There were fewer of these than I expected to find, but they do transcend genres.
It's worth listening to this one again, just for the old film clips (audio only, sort of):
And of course:
Also of course,
And while we're on the subject,
This one doesn't precisely fit the theme, and it isn't really a song, but I am including it because Tex Ritter was a graduate of the Northwestern University Law School (and yes, the father of John Ritter and the grandfather of Jason, Tyler , and Carly):
UPDATE (h/t Matt Spitzer)
Also, "I Write the Songs."
Which (at least, according to Wikipedia) was not about Barry Manilow or (although it was written by Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston) Brian Wilson, but about G-d.
Good addition, Walter. Thanks.
Rodney Crowell's "Walk the Line (Revisited)," Tom Paxton's "Did You Hear John Hurt?" and Bill Monroe's "Uncle Pen."
Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg
Stay by Jackson Browne
Jazzman by Carole King
Superstar by The Carpenters
All good suggestions, John and Howard. Thanks.
Good choices.
Country music has a tradition of the "answer song", for example, Kitty Wells' It wasn't God that Made Honkey Tonk Angels" in answer to Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life"
Also some other suggestions:
Crosby Stills & Nash, "Wasted on the Way"
Dylan, Mr Tambourine Man"
Byrds, So You Want to be a Rock & Roll Star
Simon & Garfunkle, "Homeward Bound"
Gordon Lightfoot, "Early Mornin' Rain"
How about Rick Nelson Garden Party
And, Guitar Man, by Bread.
How about Dylan's Blind Willie McTell and Roberta Flack's Killing Me Softly