# Songs that have been misinterpreted. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2020, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049 "2020-04-04T12:27:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/21 "2020-04-04T17:45:10Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Oh, just thought of one. “The One I Love” by REM. It seems like it should be pretty clear that it’s a biting, cynical song, but apparently not. This is what I came to post. How anybody can think that’s a lovesong goes beyond my imagination, but obviously many do. It’s like playing PIL’s “[This Is Not A Lovesong](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_GCJnXAI0)” at a wedding. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/22 "2020-04-04T17:58:25Z")
I’d say Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” is at least partially misconstrued as being all about ecological destruction and humankind’s assault on nature. The punchline verse of the song is that her partner gets into a taxi and disappears from her life — “don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone” — which only makes sense if you think of the eco-destruction as a sort of Exhibit A for cases where we wipe out something nice without thinking about it, and the loss of her boyfriend as the specific loss that’s hurting at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![moojja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@moojja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moojja)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/23 "2020-04-04T18:06:04Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > I always call bullshit on this one. Bruce was making a pop album and I’m sure that he knew that screaming “Born in the USA” over and over again would get the type of reaction that it got. What do you mean? Given the rest of the lyrics is about a Vietnam vet. who’s having trouble finding a job. It’s definitely a criticism on the US treatment of it’s veterans. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/24 "2020-04-04T18:09:23Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > John Prine’s [_ **Illegal Smile** _](https://www.songfacts.com/facts/john-prine/illegal-smile) is quite often misinterpreted. How so? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/25 "2020-04-04T18:11:52Z")
> [@moojja](#): > > What do you mean? Given the rest of the lyrics is about a Vietnam vet. who’s having trouble finding a job. It’s definitely a criticism on the US treatment of it’s veterans. Yeah, the **Boss** has always been quite firm about that. And that song is certainly in keeping with a lot of his other tunes from albums like **Nebraska** and **The Ghost of Tom Joad**. Life in the USA can be tough and cruel and unfair and very unjust. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/26 "2020-04-04T18:27:56Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > I always call bullshit on this one. Bruce was making a pop album and I’m sure that he knew that screaming “Born in the USA” over and over again would get the type of reaction that it got. Yes, from idiots who don’t actually listen to the lyrics, i guess. It’s pretty clearly critical with a generic jingoistic chorus that is meant to be cynical and ironic but, hey, if people don’t listen to lyrics … that just underscores the point, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/27 "2020-04-04T18:47:12Z")
Sir Mick and the Stones: “Mother’s Little Helper” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/28 "2020-04-04T19:26:09Z")
No one misinterpreted a song as much as I did ‘American Pie’… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/29 "2020-04-04T19:31:47Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Sir Mick and the Stones: “Mother’s Little Helper” In what way was it misinterpreted? It’s about regular housewives living on prescription drugs of the same kind the evil rock stars and counterculture depend on, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/30 "2020-04-04T19:34:12Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > - Any Breath You Take\* by the Police. A song about a stapler that’s misinterpreted as a love song. Well I sure love my red Swingline stapler. They tried to make us switch to Bosch, but I kept my Swingline because it doesn’t bind up as much. And if the boss tries to take it I could burn down the building. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/31 "2020-04-04T19:41:08Z")
For you Swingline lovers I offer up "We shall not be moved " by Mavis Staples. Theme song? I think so. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/32 "2020-04-04T19:47:20Z")
“The Star Spangled Banner”, version by Hendrix. A lot of people got their knickers in a twist over that, thinking that he was mocking the flag or being unpatriotic. While it may have been a statement about the war politics, he wasn’t being disrespectful. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/33 "2020-04-04T19:49:16Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > How so? Did you follow the link? From the link… “\*I have to confess, the song was not about smokin’ dope,” the folk singer-songwriter told Performing Songwriter of the opening track from his debut album. “It was more about how, ever since I was a child, I had this view of the world where I can find myself smiling at stuff nobody else was smiling at. But it was such a good anthem for dope smokers that I didn’t want to stop every time I played it and make a disclaimer.” \* ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/34 "2020-04-04T19:56:56Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > No, it’s their lesser-known song, _Any Breath You Take_, about a man who wants to make his stapler come alive. I was going to ask about that. I mean, it _looks_ like a typo, but you never know. It might have been a transatlantic difference. The example that came to mind - for obvious reasons - is British “ticket touts” being US “scalpers”. But fair enough: a stapler is just a stapler. A rock of dependability in a sea of global crisis. A stationery point, if you will… ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/35 "2020-04-04T19:57:19Z")
The Hallelujah Chorus, from The Messiah. Did you know that it’s about the end of the World, as described in the Book of Revelation? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/36 "2020-04-04T19:58:43Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Did you follow the link? > > From the link… > > “\*I have to confess, the song was not about smokin’ dope,” the folk singer-songwriter told Performing Songwriter of the opening track from his debut album. “It was more about how, ever since I was a child, I had this view of the world where I can find myself smiling at stuff nobody else was smiling at. But it was such a good anthem for dope smokers that I didn’t want to stop every time I played it and make a disclaimer.” > > - He’s got to be fibbing. The title is \*\* Illegal\*\* Smile. There’s nothing illegal about daydreaming. It’s very clearly about dope. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/37 "2020-04-04T20:01:22Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > He’s got to be fibbing. The title is \*\* Illegal\*\* Smile. There’s nothing illegal about daydreaming. It’s very clearly about dope. And daydreaming doesn’t cost not very much, but is for free. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/38 "2020-04-04T20:08:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > “The Star Spangled Banner”, version by Hendrix. A lot of people got their knickers in a twist over that, thinking that he was mocking the flag or being unpatriotic. While it may have been a statement about the war politics, he wasn’t being disrespectful. And perhaps less well known, the same thing happened to José Feliciano (Best known for “Feliz Navidad” if you don’t know the name) when he sang “The Star Spangled Banner” in a slow, Latin folk style at the 1968 World Series. From a modern perspective, [it sounds no different from how any pop singer would put their own twist on the national anthem](https://youtu.be/x1ZQawbo4Mo), but back then he apparently got death threats from people who thought it was disrespectful. Obviously people’s ideas about how the proper way to sing the anthem have changes a lot since then. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/39 "2020-04-04T20:20:58Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > He’s got to be fibbing. The title is \*\* Illegal\*\* Smile. There’s nothing illegal about daydreaming. It’s very clearly about dope. jeeze… he wrote the song…he EXPLAINED the song, yet you refuse to believe it. If you were in st Louis and old you might remember Jim White’s (KMOX radio) catch phrase… ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049/40 "2020-04-04T20:30:56Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > jeeze… he wrote the song…he EXPLAINED the song, yet you refuse to believe it. > > If you were in st Louis and old you might remember Jim White’s (KMOX radio) catch phrase… He can EXPLAIN it all he wants. How do you EXPLAIN the title? Or the entire chorus: “And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile, It don’t cost very much, but it lasts a long while. Won’t you please tell the man I didn’t kill anyone, no I’m just tryin’ to have me some fun” ? Whatever John claims now he was writing about, I’d say his lyrics and title speak very well for themselves. He’s a very precise wordsmith. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-misinterpreted/851049.md?page=3)