If you haven’t listened closely to the lyrics behind these six classic songs, you may have been jamming to a tune about something wildly different than what you were expecting.
1. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
Some non-Cohen fans might think “Hallelujah” is just a modern, well-written hymn of sorts. However, the subject matter of the song is far from religious in nature, though it uses some religious verbiage. The 1984 song “Hallelujah” is actually about love, sex, and the dark side of being human.
2. “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden
“Black Hole Sun” is one of the best songs from the 1990s era of grunge. However, some might not have listened closely to its lyrics. It’s far from your run-of-the-mill grunge song. “Black Hole Sun”, though allegedly written in about 15 minutes, is loaded with symbolism. Specifically, the lyrics are a dreamy, stream-of-consciousness approach to dealing with one’s own mortality and fate in the face of death.
3. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People
When this track hit the airwaves in 2010, tons of people vibed with it. It’s catchy, to say the least. It scratched that early 2010s electropop itch. Eventually, though, listeners began to examine the lyrics more closely, revealing a more nefarious message behind the song.
“Pumped Up Kicks” is narrated by a young individual who is living with delusional and troubling homicidal thoughts. The character’s psychotic beliefs lead him to fantasize (or, enact, depending on how you interpret the lyrics) a school shooting in which students must “outrun [their] gun.”
4. “All She Wants To Do Is Dance” by Don Henley
If you didn’t see the music video for this 1985 classic, nor did you listen closely to its lyrics, you might just think this is just one of many Don Henley solo songs. However, “All She Wants To Do Is Dance” is quite a sharp critique of the United States’ intervention in Central America during the Contra War. One might also interpret it as a song about drugs, addiction, and excess in the 1980s.
5. “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
This John Fogerty classic has been used time and time again for film scores and is often associated with the good ol’ red, white, and blue. Which is surprising, considering the song’s actual lyrical subject matter. “Fortunate Son” is a CCR protest song about the Vietnam War. It takes sharp punches at everything from the ultra-wealthy who dodged the draft to tax evasion.
[See John Fogerty Of Creedence Clearwater Revival Live]
6. “Born In The U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen
This is another song, like “Fortunate Son”, that gets passed around as a gem about the beauty of being American. Like the previous entry, though, it’s not a particularly patriotic tune.
Even though it’s an American anthem today, this 1984 hit was written about the unsavory nature of the Vietnam War and being a veteran. Namely, the lyrics tell a story about a vet who returns home, only to face difficult circumstances, feelings of isolation (But I guess you didn’t hear / You died in Vietnam), and lack of a future in sight.
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns
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