10 Dark Facts About Love Songs
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VOICE OVER: Kirsten Ria Squibb
WRITTEN BY: Tal Fox
Behind every love song lies a story, and some are darker than others. Join us as we explore the unsettling origins and hidden meanings of romantic hits that changed music history. From stalker anthems to songs inspired by true crime, these tunes will never sound the same once you know their backstories. We dive into classics by The Police, James Blunt, Eric Clapton, Plain White T's, Sarah McLachlan, and others. Discover how obsession, heartbreak, and even criminal cases influenced some of music's most beloved tracks.
10 Dark Facts About Love Songs
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were uncovering the dark facts and surprising inspirations behind iconic songs that will make you hear them completely differently.
For years, people thought this was a swoon-worthy love songthe perfect sentiment for a wedding playlist, right? Then, they actually listened to the lyrics. Turns out, it's less romance and more obsession. Even Sting admitted he didn't realize how unsettling it was at first. With lyrics full of surveillance imagery, it sounds more like Big Brother than a first dance. The theme of control runs deep, and it gets darker: Sting wrote it while his first marriage was falling apart. He later said it reflected his personal and professional struggles at the time. So yeah, probably best to strike this one from your wedding playlist.
Heres another one that had people saying aww on first listenuntil they found out what it was actually about. The singer revealed the song was inspired by learning his ex had moved on after seeing her with another man on the train. He says he wrote it in just minutes, from the perspective of someone who had indulged in certain substances and is now following the woman on the London Underground. Suddenly, those sweet-sounding lyrics feel a lot more unnerving. Not quite the romantic gesture we initially thought we were listening to. So yeah, probably safe to bump this one off the wedding playlist, too.
Eric Clapton found the spark for this song in The Story of Layla and Majnun, a tale by Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi about a man driven to madness by love. But when Clapton wrote Layla, it wasn't just literaryit was personal. He was in love with Pattie Boyd, who just so happened to be married to his friend, Beatles guitarist George Harrison. The song was his very public way of expressing feelings that weren't exactly mutual at the time. Eventually, Boyd and Harrison divorced, and she and Clapton got married. Harrison even attended the wedding! So we're guessing there were no hard feelings there!
This song was inspired by 17-year-old Sharona Alperin, who caught the attention of singer Doug Fieger. He apparently became infatuated and wrote several songs about her, including this one, which he says took just 15 minutes to finish. But heres the part that raises eyebrows: Fieger was several years older than her. When asked about that, he tried to explain it by saying he wrote it from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy. Perhaps not exactly the defense he seems to think it is. Fieger and Sharona eventually dated and even got engaged, but ultimately split. Still, they reportedly stayed close until his death in 2010.
Frontman Tom Higgenson said this song was inspired by distance runner Delilah DiCrescenzo, whom he called the most beautiful girl [he] had ever seen. He told her hed written a song about hereven though he hadnt yet. She was already in a relationship and turned him down, though they stayed in touch. After that first meeting, he wrote the song, imagining conversations as if they were together. Now, imagine a love song by someone you werent involved with playing nonstop, topping charts, and earning Grammy noms. She admits its a bop, surebut has also voiced that being put on that pedestal can feel uncomfortable.
Just listening to this song, youd never think it was anything more than a beautifully haunting love balladwell until you reach the chorus. The singer later revealed she wrote it from the perspective of someone experiencing obsessive love. She shared that the inspiration came from disturbing letters shed received from fans who had blurred fantasy and reality so intensely she feared for her safety. Writing the song became a form of therapy. Apparently, one of these fans even tried to take legal action against her for lifting words from his letter; however, he ended up taking his own life before it ever went to trial.
Its hard to hear this as a simple love song once you know it was originally written by Charles Manson. Yes, that Charles Manson. According to the story, Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson met Manson after picking up two hitchhikers, who just happened to be part of Mansons cult. Eager to break into the music industry, Manson waited outside Wilsons home. His version of the song was called Cease to Exist and featured different lyrics. He gave up the rights in exchange for about a hundred thousand dollars worth of stuff. While he didnt mind the new arrangement, he was reportedly furious that they rewrote some of his lyrics.
The title tells you everything you need to know about this songs content. Gerry Goffin and Carole King wrote it after learning about their babysitterlater known as singer Little Evaand her relationship. When they asked why she stayed with her partner, she reportedly said it was his way of showing love. King, herself a survivor of abuse from a previous marriage, said her goal was to show others in similar situations that theyre not to blame and that they deserve to feel safe. Sadly, the message didnt land. Radio stations refused to play it, and the writers later said they regretted ever having written it.
The idea for this song came from a news article, though co-writers Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin remember different versions of the story. One involved a man, a gun, and a car belonging to a woman hed once been involved with. When he stood before the judge, the man reportedly said, Ive learned that if a woman dont love ya, you cant make her you cant make her love ya. The other version tells of a man living under a bridge whose wife arrived to take him to the courthouse for their divorce. Though it seemed amicable, he said what would become the songs title.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
On the surface, this song tells the story of a couple who set out to relive the joy of their youth, only for their car to break downso they keep walking instead. But the real inspiration was far more heartbreaking. It came from a news story about Lela and Raymond Howard, an elderly couple who went missing on their way to a local festival. Raymond was recovering from brain surgery, and Lela was showing signs of memory loss, prompting family to urge them not to drive. They went anyway. Fastballs Tony Scalzo imagined a more romanticized version of their journey. Sadly, the real ending was far more tragic.
Which song cant you hear in the same way since learning its dark trivia? Let us know in the comments
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were uncovering the dark facts and surprising inspirations behind iconic songs that will make you hear them completely differently.
#10: Every Breath You Take (1983)
The PoliceFor years, people thought this was a swoon-worthy love songthe perfect sentiment for a wedding playlist, right? Then, they actually listened to the lyrics. Turns out, it's less romance and more obsession. Even Sting admitted he didn't realize how unsettling it was at first. With lyrics full of surveillance imagery, it sounds more like Big Brother than a first dance. The theme of control runs deep, and it gets darker: Sting wrote it while his first marriage was falling apart. He later said it reflected his personal and professional struggles at the time. So yeah, probably best to strike this one from your wedding playlist.
#9: You're Beautiful (2005)
James BluntHeres another one that had people saying aww on first listenuntil they found out what it was actually about. The singer revealed the song was inspired by learning his ex had moved on after seeing her with another man on the train. He says he wrote it in just minutes, from the perspective of someone who had indulged in certain substances and is now following the woman on the London Underground. Suddenly, those sweet-sounding lyrics feel a lot more unnerving. Not quite the romantic gesture we initially thought we were listening to. So yeah, probably safe to bump this one off the wedding playlist, too.
#8: Layla (1971)
Derek and the DominosEric Clapton found the spark for this song in The Story of Layla and Majnun, a tale by Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi about a man driven to madness by love. But when Clapton wrote Layla, it wasn't just literaryit was personal. He was in love with Pattie Boyd, who just so happened to be married to his friend, Beatles guitarist George Harrison. The song was his very public way of expressing feelings that weren't exactly mutual at the time. Eventually, Boyd and Harrison divorced, and she and Clapton got married. Harrison even attended the wedding! So we're guessing there were no hard feelings there!
#7: My Sharona (1979)
The KnackThis song was inspired by 17-year-old Sharona Alperin, who caught the attention of singer Doug Fieger. He apparently became infatuated and wrote several songs about her, including this one, which he says took just 15 minutes to finish. But heres the part that raises eyebrows: Fieger was several years older than her. When asked about that, he tried to explain it by saying he wrote it from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy. Perhaps not exactly the defense he seems to think it is. Fieger and Sharona eventually dated and even got engaged, but ultimately split. Still, they reportedly stayed close until his death in 2010.
#6: Hey There Delilah (2006)
Plain White TsFrontman Tom Higgenson said this song was inspired by distance runner Delilah DiCrescenzo, whom he called the most beautiful girl [he] had ever seen. He told her hed written a song about hereven though he hadnt yet. She was already in a relationship and turned him down, though they stayed in touch. After that first meeting, he wrote the song, imagining conversations as if they were together. Now, imagine a love song by someone you werent involved with playing nonstop, topping charts, and earning Grammy noms. She admits its a bop, surebut has also voiced that being put on that pedestal can feel uncomfortable.
#5: Possession (1993)
Sarah McLachlanJust listening to this song, youd never think it was anything more than a beautifully haunting love balladwell until you reach the chorus. The singer later revealed she wrote it from the perspective of someone experiencing obsessive love. She shared that the inspiration came from disturbing letters shed received from fans who had blurred fantasy and reality so intensely she feared for her safety. Writing the song became a form of therapy. Apparently, one of these fans even tried to take legal action against her for lifting words from his letter; however, he ended up taking his own life before it ever went to trial.
#4: Never Learn Not to Love (1968)
The Beach BoysIts hard to hear this as a simple love song once you know it was originally written by Charles Manson. Yes, that Charles Manson. According to the story, Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson met Manson after picking up two hitchhikers, who just happened to be part of Mansons cult. Eager to break into the music industry, Manson waited outside Wilsons home. His version of the song was called Cease to Exist and featured different lyrics. He gave up the rights in exchange for about a hundred thousand dollars worth of stuff. While he didnt mind the new arrangement, he was reportedly furious that they rewrote some of his lyrics.
#3: He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss) (1962)
The CrystalsThe title tells you everything you need to know about this songs content. Gerry Goffin and Carole King wrote it after learning about their babysitterlater known as singer Little Evaand her relationship. When they asked why she stayed with her partner, she reportedly said it was his way of showing love. King, herself a survivor of abuse from a previous marriage, said her goal was to show others in similar situations that theyre not to blame and that they deserve to feel safe. Sadly, the message didnt land. Radio stations refused to play it, and the writers later said they regretted ever having written it.
#2: I Cant Make You Love Me (1991)
Bonnie RaittThe idea for this song came from a news article, though co-writers Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin remember different versions of the story. One involved a man, a gun, and a car belonging to a woman hed once been involved with. When he stood before the judge, the man reportedly said, Ive learned that if a woman dont love ya, you cant make her you cant make her love ya. The other version tells of a man living under a bridge whose wife arrived to take him to the courthouse for their divorce. Though it seemed amicable, he said what would become the songs title.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Luka (1987), Suzanne Vega
While Sometimes Mistaken for a Gentle Ballad, Its Actually About Giving a Voice to Those Who Feel Silenced by Their Trapping EnvironmentsYoure All I Need (1988), Mötley Crüe
Band Member Nikki Sixx Confirmed He Wrote This About a Girlfriend He Suspected of CheatingLove Will Tear Us Apart (1980), Joy Division
As the Title Suggests, Its About a Broken Relationship. After Ian Curtis Took His Own Life, His Wife Had It Inscribed on His Headstone#1: The Way (1998)
FastballOn the surface, this song tells the story of a couple who set out to relive the joy of their youth, only for their car to break downso they keep walking instead. But the real inspiration was far more heartbreaking. It came from a news story about Lela and Raymond Howard, an elderly couple who went missing on their way to a local festival. Raymond was recovering from brain surgery, and Lela was showing signs of memory loss, prompting family to urge them not to drive. They went anyway. Fastballs Tony Scalzo imagined a more romanticized version of their journey. Sadly, the real ending was far more tragic.
Which song cant you hear in the same way since learning its dark trivia? Let us know in the comments
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