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“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs The best selling song in history, White Christmas, was written by Irving Berlin because his son Irving died on Christmas at 8 days old. Irving married an Irish Catholic girl, Ellin Mackay, whose family disowned her for marrying a Jew. Irving and Ellin would visit their son’s grave on Christmas. The song is about the Christmases he never saw.

jokumi , Al Aumuller Report

Final score:

140points

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Somebodys grandmother 4 months ago

💔

38points

Clear_Pressure_2878 , brenoanp/pexels Report

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Dancing in the Moonlight. One of my favorite songs, very sad, unexpected origin. The songwriter and his girlfriend were on vacation at the beach when he was brutally beaten and his gf r*ped by gang members. He wrote the song afterwards, envisioning an idyllic world where everyone is happy and just dances all the time.

Final score:

124points

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Scotira 4 months ago

Sherman Kelly: "On a trip to St. Croix in 1969, I was the first victim of a vicious St. Croix gang who eventually murdered 8 American tourists. At that time, I suffered multiple facial fractures and wounds and was left for dead. While I was recovering, I wrote "Dancin in the Moonlight" in which I envisioned an alternate reality, the dream of a peaceful and joyful celebration of life. The song became a huge hit and was recorded by many musicians worldwide. "Dancin In The Moonlight" continues to be popular to this day." (Wikipedia)

57points

Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding. The final verse where he whistles the melody was a placeholder. He died (I think in a plane crash?) before he could record the lyrics to the end of the song. Hell of a voice in that man.

Tylensus Report

Final score:

123points

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Katy McMouse 4 months ago

Never knew that.

37points

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Definitely "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton. Found out he wrote it after his 4-year-old son tragically passed away. Hit me differently ever since.

AniaAwe , Majvdl Report

Final score:

121points

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80 Van 4 months ago

He tragically died after falling out of a high rise window. That is devastating.

70points

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Electric Avenue by Eddie Grant is about the Brixton riots and living in poverty, not being able to feed your kids despite working full time.

boomerxl , @britcultarchive Report

Final score:

119points

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JuJu 4 months ago

He was very political and it reflects in his songs.

23points

simulatislacrimis , Bruce Springsteen Report

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA. I thought it was a happy song.. about being born in the USA, I guess?

And of course it’s not. According to Wikipedia: “The song addresses the economic hardships of Vietnam veterans upon their return home, juxtaposed ironically against patriotic glorification of the nation's fighting forces.”

Yeah, not a happy song.

Final score:

113points

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T'Mar of Vulcan 4 months ago

Again... listen to the lyrics!!!

91points

Okay, not heartbreaking, but definitely more serious than I ever thought:

The dogs in Who Let the Dogs Out are men who harass women in the clubs. The song is basically “who let in these a******s who don’t know how to act?”.

12345_PIZZA Report

Final score:

109points

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Nina 4 months ago

I thought it was them complaining about ugly women

49points

“House of the Rising Sun.” Most people know it from the Animals’ version, sung by a man. But it is written from the perspective of a young woman, forced into prostitution in the House of the Rising Sun. “It’s been the ruin of many a poor girl, and God I know I’m one.”.

GutterRider Report

Final score:

108points

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ColdSteelRonin 4 months ago

From Wikipedia: The House of the Rising Sun" is a traditional folk song, sometimes called "Rising Sun Blues". It tells of a person's life gone wrong in the city of New Orleans. Many versions also urge a sibling or parents and children to avoid the same fate....The song was first collected in Appalachia in the 1930s, but probably has its roots in traditional English folk song. It is listed as number 6393 in the Roud Folk Song Index.

45points

#10

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs All of My Love by Led Zeppelin is about his 5-year-old son's unexpected death from a virus.

aflockofpuffins , Jim Summaria Report

Final score:

105points

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Ripley 4 months ago

As Led Zep is not a person, the "his son" was Robert Plant's son.

155points

fabulousmakeupcase , the Boomtown Rats Report

#11

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs I Don’t Like Mondays by the Boomtown Rats. I heard the song just a few years ago and recently learned the backstory. It’s about the Cleveland school shooting from 1979. When the shooter was asked why she did it, she said it was simply that she didn’t like Mondays.

Final score:

103points

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John Carr 4 months ago

16 year old Brenda Spencer. Her father (who also sexually abused her) bought her the guns for her birthday.

54points

#12

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Wake me up when September Ends. It’s not just a meme. It’s literally all Billy Joe Armstrong said after his dad died when he was a teenager.

supergeek921 , Green Day Report

Final score:

99points

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The Doom Song 4 months ago

Billie Joe is an amazing songwriter. Green Day are one of my all time favourite bands

37points

CorporateNonperson , Glenn Campbell Report

#13

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Glenn Campbell -- I'm not gonna to miss you -- A song to his wife while he has Alzheimer's, saying goodbye while he can because he knows he's not going to say goodbye later
Ashley Campbell -- Remembering-- A song from his daughter to him in response.

Final score:

96points

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Hippopotamuses 4 months ago

That's really sad. He was the only singer that everyone in my family liked.

24points

doublestitch , Unnamed photographer for Bain News Service Report

#14

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs When I Lost You by Irving Berlin. Irving Berlin was 24 years old and an early success. He married singer Dorothy Goetz who was in her early twenties. Five months after the wedding she died of typhoid fever. It's the first sad song he wrote. It was a year before he could bring himself to perform it. He didn't marry again for 14 years.

Final score:

91points

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ImATotalTina 4 months ago

Dang, Irving has the saddest life so far

34points

#15

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Zombie by The Cranberries is about a bombing that [unalived] children during "The Troubles."

Chucks_u_Farley , TheCranberries Report

Final score:

91points

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80 Van 4 months ago

Does anyone else find the word “unalived” more disturbing and unsettling than the word “killed”?

381points

#16

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam is inspired by the real-life s*icide of Jeremy Wade Delle, a 15-year-old student from Richardson, Texas who shot himself in front of his English class on January 8, 1991.

ballchamois , Pearl Jam Report

Final score:

87points

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Nikki Gross 4 months ago

Pearl Jam is amazing and "Ten" is a masterpiece that still musically holds up today. The unedited version of "Jeremy" is especially hard to watch and Eddie Vedder wrote that YEARS before the Columbine shooting happened.

47points

1SassySeductress , United Artists Report

#17

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs American Pie - I already knew it was heartbreaking, I just didn't know what it was about.
mrglumdaddy:
[it's about] the plane crash that [unalived] Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper among others.

Final score:

80points

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Premislaus de Colo 4 months ago

It's about so much more... There is so much context in this incredible song, just unbelievable

66points

#18

Pink Floyds song dedicated to their former bandmate Syd Barrett who tragically lost his mind/mental state.
Shine on
You crazy
Diamond

"On 5 June 1975, Barrett, now heavyset, with a completely shaved head and eyebrows, wandered into the studio where the band were recording. They did not recognize him for some time because of his drastically changed appearance, but when they eventually realized who the withdrawn man in the corner was, Roger Waters became so distressed about Barrett's appearance that he was reduced to tears." Wikipedia.

I_suckyoungblood Report

Final score:

78points

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Little Wonder 4 months ago

You were caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom / Blown on the steel breeze / Come on, you target for faraway laughter / Come on, you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine

54points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#19

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs “Take Me To Church”, by Hozier. On first listen, sounds like a love song. Music video with more visual details? OOF.
wootiown:
My whole life I thought it was just some Christian rock song. All the Jesus freaks would play and sing it nonstop.
Had no idea it's about a gay couple explicitly hiding from the church.

LostInTheMists , Hozier Report

Final score:

74points

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T'Mar of Vulcan 4 months ago

Anybody who listened to the lyrics would know it's NOT a Christian song. But it is a very good song.

104points

#20

My darlin', Clementine is about a man who watches his lover drown in a river because he can't swim.

Final verse goes "Ruby lips above the water blowing bubbles sweet and fine. Alas for me, I was no swimmer so I lost my Clementine.".

03zx3 Report

Final score:

71points

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Min 4 months ago

One of the biggest culture shocks for me when I moved to the UK was hearing this tune being played by ice cream trucks.

24points

#21

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac.

Recently found out Stevie wrote it when her childhood friend was dying of leukemia. I have incurable leukemia so the lyrics hit harder now for me.

“Faces freedom with a little fear, I have no fear and have only love”.

hai_lei , Warner Bros. Records Report

Final score:

68points

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Epona 4 months ago

I feel like Storms would also count. You can hear Stevie's voice break when she sings that song. She no longer performs it live, understandably

9points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#22

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs It's not exactly tragic, but the wedding staple "At Last" by Etta James is actually about a widow who dies and meets her late husband in the afterlife. "My heart was wrapped up in clover the night I looked at you," cause she was buried.

Still a great love story that can be used for weddings but a touch darker.

Animelily , Louis Ramirez Report

Final score:

66points

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Patricia Sørensen 4 months ago

I can see how you could interpret it this way, but it's really not. If the lyrical subject were reuniting with a lost love in death, the verses "And life is like a song" and especially "I found a thrill to press my cheek to, A thrill that I've never known" wouldn't fit. Life starting anew and being like heaven are fairly standard metaphors for falling in love. The text just doesn't support a "dead widow" interpratation above a "fallen in love for the first time" one. I also haven't found anything extratextual to support it.

34points

#23

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi. He wrote it for his aunt that took her own life.

umokaygotit , Raph_PH Report

Final score:

65points

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Eli 4 months ago

I didn't know this but it always makes me think of my friend who did too...

8points

#24

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Definitely "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman. found out it’s about escaping a life of poverty and unfulfilled dreams. hits way harder now.

RinaRadiant65 , Tracy Chapman Report

Final score:

62points

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T'Mar of Vulcan 4 months ago

Do these people not actually listen to the lyrics of songs?

204points

#25

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs "Gone Away" is a favorite song by The Offspring, but it can be rough to listen to after reading about it. I can't imagine performing it.
PoetryUpInThisB*tch:
[the story behind it]
His girlfriend who was killed in a car accident.
Leaving flowers on your grave
To show that I still care
Black roses and Hail Mary's
Can't bring back what's taken from me
I reach to the sky
And call out your name
And if I could trade, I would

paiaw , The Offspring Report

Final score:

56points

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Emma S 4 months ago

The kids aren't alright is another Offspring song that's quite dark.

39points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

See Also on Bored Panda

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#26

Vera Lynn's "We’ll Meet Again" is inherently sentimental but it became synonymous with WW2 and the reality that many people were not going to see their friends and loved ones before the war ended. It's implied that "some sunny day" won't be a homecoming but rather a reunion in the afterlife.

joshuatx Report

Final score:

53points

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ynyrhydref56 4 months ago

Duh

19points

Rocketcheckman , Foster The People Report

#27

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People, it sounds like a happy song but it’s about school shootings.

Final score:

50points

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cadena kuhn 4 months ago

I'm always surprised people don't know this. The lyrics are pretty clear

78points

#28

The d***s don't work, by The Verve, about Richard Ashcroft's mother dying of cancer.

Ikeepitinmesock Report

Final score:

46points

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Fabian Bernard 4 months ago

Getting 45, mine become to don't work also

12points

#29

“All These Decades I Didn’t Realize”: 30 People Reveal The Sad Stories Behind Popular Songs Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. It was in theory about a family planning to move. But it was written and recorded during WWII. Some of the lyrics were later changed. It originally had: >Someday soon we all will be together, if the fates allow. Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow. So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

ReadinII , Judy Garland Report

Final score:

44points

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Jill Rhodry 4 months ago

But that's still the lyrics, isn't it?

79points

“Everyone Went Dead Silent”: Family Dinner Ends In Tears After Woman Announces 7th Pregnancy

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

#30

I thought the song Wonder by Natalie Merchant was a whimsical song about a supremely gifted child, but it’s actually about a child born with a rare congenital disease. The lyrics fit both ways. It’s brilliant.

overlyattachedbf Report

Final score:

39points

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Kate 4 months ago

Okay, yeah the lyrics fit either way, but the video does make it pretty crystal clear.

8points

Note: this post originally had 77 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

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What do you think ?

POST

ynyrhydref56 4 months ago

Well, BP, I'm thinking that people don't read/understand lyrics.

28points

jasper 4 months ago

For sure.

4points

Jeevesssssss 4 months ago

Right??

2points

Notme 4 months ago

The smugness in these comments… English is the main language of pop/rock music, but it’s not everyone’s first language!

-3points

Kate 4 months ago

What, was Janie's Got A Gun too subtle for this list?

16points

James016 4 months ago

Every Breath You Take by The Police is about a stalker from the perspective of the stalker.

12points

V 4 months ago

Same with You're Beautiful by James Blunt. It's about stalking his his on the subway with her new partner while high.

3points

Vix Spiderthrust 4 months ago

And Don't Stand So Close To Me is about a teacher falling for a pupil. The Police didn't really do romance.

1point

Rustyn Birch 4 months ago

I remember reading interviews with Sting and he was so perplexed that people thought it was a love song.

0points

Major Harris 4 months ago

very surprised that "some one saved my life tonight" by sir elton john was not mentioned. in 1975 at the height of his early fame, he was under pressure from the studios to produce more hits, was going to be married to a woman while struggling with his sexuality. so he took d***s and jumped into his pool to end it all. paramedics saved him. the song is about this time in his life.

6points

Chewie Baron 4 months ago

Philadelphia Freedom is about Billie Jean King and the starting of the WTA.

3points

JustAnotherPanda (she/they/he) 4 months ago

Saw this exact post on buzzfeed yesterday..

6points

ynyrhydref56 4 months ago

Yeah, they update the title

2points

Samsquatch & Monko 4 months ago

Literally every song by The Orion Experience; Orion simprini, the lead singer, was a child groomer. All the songs were actually about his victims. Can’t listen to that band without feeling nauseous now.

2points

Zoe's Mom 4 months ago

How Long has this been going on by ACE is about finding out that a band member was working with another band; thinking of leaving ACE. Once the lead singer found out, this song came out.

2points

Chewie Baron 4 months ago

I love finding out stories about songs and why they were written. Kate Bush alone could have a degree course dedicated to her and her songs! Wuthering Heights is based on the book, but only after she’d seen the last five minutes of a tv adaptation; Breathing is taken from the POV of a child in the womb not wanting to be born because of the Nuclear War threat in the 80s; Babushka is about a woman who is convinced her husband is having an affair, so she sets him a trap; Running Up That Hill is about her wanting to experience sex from the male perspective,; Moments of Pleasure is her tribute to friends lost to AIDS; The Sensual World is based on Maggie’s soliloquy from James Joyce’s epic ‘Ulysses’. The Bananarama song ‘Robert de Niro’s Waiting’ is about rāpe, another song of theirs called ‘Rough Justice’ is about them not being taken seriously, a friend of theirs who was killed in an IRA bomb and some at the time children disappearances.

2points

StretcherBearer 4 months ago

Quite a few Joy Division songs are absolutely heartbreaking in context.

2points

Daniel Atkins 4 months ago

Lightning crashes BY Live is about a mother dying from complications after giving birth.

2points

The Doom Song 4 months ago

"The hell song" by Sum 41. Singer Deryck Whibley wrote this song when he found out a good friend of his had contracted HIV from her cheating husband

2points

Dirk Daring 4 months ago

Hey Man Nice Shot by Filter. It's about R. Budd Dwyer killing himself on TV.

2points

ronniebeaton00 4 months ago

To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, "You listen but you do not hear."

1point

Trentin Quarantino 4 months ago

Dance Me To The End Of Love by Leonard Cohen. A beautiful song, even more poignant when you find out what it refers to.

1point

Ola Polowczyk 4 months ago

There's a Polish song called "Windą do nieba" meaning "To Heaven by Elevator". Back in the day, many couples chose it as their first wedding dance song. However, it's about a woman who is about to marry a man she doesn't love. She's writing a love letter to a man she saw on tv and fell in love with. She literally sings "I don't love him".

1point

Falcon on Dizzy 4 months ago

Enter Sandman is about infant death syndrome

1point

Daniel Atkins 4 months ago

That makes the lullaby version of it creepier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV16UCnoMT8

1point

Cj Churchall-McKenzie 4 months ago

any mention of 'happy birthday' by altered images? claire grogan was been interviewed and said it was about someone committing suicide on their birthday

0points

Gracie Mae 4 months ago

It amazes me that apparently most people don't listen to the lyrics of a song? That just blows my mind! I'm a voracious reader, so to me, music has always been a story set to music. Can't imagine not listening & putting 2 + 2 together

0points

Claudia Stieble 4 months ago

am I the only one who thinks that Milo's "You and Me" is disturbing? "I wish you smelled a little funny Not just funny, really bad We could roam the streets forever Just like cats but we'd never stray I sometimes wish you were a mermaid I could raise you in the tub at home We could take a swim together On weekly day trips to the bay I wish you were a little bigger Not just big, but really fat Doors you would no longer fit through In my bed, you would have to stay I often wish that you had feathers I'd keep you in a giant cage All day long I'd sit and watch you I'd sing for you and that would be okay

0points

DrBronxx 4 months ago

So, uh, lyrics are a thing.

0points

Jeevesssssss 4 months ago

I've always thought the best songs contain lessons, and the most valuable lessons are usually painful.

0points

KatSaidWhat 4 months ago

Marilyn Manson The Nobodies. A response to being blamed for columbine

0points

Julie S 4 months ago

House of fun by madness is about buying condoms

0points

Chewie Baron 4 months ago

It’s more about goi g to a brothel, than just buying condoms.

0points

Diana Burnwood 4 months ago

Purple rain by prince, is about the apocalypse

0points

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ynyrhydref56 4 months ago

Well, BP, I'm thinking that people don't read/understand lyrics.

28points

jasper 4 months ago

For sure.

4points

Jeevesssssss 4 months ago

Right??

2points

Notme 4 months ago

The smugness in these comments… English is the main language of pop/rock music, but it’s not everyone’s first language!

-3points

Kate 4 months ago

What, was Janie's Got A Gun too subtle for this list?

16points

James016 4 months ago

Every Breath You Take by The Police is about a stalker from the perspective of the stalker.

12points

V 4 months ago

Same with You're Beautiful by James Blunt. It's about stalking his his on the subway with her new partner while high.

3points

Vix Spiderthrust 4 months ago

And Don't Stand So Close To Me is about a teacher falling for a pupil. The Police didn't really do romance.

1point

Rustyn Birch 4 months ago

I remember reading interviews with Sting and he was so perplexed that people thought it was a love song.

0points

Major Harris 4 months ago

6points

Chewie Baron 4 months ago

Philadelphia Freedom is about Billie Jean King and the starting of the WTA.

3points

JustAnotherPanda (she/they/he) 4 months ago

Saw this exact post on buzzfeed yesterday..

6points

ynyrhydref56 4 months ago

Yeah, they update the title

2points

Samsquatch & Monko 4 months ago

2points

Zoe's Mom 4 months ago

How Long has this been going on by ACE is about finding out that a band member was working with another band; thinking of leaving ACE. Once the lead singer found out, this song came out.

2points

Chewie Baron 4 months ago

2points

StretcherBearer 4 months ago

Quite a few Joy Division songs are absolutely heartbreaking in context.

2points

Daniel Atkins 4 months ago

Lightning crashes BY Live is about a mother dying from complications after giving birth.

2points

The Doom Song 4 months ago

"The hell song" by Sum 41. Singer Deryck Whibley wrote this song when he found out a good friend of his had contracted HIV from her cheating husband

2points

Dirk Daring 4 months ago

Hey Man Nice Shot by Filter. It's about R. Budd Dwyer killing himself on TV.

2points

ronniebeaton00 4 months ago

To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, "You listen but you do not hear."

1point

Trentin Quarantino 4 months ago

Dance Me To The End Of Love by Leonard Cohen. A beautiful song, even more poignant when you find out what it refers to.

1point

Ola Polowczyk 4 months ago

1point

Falcon on Dizzy 4 months ago

Enter Sandman is about infant death syndrome

1point

Daniel Atkins 4 months ago

That makes the lullaby version of it creepier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV16UCnoMT8

1point