A dozen songs that music fans think have a different name

“ROCK & ROLL STEW” by Traffic (1971)

What it might have been called: “Gone, Gone, Gone”

Not only does Jim Capaldi sing the phrase “gone, gone, gone” way more than the title lyrics “rock & roll stew” (by my count, it’s about a twelve-to-one ratio), but the opening riff of the entire song is the “gone, gone, gone” melody. The title lyrics, on the other hand, are the final words of the final verse. Kind of sneaking it in right at the wire, if you ask me.

“THE STORY IN YOUR EYES” by The Moody Blues (1971)

What it might have been called: “Listen to the Tide Slowly Turning”

OK – Justin Heyward doesn’t exactly sing “Listen the tide slowly turning” as many times as Capaldi sings “gone, gone, gone.” He only sings it twice. But it is the first line of the chorus. “The story in your eyes” is buried in the middle of the second verse. Still, I think this was a good choice. “The story in your eyes” has a certain poetry about it. “Listen to the tide slowly turning” is a pedantic command. And the Moody Blues could get kind of pedantic.

“VINCENT” by Don Mclean (1972)

What it might have been called: “Starry, Starry Night”

Everybody knew “American Pie” was called “American Pie.” It was all over the chorus. Nobody knew Don Mclean’s follow-up was called “Vincent,” in honor of its subject, Vincent Van Gogh. The lyrics “starry, starry night” lead off each verse. Vincent has two obscure references in two separate verses. I think this one probably should have gone with the popularly mistaken title.