10 Popular Songs That Are Often Misunderstood

A fair number of songs have been misunderstood by the general public, but there are usually also many people who know the real meaning. Politicians love to play Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” at political rallies to show their patriotism, but there are plenty of fans of The Boss who know that the song is actually a searing critique of America. And for every couple that plays The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” at their wedding, there are just as many people who know that the song is actually about a disturbing obsession.

This list gathers together 10 popular songs that are commonly misunderstood and don’t have their meaning corrected nearly as often as the two songs mentioned above.

Related: 10 Musicians Who Were Actually Two-Hit Wonders

10 “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day

“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” was released in 1997 and became a popular song to play at proms, with lyrics that seem fittingly nostalgic for looking back on the high school experience. (LINK 1) While the lyrics in the chorus—”It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right, / I hope you had the time of your life”—certainly sound like a nice sentiment, the song’s main title, “Good Riddance,” gives a better indication of what it’s really about.

Green Day’s lead vocalist and guitarist, Billie Joe Armstrong, was inspired to write the song after a bad breakup. “I wrote the song as a kind of bon voyage,” he explained. “I was trying not to be bitter, but I think it came out a little bit bitter anyway.” As a result, the lyrics carry a sarcastic edge to them, but plenty of people miss this and take them at face value.^[1]

9 “Gangnam Style” by Psy

Back in 2012, “Gangnam Style” burst onto the music scene in a bold style, with its music video becoming the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views. Although the song took the world by storm, most English-speaking people were unaware of the song’s meaning—partly due to the language barrier and partly because of their unfamiliarity with Korean culture. While the music video indicates that Psy is playing a caricature of some sort, people mainly focused on the silly horse riding dance.

Gangnam is a wealthy neighborhood in Seoul that is full of rich trust-fund kids, and “Gangnam Style” is a pointed criticism of people chasing this shallow and materialistic lifestyle when they don’t even have the means. For instance, Psy sings about “A classy lady who knows how to enjoy a cup of coffee,” which may seem odd, but in Korea, as blogger Jea Kim explains, “there’s a joke poking fun at women who eat 2,000 won (about $2) ramen for lunch and then spend 6,000 won on Starbucks coffee.” Psy uses expensive coffee as an example of people foolishly spending on luxury to show off when they can’t really afford it.

The music video plays into the song’s satire, with Psy essentially mocking ostentatious displays of wealth and revealing that they’re often hollow. For instance, the video opens with a shot of Psy looking like he’s relaxing on a beach, but then the camera pulls back to reveal that he’s actually at a playground.^[2]

8 “The One I Love” by R.E.M.

The very first line of R.E.M.’s “The One I Love” (1987) makes it sound like it’s going to be a love song: “This one goes out to the one I love.”) But all of the lyrics after that opening line clearly reveal that the song isn’t romantic at all. “This one goes out to the one I’ve left behind / A simple prop to occupy my time” certainly isn’t something to say to a lover.

That “The One I Love” is misunderstood baffles the band. “I’d look into the audience, and there would be couples kissing,” guitarist Peter Buck explained. “Yet the verse is… savagely anti-love… People told me that was ‘their song.’ That was your song?” Lead singer Michael Stipe went as far as to say that he almost didn’t record the song because he thought it was “really violent and awful” and “too brutal.”^[3]

7 “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie

Aside from “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” may be the most patriotic American song of all time. Listeners themselves aren’t at fault for misunderstanding the song because the version that is usually sung doesn’t include all of the original lyrics.

In 1939, Guthrie was tired of hearing Irving Berlin’s sappy and patriotic “God Bless America,” so he decided to write a cutting response. Originally called “God Blessed America for Me,” Guthrie’s song starts out praising the greatness of America before finishing with a few verses that are rather more critical. One verse speaks to the country’s lack of care for people in need: “By the relief office I seen my people; / As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking / Is this land made for you and me?” The earliest known recording of the song—from 1944—cut that verse but still featured the lyrics that are critical of private property.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that “This Land Is Your Land” started to take off. Still, all of the most popular versions that were released only recited the straightforwardly positive verses.^[4]

6 “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John

On the surface, Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” (1972) is a fun pop song that looks back on the 1950s and ’60s with nostalgia. The song’s protagonist recalls the good old days when he would go dancing with his girlfriend. While most people focus on the upbeat melody and catchy “la la la la” chorus, the rest of the lyrics reveal a slightly more somber theme. In the verses, the song’s protagonist explains that “Susie went and left us for some foreign guy, / Long nights crying by the record machine.” The singer isn’t looking back with fondness but with sadness that his life went downhill after those days.

Neither Elton John nor writer Bernie Taupin are particularly fond of the misunderstood song. “I don’t want people to remember me for ‘Crocodile Rock,’” Taupin once said. “I’d much rather they remember me for songs like ‘Candle In The Wind’ and ‘Empty Garden,’ songs that convey a message.” Elton John was on the same page, saying, “It became a huge hit record, and in the long run, it became a negative for me.”^[5]

5 “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett

“Margaritaville” (1977) is Jimmy Buffet’s signature song, and its massive success even led to him opening a chain of hugely popular “Margaritaville” themed restaurants. The tune has a laid-back vibe—perfect for listening to while sipping on a margarita in the sun—but the lyrics aren’t quite as easy-breezy as they may initially seem.

The song’s protagonist isn’t “wastin’ away again in Margaritaville” just because he enjoys the relaxed beach lifestyle but because he ruined a romantic relationship. In the first chorus, he claims, “I know it’s nobody’s fault,” but by the final chorus, he admits, “I know it’s my own damn fault.” Added to this heartbreak are glimpses of his foolish, drunken behavior, such as the tattoo he doesn’t even remember getting.^[6]

4 “You Are My Sunshine” by The Pine Ridge Boys

“You Are My Sunshine” has been covered by many big names in the music industry—including Aretha Franklin and Johnny Cash—but the oldest known version of the song was recorded in 1939 by the Pine Ridge Boys (the songwriter is unknown). Although an incredibly famous tune, people typically only know the main chorus, but the verses completely change the meaning of the song. Rather than being a sweet love song, the singer is heartbroken after being left by their lover.

The song opens with the singer dreaming of his lover but then waking up to find her gone, so he “hung his head and cried.” The lyrics of the verses continue in this sad vein: “But now you’ve left me for another / And you’ve shattered all of my dreams.” Although the simple tune is often lovingly sung to children, the full lyrics are actually rather morose.^[7]

3 “Swimming Pools (Drank)” by Kendrick Lamar

For obvious reasons, songs about alcohol are often played in clubs and bars, and Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 hit “Swimming Pools (Drank)” falls into that category despite basically being anti-alcohol. (LINK 17) While the chorus features the lyrics, “First you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it,” these words aren’t supposed to be a straightforward endorsement of getting blackout drunk.

The song is actually about how insidious and destructive drinking culture is, with Kendrick Lamar speaking about alcoholism being passed down through families—”Granddaddy had the golden flask”—and the peer pressure he feels to drink—”babysitting only two or three shots? I’m a show you how to turn it up a notch.”

The song isn’t preachy in its message, but the lyrics speak very openly about Kendrick Lamar’s own journey to sobriety after struggling with alcohol. The song’s introspective verses have been misread by those focusing only on its chorus.^[8]

2 “Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men

The chorus of Baha Men’s “Who Let The Dogs Out” (2000) is the most popular part of the song. It has completely obscured the rest of the lyrics, leading to people misinterpreting it. (LINK 19) Due to being sung by a group of men, some people think that it’s about calling ugly women dogs. But the first verse makes it clear that disrespectful men are actually the dogs: “I tell the fellas start the name callin’ / And the girls respond to the call / I heard a woman shout out / Who let the dogs out?”

In a 2013 interview, songwriter Anslem Douglas explained that the tune “was really a man-bashing song.” As for people misunderstanding the lyrics, he said, “I don’t think people even give a shit what they mean. They just want to get to the point where they can bark. They really don’t care.”^[9]

1 “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” by Beastie Boys

Released in 1986, “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” quickly became the Beastie Boys most popular song, but it’s also widely misunderstood as a straightforward party song. The tune was actually written as a parody of party songs, such as “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister and “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” by Mötley Crüe.

But the fact that the Beastie Boys were mocking that type of music seemed to go over the heads of most listeners. “The only thing that upsets me is that we might have reinforced certain values of some people in our audience when our own values were actually totally different,” Michael “Mike D” Diamond commented in 1987. “There were tons of guys singing along to [Fight for Your Right] who were oblivious to the fact it was a total goof on them. Irony is often missed.”

After attracting a frat boy audience with the song, the band themselves started to change, though. In a 2011 interview with NPR, Adam “MCA” Yauch explained that “it’s almost like we started out kind of like goofing on it but then just sort of became it, in a way.”^[10]