What's That Song About? The Meanings Behind Popular Rock Songs

It's always fun to speculate on what a song is about. Some songs have hidden meanings and cryptic undertones. And others are...well, just songs. Here are the meanings behind some popular rock songs.

"Sweet Caroline"- Neil Diamond (1969). This real meaning of this catchy tune remained a mystery for nearly 40 years, until 2007, when Neil Diamond revealed that the tune was actually about Caroline Kennedy. At the time the song was recorded, Caroline Kennedy was just 11 years old, so Diamond's lyrics "Touching me, touching you" now seem more than a little creepy.

"Layla"- Derek & the Dominos (1970). This song was written by Eric Clapton about Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend George Harrison. Harrison's wife and Clapton were having an affair at the time. She eventually left Harrison and married Clapton. In her 2007 book titled "Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Me", Boyd writes in detail about how the song "Layla" brought their love affair out in the open.

"Stairway to Heaven" -Led Zeppelin (1971). While satanic rumors about this song swirl, the general consensus is that this song is about a woman who has extraordinary wealth, but finds that money can't buy her happiness.

"You're So Vain"- Carly Simon(1972). For decades people have wondered just who this song is about. In this song, Simon paints a portrait of a vain and egotistical man, with most people believing the song is either about Mick Jagger or Warren Beatty. In truth, the world may never know. IN 2003 Simon auctioned off the songs "secret" identity in a charity auction. The winner of the auction, NBC sports exec Dick Ebersol, was sworn to secrecy before Simon revealed the secret name to him. Incidentally, if you listen to the song closely you can hear Mick Jagger singing backup vocals on it.

"Angie" The Rolling Stones (1973). This ballad by the Rolling Stones was widely believed to be about Angela Bowie, the then-wife of singer David Bowie. But Keith Richards, the primary writer of the song, claimed that he used the name Angie after the birth of his daughter, Angela.

"Philadelphia Freedom"- Elton John (1975). Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote this song as a tribute to a surprising subject: tennis star Billie Jena King. At the time King had a pro tennis team called the Philadelphia Freedoms. Who knew? And I always thought this song was about the bicentennial.

"I Don't Like Mondays"- Boomtown Rats (1979). This song is about a true incident that occurred in San Diego in 1979. A high school student named Brenda Spencer went to the local elementary school and shot off a rifle, killing the principal and the custodian and injuring 8 children. Later, when asked why she did it Spencer quipped, "I just don't like Mondays".

"You Oughta Know"- Alanis Morissette (1995). Whenever a song is about by a scorned female, everyone assumes it's about the singer's real life relationship. This song was no exception. With blistering lyrics-this girl was pissed off-- the song blasts angry words at an ex lover. Popular belief is that the song was written about Morissette's ex, Dave Coulier, who played Joey Gladstone on the TV series Full House. But Morissette has said she will never reveal the identity of the man behind the song.

"Puff the Magic Dragon"- Peter, Paul and Mary (1963). This song has been widely speculated to be about marijuana, but the band has claimed that it's about the innocence of childhood. Indeed, the song later appeared on a 1969 children's album. Fans of the Ben Stiller movie Meet the Parents may remember that the meaning of this song was the subject of an argument between Greg (Stiller) and his fiancé's scary dad (Robert DeNiro).

Sources:

Wikipedia

RollingStone

CNN