Most misinterpreted songs of all time?

[Mo0o]

I'll start off with Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA.

Tons of people think its some kind of patriotic song but in reality it's a pretty depressing song that spoke to the times.

Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just covering up

[chorus:]
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man

[chorus]

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said "Son don't you understand"

[chorus]

I had a buddy at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a little girl in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years down the road
Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

 

[Slew Foot]

I was going to mention the same song

 

[SlitheryDee]

I knew some people who thought "Smoke on the Water" was about smoking weed. Dunno if that's a common misconception though.

 

[nageov3t]

I don't care what the lyrics say, he is *not* singing "revved up like a deuce"

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I don't care what the lyrics say, he is *not* singing "revved up like a deuce"

You're correct. Its really "wrapped up like a douche...".

 

[GenHoth]

Meatloaf - I would do anything for love (But I won't do that)

 

[Away]

Suicide Solution

 

[JohnCU]

this is a song from one of the OC soundtracks (no jokes, please :heart. i've always interpreted it as being about a missed orgasm, that could be a misinterpretation

You left it, I sent it
I want it back
You left it, I sent it
I want it back

If I had you here, I'd clip your wings
Snap you up and leave you sprawling on my pin
This plan of mine is oh so very lame
Can't you see the grass is greener where it rains

You left, I died,
I went and you cried
You came, I think
But I never really know
I've served my time
I've watched you climb
the wrong incline
But what do I know

Accept it, Don't let it
Turn the screw
Accept it, And let it
Scream back at you

Now this applies both equally to you and I
The only thing we share
is the same sky
These empty metaphors
they're all in vain
Like can't you see the grass is greener where it rains

In the garden Snake was a charmin'
And Eve said let's give it a try
Now lead us not into temptation
But no matter how hard I try
When in the garden and
Snake is a charmin'
And Eve says let's give it a try
Eve is the apple of my eye

And I lie behind you
And I cradle you in the palm of me
And I pat your hair down
I think will we sink or swim?
'Cause we could do either or none

 

[CallMeJoe]

My ex-wife never forgave me for explaining to her that Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper was an invitation to suicide.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: Buck Armstrong

Originally posted by: loki8481
I don't care what the lyrics say, he is *not* singing "revved up like a deuce"

You're correct. Its really "wrapped up like a douche...".

 

[acheron]

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
My ex-wife never forgave me for explaining to her that Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper was an invitation to suicide.

I think the band denied that, but that's what it always sounded like to me, too.

My vote goes to R.E.M.'s "The One I Love".

 

[Row1and]

This is all confusing to me.

I think Baby got back by sir mix-a-lot is very misinterpreted!

 

[heymrdj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LucfKdukf10

I would have to say this.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: acheron2112

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
My ex-wife never forgave me for explaining to her that Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper was an invitation to suicide.

I think the band denied that, but that's what it always sounded like to me, too.

My vote goes to R.E.M.'s "The One I Love".

They did deny it. They said it was really about how love can transcend death, or some such claptrap. Either way, its a great song.

 

[mugs]

Hotel California

 

[Caveman]

"Campfire at Bitterman's" - Pearl Jam

 

[mugs]

He's talking about misinterpreted lyrics, like the example in his OP. Not misheard song lyrics, like "hold me closer, Tony Danza"

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Radiohead: Karma Police...and the actual lyrics are wierder than anything you could make up. I thought it was a sad love song when I first heard it. "How powerful and haunting", I thought. Then I read the lyrics...WTF?!

Still a good song.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Oh, and every single song by the Misfits.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
this is a song from one of the OC soundtracks (no jokes, please :heart. i've always interpreted it as being about a missed orgasm, that could be a misinterpretation

Dear god I ope you're just listening to the sound track and not watching the show.

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
My ex-wife never forgave me for explaining to her that Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper was an invitation to suicide.

are you serious? lol

 

[imported_Champ]

people misinterpret American Woman a lot too but its really anti-American (only a Canadian can write a song that hits #1 with so much anti-Americanism in it)

I don?t need your war machines
I don?t need your ghetto scenes
Coloured lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else?s eyes
Now woman, get away from me American woman, mama let me be.

listen to it as a Canadian and you'll understand

I saw Randy Bachman live and he said it was about the statue of liberty and keeping Americanism imperialism out of Canada and the rest of the world

I remember when I was in Vegas it got a group of 3 american guy so pissed (they didnt know The Guess Who was Canadian) by telling them what it was really about

 

[CallMeJoe]

Originally posted by: Buck Armstrong

Originally posted by: acheron2112

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
My ex-wife never forgave me for explaining to her that Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper was an invitation to suicide.

I think the band denied that, but that's what it always sounded like to me, too.

My vote goes to R.E.M.'s "The One I Love".

They did deny it. They said it was really about how love can transcend death, or some such claptrap. Either way, its a great song.

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain..we can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...

Valentine is done
Here but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity...Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday...Like Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday...Redefine happiness
Another 40,000 coming everyday...We can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...

Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew then disappeared
The curtains flew then he appeared...saying don't be afraid
Come on baby...and she had no fear
And she ran to him...then they started to fly
They looked backward and said goodbye...she had become like they are
She had taken his hand...she had become like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper

 

[CallMeJoe]

What about all those Beach Boys songs that people misinterpret as good?

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: Buck Armstrong

Originally posted by: acheron2112

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
My ex-wife never forgave me for explaining to her that Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper was an invitation to suicide.

I think the band denied that, but that's what it always sounded like to me, too.

My vote goes to R.E.M.'s "The One I Love".

They did deny it. They said it was really about how love can transcend death, or some such claptrap. Either way, its a great song.

what he said.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: Buck Armstrong
Oh, and every single song by the Misfits.

I got something to say... I killed your baby today.. and it doesn't matter that much to me as long as its deaaaaaad.