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Song Stories

“Born to Die”

Lana Del Rey | 2011

For "Born to Die," Lana Del Rey culled inspiration from the real-life situation of being a good girl in love with a bad boy. "We were both living life on the straight and narrow when we met," the pop chanteuse formerly known as Lizzy Grant said. "Two years into it, I didn't know it, but he was off doing other things that he got in trouble for." Her breakthrough single, "Blue Jeans," is a prequel to this song.

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“Complete Control”
The Clash | 1979
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“The Beast”
Laura Marling | 2011

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Song Stories

“Let My Love Open the Door”

Pete Townshend | 1980

A peppy, hopeful love song, "Let My Love Open the Door" became a U. S. Top Ten hit for Pete Townshend in 1980, anchored by the kind of repeating synthesizer figures that he'd used in some of the Who's recordings in the previous decade. Although Townshend brushed the song off as "just a ditty" in Rolling Stone shortly after its release, in 1996 he revealed it was about love of the holiest sort. "It's supposed to be about the power of God's love," he remarked. "That when you're in difficulty, whether it's major or minor, God's love is always there for you."

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