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Song Stories

“Street Fighting Man”

The Rolling Stones | 1968

Mick Jagger's reaction to watching police tangling with anti-war protesters outside the U.S. Embassy in London helped form the lyrics to the Rolling Stones' edgy rocker "Street Fighting Man," a song that had actually first taken shape with different lyrics and titled as "Did Everyone Pay Their Dues?" In a 1995 Rolling Stone interview, Jagger also cited riots in France and the U.S. as inspiration. "I thought it was a very good thing at the time," he observed. "There was all this violence going on. I mean, they almost toppled the government in France."

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“Unchained Melody”
The Righteous Brothers | 1965
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The Roots | 2011

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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