Ever hear a catchy, upbeat, and addictive song, only to find out that the lyrics are way sadder or more disturbing than you thought? It’s a common occurrence, to say the least. Let’s look at five classic examples of feel-good songs with really sad or dark lyrics.
1. “Thank You” by Dido
This British pop star has quite a few feel-good songs under her belt, but the lyrics to the catchy “Thank You” are actually really sad. If you haven’t heard the song in full, you’ve probably heard it sampled on Eminem’s hit song “Stan”.
“Thank You” caught the attention of the moody rapper for good reason. This song opens up with some very depressing lyrics: “My tea’s gone cold, I’m wondering why / I got out of bed at all.” It eventually moves towards an upbeat and positive ending, but this redemption song does start out pretty sad.
2. “Jersey Girl” by Tom Waits
Tom Waits is one of the original Kings of Cool, and he rarely shied away from penning some seriously sad songs. “Jersey Girl”, on the surface, is a pretty song with an upbeat chorus. The lyrics weave a poetic love letter to his soon-to-be wife, Kathleen Brennan.
The lyrics aren’t objectively depressing or sad. However, Waits managed to write them in a way that evokes a sense of longing, nostalgia, and loneliness. Few songwriters can do that in the way that Waits does.
3. “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen
“Born in the U.S.A.” is a Springsteen classic, but it isn’t the patriotic all-American-boy anthem everyone thinks it is. This classic rock song is actually a pretty direct critique of post-Vietnam War America.
In the song, Springsteen tells the story of a young vet who returns home, only to face mistreatment, lack of work, and the general malaise of US culture at the time; all while likely dealing with PTSD.
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4. “Royals” by Lorde
This song was a radio go-to when it was first released in 2013, and it’s still one of Lorde’s most popular songs to date. Its use of harmonization and a catchy melody make it an addicting track. However, the lyrics aren’t quite so sweet.
The song is about anti-consumerism and (more or less) being poor in a culture that celebrates excess and gratuitous displays of wealth. One notably depressing lyric reads: “But every song’s like / Gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin’ in the bathroom / Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashin’ the hotel room / We don’t care, we’re driving Cadillacs in our dreams.”
5. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People
If you were around to hear this song in 2010 when it first came out, you probably (like everyone else) figured out by now what the catchy pop lyrics are actually about. While the melody and instrumentation of the song are quite upbeat and danceable, the lyrics are quite dark in contrast.
“Pumped Up Kicks” is about a psychopathic and isolated young man who plans (and possibly executes, depending on how you interpret the song” a horrific school shooting.
6. “The New You” by The Vandals
This punchy punk rock track features The Vandals’ iconic use of dark humor. “The New You” is an energetic and fun tune, but its lyrics are a little disturbing. This song is about an ex-lover who begins stalking their former love.
On one hand, you feel sad for the narrator. On the other hand, you feel terrified for the object of their obsession. “You’ve made a big mistake / That’s not a threat / No matter how it sounds” is a pretty sad and creepy line.
Photo by Michael Loccisano
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