Song Lyric Meanings

Adele is currently one of the most recognizable musicians on the planet. She has risen to global stardom in a relatively short space of time, and it looks like she is there to stay.  Adele has released some huge hits. But “Rolling in the Deep” was arguably the song that helped her get to where she […]

Long before the hyped-up television phenomenon, Survivor was the name of a band. Yeah, a little band that had a little hit – I don’t know if you’ve heard of it – called “Eye of the Tiger”! This song was written specifically for Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky III and truly made that movie what it is. This song is

Music during the 50s and 60s went through radical changes. Some of the great innovators we know well, and their music, is still played today. But, it wasn’t confined to just Pop and Rock n Roll.  Folk Music also had a say, and one of the better-known and respected acts were Peter, Paul, and Mary.

We often see the word “hero” and “heroine” bandied around in the music world. But, in reality, there are very few that justify that tag. However, this lady does. She has written some songs that can only be described as classics. So, I decided to take a look at one of them and consider the

Some bands, despite having musically talented members and commercial success, just seem to go under the radar. You could argue that commercial success is enough, and many would be thankful for it. But, for some serious musicians, a little more is sometimes needed, and Manfred Mann was a very serious musician. So, I’ve decided to

Tom Petty was one of those musicians that always seemed to be revered but seemingly never got the accolades he deserved. Nevertheless, he had album and single success for over five decades and sold over 80 million records.  He led his own band from 1976, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, who recorded songs like “You Don’t

Bryan Adams is known as one of Canada’s best exports, right up there with ice fishing and maple syrup creation. Reaching fame in the early 80s, Bryan Adams has put out 15 studio albums, selling somewhere over 75 million records over his career. But, one track stands out as Bryan Adams’ signature song. If you’ve ever

If you are looking for an answer to the deepest philosophical questions… like what is the meaning of life, and how do subatomic particles exist in two states simultaneously… I have an even deeper one.  What is the meaning of “Cotton Eye Joe” song by Rednex?  How did it manage to be so seamlessly catchy but void

If you are older than 50, then you will remember “Lady Marmalade” as a 1974 hit song by Patti LaBelle and her band, Labelle. Those a bit younger will only know the reboot/cover version performed by Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Pink, and Mya in 2001. There’s a massive difference between the two versions in terms of the lyrics. Although

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been making music for a little longer than one hot minute. This band started back in 1983, if you can believe it. And, through that 40-year history, a whole lot has happened. Band members have changed and even passed on. Sex, drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll have been the

If you haven’t heard of the song “Mr. Brightside,” you’re lying. It’s just patently impossible, thanks to this song’s enduring popularity and the fact that it has been played again and again everywhere. On the radio. At your friend’s wedding. At the bar. The mall. It’s been everywhere in the past almost 20 years. And

There are songwriters, and then there are storytelling songwriters. Over the last century, we have seen great songwriters Burt Bacharach, Lennon and McCartney, and so many others.  We have also seen great storytellers who we more poets than anything else. Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Gordon Lightfoot. And one of the best of them all was

Tommy James and The Shondells were a band that, in the 60s, most people were familiar with. They had some hits and success, as we shall see soon. But, the song “Crimson and Clover,” when it was released, was a complete change of direction. Did it have a particular relevance? If so, what was the

Very rarely do you come across a song like this. A song that, when you try to get to the bottom of what it is all about and where it came from, asks more questions than it answers. The meaning behind “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is one such song. A Special

Prince is one of my all-time favorite musicians. I don’t think there is a single song of his that I don’t like. However, “When Doves Cry” is undoubtedly my favorite. It might not have been Prince’s most popular song, but I think the musical structure and lyrics were his best work.  Consequently, it is great to

I like Rick Astley. And, even though he has been the butt of many a joke, I have always enjoyed his music and have remained a fan. True, I prefer his later songs. But, there is no doubt that “Never Gonna Give You Up” had plenty of positives to warrant its commercial success during the

Pearl Jam has some great songs out there, and most of them are more or less intelligible. The meaning of singer Eddie Vedder’s lyrics might not always be easy to grasp. But you can normally at least make out what he’s saying. That’s what makes figuring out the meaning behind “Yellow Ledbetter” by Pearl Jam so difficult.

When English singer-songwriter Harry Styles initially rose to prominence in 2010 as a contestant on the British talent show TV series, The X-Factor, he stood out like an elephant in a turkey factory. He obviously had “It,” whatever “It” means. Although he didn’t win the contest, he went on to become a member of the

It doesn’t happen all that often, but there are times when a simple enough song becomes an anthem. This song is one of those, and so it is worth looking at the meaning behind “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. One Of A Kind That is how some would describe Neil Diamond. He has sold over

Nursery rhymes are quite often the product of a historical event. Something that happened whose meaning has been passed down over generations, often by word of mouth.  They all have their derivations and meanings, and we are going to look at one such nursery rhyme. So, let’s take a look at the facts and establish

I am so happy to be taking a closer look at the meaning behind “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley. That is because it is one of my favorite songs and one that I often play acoustically, given half the chance. It is a fantastic Pop song that came to define everything good about Gnarls Barkley and

“Y.M.C.A.” is an iconic song that virtually everyone has heard and almost certainly also danced to. It is a well-loved Disco anthem that was quickly adopted by the LGBTQ community of the 70s. However, the quality and catchy nature of the chorus and melody, transcended sexual orientation, gender, and age. The meaning behind “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village

The year 2011 was full of massive global events. A tsunami rocked Japan and caused a near-nuclear meltdown. The ‘Arab Spring’ saw protests inspired and presidents toppled across the Middle East. Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, riots rocked London, Steve Jobs died, and Prince William got married. And, if you remember these events

When Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez, Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins, and Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas, also known as the all-female American Pop group TLC, first burst onto the scene, they became one of the pioneers of a music subgenre that went on to be called Modern R&B. Their impotence was not fully understood at the time. But, nowadays, they

Fleetwood Mac is a huge force in Rock music, and Christine McVie played an integral role in the band during its most successful years. She wrote and co-wrote some of the biggest Fleetwood Mac songs. Including “Say You Love Me,” “Over My Head,” and “Songbird.” Although she wrote some great songs, the meaning behind Christine McVie’s

Billy Joel’s career in music has been littered with great songs and deserved success. He is one of those songwriters that can write great tunes that are often a metaphor for something he sees as important. The song that we are going to look at is one of those. But what is the meaning of

“In the Air Tonight” is a song written by Phil Collins and released in January 1981. It is a song that can mean different things to different people. Some think there are hidden messages in the lyrics, and some just drool over “that” memorable Phil Collins drum break. Either way, let’s take a closer look at

London was the place to be in the early 60s. The Beatles had lit the blue touchpaper, and as the fireworks exploded, it opened up a whole new world for a growing number of young bands. The Who dominated in West London, and The Yardbirds in Southwest London. Over in East London, it was The Small Faces,

Before I start to discuss the meaning of “Ring Around the Rosie” song lyrics, let me just make a couple of points that I think are important and relevant. Different Texts Firstly, this is an English nursery rhyme. So, I will be largely sticking to the meaning of the English “Ring a Ring o Roses” nursery

Soundgarden was one of the biggest bands to come out of the Seattle scene in the early 90s. Their unique style of Alternative Rock blended Hard Rock and Metal with Pop and Punk to create a sound that, let’s face it, had never been heard before. And, with singer Chris Cornell’s heaven-sent vocals, they made

I am a big fan of Kate Bush and have been since the late 70s. I bought a copy of her debut single, “Wuthering Heights,” and I confess to having had a poster of her on my wall. Also, I bought several of her albums, including Hounds of Love, which features the song “Running Up That

Musical Youth was made up of a bunch of young kids from Birmingham, England, with Jamaican heritage. They burst onto the music scene, in spectacular fashion, with the release of “Pass the Dutchie.” It proved to be a big hit. But, the record became controversial for a couple of reasons which I will go into

There can be very few people on the planet who haven’t heard this song. And there can be very few guitarists who haven’t tried to learn the solo at the end, commonly ranked as one of the five best solos that have ever been recorded. Yes, you can learn the notes, that is not the

Cyndi Lauper was one of the memorable faces of music in the 1980s. She was an integral part of the scene, and her music was hugely appreciated by fans and music critics alike. She brought a unique style and a unique kind of music to the era, which I will always be thankful for. I

U2 have released so many great songs, and I am a huge fan of their music. Also, I am a fan of Bono as a performer and vocalist. I consider him to be one of the greatest Rock vocalists in history. My favorite U2 song is “One,” but I freely acknowledge that “With or Without You” is