Misinterepted Songs/Lyrics

[BorderEevilIII]

The classic "The Stroke" by Billy Squire was not about you know what ;) And even Billy said on a TV program what the song was about. Anyone recall? I assumed it was gonna be mentioned on songfacts.com but its not listed. :(

[Bear]

it wasn't? had no idea!

[Buck Turgidson]

Wasn't that about kissing ass for anyone who might help your career along? I never took him very seriously, so I could be wrong, but that seems to have been the gist of it, at least in my memory.

[XCoRyX]

I know Extreme's "More then Words" is often misinterpreted. Gary Cherone said it was about his girlfriend/wife (whatever) when she was about to leave him,its her explaining to him that all he needed to do was be more then words. Most people think its the reverse.

[TheDeadWalk]

A song on my Pandora Beatles station just brought back a classic memory.

A few years back I was working with a few really naive teenagers. I had them convinced that a popular Creedence Clearwater Revival song was about a man who had to take a painful shit.

I hear hurricanes a blowin'
I know the end is comin' soon
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye

Don't come around tonight
It's bound to take your life
There's a bathroom on the right

[echo_bravo]

Anyone remember that song called "Blue" by Eiffel 65?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ugkg9RePc

The chorus kinda sounds like "I'm in need of a guy.." or "I'm indeed gonna die"

[Le_Big_Mac]

Songs

"In the Air Tonight" - Phil Collins: About divorce, not a guy drowning.

"Born in the U.S.A." - Bruce Springsteen: An anti-Vietnam song; nothing patriotic about it.

"Every Breath You Take" - The Police: About a stalker; not a love song.

"One" - U2: About Bono's relationship with his father (supposedly); not a love song.

"Heart Shaped Box" - Nirvana: About Courtney Love's vagina, not whatever you thought it was about.



Lyrics

"Purple Haze" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience: "Excuse me while I kiss this guy" is actually "Excuse me while I kiss the sky."

"I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles: "Coo coo kachoo" is actually "Goo goo gajoob."

"Blinded by the Light" - Manfred Mann's Earth Band: "Wrapped up like a douche" is actually "Wrapped up like a Deuce."

"Bennie and the Jets" - Elton John: "She's got electric boobs" is actually "She's got electric boots."

[brookee79]

Anyone remember that song called "Blue" by Eiffel 65?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ugkg9RePc

The chorus kinda sounds like "I'm in need of a guy.." or "I'm indeed gonna die"

lol i used to sing the line i've o'd now i've died

[The Postmaster General]

"Blinded by the Light" - Manfred Mann's Earth Band: "Wrapped up like a douche" is actually "Wrapped up like a Deuce."


I can't remember if it was Exit 57, or The State, but one of those sketch comedy troupes did an entire bit on a group of guys sitting around trying to figure out what that song was about and what the lyrics were. In the end I think it was determined that it was gamblers anthem, with the lights being the Vegas skyline.



Along the same lines, has anyone seen the 1990 movie Coupe De Ville?

There's this great scene where they are debating the lyrics to "Louie Louie":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ffa0kwal0

"It's a hump song. It's about humping."

[Buck Turgidson]

Actually, it's "revved up like a deuce."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinded_by_the_Light

[The Postmaster General]

Nice one, Buck! I had no idea that was a Boss song. Now I have to hear the original.
Springsteen himself has joked about the controversy, claiming that it was not until Manfred Mann rewrote the song to be about a "feminine hygiene product" that it became popular.

Awesome.


Along the same era, I always listen to ELO's "Dont' Bring Me Down" and wonder who Bruce is and why he's bringing everyone down. I refuse too learn what the actual lyric is. I have to much time and effort invested into this Bruce character.


Oh, and as a kid, I really loved that Police song about Ervin Littleling and him doing his magic. (or some name like that, can't remember exactly how off I was)

[Badbird]

Born in the USA is the king of this list. After September 11th they started playing that song at the Chiefs' games before kick-off, and I was like WTF? Really? Does no one know what that song really means?

From what I've been told, "Relax" and "You Spin Me Round Like a Record" are both about gay sex.

[John@$$]

Born in the USA and Every breath you take have to be the top of the list. As well as In the air tonight and Losing my religion. Mr. Tambourine Man is about a drug dealer not some happy hippy playing his tambourine.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Born in the USA is the king of this list. After September 11th they started playing that song at the Chiefs' games before kick-off, and I was like WTF? Really? Does no one know what that song really means?

Reagan using that song for his '84 campaign was the worst misinterpretation of a song EVER, because he actually supported that shitty war at one point.

[BadCoverVersion]

From what I've been told, "Relax" and "You Spin Me Round Like a Record" are both about gay sex.

For sure...BBC radio stations banned Relax back in the day.

Relax don't do it
When you want to suck to it
Relax don't do it
When you want to come
Come-oh oh oh

But shoot it in the right direction
Make making it your intention-ooh yeah
Live those dreams
Scheme those schemes
Got to hit me
Hit me
Hit me with those laser beams

I'm coming
I'm coming-yeah

Of course.

[Buck Turgidson]

Nice one, Buck! I had no idea that was a Boss song. Now I have to hear the original.It's pretty cool. It bears a similar relationship to the Mann cover that Dylan's stripped down and basic original of All Along The Watchtower does to Hendrix's more elaborate version (which, by all accounts, Bob loved from the moment he heard it.)

The afternoon guy at my local AOR station loves MM's version of Blinded, so I've heard it in the car about a dozen times this summer. It's one of those songs I loved as a kid (9-10 when it was first a hit) and continue to really appreciate today.Along the same era, I always listen to ELO's "Dont' Bring Me Down" and wonder who Bruce is and why he's bringing everyone down. I refuse too learn what the actual lyric is. I have to much time and effort invested into this Bruce character.My friends and I had a whole alternate set of lyrics to that which were completely scatalogical and sexual in nature at the time. So much so that I'm not sure I know much of the real lyrics, even today.

Goddamned hormones. Losing my religion.Around here, it was The One I Love that stupid rednecks always called stations and dedicated to their girlfriends. Nothing says true love like "A simple prop to occupy my time."Reagan using that song for his '84 campaign was the worst misinterpretation of a song EVER, because he actually supported that shitty war at one point.That song, like Every Breath You Take and the REM song I mentioned, are good examples of people hearing the chorus and the chorus, only.

[hoojib127]

The most obvious one for me will always be The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." Despite the title's initials it is NOT (directly) about acid. The title came from a painting by Julian Lennon of one of his classmates, and John and Paul decided to write a song around the title using Lewis Carroll imagery.

Surprisingly, though, "Got to Get You Into My Life" IS about pot.

[Potter82]

I always heard the lyric in Madonna/Justin Timberlake's "4 minutes" as "It must be ninjas" - not sure what it really was. Something far more pedestrian.

[BadCoverVersion]

Apparently Turning Japanese isn't about wanking.

[Dirtyfrog]

Hey man , nice shot - Filter

Everyone thinks it's a song about Kurt Cobain's suicide. In reality , it was actually written about the infamous live-on-the-air 1987 pistol suicide of Robert Budd Dwyer, a Pennsylvania state treasurer (and a Republican) who was due to be sentenced the following day on charges of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.