14 Really Famous Songs People Never Realized Were About Celebrities

    These might sound a little different now.

    Daniella Emanuel
    by Daniella Emanuel

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us a famous song they didn't realize was about a celebrity. Here are some of their juicy responses:

    1. "Something" by the Beatles, "Layla" by Derek and the Dominoes, and "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton were written about model Pattie Boyd.

    Pattie Boyd and George Harrison posing cozily together. It's captioned with the lyric "Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other lover."
    Getty Images

    "Something" was written by George Harrison while they were married. "Layla" was written by Eric Clapton after he fell in love with his best friend's (George Harrison) wife. And finally, "Wonderful Tonight" was written by Eric Clapton after they got together. She was taking too long to get ready to go to a party.

    —jeniene

    2. "I'll Stick Around" by the Foo Fighters was written by Dave Grohl about Courtney Love.

    Courtney and Dave hugging on stage — captioned with the lyrics, "How could it be, I'm the only one who sees your rehearsed insanity?"
    Larry Busacca / Getty Images

    Grohl wrote this song a year after Kurt Cobain died by suicide. He did not like Cobain's wife, Courtney Love, and admitted in 2009 that the line "How could it be, I'm the only one who sees your rehearsed insanity?" was about her. But Love and Grohl showed a public display of affection and appeared to have made up at Nirvana's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

    —LeemonLover13

    3. "Colors" by Halsey was about her ex-boyfriend Matty Healy, the lead singer of the 1975.

    Matty Healy singing on stage, captioned with the song lyric, "Everything is blue. His pills, his hands, his jeans."
    Mackenzie Sweetnam / Getty Images

    The song is about a relationship that starts out strong and vibrant, but dulls over time. Drugs are involved in the process.

    —noab2

    4. "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" by Elton John was a tribute to John Lennon, who had been assassinated 15 months prior to its release.

    John Lennon smiling in his car, captioned with the lyric, "And we are so amazed, we're crippled and we're dazed. A gardener like that one, no one can replace."
    Keystone / Getty Images

    —dianep13

    5. "All Too Well" by Taylor Swift was about her ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal.

    Jake Gyllenhaal smiling, captioned with the lyric "And you call me up again just to break me like a promise. So casually cruel in the name of being honest."
    Chung Sung-jun / Getty Images

    —arrvega

    6. "Expectations" by Lauren Jauregui was about her ex-boyfriend Ty Dolla $ign. She wrote it when she was angry at him for staying out late after a performance and not telling her where he was.

    Ty Dolla $ign and Lauren Jauregui posing together, captioned with the lyrics "Up in bed, all alone, wondering where you'be been. Ten past three, I know thee club closed at 2 a.m."
    Rich Polk / Getty Images

    — HeyImChristin

    7. "Call Out My Name" by the Weeknd was about his painful breakup with Selena Gomez.

    Selena hugging The Weekend captioned with the lyrics "I want you to stay, even though you don't want me."
    John Lamparski / Getty Images

    — lilacsweetener

    8. "Perth" by Bon Iver was inspired by Heath Ledger. The lead singer, Justin Vernon, was with Ledger's best friend in 2008 when they found out he had died. Ledger was born in Perth, Australia.

    Heath Ledger smiling, captioned with lyrics "I'm tearing up, across your face, move dust through the light, to fide your name. It's something fane."
    Mj Kim / Getty Images

    — _lucabear

    9. "Edie (Ciao Baby)" by the Cult and "Just Like a Woman" by Bob Dylan were said to have been about actress and model Edie Sedgwick, who died in 1971.

    A portrait of Edie Sedgwick, captioned with the lyric "Oh, Warhol's darling queen, Edie. An angel with a broken wing."
    Donald Bowers / Getty Images

    She was a socialite and was known for being Andie Warhol's muse.

    —kittykay

    10. "F**k You" by Lily Allen was written about former US President George W. Bush.

    George W. Bush, captioned with the lyrics "Fuck you very, very much. 'Cause we hate what you do, and we hate your whole crew. So, please don't stay in touch."
    Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images

    At a show in Los Angeles in 2009, she introduced the song by saying, "This song is about George W. Bush, who by the way I’m quite happy isn’t president anymore."

    —duce26

    11. "Dear Mr. President" by P!nk and the Indigo Girls was also about George W. Bush. It was an open letter to him while he was in office that questioned his stance on homelessness, LGBTQ rights, and the Iraq war.

    George W. Bush, captioned with the lyrics, "
    Saul Loeb / Getty Images

    —chris0892

    12. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" by R.E.M. was inspired by an incident where CBS anchor Dan Rather was assaulted in Central Park. One of the assailants repeated "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" over and over.

    Dan Rather speaking at a podium, captioned with the lyrics to the song.
    Vince Bucci / Getty Images

    —kend4fe281761

    13. "Patricia" by Florence + the Machine was about Florence Welch's love and admiration for singer Patti Smith.

    Patti Smith singing on stage, captioned with the lyric "Oh Patricia, you've always been my North Star. And I have to tell you something I'm still afraid of the dark."
    Ilya S. Savenok / Getty Images

    — sandwichsparrow

    14. And "You're Never Over" by Eminem was a tribute to his friend, the rapper Proof. Proof was shot and killed in 2006.

    Eminem rapping in his car, with Proof also rapping while looking in through the window.
    MTV / Via youtube.com

    —d4593aa8ae

    Some submissions have been edited for grammar and/or clarity.