# Songs that on the surface sound one way, but are actually not **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 22, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905 "2026-01-22T01:19:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/41 "2026-01-22T17:11:51Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > you can make a decent argument that he burns the woman’s house down when she refused to sleep with him. I’ve heard this rumor and was skeptical of it in the past, so I just checked out the lyrics. The very last lines show that yes, it’s a very plausible argument: _And when I awoke I was alone_ _This bird had flown_ _So I lit a fire_ _Isn’t it good Norwegian wood?_ Reminds me of The Doors’ ‘Moonlight Drive’-- it sounds like a happy, romantic love song, but there’s a dark twist at the very end that’s easy to miss if you’re not listening to the lyrics closely: _Gonna get real close_ _Get real tight_ _Baby gonna drown tonight_ _Goin’ down, down, down_ ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/42 "2026-01-22T17:40:23Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > when she refused to sleep with him. She said she worked in the morning and started to laugh I told her I didn’t and crawled off to sleep in the bath She’s not the one refusing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/43 "2026-01-22T17:50:22Z")
Ol’ 55 by Tom Wais confuses everyone. Is he talking about life passining in general? Driving in a funeral? Picking boogers out of his Ol’ size 55 nose? What-cha talking about with that pretty piano accompaniment? Google says. Funeral. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PejBkU4-1fk/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBk-yZTBJk8TmVEhiOY3YWYBkC9JQ "Tom Waits Ol '55") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PejBkU4-1fk) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/44 "2026-01-22T17:57:36Z")
I saw the typos. Can’t fix because of the YouTube bug. Google ol 55 meaning funeral For that odd interpretation. The reference to a parade confuses some listeners. I’m riding with Lady Luck Freeway, cars and trucks Stars beginning to fade And I lead the parade ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/45 "2026-01-22T18:09:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > He’s ~35, creepy-looking, been drinking, she’s 16 and pretty chaste-looking and he wants to take her out and show her “a love like you’ve never seen” and that’s not clear cut? Even the damn video is creepy as hell. At the beginning, when creeper is at the door and the girl’s father is telling him to leave her alone, I’m wondering why dad isn’t stomping creeper’s guts out. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/46 "2026-01-22T18:13:10Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > “ Born in the USA” - people only think that’s a patriotic song because the don’t know the lyrics except for the chorus and and the music sounds celebratory. Agreed. On a larger scale, I think most people learn the chorus of a pop song pretty quickly, due to the repetition and simpler sentence structure, but may never understand the words, much less their meaning, of most of the verses. So, ref Springsteen, their entire impression of the song comes from the chorus, or maybe just the “tag line” within the chorus. Whatever bit of lyric gets the most repetition _is_ the essence of the song and its meaning. At least for me there are many pop songs where the only part of the lyrics I’ve understood are the tag line. E.g. Eagles’ _Life in the Fast Lane_. As a kid growing up pre-internet, and only hearing it played at random on the radio, with no rewind or do-over ability, 100% of the lyrics were a mystery other than the repeated words “Life in the Fast Lane”. Everything else may have been scat singing for all my inability to convert any of the other vocals into words, much less coherent sentences. I actually learned the words to the song, and thereby finally understood its meaning, just a few years ago when I discovered lyric vids on YouTube. Now when I play it, I can understand the words well enough to remember most of them. But not until I could read them first. My inability to understand lyrics through the music long predates any hearing loss. I rather doubt I’m the only person so afflicted. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/47 "2026-01-22T18:15:23Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > The Rolling Stones’ _Paint It Black_ sounds like a rollicking raga rock dance tune, while the lyrics are about soul-crushing grief and depression. Good point. > [@aurora\_maire](#): > > Same thing with Pearl Jam’s _Better Man_, a song about an abusive partner. Some people really don’t listen to lyrics. The whole point of this thread, of course, and you are absolutely right. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Lyin Eyes is just one example I generally like the Eagles, but i will turn off the radio if this comes on. However, the tune/chorus and the lyrics are not at odds. Sad song all the way. > [@doreen](#): > > I don’t see how those sound one way on the surface but are really something else - you don’t have to listen carefully to “Lyin Eyes” to figure out what it’s about and there’s not a disconnect between the music and the lyrics like “ Born in the USA” - people only think that’s a patriotic song because the don’t know the lyrics except for the chorus and and the music sounds celebratory. Exactly the point of this thread. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > On a larger scale, I think most people learn the chorus of a pop song pretty quickly, due to the repetition and simpler sentence structure, but may never understand the words, much less their meaning, of most of the verses. So, ref Springsteen, their entire impression of the song comes from the chorus, or maybe just the “tag line” within the chorus. Whatever bit of lyric gets the most repetition _is_ the essence of the song and its meaning. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/48 "2026-01-22T18:18:41Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > She said she worked in the morning and started to laugh > I told her I didn’t and crawled off to sleep in the bath > > She’s not the one refusing. My take on that line is “I have to work in the morning” is a classic shutdown move, meaning any extracurricular date activity is out. As in “crash here if you want to, but not in my bed, and no funny business-- got to get up early”. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/49 "2026-01-22T18:24:49Z")
**Happy Together** is about an imaginary relationship, not an existing one. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/50 "2026-01-22T19:45:58Z")
I forgot that **Ol’ 55** sounds like a dirge. Great song, but very confusing. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/51 "2026-01-22T19:56:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I forgot that **Ol’ 55** sounds like a dirge. Many songs Tom Waits did sound like dirges without being one. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/52 "2026-01-22T19:57:57Z")
I am not sure what people mean when they say “Born in the USA” is not _patriotic_ song. And YES I have read the lyrics and have heard it hundreds of times. And Bruce Springsteen himself has said the song is NOT a _nationalist_ anthem. But that does NOT mean it is NOT _patriotic_. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/53 "2026-01-22T19:59:43Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > But that does NOT mean it is NOT _patriotic_. It does mean that it’s not “patriotic” in the flag-waving, nationalistic, jingoistic way that a lot of people have misinterpreted it as. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/54 "2026-01-22T20:00:29Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > And YES I have read the lyrics and have heard it hundreds of times. And Bruce Springsteen himself has said the song is NOT a _nationalist_ anthem. > > But that does NOT mean it is NOT _patriotic_. The reason might be that the line between nationalism and patriotism is a fuzzy one in the USA. But no, I don’t think it is a patriotic song. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/55 "2026-01-22T20:03:57Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > It’s steeped in bitter irony, but just reading the lyrics of the chorus tells you to go ahead and do whatever you want because there won’t be any resurrection on Judgement Day. I really think you’re reading it backwards - it’s telling you that there is going to be a judgment day, and your pride and your excuses aren’t going to cut it when that day comes. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/56 "2026-01-22T20:05:11Z")
Foster the People’s “pumped up kicks” sounds like a catchy pop song, about a school shooter. And Outkasts “Bombs over Baghdad” is an anti war song that came out 3 years before the Iraq war. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/57 "2026-01-22T20:08:13Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Foster the People’s “pumped up kicks” sounds like a catchy pop song, about a school shooter. Oh, that reminded me of another one. The Boomtown Rats “I Don’t Like Mondays” is often taken as as a song about what a drag it is to restart working after the weekend, but actually it’s about a teenage school mass shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/58 "2026-01-22T20:18:42Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > Paul McCartney once said in an interview about his song, “Blackbird” - “you know, it isn’t actually about a bird.” According to Sir Paul, [it is and it isn’t.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbird_(Beatles_song)) The inspiration for the musical structure? Well…[stolen from Bach.](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Uz-toXrKvnA) ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/59 "2026-01-22T21:10:14Z")
I thought it was telling black people to arise and revolt. Not really, but someone thought that ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905/60 "2026-01-22T21:12:28Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I thought it was telling black people to arise and revolt. I thought that it was especially praising the black _female_ emancipation that happened at the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-on-the-surface-sound-one-way-but-are-actually-not/1026905.md?page=4)