You might recall that in book of poetry, the of poetry PP is a complement to the noun book, which we took to be partly due to the “intrinsic” nature of the of poetry property. Is about poetry in book about poetry the same?

Rather than try to figure this out based on puzzling about what is and isn’t intrinsic, let’s just test it.

One reason we know that of poetry in book of poetry is inside the NP is that you can’t get other PPs between it and the N. Another reason is that one-replacement (at least if you speak a dialect of English like mine) has to replace of poetry if it is used.

(1) Give me…

a. The book of poetry on the table

b. *The book on the table of poetry

c. ??This book of poetry and that one of music

For me, at least, about poetry doesn’t work this way.

(2) Give me…

a. The book about gardening on the table

b. The book on the table about gardening

c. This book about gardening and that one about fishing

So, of poetry in book of poetry is different from about poetry in book about poetry.

That is to say, you want to attach about himself in songs about himself as an adjunct to nP, rather than inside the NP.