The complex lyrics by Harburg – with clever rhymes such as "Lydia/encyclopedia" and "Amazon/pajamas on" – were inspired by W. S. Gilbert.[1] Harburg made many contemporary references to topical personalities such as Grover Whalen, who opened the 1939 New York World's Fair.
The song was parodied by The Capitol Steps as "Libya, Oh Libya" (the Terrorist Nation) on their album Thank God I'm a Contra Boy[5] and was featured in the 1991 film The Fisher King in reference to Amanda Plummer's character. It was also used as a ringtone in the finale of the American TV show Breaking Bad.
In 1976, on Jim Henson's The Muppet Show, Kermit the Frog sings Lydia the Tattooed Lady. This scene, in episode 102, features a Muppet version of Lydia as a pig. This version of the song would also be performed by Kevin Clash (in character as Elmo from Sesame Street) at Henson's memorial service in 1990 during a segment where various Muppet performers sang Henson's favorite songs in character.
The song was also featured in the ninth and tenth seasons of The Walking Dead in reference to the character Lydia, who was formerly a part of The Whisperers. Before the outbreak, Lydia's father Frank would sing the song to her. Lydia is shown being comforted by Frank as he sang the song to her while she rubbed his tattoo of her name on his arm shortly after the outbreak as things begin to fall apart in their camp. Alpha has also been shown to sing the song.
The fourth season of the show Heroes features a character named Lydia, who is a tattooed lady in a carnival.