# Songs you insist have a different meaning than the writer claims

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-insist-have-a-different-meaning-than-the-writer-claims/993725>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** music\
**Created:** [November 26, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-insist-have-a-different-meaning-than-the-writer-claims/993725 "2023-11-26T16:49:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 10

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**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-insist-have-a-different-meaning-than-the-writer-claims/993725/10 "2023-11-27T15:45:03Z")

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As a wanna be songwriter, I deny that the writer has a monopoly on meaning. Just because I wrote the song and it means something to me doesn’t mean I should impose my interpretation on everyone else. Others’ interpretations are just as valid.

Melanie Safka said she did not intend “Brand New Key” to be about sexual intercourse and I believe her. That doesn’t mean it isn’t. It obviously is.

The only exception to this rule is when you think a song is about drugs. Assuming everything you don’t understand is about drugs is just lazy.

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