This famous ballad by Green Day became a massive hit back in the day, in part due to the fact that the popular TV show ‘Seinfeld’ used it in its season finale in 1998. The song has become a permanent fixture in important events – graduations, proms, weddings – thanks to its nostalgic tune.
Funnily enough, it seems nobody ever stopped to properly research the song’s lyrics, or its title, for that matter. The song is not about a nostalgic goodbye to unforgettable times but rather a resentful scolding towards a girlfriend who will regret leaving the “time of her life” one day.
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler
In 1983, music charts everywhere were topped with Bonnie Tyler's hit song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart." And even though you'd be hard-pressed to find somebody that doesn't know this 80's hit, most people are unaware of its actual meaning. As it turns out, the song's producer, Jim Steinman, wrote the song for Tyler after she had said no to two previous versions he'd written.
Apparently, Steinman had been working on a musical based on the vampire tale of Nosferatu, called "Vampires in Love," which he fixed and slightly changed until he arrived at the final product: "Total Eclipse of the Heart." So yes, this 80's anthem is basically a love song for vampires.
"Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen's classic song, "Born in the U.S.A.," is an excellent example of a song that has been misunderstood for over 30 years. Even though the song's lyrics are about a man who's been sent to fight in the Vietnam War and comes home with severe psychological trauma, the loud, powerful music of the chorus made many believe it was actually some sort of 'proud to be American anthem, especially when Springsteen shouts out, "Born in the U.S.A".
In fact, it was so misunderstood that even then-president Reagan name-dropped the song, much to Springsteen's dismay. The musician vehemently explained the song's true meaning and even released an acoustic version, so the upbeat sound didn't mask the lyrics.
"Always" by Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi was one of the hottest bands of the 90s, topping music charts with hits like "It's My Life," "Bed of Roses," and "I'll Be There for You." But one of their biggest hits was 1994's "Always." As most previous Bon Jovi songs usually had a romantic undertone and were always about a declaration of love, in some way or other, people assumed that "Always" was another love ballad.
However, most of these people seemed to look over the fact that this song had a much darker backstory, which could be heard in its lyrics. As Jon Bon Jovi himself explained of the song, “It’s a sick little twisted lyric. So many people feel it’s so romantic and so wonderful, but truthfully, this guy is practically a stalker. He’s a sick human being.”
"American Pie" by Don McLean
Don McLean's 1971 iconic song, "American Pie," became a symbol of the times, and even though almost 50 years have passed since its release, you can still hear it today at friendly music jams, bonfires, karaoke parties, and more, all across the U.S. However, anybody who's ever listened carefully to the lyrics can quickly feel their nostalgic and depressing nature. Since its release, the song has been covered by countless artists, including Madonna's popular cover in the year 2000. But people just chant the famous "Bye, Bye Miss American Pie" and often forget what the original song was actually about.
The lyrically deep song is actually about the infamous 1959 plane crash that claimed the lives of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and J.P. Richardson, and which is widely known as "the day the music died." McLean auctioned the original manuscript in 2015, saying, "Basically, in 'American Pie, things are heading in the wrong direction. It is becoming less ideal, less idyllic. I was around in 1970, and now I am around in 2015. There is no poetry and very little romance in anything anymore, so it is really like the last phase of 'American Pie.'"