Sting “Every breath you take”

Rock & Roll All Night – KISS

Nirvana’s “Pennyroyal Tea” is supposedly about an abortion. (”Distill the life that’s inside of me”) Which is even stranger considering the fetus motif all over “In Utero”

“Julia” by The Beatles – Not a love song, but about John Lennon’s mother.

The Beatles “Got to get you into my life” not about a girl, but is actually about pot, before they were open about their drug use.

Tool “Die Eier von Satan”

Because nothing is as funny as scaring away the assumptious hatemongers with a song spoken in german about a pot recipe. So many people didn’t even know what they lyrics meant but that didn’t stop them from screaming for the neo nazis(Tool) to burn in hell.

“Every Breath you take” though many percieve it as a love song, it actually glorifies obsession.

I remember “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith being hailed as a generic, family-friendly, good ol’rock n roll song when it first hit the charts.
But listen to the lyrics…

Ryan Adams New York, New York *about loving his girlfriend who lives in NY, not about the city or anything dealing with 9/11

One by U2 is one of the most misunderstood songs as well.

Was about to say the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” – but that was taken, so I’ll say Soundgarden’s “Big Dumb Sex.” True, it wasn’t a huge song, but it was perceived by some folks to be a straightforward cock rock song, while the song was an obvious parody of the genre.

“Loser” by Beck, thought of as a slacker anthem. In the chorus Beck was actually referring to his lack of inspiration when he was free-styling during the recording of the song, so he calls himself a “loser” and invites the listener to murder him. It was irony, of course (like everything Beck used to do at the time). Oh and don’t tell me he glorifies slacking throughout the rest of the song because none of the lyrics make sense to anyone unless he’s stoned.

“One” by U2 is a really good suggestion, Matt. I still crack up when they play it at weddings.

Pearl Jam’s “Go” off VS. is about an old pickup truck eddie owned. Or so I heard.

The Las “There She Goes” is really about shooting up heroine not a girl walking across the street. A Christian band covered it and had a hit with it. Hmm?

“Staight to Hell” by the Clash is about the Vietnam war

so what, john lennon didn’t love his mother???
anyway, most buzzcocks songs are about cock and ‘another girl, another planet’ is also about heroin. but i doubt most blink fans know who the hell peter perret is.

Who goes there? Let’s get it rocking. And don’t forget to rock mycutegalaxy at http://www.mycutegalaxy.com

How about “Let It Be”? Sounds like gospel, mentions Mary, must be religious right? Nope. His mom’s name is Mary.

For that matter the two songs about McCartney’s dogs “Martha My Dear” and “Jet.”

Mr. Tamborine Man was about a drug dealer, it is actually a song about…well, it may be about a drugs

I always thought that I had heard that “Pennyroyal Tea” was about Kurt’s constant stomach pain. “Cherry flavored antacids” and such.

Woody Guthrie – “This Land is Your Land”

Shouldn’t have to explain that one…

Nope. Abortion it is. My bad.

Beatles’ Please Please Me is about oral sex. ‘Tis true.

Ooooh “Helter Skelter” too. Only one person misunderstood it, but DAMN, he REALLY misunderstood it. I always confuse songs about children’s games with mass murder. :/

Pennyroyal Tea is somewhat about abortion…back in the 1800s the tea was used that very action.

more a Pop song than Rock, but i always like Tarantinos explanation of Madonnas “like a virgin” in the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs.

PEARL JAM´S “ALIVE”. almost everyone sees it like an optimistic anthem. and its not. it talks about an almost incestuous situation (vedder´s mother gets confused when she sees him, as he has grown and looks exactly like his dead father)

Definately “Every Breath You Take” or even “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” (Lolita indeed!)

This is going back a ways but I’d say one of the originals would be “Mack The Knife”. Its a peppy song about a serial killer sung as a standard!

“Wonderwall” was thought to be about Noel Gallagher’s ex-wife prior to their eventual divorce. Noel eventually said it had nothing to do with his ex, but that it was a media rumor that he falsely agreed to only to please his ex. It ended really just being about a friend who saves another from everyone and everything. Doesn’t matter, it’s single greatest song of the 1990s along with “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana and “Live Forever” another great Oasis classic.

Closer by: Nine Inch Nails

Cyndi Lauper-She Bop. Cracks me up every time I hear it on the radio. Not about dancing, but female masturbation.

“One” is like my favorite tune so I’m surprised to learn this apparent news. What’s it “actually” about then?

Not so much a song, but the album Kid A by Radiohead is NOT about the first human clone.

Literally misunderstood – “Wild Thing” by the Troggs

anyway… Other:

“Suicide Solution” by Ozzy which is an anti-suicide song.

“Let it Be” is about Paul’s mother Mary, not Mary mother of Jesus.

“Losing My Religion” which I thought was about Michael Stipe coming out. But has REM done anything that can be easily deciphered on the first listen? South Central Rain?
Swan Swan Hummingbird? Anyone??

“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” I think John Lennon always said it was never about drugs, but I don’t buy it for a second.

“Black” by Pearl Jam is believed (I thought) to be about a woman sexually abusing her son, but its not.

That song that Twisted Sister talked about when Dee Snider testified at the PMRC hearings. It was about his uncle’s surgery but they thought it was about sadomasochism (Under the Blade?)

that’s it for now

“One’ is the uber- breakup song. Jilted lovers that can’t reconcile and need to break a vicious cycle

“old standard” Mary by the Association is actually about good old Mary(uana)

They’re both on here, but I’ll just throw in another vote for Every Breath You Take and Born In The USA. Both have become go-to themes for weddings and patriotism, respectively, yet both are the damn near antithesis of what the people who use them on these occassions think they are.

Not too cryptic but full of great imagery, Little Red Corvette, Prince

Baby You Can Drive My Car—NOT about a car!

Puff the Magic Dragon…strangely not about a boy and his magical dragon as Mr. Focker thought…

“I used to love her” (i think that’s the title)by G n’ R,
is about his dog having to be put to sleep.

Every other Judas Priest song is obviously missunderstood.

hanson’s mmmbop is not actually about an mmmbop, rather the meaning of life!

All the Yound Dudes-NOT about dudes!

All the Young Dudes-NOT about dudes!

Fire And Rain was rumored to be about James Taylor’s girlfriend who died in a plane crash, when he says it’s just about his life and overcoming depression/addiction.

Also, I always heard American Girl was about a University of Florida girl who jumped to her death, but Tom Petty said that was false.

A Day in the Life.

Idiots think it’s about Paul’s point of view when he died. It’s really just gobbledy-gook.

ooh, and Brown Sugar.

Bout raping slaves or something in reality.

Alive – Pearl Jam
Crash Into Me – Dave Matthews Band

I remember Matchbox 20’s Push being controversial because people thought it was about battery towards women but Rob Thomas has said it’s about an emotional struggle in a relationship.

blister in the sun – voilent femmes

Damn it, now you tell me…I put four girlfriends in the hospital because of that Matchbox 20 song.

Also, a lot of people actually believed that Fortunate Son was a patriotic/pro war song, when in reality it was a scathing indictment on the Vietnman War and the children of aristocrats that avoided the draft (George W. Bush/David Eisenhower)

I butchered the spelling of “Vietnam” in that last post, so I’ll call myself out on it before someone else does

Mmmmm Bop from Hansen, is about shrooming.

“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
The title came from John’s son Julian, who drew a picture of Lucy in the sky with diamonds in school. Lucy was the name of the girl he sat next to in class. Not about LSD.

F*CK the Police.
That aint about rising up against the five oh, that was sayin “F*ck, the police is our friend, be cool. They only tryin to help a brutha get by”.

Yo, MTV raps
-Eazy E

“Beat it”.
Ummm, you really don’t want to know.

“Hell is for Children” Pat Benatar. A song about child abuse not that all children should be sent to hell.

Even though it more of a cheerful dance pop ditty, Bananarama’s Robert DiNiro’s Waiting has a darker theme that stands in contrast to it’s breezy, carefree arrangment: a young girls attempt to deal with getting raped–”a walk in the park can become a bad dream, people are staring and following me”. The only way she feels safe dealing with men is watching Robert DiNiro on the movie screen.

oh my god! “in the air tonight” was about divorce? thats crazy!!! i always loved that song cuz every time i heard it i found it meaningful and sad to a point. i am very surprised.

my humps- actually about cancer.

I vote for Good Riddance. I went to a wedding where that was “their song.” I just about died.

Springsteen’s Pink Cadillac–another in his long tradition of car songs that are not really about cars. This one’s about, you know…

ironic – alanis moriesett
while it seems to say ironic events by definition those things arent ironic.. thus making the song ironic

london bridge is actually about london bridge…

I gotta think La Macarana was really a story about conformity with that dancing and repetitive lyrics. Like the military chanting while marching in line…..trust me listen to it and don’t tell me for a second you don’t wanna get up and dance.

“Pennyroyal Tea” is not about abortion, never is, and never will.

U2’s one is about alot of things. Part of it is about a son with AIDS coming out to his father, which is why it became such an anthem in the early nineties.
Semi-Charmed Life is about drugs.
Oh and as an aside, DAnny Boy is sung by a father to a son.

Jimi Hendrix’s Fire was actually written about him sitting near a fire for warmth not a sexual refrence.

Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name is about Racism, not anti-religion.

Korn’s Daddy was written about Jonathan Davis’s family friend who raped him, not his dad.

Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic”
Thought to be a song about irony that, by error, had no ironic elements.
Was actually a song that intentionally had no ironic elements as a means of being…well…

POSTED BY Thom ON JULY 30, 2000 AT 23:39:21:
IN REPLY TO: Thom, why Kid A?
dedicated to the first human clone.
i bet it has already happened.

Also. ‘One’ is not about romantic love or divorce…

“Daft punk is playing at my house” is actually about roxy music playing at his house

Pearl Jam “Better Man”

I’ll put in another vote for “Good Riddance.” It’s the song of my graduating class, which technically is appropriate, but not in the way they think.

I’ll second Sting’s “every breath you take” as really a song about an obsessed stalker

Crazy Bitch – Buckcherry

Actually about Al Sharpton

Little Red Corvette by Prince
The little red Corvette actually is ap***Y

Smashing Pumpkins – Today
It wasn’t the greatest day of ever when Billy Corgan wrote ‘Today’ from 1993 Siamese Dream. If i remeber correctly, he was depressed and considering sucidie. Obviously most who loved the song didn’t know that..

“my humps- actually about cancer.”

now that was funny.

I’ve actually come to understand that “Every Breath You Take” was not about love or obsession, but was a very Orwellian themed song about a big brother type government.

the theme song for Go Go Power Rangers was actually a song about a domomatrix.

“Hey Jude” by The Beatles not about Jesus as originally thought. It’s about John Lennon’s son Julian (Paul McCartney changed “Julian” to “Jude”).

“Lola” by The Kinks is not about a gorgeous fantasy woman. It’s about a naive young man who is seduced by a transexual.

Britney Spear’s “Oops! I Did It Again” is pretty much self-explanatory.

Give It Away – The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Anthony got a sweater that he didn’t like from his grandmother. He gave it away.

ZZ Top- Pearl Necklace

Iggy Pop’s “Lust For Life” is surprisingly not about cruise ships.

“Lit Up” – Buckcherry; pretty sure it’s about cocaine

hotel california. i had a week-long debate in high school about what it was about. obviously not a hotel. my high school class concluded either hell or a whore house.

Eight Miles High and Street Fighting Man

captain fantastic and the brown dirt cowboy is about…well…umm…

“Rosie”, by Jackson Browne. The jilted roadie is not talking about his wife that holds him tight.

The entire “In the Areoplane Over the Sea” album by Neutral Milk Hotel.

“Rosie”, by Jackson Browne. The jilted roadie is not talking about his wife that “holds him tight.”

Pictures of Lilly by The Who.

“Let the Eagle Soar” by John Ashcroft is really about the government taking away your rights.

Richard Thompson’s “Wall of Death” and McCartney’s “Helter Skelter”. Both about carnival rides…

ok definatly “won’t get fooled again” by the who. It’s always been taking a song about violent revolution…but it’s actually about how pete townsend DIDN’T want to be in any more revolutions because he didn’t like the outcome of the ones he’d been in, he observed that nothing had changed. Basically the song was taken exactly in the oppisite way as it was intended.sorry pete:S

“Candle in the Wind” was about the time Elton got burned lighting his farts on fire. I think I read that on wiki, so it has to be true. ‘Norma Jean’ sounded better than anus, but yeah, it’s pretty self-explanatory.

Some seem to think “The Boys of Summer”, by Don Henley, is about baseball. It has nothing to do with sports! Its an expression from a middle aged person looking back on a past relationship and summerizing his feelings regarding that now past love.

“Here’s to the Night”, by Eve 6, a song that was taken by many about the close of an era. In this case it was high school or college graduation. The song is really a bitter ode about a one night stand.

Glad someone mentioned “Here’s To The Night”. This was beaten to death around prom/graduation at my high school while no one realized this song wasn’t a reflection on cherished memories from lost youth.

I’ll add American Woman to the list. It seems any song with USA/America in the lyrics is immediately deemed patriotic without even looking at the lyrics (in this case, dealing with Vietnam-era tension directed at the U.S.’s imperialistic military policy)

Yeah.. Fortunate Son by CCR (John Fogerty) was about those hypocrites sending other people’s son’s to war… who was President then? Oh, yeah.. Lyndon Johnson. What party was he in?

Yeah.. Fortunate Son by CCR (John Fogerty) was about those hypocrites sending other people’s sons to war… who was President then? Oh, yeah.. Lyndon Johnson. What party was he in?

in the book Many Years From Now, McCartney said that Helter Skelter refers to playground slides found at schools in England.as in when i get to the bottom i go back to the top etc.

Kanye West’s “Golddigger” is not, believe it or not, about someone digging for gold. NO! In fact, it is about a woman who only will associate with wealthy men – and will not, in fact, associate, with poor African American Men. Perhaps she should intern for Imus. Mr. West, you should shun this woman – Al Sharpton would not approve.

hotel california by the eagles
i too had a day long debate on what its all about…..
……………… …
we concluded, it was about,………………….?? ???

definitely “every breath you take” but the one guy is wrong. the lyrics are from the point of view of the monster from frankenstein, when he says he will follow dr. frankenstein till he dies.

Jennifer Lopez’ “Jenny from the Block” is actually not about a girl from the neighborhood “block”, but is actually a social comment on not judging people from former Soviet Block countries because of the “rocks” that they have, meaning baggage that they carry.

Oh wait… I am talking about J-Lo… sorry, she is just talking about herself being rich. Sorry.

Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” – thought to be about a dark, post-Vietnam life, is actually about a guy that never went to Vietnam, grew up in Jersey, and struck it rich as a Rock and Roll star at an early age. He later started lecturing his fans, but that wasn’t mentioned in this particular song.

Nirvana’s “Polly” is not actually about a rape victim. It is about a self-obsessed, chronically depressed songwriter that was looking for an overly sympathetic character to write a song about. That songwriter chose a female rape victim. How brave. He later killed himself.

Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Stolen from Meher Baba’s slogan, this song meant only one thing in 1988 – War and Recession are soon to come. Strangely enough, they did.

Some people say that the Monkees “Last Train to Clarksville” is about somebody being sent to Vietnam.

And “Fortunate Son” was written in 1969 when Nixon was president.

Kermit the Frog’s “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” While most think this is about being a green frog, it is actually about being Mean Joe Greene, the vicious former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Spelled differently to protect identities, it remains the truest anthem to Pro-Athlete angst.

almost every songs by us that are believed to be about humanity or things like that are not………………….

U 2, most of the time use YOU, instead of any name. so that makes it more suspicious. ONE and WALK ON are two of the songs that are believed to be about humanity and so,but many claim otherwise

More history: “Fortunate Son” was written in 1969 when Nixon was president.

It was released in October of 69, not quite 10 months after Nixon was first sworn in as President… yet 4 years after the start of the Vietnam War – a war started by the administration of Lyndon Johnson. Hmm…

Van Halen’s 1984 anthem, “Jump” is not actually about jumping. Truth be told, it is about sitting very still and doing nothing. Asked why anyone should sit very still, David Lee Roth replied “Might as well.”

Phil Collins’ song “Sussudio”, while thought to be about a girl that had been on his mind, is actually about lepers.

John Mayer’s “Your Body Is A Wonderland”, originally thought to be about sexual exploration, is actually about a necrophiliac mortician.

regarding Strait to Hell by Clash i believe it’s more specific than “the Vietnam war”. its’ about amerasian war babies left behind in a hostile country while the soldier daddy disappears back to his life in the U.S.A

“Some people” say that vague sources are a sympton of ignorance. They also say that the Beatles “Happiness is a warm gun”, written by John Lennon, did not originally start out with this title. John intended “Happiness is warm gum”, but Paul, feeling that title was silly, and also feeling a bit militaristic, told John to change it. On the same day, he wrote the first verse to “Live and Let Die.”

“I Don’t Like Mondays” by the Boomtown Rats. This is based on the true story of a girl that went to school and shot a bunch of people. When asked why she did it, she replied “I Don’t Like Mondays.” At least she gave a reason.

The Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.” It seems absolutely obvious what they are singing about: Someone losing their feeling of love for another. Yet, according to the last will and testament of Bobby Hatfield, it was about Bowling.

Nedrow…great posts by the way

nedrow123, just reading your comments and you strike me as a lonely, talentless, passionless, sad person. You’re so unaffected and hip, you’ve probably contributed less than zero to society in any way, shape or form. Spare us from your anger, masquerading as insight, and piss off!

Here’s one: Pearl Jam’s ‘Alive’ is often used as some sort of arena hype song. In actuality, it is about Eddie Vedder’s sick relationship with his in mother in which she ostensibly molested him because he so closely resembled his absentee father. Therein lies ‘I’m still alive, but do I deserve to be?’ Pete Sampras used to listen to this song before matches, I wonder if he knew it was really about a twisted incestual relationship?…

Screw this misunderstood lyrics crap. What about the lyrics you can’t understand in the first place?

For instance I for one am sick of pretending that I totally understand what the hell Maggie’s Farm is about. He puts his cigar out where? Then kick that mofo in the sack and be gone!

Life on Mars – David Bowie.
It’s not about Mars or about travelling into space, but about a girl who goes to the movies after a fight with her parents.

In “Rain” The Beatles dos’nt sing about when life work against you, it’s actually about rain. You know water falling from det sky…

U2’s ‘Sweetest Thing’ is not about true, beautiful love – if you listen closely – this relationship is sick!! Love that song.

“Guilty of Being White” by Minor Threat (misunderstood by white power idiots) and “Six Pack” by Black Flag (everyone thinks it’s a pro drinking song and doesn’t see the irony).

Madonna – Material Girl. So like…only five people on Earth get that it’s tongue in cheek. And the name has stuck since 1984.

Newdro, wasn’t the Vietnam War started by Eisenhower by sending in advisors? And we know what party Eisenhower was.

Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” thought to be about dancing the night away in the middle of a Colombian carnival. It’s actually about a certain talking body part that is so honest it would pass a polygraphic test 99% of the time.

to everyone talking about hotel california…its about drug addiction

Won’t Get Fooled Again. People always think it’s about a revolution or something but it’s really about…well i’m not sure because i’ve heard lots of different things that were all really complicated and confusing. but whatever it’s about the best part will always be the “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH HHHHH!!!!!!!!”

This Monkey’s Gone To Heaven by THE PIXIES is about hot underage girls with tasty buttholes.

Almost every Beatles song once Sgt. Pepper happened.

Lucy In The Sky-LSD
Yellow Submarine-drugs
Happiness is A Warm Gun-drugs
Helter Skelter-Charles Manson thinks it says to kill

Who knows if the above three are true or not but they definitely have double meanings.

The Violent Femmes “Blister in the Sun” is about masturbation, which is quite interesting now that its used to sell fast food…

Someone needs to bitchslap Nedrow123.

“penelope” by pinback…is about a gold fish dying.

Pearl Jam Alive is only part truth, after the first verse it is made up. Eddie talked about it in a interview.

Eric Clapton- Wonderful Tonight is about hating his woman because she takes too long getting ready and it late for stuff. Funny it is used alot as a wedding song

I’m still working on a theory that “I Want to Hold Your Hand” is about smoking pot. Passing the joint your hands touch. Oh yeah, “Hey Jude” isn’t about Julian or Jesus. It’s an open letter to Bob Dylan a jew to get off the smack. I wonder what it’s like in the back of your Pink Cadillac. Gotta love that line! We just need a few more inches Bruce…

def every breath you take

The song “Give Peace a Chance” is actually about a double-headed dildo which was found in the bed shared by Marty Robbins and Andy Warhol right before Yohn and Joko rented the room for their world famous Bed-In which really wasn’t about beds at all, but in fact was a thinly veiled reference to a furniture sale that George Martin was attending in Luxemborg that very weekend.

Pink Floyd’s “Have a cigar”

Gorrilaz’ “Feel Good Inc”

Rush’s “Working Man”

Every ACDC song has been grossly simplified: there are anti-gravity device plans encoded within “Have a drink on me”…I swear.

Jimi’s comes out of the closet: “S’cuse me while i kiss this guy”

Btw, Jake burns is an idiot. Vietnam was Kennedy’s war.

Two Of Us – The Beatles is actually about Bonnie And Clyde.

Girl – The Beatles is actually about the catolicism.

Nirvana’s “Drain You” was thought to be about heroin, but actually about a big 80s legal case where one twin baby stole all the nutrients from the other in utero and the undernourished one was stillborn. (I guess Nirvana was pretty affected by that case — look at their next album title.)

“The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades” by Timbuk 3. Very popular on pop playlists in the late 80’s, but definitely not rooted in an optimistic view of the future, as commonly perceived.

One that comes to mind for me personally is “Youth of the Nation” by POD. I recall people when I was in high school singing along mindlessly to the chorus without listening to any of the verses at all and realizing it’s about disaffected young people and school shootings. “Instead of takin’ a test she took two in the chest.” If the children are the future, the future is bleak.

I remember seeing Aerosmith’s “Behind the Music” and Steven Tyler saying that the title line of “Walk This Way” was taken from “Young Frankenstein” in a scene where a servant is leading people into a house and says that and the people following him start actually walking exactly like him. And it’s about sex, also. “One” is basically about a failing relationship. When it was written for “Achtung Baby” the band was basically falling apart. “We hurt each other and we do it again”- what a romantic note, eh? Finally, for people talking about REM, Stipe said in an interview on this very website that the lyrics from their first two albums were “non-sense” and written because of how “words sounded.” Cobain said this about his songs too, but that’s probably only partially true. “On A Plain” reveals a lot of his inner turmoil about his life, but it was written pretty much as filler at the end of the “Nevermind” sessions so he started ad libbing, hence the final line “One more special message to go. Then I’m done and I can go home.” I’m done now…

How about every Mars Volta song.

“Bom Bom Bom” by Living Things. Intended to be anti-war, but it doesn’t necessarily come across that way.

-Drain you is about draining the life from someone else…
-pennyroyal tea actually is about abortion…read heavier than heaven, come as you are: the story of nirvana and it’ll tell you…pennyroyal tea was an herbal remedy that assisted with such things
-hotel california is actually a place you go right befoe you die…kinda likes heaven/hells waiting room

Maybe a bit mainstream…but friends tell me that “Purple Haze” is about an a drug trip, but it was actually about a dream Jimmmy had in which he was walking under the ocean…

Horse With No Name–America

People seem to think this song is about heroin…please explain.

Rattinnacage- it’s “kiss the sky” not “kiss this guy”.

I think people often assume Dylan’s “Shelter From the Storm” is a sweet love song, because of it’s refrain “come in, she said I’ll give you/Shelter from the storm”…but if you listen past the first few verses it’s actually quite dark.

John Mayer’s “Your Body is a Wonderland” was initially titled “Your Body is a Blubberland”. He presented it to his then-girlfriend to see what she thought. She knocked out all of his teeth.

After getting dental implants, he changed the lyric, and the rest is history.

“Prison Sex”-Tool. For that matter, any song by Tool.

Keep on Rockin in the Free World

To clarify the meaning of “Purple Haze” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience – there are many intrepretations of it, and Jimi himself never gave a definitive answer to what it was really all. Upon returning to Seattle for the first time in years, Jimi was commissioned to give a speech at his former high-school (which he dropped out of), and said that the song was about the school’s color – purple, and gold respectively. He offered up another explination that he had gotten it from a vision about a book he had read, but there is no way of knowing whether it was some strange trip, or if it was just random poetry.

Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – misperceived as a love song, but it’s really about a bitterness-filled breakup.

hell yeah!
one of the most popular wedding songs of the 90’s

any Fall Out Boy song is very misunderstood cause know one can understand

Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World – how many of us free-worlders scream that song in praise of our great life without realizing it’s about the degradation of American society?

American Woman – chicks love this song about them, they just don’t know it’s telling the American government of the time to go to hell.

One by U2.

“Girl” by Beck. People think it’s about a girl. It’s actually about murder.

Hey Man Nice Shot – Filter. Is it about Kurt Cobain or just some guy none of us have heard of.

Crash Into Me – Dave Matthews Band- Though this song eludes to two lovers passionately “crash[ing]” into each other, the encounter never actually happens. It is all merely a fantasy played out in the imagination of a boy watching the girl from his window.

Bob Dylans Rainy Day Women is about the civil rights movement and not about drugs.

im on fire- bruce sprinsteen
imagine-john lennon

Pearl Jam fans may find this interesting if they don’t already know..
“Alive” (Ten), “Once” (Ten), and “Footsteps” (Lost Dogs) by Pearl Jam are actually part of the “Mamasan Trilogy,” starting with “Alive.” The song is actually about a mother falling in love with her son, bearing an uncanny resemblance to her deceased husband. “Once” is about the son’s frustration with his situation, and as a result, he becomes a serial killer. In “Footsteps,” he gets executed for his murders.

Nirvana’s “Polly” – misunderstood by frat boys to glorify rape, was actually inspired by a true story in which a rape victim escaped from her captor.

My list:

Rockin’ In The Free World/Fortunate Son/American Woman/Born In The USA-You can almost do a whole list of misused patriotic anthems that are actually subversive, harsh social and political criticisms.

Wonderful Tonight-I didn’t know about Wonderful Tonight’s true meaning but that’s hilarious.

Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)-Billie Joe was pretty open about it being a breakup song, but then it got used during the final episode of Seinfeld’s clip show, and it’s still being used today (the Celtics used it during a recent tribute to late forward Dennis Johnson in addition to many weddings/graduations/birthdays /funerals.) I know there’s some people who still didn’t know it was called “Good Riddance”.

Every Breath You Take-The voyeuristic elements are quite obvious, but just another example of a song being interpreted whatever way you want. This one, along with the above 2, could also be part of their own list: Wedding songs that really shouldn’t be.

Harder To Breathe by Maroon 5-Originally interpreted as a song about a struggling relationship that was falling apart, or the much darker interpretation that included rape and battery. Some found the song misogynistic until Adam Levine cleared it up by saying it was actually about the pressure from their record label to create hit singles.

American Girl-I’d heard the U of Florida suicide rumor too, about the popular girl who takes drugs for the first time and jumps from Beatty Towers thinking she could fly (Petty was born and raised in Gainesville right near the university), but Petty himself said he wrote it in California listening to the waves on the beach and cars driving by and wrote a story about a girl wanting something more in life and trying to move on from her past (aren’t the urban myths that are started about songs always more interesting than what the writer says it’s actually about?)

Hey Man, Nice Shot-I read that Richard Patrick said it was actually about Pennsylvania treasurer Budd Dwyer’s suicide, but the Kurt Cobain rumor was the first one I heard.

Here’s To The Night-Yeah that was used at prom for me as well, never liked it, was so happy to hear that it was being used out of context.

Haha Nedrow is funny. I like the Bruce Sprinsteen comment. Good stuff

If you listen to any of the lyrics of “Born in the USA” it’s not hard to tell it is social comment about Vietnam. Most songs about America do this very thing.

I thought I remember Billy Jo saying “Good Riddance” was what he wrote in regards to the accusations he had sold out. As much as he tried to stay credible to the underground, he ended up saying “Good Riddance (Hope you had the time of your life)” and did his own thing, saying goodbye to the old punk days

‘Mandy’ sung by Barry Manilow I think. Is it about a lost love or a dog?

*Sympathy for the Devil* isn’t.

Dylan’s *A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall* isn’t an abstract protest song; it was a song Dylan said he wrote in a basement during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He said that he tried to fit a song he’d always wanted to write into each line, because he thought he wouldn’t have time to write the songs before the world blew up.

“The Last Of The Famous International Playboys” – Morrissey

Fortunate Son-CCR

U2’s “one”

How about The Who’s “Teenage Wasteland”, that song is frequently misunderstood…

I’d say “Losing My Religion” would be a big one to mention…

Weren’t R.E.M. smited by some Catholic leauge for it or something?

And ‘losing my religion’ is just saying in Athens, Georgia that yer gunna lose yer cool.

hmph

what about U2’s “one,” thought to be a touching wedding song, actually a poignant meditation on the loneliness of the human condition?

“Blister in the Sun” by the Violent Femmes is often thought to be about masturbation, but is really about one of the band member’s insecurity about his small hands.

Keep on rockin in the free world bye neil young has been mentioned a few times but I have to again. It’s rediculous when someone brings it out at a party and everyone gets all patriotic and screams the chorus which probably makes it even more ironic than the song already is.

When Lenny Kravitz covered “American Woman” by the Guess Who he obviously thought it was patriotic when actually it’s anti-american and was banned when it came out.

The Reflex by Duran Duran. People think “The Reflex = Sex” But “The Reflex = Sex + Love”. It’s a song about “the caste system.” Hey Jude people think it’s about Julian Lennion but it’s really about “nothing.”

“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”-The Beatles: Not about LSD, but his son’s drawing

“Cocaine”- Eric Clapton: An anti-drug song.

“Livin’ in the USA”- Steve Miller Band: anti-American song like “Born in the USA”.

“Blinded by the Light”- Mannfred Mann’s version: It is not “like a douche”, but “revved up like a deuce”.

“Saturday Night Special”- Lynyrd Skynyrd: Anti-gun song. The lyrics are really obvious, too.

“Louie, Louie”- The Kingsmen: FBI investigated thinking it was obscene, but is not obscene, but about a man being drunk needing to leave a bar, to meet a girl.

“Sweet Dreams (are made of this)”- The Eurythmics: about S&M

“Sledgehammer”- Peter Gabriel: about… uh… little Peter Gabriel

Hey Pammydq,

the most misunderstood thing about that Who song is that people think it’s called “Teenage Wasteland.” Its title is “Baba O’Riley.”

I second street fighting man – not about a street fighter, but a man who just wants to play in a band.

Also one – I’ve read that Bono wrote it about The Edge’s marriage, which was falling apart at the time.

Ex-Monkee Michael Nesmith had a hit with Joanne in the early 70’s.

It was a love song to a Cow.

When Dylan sings “everybody must get stoned”…it ain’t about drugs. It’s about persecution. Listen closely next time.

Simon and Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence. I believe many people took this to be a typical 1960s Vietnam era anti-war song. They say that it was written to capture the trauma of the assassination of JFK.

Puff the Magic Dragon isn’t really about a magic dragon? How can that be? My childhood illusions are shattered. Shadoobie.

Franz Ferdinand- “Take Me Out.”

It sounds like a a come-on (”If you’re lonely, I’ll be here waiting for you.”) but I’m convinced the song is actually about a pair of snipers stalking each other. Listen closely, you’ll hear it.

REM’s Shiny Happy People, is often dismissed as a plastic piece of pop crap, (possibly because it features the B52s) it is actually supposed to be ironic. As in, those shiny happy people arent really all that happy on the inside, possibly its about celibrities.

Also The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun
not really that misunderstood, the only question is which is it about – a brothel, a gambling house, or a prison ?

Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourineman” — again, not a drug song but about dylan’s amusement with the session man who had one of those wagon-wheel tambourine’s

B. adam’s “run to you”.. is often interpreted as a song about adultery, unless one actually sees the video. and realises what’s it about.

-it’s been mentioned a few times already, but “American Woman” is obviously one of the first songs that comes to mind. It was written by a Canadian band, The Guess Who, after having returned home from a tour of American cities, and having been exposed to their big city problems and the unpopularity of the Vietnam war. Jim Kale, the group’s bassist, said it was about how refreshing it was to come home to a country that didn’t have the draft and to see the simple girl’s they’d grown up with.

-Sarah McLaughlin’s “I Will Remember You”…I always find it ackward when this song is misused and played as a sappy, emotional tribute at funerals, graduations or even retirements (Wayne Gretsky). People hear the words “I will remember you” and the rest of the song’s lyrics suddenly go out the window. As Sarah herself said, it was intended to be a bittersweet song about being afraid of love and commitment and ultimately breaking up…but at the same time worrying about one day looking back with regret. How is this a funeral song?

-”Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan has said several times that this song was written when he was at his lowest point and was intended to be sarcastic.

KASH, where was I wrong? Ike started US involvement in Vietnem. JFK and LBJ did escalate it (quite a bit).

Imagine – john lennon

Thought to be a song about peace and love, yet it is actually a song about communism. This makes it really funny, because people were playing it after 9/11…”Well our country was just attacked, lets sing about communism!” I for one, am a communist.

Betterman – Pearl Jam

everytime I see Betterman live, there are couple making out, dancing, and singing to one another. I mean its right in the chorus “she lies and says she’s in love with him” you don’t get more straight forward than that but people still think its a love song, it is a love song but its about love gone wrong or love that never existed in the first place.

Born in The USA- Al Sharpton

Terraplane Blues by Robert Johnson…pretty sure he has a bunch of other songs that could fit this category

Crystal Blue Persuasion -Tommy James & The Shondells
Nixon said it was about making meth but the lyrics were actually taken from a description of Heaven in the Book of Revelation. How’s that for irony?

Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 – Bob Dylan
Already mentioned maybe, but it isn’t a drug song. He’s talking about being stoned (as in having rocks thrown at you) not getting stoned (as in smoking).

I Hate Myself and Want To Die …it was just irony, right?

Radiohead deserves a space of their own.
What’s the pyramid in pyramid song? The Panic, the vomit? Ideoteque?

Talk amongst yourselves.

“Day in the Life”-the beatles. some people say its about Paul’s death and that it described his death, “he blew his mind out in a car”,was suppose be how he died

turning japanise is not really about masturbation

“sweet cherry pie” not actually about pie to my surprise…. u know those hair metal bands and their deep song meanings

I thought “Lust for Life” by Iggy Pop was about being a yuppie in the 80s, with the lyrics “here comes Johnny in again, with his Luther Vandross and his fax machine…”
Apparently those are not the correct lyrics at all.

hotel california by the eagles.
not about a hotel or the church of satan

Seriously, has nobody mentioned New York, New York by Ryan Adams, taken as an anthem for New york after 9/11, actually just about a girl

I agree with
One by U2
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by The Beatles
Let It Be by The Beatles

Oh and on another note, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2 is more about finding doubt than faith

“Turning Japanese” by the Vapors

CCR’s “Fortunate Son” was re-edited in a Tommy Hilfiger commercial as a patriotic anthem. They used the lines, “some folks were born to wave the flag/ ooh, they’re red white and blue”, but carefully omitted any part of the song that criticizes rich draft dodgers. Weak!

Casual listeners rarely actually pay attention to the sordid lyrics of Steely Dan songs, which is why they’re so popular. “Black Friday” is about an economic crash, “Time Out of Mind” is about heroin, “Kid Charlemagne” is about a dethroned acid-dealer kingpin, and some have suggested “Pretzel Logic” is about Adolf Hitler. All these songs got on the radio for their slick, fusoid L.A. jazz-rock musical backing and platinum-plated hooks, and I imagine the lyrics went over the heads of most top-40 fans when they weren’t ignored altogether. What a neat trick.

Anybody who doesn’t write lyrics in a literal and direct fashion is bound to be misinterpreted. You think Dylan paid no mind to the double-entendres of “Rainy Day Women” as he was writing it? Gimme a break. Sure, the song is about persecution at its core, but I think Dylan purposely designed it to come across as a drug-song throwaway. What I don’t understand is why so many rock critics, who are usually pretty bright when it comes to interpreting lyrics, just write this one off as a joke. I mean, it’s pretty easy to grasp the double meaning.

I think there should be a special category for songs that were meant to be “misunderstood.” A perfect example, as has been pointed out, is “Rainy Day Women”–does anybody honestly think Dylan was stupid enough to think that wouldn’t become a drug anthem?
Another, is “Born in the U.S.A.”–look at that album cover–Springsteen’s red hat, white shirt and blue jeans in front of a flag, during the Reagan era, no less. Springsteen knew damn well how that was going to be taken, and that most listeners weren’t going to carefully interpret the lyrics to “Born in the U.S.A.” and he knew that the resulting “misunderstanding” was going to make him a superstar.

By the way, do you really think songwriters should automatically trusted about what they say their songs are (or or not) about? Sure, Dylan, Lennon, and Peter, Paul & Mary say “Rainy Day Women,” “Lucy in the Sky” and “Puff the Magic Dragon” have nothing to do with drugs and Clapton (who didn’t even write it) says “Cocaine” is anti-drug. Might they be more concerned with keeping respectible folk playing and buying their music than getting the truth out there?

A bunch of wilco songs from yankee hotel foxtrot were thought to be about 9/11, like “Ashes of American Flags” and the like “tall buildings shake/voices escape/singing sad sad songs….skyscrapers are scraping”… but these songs were finished in June 2001, so people were only reading into it too much.

I think “Born in the USA” is the most misunderstood song ever. I remember being a young guy at the time it came out. And even Ronald Regan used it after speeches. Listening to or reading the lyrics first is a good idea.

Sorry for the typing I know it’s President “Reagan”.

my humps- actually about cancer.

Aqua – Barbie Girl
A damning critique on our sexist and materialistic society.

R.E.M losing my religion.

Has nothing to do religion it’s actually a break up song

HELLO I HAVE PUT TOGETHER THE BEST COMMENTS I HAVE SEEN so all the rest or what you willl read is copied and passed these are all of my favorite comments!:my humps- actually about cancer. I vote for Good Riddance. I went to a wedding where that was “their song.” I just about died. I’ll second Sting’s “every breath you take” as really a song about an obsessed stalker Little Red Corvette by Prince
The little red Corvette actually is a vagina! the theme song for Go Go Power Rangers was actually a song about a dominatrix. Give It Away – The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Anthony got a sweater that he didn’t like from his grandmother. He gave it away. Lol! Also Kanye West’s “Golddigger” is not, believe it or not, about someone digging for gold. NO! In fact, it is about a woman who only will associate with wealthy men – and will not, in fact, associate, with poor African American Men. Perhaps she should intern for Imus. Mr. West, you should shun this woman – Al Sharpton would not approve. Kermit the Frog’s “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” While most think this is about being a green frog, it is actually about being Mean Joe Greene, the vicious former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Spelled differently to protect identities, it remains the truest anthem to Pro-Athlete angst. I Don’t Like Mondays” by the Boomtown Rats. This is based on the true story of a girl that went to school and shot a bunch of people. When asked why she did it, she replied “I Don’t Like Mondays.” At least she gave a reason. Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” thought to be about dancing the night away in the middle of a Colombian carnival. It’s actually about a certain talking body part that is so honest it would pass a polygraphic test 99% of the time.Pink Floyd’s “Have a cigar”
Gorrilaz’ “Feel Good Inc”. Nirvana’s “Drain You” was thought to be about heroin, but actually about a big 80s legal case where one twin baby stole all the nutrients from the other in utero and the undernourished one was stillborn. (I guess Nirvana was pretty affected by that case — look at their next album title.) hotel california is actually a place you go right befoe you die…kinda likes heaven/hells waiting room…what about U2’s “one,” thought to be a touching wedding song, actually a poignant meditation on the loneliness of the human condition? Sweet Dreams (are made of this)”- The Eurythmics: about S&M Franz Ferdinand- “Take Me Out.It sounds like a come-on (”If you’re lonely, I’ll be here waiting for you.”) but I’m convinced the song is actually about a pair of snipers stalking each other. Listen closely, you’ll hear it. -”Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan has said several times that this song was written when he was at his lowest point and was intended to be sarcastic. Imagine – john Lennon Thought to be a song about peace and love, yet it is actually a song about communism. This makes it really funny, because people were playing it after 9/11…”Well our country was just attacked, lets sing about communism!” I for one am a communist. Every time I see Betterman live, there are couples making out, dancing, and singing to one another. I mean its right in the chorus “she lies and says she’s in love with him” you don’t get more straight forward than that but people still think its a love song, it is a love song but its about love gone wrong or love that never existed in the first place. Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 – Bob Dylan
Already mentioned maybe, but it isn’t a drug song. He’s talking about being stoned (as in having rocks thrown at you) not getting stoned (as in smoking). Oh and on another note, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2 is more about finding doubt than faith I think there should be a special category for songs that were meant to be “misunderstood.” A perfect example, as has been pointed out, is “Rainy Day Women”–does anybody honestly think Dylan was stupid enough to think that wouldn’t become a drug anthem?Another, is “Born in the U.S.A.”–look at that album cover–Springsteen’s red hat, white shirt and blue jeans in front of a flag, during the Reagan era, no less. Springsteen knew damn well how that was going to be taken, and that most listeners weren’t going to carefully interpret the lyrics to “Born in the U.S.A.” and he knew that the resulting “misunderstanding” was going to make him a superstaA bunch of wilco songs from yankee hotel foxtrot were thought to be about 9/11, like “Ashes of American Flags” and the like “tall buildings shake/voices escape/singing sad sad songs….skyscrapers are scraping”… but these songs were finished in June 2001, so people were only reading into it too much.
r.

wow david, i’m glad you’ve appointed yourself the great decider. the fact that you have that much time on your hands leads me to only one conclusion–you’re very pathetic.

Jack, Lenny Kravitz isn’t American, he’s Canadian, he knew exactly what he was singing, the Guess Who were Canadian too, get your facts straight

ruby tuesday. not about rubies or tuesday or anything.

“Hey Jude” was written by Paul McCartney for John’s son Julian, although some people claim it’s about taking heroin.

“She Boy” by Cyndi Lauper. People think it is about A Woman Bopping Around but it is about Masturbation.

DMB’s “Crash”: Not a love song in the traditional sense…more about voyeuristic obsession – shouldn’t be played at your wedding.

Ryan Adams’s “New York, New York”: Written wellll before 9/11. Heck, even the music video and the album cover are meant to have absolutely nothing to do with 9/11.

Alanis Morrissette’s “Ironic”: it’s just not ironic.

Neil Young’s “A Man Needs a Maid”: Not actually meant to be sexist.

Rap has not been represented at all shame on you Imus listeners.

Makavelli – Girlfriend
about his shiny new gun, a player doesn’t create odes to a love or copulate with 40 year old women.

Kash good one with “feel good inc.” very anti-war which is good seeing as i am in Iraq unjustly

Aaron couldn’t be more off with Give it away now, especially since i just read Keidis himself say it was about a girlfriend of his telling him its better to give away stuff than acquire. no gramamas in RHCP

One – U2.

Read the lyrics.

This is not a love song. The Edge was shocked when ‘fans’ walked up to him and said that they played it at their wedding!!

And surely – Born in the USA

I’ll just echo support for the two obvious ones listed
1. Lucy in the Sky Diamonds – Beatles
2. Hotel California – Eagles

Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out” is actually about the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. If you listen to the lyrics and know a little about the situation, it’ll make sense.

hey Ljs if you wrote to me with SUCH assurance that I am pathetic then SURELY you must have read my entire comment and if you read all my comment when you could have easyly stopped reading midway then that tells me something. also if I am soooo pathetic then why are you adressing a comment to me,what, am I worth YOUR time? if im so pathetic then surely I can`t be worth your time to write a comment at me i`d like to see how you respond to that and if you dont your a coward but if you do then your as pathetic as I am because your constantly checking this like an idiot~! its fun argueing with you!

What the hell IS ruby tuesday about anyway???

Dont Drink the Water-dave song about apartheid in south africa

Fergie – “My hump, my lovely lady lumps” – actually about a transvestite!

Cheap Trick, Surrender. Not just about mommy and daddy being alright but also about STD’s.

Take me out by Franz Ferdinand IS NOT about the assassination of the arch duke … the songs about when 2 people like each other but neither of them have the guts to ask each other out. however ‘take me out’ is literal and does refer to the agony of secretly loving someone and not being able to tell them. so he rather be taken out instead.

Ryan Adams-New York, New York

It caught fire right around 9/11 and came to be perceived as a patriotic anthem but is actually about a break-up instead

“Do they Know Its Christmas?” is not about helping Africa, but a taunt by the British about how the African’s are going to die because they opposed the Empire so many years ago.

“Every Breath You Take” = obvious choice… It’s a stalker song, not a love song.

I got nothing….

Pennyroyal tea was actually about the disgusting tasting TEA that Kurt’s doctor told him might help with his severe stomach pain.

Today by the Smashing Pumpkins was actually written about how Today was the “great day” he would end his life and get it all over with…

I want to say again, just to make sure its heard, “New York, New York” by Ryan Adams (actually about a girl/breakup) BUT i am almost sure that i have heard from Dave Matthews own lips on a recording that “Dont drink the Water” is about American Indians and what they went through because of manifest destiny, not about Africa. If you listen to the lyrics that makes way more sense than South Africa as well.

Angels – Robbie Williams: It’s about a condom -”and through it all she offers me protection, a lot of love and affection, whether I’m right or wrong” “wherever it may take me, i know that life won’t break me when I come to call” “through the waterfall”!!!
Always something there to remind me- Burt Bacharach: It’s about herpes!!!
The she goes- The La’s – A song about heroin

After listening to the Only Ones “Another girl, another planet” for 30 years, I discovered that it’s not a lovesong, but about heroinaddiction.

The Beatles- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. To not put this under your list is just insanity.

Alison — Elvis Costello (a song about murder the irony and point of which Linda Ronstadt missed)

Allentown by Billy Joel. Thought to be a positive song, it really talks about the economic rise and fall of the Allentown and Bethlehem, PA area. The mayor of Allentown wanted to give Joel the keys to the city for recording the song, but Joel wisely refused.

“Jump” by Van Halen is actually about a very small bass player called “Flea”.

Many people think Pictures of Lily by the Who is about first love, but it is really about a young boys obsession with a porn star in a magazine.

And supposedly Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is about his sons drawing but I really don’t buy it.

“One” is about a son dying of AIDS as he talks to his father.

Cry me a River by Justin Timberlake is an allegory of the Crimean War.

Stevie Nicks’s classic “Edge of Seventeen” is not about teen angst or drug addiction but instead about the deaths of John Lennon and Nick’s Uncle.

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is actually about the Cuban Embargo…

I have to agree with Sting’s “Every Breath You Take”. Creepy.

How about “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen? It is easily misunderstood and misperceived, unless the real lyrics actually happen to be “Louie Louie, oh baby, I’m your gigolo”.

As it has been pointed out by earlier comments pearl jam’s alive was not written to be some sort of life affirmation and the lyrics are clear evidence of that, but vedder has said the song took on new meaning to him when the crowds starting chanting and fist pumping to “i’m still alive,” – its turned into more of a “i can take your best shot and keep on living” etc type anthem.

no matter what any1 says “Hotel California” is about a rehab center in LA called i believe “Synonon”(?)

“Turning Japanese” is actually about masturbation…think about it.

ryan adams sucks

I’ve heard that a lot of people think that “Every Breath You Take” is a love song but Sting on many occasions has said the song is about stalking someone…who woulda thunk it!

U2-Beautiful Day…Its actually a sarcastic take on how we are ignorantly raping our planet’s natural resources

I am a Rock

A mock of people who think their strong like rocks when they’re really scared and alone.

The majority of Randy Newman’s songs full under this category. Most are rife with sarcasm and irony.

Famous blue raincoat–Lenonard Cohen
Lightening Crashes–Live
Up From Under–Wallfloweres

All are ambigious, melancholic songs that could have multiple interperations

nedrow123, your john mayer post is the funniest thing i have read in a while. i read it aloud to my office mate…hilarious.

i spent years convincing high school classmates that ticket to ride by the beatles was not actually referencing our high school (people thought they were saying “she’s got a ticket to rye high”). and i was pretty shocked to learn that goo goo dolls slide was about abortion, but when you listen closely it makes a lot of sense…

david-
sorry i didn’t get back to you sooner–i was busy reading other message boards. anyway, i responded to your comments because i thought i would do the public a service. let’s break it down: constantly checking message boards (me)=6/10 on the pathetic loser scale; checking message boards and compiling a “best of” list of shitty/not funny remarks on said message board (you)=10/10. also, i’m glad you brightened up this gloomy message board with those sweet smiley faces. i’ll argue with you any time–if you consider this arguing–as long as it brings you pleasure. later baby.

Betterman is “about the bastard that married [Eddie Vedder's] momma” and she doesn’t have the willpower to leave him.

Nappy Headed Hoes by Don Imus. Best song ever!

Pearl Jam “Betterman.” Not a love song – it’s about abuse.

Metallica’s “Unforgiven” is actually about James Hetfeild’s experience growing up in Christian Science household, where no medicine was allowed and his mother tried unsuccessfully to cure her cancer with prayer.

MMM BOP by Hanson— About the Cuban Missle Crisis!

I wanna know who the hell thought “betterman” was a love song in the first place? Only a total moron would think that it is.

“Crash Into Me” by DMB. People use it as their first dance, but it’s about rape. Funny stuff… People dancing to it, that is, not rape.

Misunderstood – Wilco

“Sweet Home Alabama”
While most people on here probably know the story of how this was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s reactionary song to Neil Young’s “Southern Man”, the general populus has no idea. They also have no idea how racist some of the lyrics are, like “In Birmingham they love the governor” a reference to the Birmingham church bombing in which 4 little black girls got killed and the governor supported the fire.

hey brian, sweet home alabama is NOT racist. right after the line “in birmingham they loved the governor” the background vocals go, “boo boo boo”

Darkness – Growing On Me. Not many people know it, but it sounds like a love song. It’s really about genital warts keeping the guy from getting laid. Check it out for a good laugh, and it actually rocks.

Contrary to popular belief, Barry White’s “Can’t get enough of your love, baby” is actually about sex.

d’angelo’s brown sugar is not about black chicks its about marijuana

Stinkfist by Tool.

Or as someone mentioned earlier … every song by Tool. Too many interpretations.

about the dmb comments

don’t drink the water- about the indians

cry freedom- about south africa

Fatboy Slim’s “Right here, right now” is about incontenance

Beck’s “Nausea” is recalling his youthful jests about fornicating with your mother. He took this joke to a new level with subtle hints of “backdoor” activities; read the following lyrics, noting the backwards maps (getting lost), blown out speakers (implying that your mother is also flatulent – also held up with the “ship of noise” quote) and the obvious “gutter” reference:

Now I’m a seasick sailor
On a ship of noise
I got my maps all backwards
And my instincts poisoned
In a truth blown gutter
Full of wasted years
Like blown-out speakers
Ringin’ in my ears

Anytime the music contradicts the subject it happens. When it sounds cheerful you think he must be talking about kittens. If it sounds romantic he must be talking about his girlfriend. If it sounds angry he must be talking about the government.

Good artists will use this. It shows us how easily we can be duped into thinking something like rape and murder is just fine, so long as you have a positive attitude and smile.

Evenescence’s “Bring me to Life” is actually from the perspective of a Gameboy that needs new batteries.

DMX’s “Shorty was the bomb” is a “better-late-than-never” political endorsement song for Napoleon Bonaparte.

actually the popular belief about Growing on Me by The Darkness is that it was about STDs, when it actually was a love song, (most-likely) made to sound as though it were about STDs

Paul Simon’s “You can call me Al” was his attempt at a Sitcom Jingle for “Married with children”.
Following the rejection from the Television Network’s marketing departments, he modified some of the lyrics and tried to sell it again for the show “Alf”.
Humiliation set in after the second rejection, so he decided to fully sell out and not only enlist Chevy Chase for the music video, but also added Seinfeld-esque baselines.

One by U2 is actually about one calorie Diet Pepsi. Bono said so on the Don Imus show.

System of a Down’s “B.Y.O.B” is a friendly invitation to a neighborly BBQ. Some people contest that it’s a political song, but the contrary is PROVEN (not just indicated) with the following lyrics:
“La la la la la la la la la la
Everybody is going to the party
Have a real good time ”

There are parallels between those lyrics and Tiny Tim’s “Living in the sunlight, dancing in the moonlight”:
“I feel happy and fine!
AHA!
Living in the sunlight,
loving in the moonlight
Having a wonderful time!”

Q.E.D.

One by U2 is about a break up, as stated in the book U2 by U2.

Revol by the manic street preachers

pretty much i have no idea what it’s abou, but you could seriously wrongly interpert it

The Coasters’ classic is about a girl with VD. Yes it is. Listen to it again.

um uh Ljs whatever uh um I didnt realy considering that argeing but whatever uh your wellcome ( ) and uh thanks all I guess. also lets stop talknig on this messageboard it gettingg VERY old uh see,well not really, but hear frow you l8ter I guess. yeah that was really stupid. why so glooomy? actlly i dont know may smilies.

quote – Day in the Life”-the beatles. some people say its about Paul’s death and that it described his death, “he blew his mind out in a car”,was suppose be how he died

is that supposed to be funny???

The beginning was based on 2 stories John Lennon read in the Daily Mail newspaper: Guinness heir Tara Browne dying when he smashed his lotus into a parked van, and an article in the UK Daily Express in early 1967 which told of how the Blackburn Roads Surveyor had counted 4000 holes in the roads of Blackburn and commented that the volume of material needed to fill them in was enough to fill the Albert Hall. Lennon took some liberties with the Tara Browne story – he changed it so he “Blew his mind out in the car.”

McCartney contributed the line “I’d love to turn you on.” This was a drug reference, but the BBC banned it for the line about having a smoke and going into a dream, which they thought was about marijuana.

McCartney’s middle section (Woke up, got out of bed…) was intended for another song.

What about “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon . This is a BIG mystery.

lola, by the kinks.

The Clincher by Chevelle is about the hanging of Jesus on the cross from the perspective of someone who helped put him to death.

And even though Every Breath You Take is not a love song, I don’t believe it is about a stalker. I think it is about being a big-brother figure or perhaps being a parent, something to that extent.

Fixx-Saved By Zero Ode to Minimalism

Fixx-One Thing Leads To Another A rant against hypocrisy in election politics

Rosie by Jackson Browne : it’s about masturbation

please please me-the beatles.its about oral sex. julia-the beatles-its about johns mother and yoko ono.