Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Brief Background

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Born Samuel Langhorn Clemens, Mark Twain was an American author known for his satiric wit and humor. Twain drew inspiration from his early life in Hannibal, Missouri, a port town on the Mississippi River. Such inspiration would result in his best-known works, including the controversial Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the popular novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. 

Allusions in Popular Music

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"Afterglow 61" by Son Volt

from Okemah and the Melody of Riot (2005)

St. Louis-based Jay Farrar of Uncle Tupelo fame and the frontman for Son Volt, an alt-country group, wrote this track, paying homage to Highway 61. Referencing Mark Twain, the famed humorist of Hannibal, Missouri, Farrar writes:

Hannibal's son saw the Gold Rush, / saw the Civil War done, / then settled down some on Highway 61

"This is Just a Modern Rock Song" by Belle and Sebastian

from This is Just a Modern Rock Song EP (1998)

Belle and Sebastian, an indie pop band originating from Glasgow, Scotland reference the clever nature of the humorist Mark Twain on this track. They write:

I'm not as clever as Mark Twain, / I'll only buy a book for the way it looks, / And then I stick it on the shelf again.

"Fire Water Burn" by Bloodhound Gang

from One Fierce Beer Coaster (1996)

The comedic rockers reference Mark Twain in addition to a number of other figures prominent in popular culture on this track from their 1996 release. They write:

But if I go to hell well then I hope I burn well / I'll spend my days with J.F.K., Marvin Gaye, Martha Raye, and Lawrence Welk / And Kurt Cobain, Kojak, Mark Twain and Jimi Hendrix's poltergeist / And Webster yeah Emmanuel Lewis 'cause he's the Anti-Christ

"Mellowship Slinky in B Major" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

from Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)

Anthony Kiedis and company offer their praise to the famed satirist on this track, one that also references authors Charles Bukowski and Truman Capote. Kiedis writes:

Being that I'm the duke of my domain / My hat goes off to Mark Twain 

References

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Belle and Sebastian. "This is Just a Modern Rock Song." This is Just a Modern Rock Song EP. Jeepster Records, 1998.

Bloodhound Gang. "Fire Water Burn." One Fierce Beer Coaster. Geffen, 1996.

"Mark Twain." Wikipedia. 3 February 2008. 3 February 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain>.

Red Hot Chili Peppers. "Mellowship Slinky in B Major." Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Warner Bros, 1991.

Son Volt. "Afterglow 61." Okemah and the Melody of Riot. Sony, 2005.