Over here we get Krokodil’s interesting take on the meaning of Weezer’s “Buddy Holly,” plus another Doper chimed in with thoughts on “Hey Mickey.”
So I thought I’d start a thread not dedicated to any one song, to invite you to post your own interpretations of popular songs, whether it’s something blindingly obvious to you and you wonder if everybody else sees it too; or it’s admittedly a bit off the wall but could be construed that way; or even something you used to think but realized you were wrong.
After hearing “Philadelphia Freedom” for most of my life and giving it little thought beyond being a vaguely patriotic ditty with some cryptic lines, I recently decided it’s a song in praise of the anonymity of living in a large city, where one can act a given way without the danger of being discovered by friends or family. Factoring in Elton John’s sexuality, it makes sense to me (I don’t know about Bernie Taupin’s orientation, but he did pen the lyrics specifically for John).
What else you got?