Top 30 Song Meanings That Everyone Gets WRONG

Top 30 Song Meanings That Everyone Gets Wrong

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for those songs that many listeners think mean one thing, but in actuality mean something quite different.

#30: “Drops of Jupiter” (2001)
Train
The lyrics throughout “Drops of Jupiter” talk about two people being separated from each other, with the lead singer, Pat Monahan, asking about how the other person’s time has been since they left. With that being said it isn’t a big surprise that many people interpret the song to be about the breakup of a romantic relationship. However, rather than a romantic partner, Monahan wrote this song about an even more powerful loss in his life: the loss of his mother, who had succumbed to cancer. Once you know that, it seems obvious given the lyrics about heaven, the universe and the beautiful opening line, “Now that she's back in the atmosphere.”

#29: “Slide” (1998)
Goo Goo Dolls
The common interpretation of “Slide” by the Goo Goo Dolls is that the track is a love song. And in a way it is… but not in the way most of us assume. With lines like “I wanna wake up where you are” and “what you are is beautiful” the couple in the song are definitely in love. However, the crux of the song, the big plot line that gets overlooked by most of us, is the fact that the girl in the song comes from a very strict religious family and….. she’s pregnant! When John Rzeznik sings “Do you wanna get married/Or run away?”, he’s referring to the limited options they think they have.

#28: “The One I Love” (1987)
R.E.M
The song is called “The One I Love”. How can this one not be a love song right? And in 1987, Michael Stipe told Rolling Stone that “It's probably better that they just think it's a love song at this point.” However, while the song is relatively light on lyrics, most of them are anything but loving. In reference to the titular “one I love” Stipe refers to “A simple prop to occupy my time”. As he said in a different interview at the time, “It's very clear that it’s about using people over and over again.” So, basically, you might wanna think twice before you add this to your Spotify “Romantic” playlist.

#27: “Puff, the Magic Dragon” (1963)
Peter, Paul and Mary
We know what you’re thinking. Come on WatchMojo, we all know that this song isn’t about a dragon, but is actually about herbal enjoyment. Well, allow us to take this moment to blow your minds, because “Puff, the Magic Dragon” is actually about… a dragon! In 1959 Leonard Lipton wrote a poem about a dragon. A couple years later Peter Yarrow - the “Peter” in Peter, Paul and Mary - found the poem and wrote his song based on said poem. Both Lipton and Yarrow have repeatedly said that “Puff, the Magic Dragon” is not about anything more than that.

#26: “A Horse with No Name” (1971)
America
The misinterpretation of “A Horse with No Name” being about illicit substances started pretty immediately after the song’s release back in the early ‘70s. And it would seem that it comes primarily from the fact that “horse” is a common slang term. If the band had anticipated that would happen, maybe they would’ve stuck with the song’s original title, “Desert Song”. And why was that the original title? Because the song is indeed actually about the desert. With a Salvador Dalí desert painting and an M.C. Escher horse as inspiration - if the song is a metaphor for anything it’s, as songwriter Dewey Bunnell put it, “a vehicle to get away from life's confusion into a quiet, peaceful place.” But not with substances.

#25: “There She Goes” (1988)
The La’s
With lyrics referencing the “she” in the song’s title as “Racing through my brain,” “Pulsing through my vein,” and “No one else could heal my pain,” - it’s no surprise many have interpreted this song to be about struggles with substance use. And given the reputation of the prime mover of the La’s, Lee Mavers, all the pieces seem to fit together perfectly. And that assumption was incredibly widespread when the song became a hit. But here’s the thing: Mavers and other members of the band have consistently denied that the song has anything to do with that, nor does Mavers’ personal history at the time of its recording. So we’ll take him at this word.

#24: “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965)
Bob Dylan
Do we sense a theme? There’s an assumption by many that most every song released in the 1960s was about illicit substances.. And sure, many are - and yes, “Mr. Tambourine Man” does have lyrics like, “Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship.” But no - contrary to popular opinion - this Bob Dylan song isn’t. In fact, the song’s inspiration literally came from a man playing a tambourine. The man in question is folk musician Bruce Langhorne who played on a number of Dylan tracks. Well, one day Langhorne came in with a tambourine that Dylan described as “this gigantic tambourine, big as a wagon wheel.” This was the seed that eventually grew into “Mr. Tambourine Man.”

#23: “Semi-Charmed Life” (1997)
Third Eye Blind
This one goes the other way, with its actual meaning much darker that what is commonly assumed. Given the song’s upbeat vibe and status as, as Rolling Stone called it, “one of the most relentlessly sunshine-y songs of the Nineties,” you’d be forgiven for not realizing “Semi-Charmed Life” is about struggles with substance use. You’d also be forgiven for missing the not-so-hidden meaning, had you only heard the edited version that most radio stations pounded into our eardrums back in 1997, since a line that was very specific in its detail was cut for airplay.

#22: “Alive” (1991)
Pearl Jam
While it would make sense for a song called “Alive” to be a celebration of life - that isn’t what Eddie Vedder had in mind when he wrote the lyrics. Rather than a celebration, “Alive” is a tale about a boy who finds out his dad isn’t his biological father. And then it gets much, much darker from there. Vedder used to think the misperception of the song’s meaning, and the refrain “I’m still alive” was - in his own words, “a curse.” But he has since talked about how the audience's reaction to the song over the years “...lifted the curse. The audience changed the meaning for me.”

#21: “Hotel California” (1977)
Eagles
Don’t feel bad if you don’t fully understand the true meaning of the Eagles’ “Hotel California” because - well, we’re not sure the Eagles know it either. Lead singer Don Henley has even been quoted as saying that the song “can have a million interpretations.” What we do know is that it isn't really about a hotel. Duh. Instead, the hotel in question and the experiences therein are metaphors. But metaphors for what, exactly, range from - to quote Henley - “high life in Los Angeles” to “the music business” to “the dark underbelly of the American dream.” Yeah, that’s a lot of ground.

#20: “Poker Face” (2008)
Lady Gaga
With lyrics like “bluffin with my muffin,” “Poker Face” is obviously an x-rated track right? That’s also pretty much how Lady Gaga described it to Rolling Stone in 2009, but maybe she wanted to keep the personal backstory to this song a secret for a little while. On the surface, it’s also clear that “can’t read my poker face” could refer to the early moments of any romantic encounter, when you’re trying to suss out what your potential suitor is thinking. But aside from that, it’s actually a song that deals with Lady Gaga’s personal experiences with bisexuality. She found herself fantasizing about a woman while getting intimate with a man, requiring her to mask her true feelings. Or wear a poker face, as it were.

#19: “Possession” (1993)
Sarah McLachlan
If you’re under the assumption that Possession is a love song, we’re sorry in advance. Lines like “I’ll take your breath away,” make it easy to see why people might take it that way but look closer, and you’ll notice some pretty creepy sentiments. McLachlan was inspired to make this song by two fans that created a fantasy relationship with her; sending love letters on a regular basis. One even went on to sue McLachlan for songwriting credit, but took their own life before the case went to trial. Possession is still one of Sarah’s finest songs, but you may want to think twice before playing it on a first date.

#18: “Hey Man, Nice Shot” (1995)
Filter
Moving on to a far darker topic, “Hey Man, Nice Shot” debuted just one year after the world was shocked by the sudden death of Kurt Cobain. Given its timing, many assumed “Hey Man, Nice Shot” was about this event. In reality, it was inspired by R. Budd Dwyer, a former Pennsylvania State Treasurer, who took his own life on the air in 1987. This was in response to an indictment on Dwyer for bribery despite his claims of being framed. Lines referencing those who were right there after the smoke has gone highlights the public nature of Dwyer’s death, which differs from Cobain, who died all alone. This misinterpretation is due largely to poor timing, and misdirected controversy upon its release.

#17: “Closing Time” (1998)
Semisonic
This one seems pretty straightforward- “finish your whiskey or beer!” Clearly Semisonic is relaying the sense of loneliness experienced when the warmth of booze and friends fades away at the end of a night out. However, lead singer Dan Wilson explained that the song is actually a metaphor for childbirth. With his first child on the way, Wilson used the song as a way to express his emotions during a transformative time in his life. Upon learning this, the song’s sad, existential message transforms into one of hope for new beginnings in a person’s life after experiencing the joys and challenges of parenthood.

#16: “Imagine” (1971)
John Lennon
Rolling Stone hailed this song as “faith in the power of a world, united in purpose, to repair and change itself.” These sentiments, along with its hopeful sound, complete with chirping birds have made this song a wholesome classic. Except for the fact that even John Lennon admits that it’s virtually the Communist Manifesto. Upon closer analysis you’ll find remarks about a world with no possessions, no countries, and no religion. Preaching anti-capitalism and anti-religion doesn’t get much sneakier than this, especially considering the fact that it was released in the early 70s, during the peak of the Vietnam War.

#15: “Fire and Rain” (1970)
James Taylor
Taylor’s career defining masterpiece hits all the right notes needed to reach the upper echelons of folk rock masterpieces. It may come as a surprise however, that it’s not actually about his girlfriend dying in a plane crash. Each verse tells the story of a low point in Taylor’s life spanning from the death of a friend, to substance use disorder, and finally the failing of his much-loved band, Flying Machines. Unlike some on our list, this revelation doesn’t change the essence of the song and it’s still the perfect track to put on next time you’re feeling down and out.

#14: “Ironic” (1995)
Alanis Morissette
Events and statements that are deliberately opposite of what one may expect are considered ironic. What takes place in Alanis Morissette’s song can be more appropriately categorized as tragic. Winning the lottery and dying the next day, being pardoned from death row two minutes too late, and discovering your dream man is already married are all tragic events, leaving listeners confused why a song named Ironic contains no real irony. Stay with us here, but the lack of irony in a song named for irony, is in fact, ironic. Confused? Think it over a bit, it’s actually quite clever.

#13: “Blackbird” (1968)
The Beatles
Written by Paul McCartney and featuring background vocals from an actual blackbird, it's easy to think this is just a song about blackbirds. Paul has since made it clear that Blackbird is actually a metaphor written in response to high racial tensions during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The Blackbird’s attempt to take his broken wings and learn to fly is meant to symbolize the struggle of African Americans to come together and heal amidst severe racial discrimination. This isn’t the first time that the Beatles have laced their songs with multiple meanings nor the first time they’ve touched heavily on social issues.

#12: “Hallelujah” (1984)
Leonard Cohen
“Hallelujah’ is overflowing with religious references from King David to Samson. Despite the divine nature of the song, the oft-repeated hallelujah is not intended to express worship, but rather deep pain from a man who has experienced love turned sour. Each hallelujah is spoken a little more tongue in cheek with tragic love stories such as David’s romantic encounter with Bathsheba interwoven throughout. There’s a reason this song remains so relevant today, as it embodies the sensation of great sorrow so profoundly, despite lyrics suggesting adoration and exaltation upon first impression.


#11: “Wake Me Up When September Ends” (2005)
Green Day
One of Green Day’s most vulnerable pieces of work, there’s no question that this hit rocked its listeners to the core upon release. The music video’s depiction of war along with American Idiot’s central theme of George W. Bush era American life, may lead listeners to believe that this song references the 9/11 terror attacks in New York. However, singer Billie Joe Armstrong has gone on to state that the song’s intent was actually to express a much more personal loss, that of his father who died when Billie was only ten years old.

#10: “American Girl” (1977)
Tom Petty
Proximity to tragedy has a strange way of skewing a song’s meaning, as exemplified once again in Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” A young woman from the University of Florida took her own life shortly before the song’s release, which incidentally took place close to Gainesville, where Tom Petty was born. The line about a girl standing alone on her balcony is merely a coincidence, with Petty’s inspiration coming from the sounds of the freeway near his apartment. Unfortunately for urban legend devotees, Tom made it clear that “American Girl” is a love song with no intentional references to the tragic event.

#9: “More than Words” (1991)
Extreme
Ever say something with good intentions that gets taken completely out of context? Well this band has plenty in common with this band then. This 1991 hit is widely interpreted as a beckoning for sex because saying I love you to your significant other just isn’t enough. Extreme’s guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has gone on record saying that the song was intended to explore how the phrase “I love you” was becoming meaningless in relationships and perhaps it would be more evocative to express love in more creative ways. Clearly our minds were in the gutter on this one.

#8: “Ticket to Ride” (1965)
The Beatles
The Beatles are a British treasure from a simpler time. Back then, songs didn’t need to be laced with dirty messages to grab the public’s attention. With the exception of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,”which is incorrectly believed to describe a psychedelic experience, their songs appear squeaky clean most of the time. “Ticket to Ride,” though, which tells the story of a girl who has decided to leave her lover, actually has a surprisingly dirty meaning, according to John Lennon. He originally coined the phrase in reference to sex workers that authorities have noted are clean. [Delete] Old John Lennon sure knows how to cover up a message the public’s not ready for.

#7: “Harder to Breathe” (2002)
Maroon 5
Maroon 5’s debut album, Songs about Jane, focused much of its efforts on expressing the inner-turmoil of Adam Levine after a tough breakup with, well, Jane... It stands to reason that the album’s first track would make this message crystal clear. At first glance, the lyrics appear to describe the feelings of loneliness and suffocation of a breakup, but Adam has since declared that Harder to Breathe is actually about the band’s label demanding more music late into production. It may have been intended initially as a screw you to the band’s label, but we can guess the animosity faded when the royalties came in.

#6: “Summer of ‘69” (1985)
Bryan Adams
We all know that guy in high school who couldn’t go without making a low hanging sexual joke any time someone mentioned the number 69. It turns out that Bryan Adams’ nostalgic rock classic was never reminiscent of that final summer of the 1960s, as Adams would have only been 10 at the time. Bryan has gone on to admit that the musical experiences are merely filler, and the intended meaning is to detail a summer full of lots and lots of sex. It turns out this time around, immature high school guy was right, and the most obvious of innuendos slipped right under our noses.

#5: “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
Phil Collins
Allegedly, Phil Collins wrote this song after witnessing someone drown while another man refused to help. While this would certainly add layers to Collin’s character, it begs several questions. Namely, if Collins saw this all happen, why couldn’t he just jump in and save his friend? It turns out that he was actually expressing his emotions during a devastating divorce. He intended to vent his sporadic anger toward the situation without really giving the song an exact direction. It’s now considered one of the greatest songs of all time, and likely one of the few examples of divorce leading to a financial gain.

#4: “Like a Virgin” (1984)
Madonna
If the guys in Reservoir Dogs are any indication as to public perception of this song, it’s safe to say most people think it’s about, well, sex. But Madonna cleared this up in the most remarkable fashion, sending director Quentin Tarantino an autograph exclaiming that the song is “about love, not dick”. Written by songwriter Billy Steinberg, it compares the feeling of emotional destruction after a relationship with the shiny new feeling of falling in love again. At this point we’re at a loss whether our minds are in the gutter, or we’re painfully naïve. Either way, the double meaning of the song has surely helped it become one of her biggest hits ever.

#3: “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
The Police
With seemingly loving lyrics and a catchy guitar hook, this song sounds like it belongs at a wedding reception or a school dance. However, the song is actually about a stalker, and the lyrics make no mistakes about this. They actually say the words “every bone you break, I’ll be watching you” [switch from VO to song snippet] and that’s not even the creepy bit. It’s best not to analyze this one too much. The focal image of the music video is a window washer while the girl in question never once even makes an appearance. What may have started as a pleasant toe-tapper kinda makes you wanna take a shower when you realize what it’s all about.


#2: “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (1997)
Green Day
This song has a message that is mind-bogglingly obvious, but largely ignored nonetheless. The expression ‘good riddance’ suggests relief at being liberated from a troublesome person or event, yet the song is heavily associated with nostalgia and high regards for time passed. This is perhaps due to the rich, beautiful melody which masks Billie Joe Armstrong’s intended message of “screw you” to his then-girlfriend who left him to travel to Ecuador. With this in mind, its continual placement in graduation slideshows, weddings, and funerals becomes a little weird. We’re sure Armstrong is perfectly fine with that.

#1: “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
Bruce Springsteen
This essential 4th of July power ballad likely conjures up images of fireworks, American flags and freedom. It’s truly an iconic song of patriotism … until you realize that Bruce Springsteen basically spends the entire song criticizing America with respect to how working-class veterans of the Vietnam War were treated. Starting out, the song recounts the story of a man born dirt poor and constantly in trouble. He then goes off to war, and things just get worse from there. All the while, the ever-popular chorus is repeated again and again. It’s hard to believe that this song is played right next to the likes of God Bless the U.S.A when its message couldn’t be any different.

What song do you think has been misinterpreted? Let us know in the comments!