# Real Meanings Behind Pop Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689 "2001-03-12T19:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![dodge\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@dodge\_this](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dodge_this)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/121 "2001-03-18T12:41:56Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Sir Rhosis \* > Maybe someone can help me out with the band’s name which I can’t remember, but there was a catchy little tune about ten years ago called “Wild Wild West”_\* The Escape Club is the band you’re after. “Mandy’s in the backroom, handing out valium…” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/122 "2001-03-18T17:00:19Z")
Let’s see, don’t think anyone else has mentioned this one as being about heroin, but The Stranglers - Golden Brown A deceptively beautiful waltz-timed folky song, I think it’s out as part of the soundtrack to “Snatch” ‘Golden Brown, texture like Sun Lays me down, with my mind she runs Throughout the night, no need to fight Never a frown , with Golden Brown’ I always used to think it was about some woman, but No… ('cause, I always thougt H was white like coke) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/123 "2001-03-18T17:32:08Z")
> [@](#): > > “Wonderful Tonight” is the one about the guy who gets tanked at a party and his wife has to help him to bed. Still not something I’d use in my wedding. I remember reading an article about this. Apparently, Clapton penned the tune while getting progressively annoyed at his wife who was jacking around upstairs in the bathroom getting ready for some party they were already late for. By the time she came downstairs, she could have been wearing a dress made of burlap and newspaper and Clapton would have told her the same thing: “Darling, you look wonderful tonight” with the unspoken “now get your ass in the car so we can get going.” Clapton from _Rolling Stone_ 8/25/88: _“Wonderful Tonight” has a little bit of irony in it. I didn’t write it in a particular good mood. I wrote it because my wife was late getting ready to go out. I was in a foul temper about it._ As for _Angel_ by Ms. McLachlan, anyone who ran the multimedia portion of the _Surfacing_ CD has all the evidence they need to support the herion claim since Sarah is on there talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/124 "2001-03-18T18:58:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by seriousart_\*\*…I’ve heard more than once that Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” was about anal sex.\*\* “…down in the hollow, playing a new game…” “…goin’ down to the old mine, with a transistor radio…” Sounds good to me. I’ve also read that the song refers to a brown-_skinned_ girl, but Van changed the lyrics so as to get more radio play. Chuck Berry supposedly did the same thing with _Brown-eyed Handsome Man_. While we’re on the subject, wasn’t Chuck’s _My Ding-a-ling_ (his only #1) really about a fishing lure? By the way, that last bit was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/125 "2001-03-18T20:12:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamia \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jadailey \* > > \*\* > > Then there are the songs people use at weddings without ever really listening to the lyrics: > > > > \ > > > > C’mon, folks - if it’s good enough to play in your wedding, it’s good enough to really listen to at least once. I had a cousin walk down the aisle to the strains of “If I should stay/ I would only be in your way/ So I’ll go…” At least find the refrain! \*\* > > I have heard that some young couples have chosen to play Pearl Jam’s “Betterman” at their weddings. As anyone who has ever listened to the words of the song knows, it is about a woman who is afraid to leave a bad marriage because she thinks she can’t do any better (Eddie Vedder wrote it about his mother and stepfather). Not exactly the sentiment I’d want at my nuptuals. > \*\* I find this kinda hard to believe…I mean, I can understand with some of the classic misunderstood songs (Every Breath You Take, et all), its possible that people would play them at weddings and whatnot, never knowing the real meaning. However, this song is pretty blatant, and unless you totally ignored the chorus (“She lies and says she’s in love with him, can’t find a better man”), I’m not seeing people mistake the meaning here. Unless its some sort of irony to play this at a wedding. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/126 "2001-03-18T21:57:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by occ \* > \*\* > I find this kinda hard to believe…I mean, I can understand with some of the classic misunderstood songs (Every Breath You Take, et all), its possible that people would play them at weddings and whatnot, never knowing the real meaning. However, this song is pretty blatant, and unless you totally ignored the chorus (“She lies and says she’s in love with him, can’t find a better man”), I’m not seeing people mistake the meaning here. Unless its some sort of irony to play this at a wedding. Heh. \*\* I would doubt it myself for the reasons you give above, but I have seen couples dancing and hugging to “Betterman” on the lawn at Pearl Jam concerts. I also know people who say they’ve heard it played as a romantic “slow number” at dances. In light of this it doesn’t seem so unlikely that some couples might be oblivious enough to play it at their wedding. ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/127 "2001-03-19T01:54:25Z")
originally posted by betenoir: > [@](#): > > I don’t see it. > He’s biding his time hoping if he puts up with her blathering on till two in the morning, she’ll sleep with him. Then when she finally proposes bed, she add she “works in the morning” i.e., she really better be getting to sleep now. > > If he didn’t want to be there (and didn’t want to sleep with her), what?, he couldn’t come up with an excuse to leave before 2AM? That’s way beyond polite. Biding ones time usually implies one is waiting for something. And why else does she mention having to get up early? Not to mention, he’s so mad at her that he burns her house down because she WANTS to sleep with him? Oh yeah, people who find me attractive just make me so mad… > “…that sneaky little vixen”? Got issues with sexually agressive women, Kyomara:)? ah, yes…where are all the good little Donna Reeds of yesteryear? I am sorry sir, but I am almost positive that you are gravely mistaken. I’ve known plenty of folks who found themselves feeling helpless in the face of oncoming seduction. Can’t say yes, but can’t quite say no. I point again to her telling him to sit anywhere, but he sees that the bed is the only place, and he knows that she knows this, and so he chooses the floor as the only way to escape her advances. Plus the whole part where she laughs but he does not gives me images of her trying to seem light and breezy while he is actually just trying to escape. He finally refuses her bed for the bath, he is so repulsed. I could see the argument for HER spurning HIM by saying she has to work in the morning, and him going off to the bath because he doesn’t know what else to do, but I like the idea of him being a carcastic little asshole better, especially since John was such a carcastic asshole anyway…it seems to fit better with his personality. But I could also see the argument that this whole argument is…silly. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/128 "2001-03-19T04:41:51Z")
The only one I know is Timbuk3 (sp?) Future’s so bright gotta wear shades, apparently not the upbeat song it sounds like. Supposedly about nuclear war. Don’t quote me on that one though, its just the only one I ever remember. I’m one of those annoying people who just like the music. (however, I made sure the was NO Whitney Houston music of any kind, played at my wedding) ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/129 "2001-03-20T16:05:21Z")
I could swear that I read somewhere (and what better source is there than “somewhere”?) that the Queen/Bowie song “Under Pressure” is about the pressure of being a closeted homosexual. Someone please tell me that I didn’t just imagine this! I mentioned it to a friend after hearing the song on the radio the other day, and she looked at me like I was a madwoman. I did a Google search to see if I could turn up any confirmation, but didn’t find anything useful. ---
**Author:** ![Winnowill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Winnowill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnowill)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/130 "2001-03-20T17:04:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bookworm \* > **The only one I know is Timbuk3 (sp?) Future’s so bright gotta wear shades, apparently not the upbeat song it sounds like. Supposedly about nuclear war.** Gosh. I dunno about that. I certainly never got that out of it. Sure, the guy studies nuclear science (he loves his classes). In the 80s, that meant big bucks. I always thought of it as a yuppie song. And, along the same lines as “Under Pressure” being about homosexuality - I’m given to understand that Depeche Mode’s “Policy of Truth” is about the reverse: coming OUT of the closet, being surprised that people treat you differently, and regretting the decision. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/131 "2001-03-20T17:23:59Z")
Am I the only one who remembers UNDUN by the Guess Who? She’s come undun, she found a mountain that was far too high And when she found out she couldn’t fly; it was too late. Gee, what could that be about? ---
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/132 "2001-03-21T00:53:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hazel-rah \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > OK, anyone else know of a song with a “safe sex” reference other than “The Fez” by Fagin & Becker? > > “Trout” by Neneh Cherry and Michael Stipe. It’s pretty transparent though, except for the title. > > -fh > > \*\* Also one by ZZ Top (or Zed Zed Top, for you Brits): “Cover Your Rig”. My contribution for misunderstood pop songs: [Hey Man Nice Shot](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29964), by Filter. Surprised to find out what it was about–I was originally going to play it at my wedding. Now I’ll just save it for the reception afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/133 "2001-03-21T15:37:14Z")
Jeez, no one’s mentioned the greatest masturbation song of all time: “Rattlesnake Shake” by Fleetwood Mac!! It’s on “Then Play On.” Check it out. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/134 "2001-03-22T07:27:01Z")
Turning Japanese - Well, there’s this guy. And he sees a picture of a beautiful woman. And he’s so enchanted by her that he’d do anything to meet her. That’s pretty much it. I have no reason to believe that “Turning Japanese” refers to any specific act (and even then, _must_ you assume that it’s LITERAL??). The One I Love - Pretty standard breakup song…except that the singer keeps repeating the same refrain over and over to really show his contempt (i.e., “You’re not even WORTH a second verse!”). Shock the Monkey - Peter Gabriel has an idea and runs all over the place with it. No, really. Actually, of all his songs that I know of, Big Time is the only one that doesn’t follow that forumla. Mr. Tambourine Man - C’mon, isn’t it obvious? FREEDOM! Doing what you want to do! Following whoever you want, even if it’s just some street musician! “Drugs”…give me a break. Not _everyone_ in the 60’s was a junkie, you know! Hook - A song about singing. Pretty clear. When I Need You - _Masturbation_? Am I the _only_ one here who graduated from high school?? Look, they played this song a helluva lot after it came out, and I think someone would have told me about it. It’s a pretty ordinary love song that uses a lot of phrases that have appeared in countless other love songs. It’s not about masturbation any more than Cathy Dennis’ “Touch Me”. “Masturbation”…geez… I Want You - I’m surprised this hasn’t come up yet. Anyway, it’s a song about the “typical” male response to a long-term relationship. See, he likes his girlfriend, but he’s not sure he wants it to be _permanent_; he wants to go along gradually. And he’s trying to reassure her that he still wants her. I Ain’t Missing You - This guy had a really messy breakup, and he’s feeling a slight twinge of regret over it, but he doesn’t want his ex to have the satisfaction of knowing. So he angrily denies missing her even one bit. It Must Have Been Love - Um…she hits the wine a little too hard one night, imagines she’s in a relationship with someone, and can’t understand why that person doesn’t love her the next day. Building a Mystery - A woman’s first enocounter with Goth culture. Or maybe the New Age movement. Or both. One Week - Ahh…this guy is going through a really messy breakup, and he tries to cope with it by rambling about a whole bunch of things that aren’t even remotely related. Hey, I’m not the one who writes these things… ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/135 "2001-03-22T10:02:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Building a Mystery - A woman’s first enocounter with Goth culture. Or maybe the New Age movement. Or both. more like a woman’s first encounter with a really dumb fucking song. Right, guys? Right!?! Ha ha haaaa… I’m pretty sure the lead singer of the Vapors has been quoted as saying that “Turning Japanese” was an inside joke between him and his girl used as a code word for “beating off.” I’ll look into it. Gotta gooooo… ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/136 "2001-03-22T22:03:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kyomara \* > \*\* > I’m pretty sure the lead singer of the Vapors has been quoted as saying that “Turning Japanese” was an inside joke between him and his girl used as a code word for “beating off.” I’ll look into it. > \*\* I heard that it was a reference to the way some people’s eyes narrow when they’re having an orgasm. One of my friends tells me that she heard a hip hop song with a similar line (something like “Come on make me turn Chinese”) that was clearly in a sexual context. Regardless of the exact meaning (if any) of the term “turning Japanese”, I think it’s obvious that the song has to do with masturbation. The guy’s stuck in a cell with nothing but a picture of his girlfriend. What else is he gonna do? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/137 "2001-03-23T05:51:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThisYearsGirl \* > \*\*Another masturbation song–“Pump It Up” by Elvis Costello. \*\* Not to doubt the word of a poster who actually named herself after one of his songs, but are you sure? I thought I read it was about taking drugs. It would be uncharacteristic of Elvis to be so obvious as to call a song about jacking off “Pump It Up.” But I could be wrong. And “Alison” was about a guy murdering a woman? I never would have caught that in a million years. ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/138 "2001-03-23T06:12:44Z")
Or “Alison…” I’m not sure how he spelled it. Believe it, baby. Check it out: “I don’t know if you are loving somebody I only know it isn’t mine…” JEALOUSY!! “You used to hold him right in your hand I guess he took all he could take” CONTEMPT!! “Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking When I hear the silly things that you say. I think somebody oughta PUT OUT THE BIG LIGHT Because I can’t stand to see you this way…” INTENT!! “Alison…my aim (with a gun) is true.” MURDER!! What a great song… ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/139 "2001-03-23T06:28:23Z")
Yeah, you may be right about “Alison” (correct spelling). It’s not that I would put it past Elvis to write a song with such subject matter; I was just surprised that it never occurred to me. Any ideas on [this song?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54806) ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689/140 "2001-03-23T08:04:41Z")
Sorry…I’ve only ever heard the song when performed by my old roommate, and I never bothered to really listen. You may want to check the list that someone posted a link to on that thread you referred me to. It has lots of goodies on EC songs, including some that suggest I might be at least partially wrong about Alison. (sorry…I am ashamed to say I still have not bothered to learn how to post links) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-meanings-behind-pop-songs/57689.md?page=8)