10 Misunderstood Songs

Not songs where the lyrics are commonly misheard, but rather songs where the underlying meaning has either been misunderstood or wilfully ignored.

Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
People think . . .
. . . that it's an anti-conscription song protesting the Vietnam War. Y'see, his "old lady" represents the third world, the "other man" she's been messin' around with is international communism, and he's "goin' down to Mexico" to dodge the draft, et cetera et cetera.
But really . . .
. . . it's an old-fashioned narrative blues song, written well before the escalation of America's involvement in Vietnam, which tells the story of a man who shoots his unfaithful wife before going on the lam.

Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
People think . . .
. . . that it's about the Vietnam War, mainly due to its appropriation by films like Full Metal Jacket and the TV series Tour of Duty.
But really . . .
. . . it's simply a song about a guy who's depressed after his girlfriend has died.

In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
People think . . .
. . . that Phil Collins wrote this song after watching a man leave someone to drown. After spending several years dogged by the memory, Phil tracks the man down and invites him to one of his concerts. Phil then dedicates this song to the stranger and focusses the spotlight on him while he plays the song. The guy is so moved by the song that he either becomes a born-again Christian or commits suicide (depending on which version you hear). This urban legend has sucked in a surprising number of otherwise intelligent, rational people.
But really . . .
. . . Collins himself has said that the song is about his divorce. And c'mon folks, this is Phil Collins we're talking about. Phil bloody Collins.

Hotel California - The Eagles
People think . . .
. . . that all the biblical imagery used in the song point towards a religious meaning. Interpretations range from Faustian pact-making through evangelical warnings about the oncoming apocalypse toallegations that the song is in praise of Satan worship.
But really . . .
. . . the Eagles intended the song to be a read as a satire of the soul-destroying, back-stabbing LA music industry. The titular hotel isdescribed as a gilded prison from which, once entered, one can never escape.

Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
People think . . .
. . . that this song is a jingoistic celebration of how great it is tobe American. Apparently it inspired such patriotism that the Republicans courted Springsteen for his endorsement during Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign in 1984. U-S-A! U-S-A!
But really . . .
. . . the song is a bitter condemnation of America's involvement in Vietnam. Springsteen originally wrote the song as a quiet, downbeat ballad, but was encouraged to release it as an upbeat pop single forcommercial reasons. As recently as 2003, anti Iraq War demonstrators inAmerica have been met by counterdemonstrators singing Born in the USA. Just like energy, irony never dies - it's merely converted into another form.

Every Breath You Take - The Police
People think . . .
. . . that this is a sedate love ballad, written from the perspective of someone recently deceased who is watching on from heaven.
But really . . .
. . . it's quite a dark song that describes behaviour reminiscent of stalking. Sting wrote the song while he was breaking up (messily) with his wife, and the lyrics reflect a dark mood of possessiveness and vindictiveness.

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
People think . . .
. . . that this is a parochial song about all that's good about the great state of Alabama.
But really . . .
. . . Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote the song as a response to Neil Young's Southern Man, which was critical of the South's racist, misogynist, 'good-ole-boy' image. Sweet Home Alabama is a defence of the South which, while acknowledging some of Young's criticisms, emphasises the good qualities of Southern folk. The band said of Young's song, "Neil shot all his ducks in a row when he was really aiming for just one or two." Young appreciated the response, and occassionally plays Sweet Home Alabama in concert.

99 Red Balloons - Nena
People think . . .
. . . yet another piece of catchy European syntho-fluff, in the samevein as the nonsensical Rock Me Amadeus. Those whacky Germans!
But really . . .
. . . it's about nuclear war. In the early 80s there were rumours thatearly warning detection systems on both sides of the Iron Curtain were so sensitive that even something as innocuous as a flock of birds could send the world's nuclear stockpiles into flight. Nena's band attended a Rolling Stones concert, during which a flotilla of red balloons were released into the sky. This inspired the ironic idea thatthe balloons could, in the midst of a cold war between nervous trigger-happy enemies, spark a nuclear exchange.

Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
People think . . .
. . . more mid-80s syntho-fluff! Those whacky guys, with their 'Frankie says Relax!' t-shirts, their keytars, and their piano-key ties! Or maybe that last bit was just from Zoolander.
But really . . .
. . . to be blunt, it's all about buggery. When the song became an unexpected hit in the UK and DJs finally cottoned on to what the lyrics meant, the BBC made a belated attempt to ban it from the airwaves. Of course, this action only resulted in an extended run at the top of the charts for the song.

White Riot - The Clash
People think . . .
. . . that, based on the Clash's punk-rock aesthetic, the song is an anthem for white supremacists.
But really . . .
. . . the song is a call-to-arms, but it's nothing to do with racism. The song's writer, Joe Strummer, was frustrated by the political apathyof Britain's white youth. He wrote the song as an exhortation for them to be more politically active, and to emulate their black counterparts by finding worthy causes to support.

Agree? Disagree? Comments? Requests? Please leave a comment or email me at frankie.dragon@gmail.com.