October 21, 2012
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Songs Of Mystery
Inspired by a post by another Xangan, I was thinking about the meaning of certain songs, one in particular, the old Eagles classic, “Hotel California” which got me to thinking about the meaning behind a whole slew of songs that are left open to interpretation as to what they mean. Many songs are metaphors for sex or drugs. And many times, the songwriters and or performers refuse to say what the songs are about as to help create an air of mystery about the song. One site I’ve gone to a lot is songsfacts.com however I’m not so certain the info on there is accurate. Nevertheless, there is no end to the number of songs that we don’t know the meaning to, but here are just a few starting with the aforementioned “Hotel California“
- “Hotel California” by The Eagles- This song has a lot of different theories the one of which I find most fascinating is from http://bubblyslife.xanga.com/ who’s original post gave me the idea. She says the song is about a cult, which when I listen to the lyrics makes the most sense. There are also rumors that it is about a haunted hotel in Chicago of all places and also that the song is about drugs. Somebody else said it was about the band Steely Dan, but I have a hard time believing the whole thing is about Steely Dan.
- “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins- When I was a kid, I used to think this was a song about a guy who broke up with his girlfriend/wife. About 15 years ago, a friend of mine told me it was about when Phil Collins was a kid and how he watched helplessly while his best friend drowned to death as his best friend’s brother looked on and laughed. As the story goes, he wrote the song and then played it for his best friend’s brother at a concert as a way to get revenge. Collins though has always denied this story and said that he wrote it about his ex wife.
- “American Pie” by Don McLean- This is my all time favorite song, so I’ve always wanted to know what it was about and learn everything possible about it. The rumors are that much of the song refers to all sorts of different events and pop culture figures from the 1950s and 1960s. McLean though refuses to clarify what any of it means, instead preferring to leave the whole thing a mystery. I hope he does eventually say though before he dies because it is perhaps the biggest song mystery ever.
- “Squeezebox- by The Who- This is by all means not the only Who song that has many meanings. Some say it’s a song about sex and a lady’s vagina, others say it is about a lady who plays an accordion. I say it is about both.
- “Mack The Knife“- by Bobby Darin- This might be the most intriguing song on my list here. If you have never heard it, first all all shame on you. But, you should listen to it because the music is certainly not indicative of the lyrics and what the song is more than likely about: Jack the Ripper or another serial killer who viciously murders with a knife.
- “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by the Beatles- There are no shortage of Beatles songs that are left open to multiple interpretations. John Lennon, however, says this song is not actually about drugs but instead was inspired by a drawing that his son made.
These are just a few songs, I can honestly go on and on and on and on. What are some of the songs you wonder about and what you feel their meanings are and about the short list of songs above, what are your thoughts?
