There are two kinds of people in this world- those who never listen to the lyrics of their favorite songs, and those who know all the lyrics but misinterpret what they mean. That’s why “The One I Love” by R.E.M. is on many wedding playlists despite it being about an abusive relationship, and why Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” is used as a patriotic anthem despite it being a complaint about a guy’s awful life. A song is always more than its title, but that’s the thing people remember. Do you know what Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is about? No, because the title has nothing to do with the lyrics, as far as we can tell.
The meaning of some songs is misinterpreted because the word “love” stands out, so it must be a love song. Or there’s a rumor about a hidden meaning that’s completely untrue. Or it’s such a dance bop that it couldn’t possibly say anything deep or philosophical. Sometimes one misheard lyric gives the song an entirely new, but unintentional, meaning. And there are even cases where the the singer and the liner notes disagree over what the lyrics really are. Read up on nine popular songs for which the lyrics are either ignored or misinterpreted at Mental Floss. You can also listen to the article in video form.
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Source: neatorama