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songs that had a different meaning to what you first thought

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Old 14-05-2006, 2:47 PM   #1
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songs that had a different meaning to what you first thought

A great song by the Verve "Drugs don't work" at first when i heard it i thought it was about recreational drugs, but then i found out the real meaning was about his dad suffering from cancer, which made the song mean a lot more to me than what i first thought.

anyone think of anything else.
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Old 14-05-2006, 3:15 PM   #2
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Despite hearing it loads of times on the radio I never appreciated what Wires by Athlete was about until I was in the same shoes (it's about a premature child in intensive care). It's obvious when you listen to it properly but somehow I never had. Luckily both cases turned out ok
There must be loads of others but of the top of my head only other one I can think about is 39 by Queen which I thought was about the past but is infact about the future, or time travel to be precise.
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Old 14-05-2006, 3:23 PM   #3
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everybody hurts by rem. i suppose at first i didn't think much about the lyrics, but one day rem let the samaritans use the lyrics in an ad in the nme in the early 90s when it was still a tabloid style, which was simply a full page black and white text only ad, with the lyrics printed in a simple typeface, and at the bottom it said the samaritans with the phone number

the song is all about suicide, and how it affects others

it made me think about all the other songs that people love and sing, and don't even realise what they are about. the drugs don't work, is another good one, but i knew about that before the song was released as richard ashcroft demoed it with someone like johnny marr or bernard butler before it came out (i think there is an accoustic demo on one of the singles, but different to that one)
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Old 14-05-2006, 3:38 PM   #4
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The song Mr Blobby turns out its was about a desperate man who lived alone in a big manor house.

The guy in question has a lot of money and was clinging onto the last shread of fame only to lose it all and disapeer into obscurity.

at the end of the last chorus he returns to tv and has a hit quiz show.

Before i thought it was about a annoying phallic looking mascot.....How silly do i feel now :-)

sorry if i altered the mood my motives were pure. otherwise rearview mirror by pearljam
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Old 14-05-2006, 3:46 PM   #5
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Blondies' Denis, Denis

My mate Danny thought that they were singing

"Oh Danny, Danny, I'm in love with you Danny"

still gets a slagging for that nearly 30 years later
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Old 14-05-2006, 4:38 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by russ123
Despite hearing it loads of times on the radio I never appreciated what Wires by Athlete was about until I was in the same shoes (it's about a premature child in intensive care). It's obvious when you listen to it properly but somehow I never had. Luckily both cases turned out ok
There must be loads of others but of the top of my head only other one I can think about is 39 by Queen which I thought was about the past but is infact about the future, or time travel to be precise.

i heard about this in a documentary, a really beautiful song, glad to hear you case worked out fine too
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Old 14-05-2006, 4:40 PM   #7
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Mr Tambourine Man- by Bob Dylan

when i was kid i thought it was acutually about a fella that played the tambourine, it was only years later i found out it was about a drugs dealer
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Old 14-05-2006, 5:03 PM   #8
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Relax from FGTH - its about ****ing and ****ing !!

Imagine !!
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Old 14-05-2006, 5:18 PM   #9
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Growing On Me by The Darkness

It took me a little while to work out that it's about veneral disease.
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Old 14-05-2006, 6:17 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eviljohn2
Growing On Me by The Darkness

It took me a little while to work out that it's about veneral disease.

no way!!! i never knew that, gonna google the lyrics
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Old 14-05-2006, 6:27 PM   #11
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I tend not to think what songs are about at first, I just let the lyics wash over me and take in the music. But once you read the lyrics, they certainly can pop a few surprises

I'd never really thought much about the lyrics to some of the Tool songs, but after reading the lyrics to Prison Sex, Stinkfist & 4 degrees they certainly make for uncomfortable/uneasy listening.

I'm sure there are quite a few poppy 80's songs which are lyrically dark but the upbeat music completely masks them. - Can't think of examples though
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Old 14-05-2006, 7:12 PM   #12
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Let me know how you get on Shahedz.
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Old 14-05-2006, 7:47 PM   #13
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I can't get rid of you
I don't know what to do
I don't even know who is growing on who
'Cos everywhere I go you're there
Can't get you out of my hair
Can't pretend that I don't care - it's not fair

I'm being punished for all my offences
I wanna touch you but I'm afraid of the consequences
I wanna banish you from whence you came
But you're part of me now
And I've only got myself to blame

You're really growing on me
(Or am I growing on you?)
You're really growing on me
(Or am I growing on you?)
Any fool can see

Sleeping in an empty bed
Can't get you off my head
I won't have a life until you're dead
Yes, you heard what I said

I wanna shake you off but you just won't go
And you're all over me but I don't want anyone to know
That you're attached to me, that's how you've grown
Won't you leave me, leave me alone

You're really growing on me
(Or am I growing on you?)
You're really growing on me
(Or am I growing on you?)
Any fool can see

You're really growing on me
(Or am I growing on you?)
You're really growing on me
(Or am I growing on you?)


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