One of the most amazing things about music is its endless interpretations. A song can have entirely different meanings to different people, which is why music is such a personal form of art. Some songs have purposely hidden meanings, and others are just extremely private accounts of the songwriters’ own experiences. So, it’s no surprise that some of history’s most famous songs have been completely misunderstood. Read on to discover the true meaning behind some of the world’s biggest music hits.
“Imagine” by John Lennon
John Lennon’s “Imagine” has become a hymn of peace and love throughout generations. And although the former Beatle’s song is an obvious plea for world peace, it deals with many other issues that a lot of people might have overlooked. In a 1980’s interview, Lennon talked a lot about the song’s mention of religion: “The concept of positive prayer … If you can imagine a world at peace, with no denominations of religion – not without religion but without this my God-is-bigger-than-your-God thing – then it can be true…”
In another interview, Lennon said, “Imagine that there was no more religion, no more country, no more politics,’ is virtually the Communist Manifesto, even though I’m not, particularly a Communist and I do not belong to any movement… There is no real Communist state in the world; you must realize that. The Socialism I speak about … is not the way some daft Russian might do it, or the Chinese might do it. That might suit them. Us, we should have a nice … British Socialism.”
“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton
Country music queen, Dolly Parton, has topped the music charts many times over the years. She is recognized nationwide for her sweet and simple songs and her constant big smile. Best known for songs like “9 to 5”, “Jolene,” and others, there is one song that remains a timeless favorite: “I Will Always Love You.” In fact, the song became so popular that legendary diva Whitney Houston recorded a version of it back in 1992.
But contrary to what most people believe (and logically so), which is that the song is clearly a love song that Dolly wrote for a romantic interest, this isn’t exactly the case. Parton actually wrote the song for her mentor, the famous American country singer Porter Wagoner. She said the song was about moving on professionally, and she had written it for Wagoner to make sure he understood how thankful she was and how much she appreciated him. After all, they did work together for seven years.
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police
Everybody knows this 80s classic by The Police. “Every Breath You Take” practically became an anthem at weddings, proms, and other important rites of passage. The funny thing is, contrary to what most people believe; the tune is far from a love song.
For anyone who pays close attention, the lyrics make reference to someone who is so obsessed they have become a stalker. Sting even said of the song, “I think the song is very, very sinister and ugly, and people have actually misinterpreted it as being a gentle little love song when it’s quite the opposite.”
“Waterfalls” by TLC
Anybody that grew up in the 90s will remember the famous, all-girl pop trio, TLC. In 1995, the trio broke records with their smash hit “Waterfalls,” even though this was one of the most misunderstood songs of all time. Most people thought it was about slowing down and appreciating life, not rushing into things. But in reality, the song dealt with far more complex issues.
If you listen carefully to the song’s lyrics and watch its music video, you will quickly realize that “Waterfalls” was actually about the severe social issues of the mid-90s, such as poverty, crime, and many other issues that made headlines back then.
“Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan
“Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan
“Mr. Tambourine Man” has become one of the most famous songs in the history of music and one of Bob Dylan’s undisputed masterpieces. However, this 1965 classic, which has been covered by many musicians since, has been misunderstood by many.
Most people believed the song to be an autobiographical song about Dylan finding artistic inspiration through substance use. Nonetheless, “Mr. Tambourine Man” was actually an ode to Bruce Langhorne, a touring musician who performed with Dylan and played a large Turkish frame drum that looked a lot like a tambourine.
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
In 1983, music charts everywhere were topped with Bonnie Tyler’s hit song, “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” And even though you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody that doesn’t know this 80’s hit, most people are unaware of its actual meaning. As it turns out, the song’s producer, Jim Steinman, wrote the song for Tyler after she had said no to two previous versions he’d written. Apparently, Steinman had been working on a musical based on the vampire tale of Nosferatu, called “Vampires in Love,” which he fixed and slightly changed until he arrived at the final product: “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” So yes, this 80’s anthem is basically a love song for vampires.
“Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen’s classic song, “Born in the U.S.A.,” is an excellent example of a song that has been misunderstood for over 30 years. Even though the song’s lyrics are about a man who’s been sent to fight in the Vietnam War and comes home with severe psychological trauma, the loud, powerful music of the chorus made many believe it was actually some sort of ‘proud to be American anthem, especially when Springsteen shouts out, “Born in the U.S.A”.
In fact, it was so misunderstood that even then-president Reagan name-dropped the song, much to Springsteen’s dismay. The musician vehemently explained the song’s true meaning and even released an acoustic version, so the upbeat sound didn’t mask the lyrics.
“Always” by Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi was one of the hottest bands of the 90s, topping music charts with hits like “It’s My Life,” “Bed of Roses,” and “I’ll Be There for You.” But one of their biggest hits was 1994’s “Always.” As most previous Bon Jovi songs usually had a romantic undertone and were always about a declaration of love, in some way or other, people assumed that “Always” was another love ballad.
However, most of these people seemed to look over the fact that this song had a much darker backstory, which could be heard in its lyrics. As Jon Bon Jovi himself explained of the song, “It’s a sick little twisted lyric. So many people feel it’s so romantic and so wonderful, but truthfully, this guy is practically a stalker. He’s a sick human being.”
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
This famous ballad by Green Day became a massive hit back in the day, in part due to the fact that the popular TV show ‘Seinfeld’ used it in its season finale in 1998. The song has become a permanent fixture in important events – graduations, proms, weddings – thanks to its nostalgic tune. Funnily enough, it seems nobody ever stopped to properly research the song’s lyrics, or its title, for that matter. The song is not about a nostalgic goodbye to unforgettable times but rather a resentful scolding towards a girlfriend who will regret leaving the “time of her life” one day.
“American Pie” by Don McLean
Don McLean’s 1971 iconic song, “American Pie,” became a symbol of the times, and even though almost 50 years have passed since its release, you can still hear it today at friendly music jams, bonfires, karaoke parties, and more, all across the U.S. However, anybody who’s ever listened carefully to the lyrics can quickly feel their nostalgic and depressing nature. Since its release, the song has been covered by countless artists, including Madonna’s popular cover in the year 2000. But people just chant the famous “Bye, Bye Miss American Pie” and often forget what the original song was actually about.
The lyrically deep song is actually about the infamous 1959 plane crash that claimed the lives of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and J.P. Richardson, and which is widely known as “the day the music died.” McLean auctioned the original manuscript in 2015, saying, “Basically, in ‘American Pie, things are heading in the wrong direction. It is becoming less ideal, less idyllic. I was around in 1970, and now I am around in 2015. There is no poetry and very little romance in anything anymore, so it is really like the last phase of ‘American Pie.’”
Patricia Rodriguez, shared in Facebook