The Top 10: Politicians in Songs

From Parquet Courts via Bob Dylan to They Might Be Giants: elected representatives in lyrics or titles

Parquet Courts, Rock en Seine, 30 August 2015

This one started when Jane Merrick, my former colleague, told her Harold Wilson story and William French asked if he is the only Labour leader to be name-checked on a number-one album. As this is a reference to “Taxman” by the Beatles, it is ineligible for inclusion in one of my Top 10s (rule 13a: no Beatles), but it did prompt the compilation of this list.

1. “(I Want To) Kill Somebody”, by S*M*A*S*H*: “Gill Shephard’s got an appalling unemployment record.” Employment Secretary 1992-93, nominated by William French.

2. “The Love Of Richard Nixon”, by the Manic Street Preachers. “Verging on affectionate,” says David Mills.

3. “Russians”, by Sting. “Name-checks both Khrushchev and Reagan,” as Jane Merrick says.

4. “Uncast Shadow of a Southern Myth”, by Parquet Courts (or Parkay Quarts, above). “Of droves of pilgrims at his doorway/Of Reagan, Carter, Clinton, Gore.” A current favourite of mine.

5. “I Shall Be Free No 10”, by Bob Dylan. “How I first heard of Barry Goldwater,” says Todd Coxeter. “But if you think that I’ll let Barry Goldwater/Move in next door and marry my daughter/You must think I’m crazy/I wouldn’t let him do it for all the farms in Cuba.”

6. “Another Piece of Red”, by the Boomtown Rats. ‏Opening line: “I was reading in New Zealand about Ian Smith”, leader of Rhodesia who unilaterally declared independence from the UK in 1965. Nominated by Adrian McMenamin.

7. “Ohio”, by Neil Young. “Tin soldiers and Nixon coming.” From Graham Fildes. Nixon also features in Young’s “‏Campaigner” (“Even Richard Nixon got soul”). Thanks to Richard Evans.

8. “Crazy in Alabama”, by Kate Campbell. Nominated by Rob Dex: “‏Martin Luther King and the KKK/George C Wallace and LBJ.”

9. “James K Polk”, by They Might Be Giants. Hugh Smith nominates the 11th President of the United States.

10. “Earl Grey”, by Basement. Ingenious nomination from Danny Webster. (The tea was named after the Prime Minister, 1830-34.)

As ever, some contributors failed to take the list seriously. Dominic Moffitt wanted “Gordon Brown” by the Stranglers. William French offered the Wurzels’ homage to the post-war SPD leader, “I’ve Got A Brandt New Combine Harvester”. I expressed scepticism, but he was undaunted: “If I Adenauer free I could come up with some even worse ones.” Jane Merrick, who started it all, added: “Me too but I'm having Egon Krenz sandwiches for lunch.”

Next week: Fiction that changed real-life behaviour, such as The Godfather, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Saturday Night Fever.

Coming soon: Good coups, after Tory MEP Daniel Hannan, commenting on Turkey, said “coups are never – never – an answer”.

Listellany: A Miscellany of Very British Top Tens, From Politics to Pop is available as an e-book for £3.79. Your suggestions, and ideas for future Top 10s, in the comments please, or to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk