist: The Beatles
Album: A Collection of Beatles Oldies
Year: 1966

The song is about a man who wants to be a paperback writer so he can earn enough money to buy his love a paperback book.

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5. The Letter by The Box Tops

Artist: The Box Tops
Album: The Letter/Neon Rainbow
Year: 1967

The song is about a guy who is writing a letter to his girlfriend. He is telling her how much he misses her and how he can’t wait to see her again.

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6. Songwriter by Eric Clapton

Artist: Eric Clapton
Album:
Year:

The song is about a songwriter who is down on his luck and struggling to make ends meet. He turns to writing songs to make a living, but finds the process to be difficult and frustrating. He eventually finds success with a song about a young girl who has been raped and murdered, but the song is quickly forgotten. The songwriter is left wondering if his songs will ever truly matter.

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7. The Engine Driver by The Decemberists

Artist: The Decemberists
Album: Picaresque
Year: 2005

The song is about a man who drives a train and is in love with a woman who is married to someone else. He is torn between his love for her and his duty to his job.

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8. Rewrite by Paul Simon

Artist: Paul Simon
Album: So Beautiful or So What
Year: 2011

The song is about a person who is looking back on their life and regrets some of the choices they made. They wish they could go back and rewrite their story, but they know it’s too late.

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9. Hey Jack Kerouac by 10,000 Maniacs

Artist: 10,000 Maniacs
Album: In My Tribe
Year: 1987

Hey Jack Kerouac is a song by 10,000 Maniacs. The song is about the Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac and his novel On the Road.

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10. Writers Retreat! by Lloyd Cole

Artist: Lloyd Cole
Album: Broken Record
Year: 2010

The song is about a writers retreat that Cole went to in upstate New York. He talks about the people he met there and the things they did.

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11. I Be Bound To Write To You by Homer Harris

Artist: Homer Harris
Album:
Year:

The song is about a man who is in love with a woman who is far away from him. He writes to her often, but she never responds. He is sad and lonely without her, but he still hopes that one day she will write to him.

12. The Only Exception by Paramore

Artist: Paramore
Album: Brand New Eyes
Year: 2009

The song is about a person who has sworn off love, but makes an exception for one person.

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13. Lady Writer by Dire Straits

Artist: Dire Straits
Album: Communiqué
Year: 1979

Lady Writer is a song by Dire Straits, released in 1979 on their album Communiqué. The song is about a woman who is a writer and how she is able to express herself through her writing. The song is sung from the perspective of a man who is in love with her and is amazed by her talent.

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14. Dear Maria, Count Me In by All Time Low

Artist: All Time Low
Album: So Wrong, It’s Right
Year: 2007

Dear Maria, Count Me In is a song by American rock band All Time Low. It was released on July 22, 2008, as the lead single from their third studio album, Nothing Personal (2009). The song peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Alternative Songs chart. The song was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

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VII. Christian Songs About Writing

1. I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe

Artist: MercyMe
Album: The Worship Project
Year: 1999

The song is about a person imagining what it will be like to be in heaven. The person imagines being in a beautiful place with no more pain or suffering. They imagine being reunited with loved ones who have died and being able to worship God freely. The song is a reminder that even though we don’t know what heaven will be like, we can trust that it will be better than anything we can imagine.

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2. Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli

Artist: Francesca Battistelli
Album: If We’re Honest
Year: 2014

The song is about how God writes our stories and how we need to trust Him. It talks about how we are all broken and how God can use our brokenness to help others.

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