It’s not uncommon to find a song titled after a specific person, but songs about Sarah seem to be the most common. There’s a Sarah psych-rock song, a Sarah ballad from the ’80s, and everything in between.
So without further ado, here are some of the best songs inspired by a certain Sarah that explore a whole spectrum of emotions, life experiences, and more. In this list we include the spelling Sarah, Sara and other variations.
“Sarah Smiles” by Panic! at the Disco
Song Year: 2011
In Sarah Smiles, the main character plays hard-to-get. Her shy smile is reminiscent of the enigmatic Mona Lisa. Sarah Orzechowski was the woman for whom Brendon Urie composed “Sarah Smiles.” After he played this song for Sarah, they started dating and later married. He admitted to SPIN magazine that it is his favorite from the Vices & Virtues album.
Interestingly, Daryl Hall wrote the Hall & Oates song “Sara Smile” for his longtime partner and fiancée, Sara Allen.
“Sara Smile” by Hall and Oats
Song Year: 1975
Hall & Oates’ first successful record was the collaboratively penned “Sara Smile,” which appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 after June 1976.
You Make My Dreams, Private Eyes, I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do), and Maneater were all written by Sara Allen and Daryl Hall, who were in a long-term relationship that ended in 2001.
“What Sarah Said” by Death Cab for Cutie
Song Year: 2005
A reflection on death, “What Sarah Said” is told through the eyes and words of a dying family member or friend at their hospital bedside.
The song explains that loving someone is to bear witness to their inevitable departure, with all the accompanying pain, deterioration in health, challenging questions, and last breath that accompanies it. For true intimacy, you must be willing to bear witness to the ups and downs of each other’s life.
“Me and Sarah Jane” by Genesis
Song Year: 1981
Mental illness and despair are explored in the song “Me and Sarah Jane.” Because of his severe social isolation, our protagonist creates a false love affair with a female alter ego that he names Sarah Jane.
The woman in his head eventually became a safe haven for him. This song illustrates how desperate some individuals are to find companionship, even if it means turning to fictitious beings.
“Zak and Sara” by Ben Folds
Song Year: 2001
Ben Folds’ story about Zak and Sara in the guitar shop is strange and bleak. She may be mentally ill since she frequently experiences time and voice distortions. Fans have suggested the song may be based on Ringo Starr’s son, Zak Starkey.
“Sarah Yellin’” by 3 Doors Down
Song Year: 2000
This song tells the story of a girl who was probably assaulted by her father when she was young. She tries to get her mom and brother to assist but kills him alone. The narrative is similar to Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got a Gun.”
“Creeping Out Sara” by NOFX
Song Year: 2009
Fat Mike, the band’s primary vocalist, meets Sara and “creeps out” Sara by asking sexually provocative questions. A member of the indie rock/pop combo Tegan and Sara, he isn’t sure which of the two ladies she is. He says that the anxiety and alcohol withdrawal medication Diazepam is to blame for his behavior.
“Sarah’s Mask” by CKY
Song Year: 1999
Interpretations of Sara’s Mask include her having cancer or some facial deformity. However, it’s clear from the lead singer’s description that his nervousness around her is directly attributable to her despair.
He claims he will stay with her even though he knows she hides behind a front or mask. Her suicidal thoughts are his primary source of worry because he fears they will force her to leave him.
“Sarah Lee” by Foghat
Song Year: 1972
Sadness has overtaken the narrator ever since Sarah Lee dumped him. When they first started dating, they were perfect for each other. However, he claims she has changed and is now cheating on him. He follows her in his car to the train station, where he finds out she has left with her lover.
“Sarah Maria” by James Taylor
Song Year: 1975
The narrator of Sarah Maria, a sweet little ballad, is hopelessly in love with the title character. She is more stunning than the moon and stars he often speaks of. She’s a sugar cane eater, a southern gal, which is an obvious indicator of how sweet she is.
“Death of Sarah Lucas” by Luke Haines
Song Year: 2001
The somber tone and lonesome tempo of “Death of Sarah Lucas” evokes blues music. Similarly to Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe,” in which the protagonist murders his girlfriend for cheating on him, this one has a little vengeful tone. By referencing Hendrix’s song, “Sarah Lucas” becomes more nuanced, and we gain insight into what may have motivated the narrator to kill her.
“Sarah” by Thin Lizzie
Song Year: 1972
The history of this iconic pop-rock song is quite epic. With the birth of the lead singer’s daughter, the band is celebrating the miracle of life. The baby girl was affectionately given the name Sarah.
The song describes the joy a dad experiences when seeing his newborn kid for the first time. The song is filled with admiration and upbeat feelings.
“Sara” by Fleetwood Mac
Song Year: 1979
The song warns about being vulnerable to urges that may lead them to harm others. A love affair between two band members is depicted in this song. Many people became involved, and it caused a lot of heartache.
Many believe that Mick Fleetwood wrote this song to apologize to his ex-wife, Sara Recor. The connection could not be saved. Mick used this song as a vehicle for articulating his emotions.
“The Eyes of Sarah Jane” by The Jayhawks
Song Year: 2003
The track “Eyes of Sarah Jane” can be found on the album “Rainy Day Music.” The narrator creates a melancholy atmosphere by describing staying at the Warwick Hotel and witnessing the dreary snow but then describes how spending time with Sarah Jane brightened his attitude.
Remembering their times in bed, laughing, and being in love helps him alleviate some of his depression.
“Sara Swan Sleepy Head” by Jewel
Song Year: 2011
The tune is gentle and beautiful, like something out of a fantasy book. The story centers on a little girl named Sara Swan, who is woken by her mother during a dream, but she doesn’t want to wake yet.
As the dream went on, Sarah realized that was not the kind of life she wanted to lead. The young woman eventually gets out of bed.
“From Sarah With Love” by Sarah Connor
Song Year: 2011
This song, “From Sarah,” is about two people who are friends but could have been more. When the narrator’s friend admits she’s fallen in love with someone else, it leaves her feeling down. In the song, Sarah finally resolves to put her feelings about their friendship into words. She promises to keep writing as long as they have to be apart.
“Sara’s Not Sober” by Sidewinders
Song Year: 1990
A man’s encounter with a lady he hardly knows is the subject of this rock song. The woman’s name is Sara. At that point in the meeting, she was really drunk. When she was inebriated, the guy started to wonder about her true intentions.
“Sarah” by Diplo
Song Year: 2004
This song by Diplo is mostly instrumental and showcases his fearlessness and creativity in combining different sounds. The song ends with a female voice saying she spent three hours in the pool’s water. She further explains how she merged with water, air, and space, and that’s why she spent so much time there.
“Oh Sarah” by Sturgill Simpson
Song Year: 2016
Relationship problems are causing the protagonist in this Sturgill Simpson song to question his feelings for Sarah.
He feels guilty since he hasn’t been honest with her about how he feels. And yet, he isn’t sure whether he can take the emotional toll resulting from hearing about her feelings. He tells her he loves her and that being with her is the best feeling in the world, but he is tired of life and wishes he could disappear.
“One Thousand Sarahs” by Eddie from Ohio
Song Year: 2001
Eddie from Ohio, or EFO, is a common abbreviation for an American band founded in 1991 in the Northern Virginia area.
The narrator portrays a woman whom male listeners find attractive and female listeners find well-dressed. Their mothers consider her to be a slut, starting with when she got her ears pierced at 12, but her teachers praise her intellect. He tries not to like her but finds he can’t stop thinking about her.
“You Don’t Know Sarah” by KNAPSACKHEROS!
Song Year: 2009
This song’s narrator thinks Sarah is incomprehensible because of her stunning beauty. He thinks no other woman in the vicinity can compete with her in terms of looks, personality, and poise. He adds that they all fall in love with her because of her natural beauty.
“Song for Sarah” by The Samuel Jackson Five
Song Year: 2005
“Song for Sarah” is an instrumental ballad that manages to be both ethereal and profound. The combination of piano and guitar creates a warm, personal atmosphere.
After then, a rock-inspired tempo increase adds a sense of urgency. We can all see that a lot of heart went into writing this song as a tribute to someone very dear.
“Sarah” by Alex G
Song Year: 2012
In this song, he expresses his regret for having given her unrealistic expectations. He admits that he should not have expected too much from Sarah and that his promises to her were hollow.
“Sarah” by Eskimo Joe
Song Year: 2006
Eskimo Joe’s “Sarah” is the second single off their third album Black Fingernails, Red Wine, which was released in September 2006. This tune reached position #12 on the ARIA Hot 100 in Australia.
There was an attempt at a romance, but no matter what they did, it failed. And that left him feeling pretty helpless.
“Sara” by Bob Dylan
Song Year: 1976
Bob Dylan included the song “Sara” on his album Desire in 1976. While Dylan and Jacques Levy co-wrote most of the songs on the album, Dylan wrote the autobiographical “Sara” about his divorce from Sara Dylan, their previous relationship, and their children.
Dylan mentions Hotel Chelsea, and this is the only time you’ll ever hear a song title from one of his songs referenced in the lyrics of another.
“Sarah Sarah” by Jonathan Butler
Song Year: 1988
The narrator glances across the room and comments on how stunning Sarah looks. His mind runs wild with imagined scenarios involving her. He still loves her and wants to know what went wrong in their relationship.
“Sara” by Starship
Song Year: 1985
American rock band Starship recorded the hit single “Sara,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 on March 15, 1986. From their debut album Knee Deep in the Hoopla, this song was performed by Mickey Thomas and included Grace Slick on background vocals.
Rebecca De Mornay, who plays the title character in the music video, and Rob Thomas are centrally featured in a storyline about a broken relationship set on a Dust Bowl homestead in the Midwest, with frequent flashback scenes to what is apparently Thomas’ character’s childhood, including the tornado that destroyed his home and killed his mother.
Songs With The Name Sarah In The Lyrics, Final Thoughts
Sarah is a popular name that has been around for centuries. As such, it makes sense that many songs have been written with an individual named Sarah in mind. Moreover, these songs can be found in various music genres and range from romantic to somber. So regardless of your preferences, there are likely a few great songs about Sarah that you can add to your playlist.