Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" is about Elvis Presley.

Supposedly, James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" is about drug abuse.

Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" is her singing to God. All this time, I thought it was a regular sappy love song to some random dude.

The Eagles' "Hotel California" is not about Satan, but a metaphor for the music industry and how sometimes how you end up owing your soul to the record company.

Speaking of the record companies, Billy Squier's "The Stroke" is about record executives making deals with singers and not about masturbation. Which is funny, since VH1 put it on their list of "Dirtiest Songs."

Replies: (list all replies)

Chewy, since when has a program director at VH1 (or MTV) ever had to check FACTS when they create their list-based shows? LOL! I had a feeling about Debby Boone. Her dad is totally creepy, but she's a well-known ''gospel'' singer (read: religious musician). But that tidbit on Depeche Mode is interesting. My brother traveled to Chicago to play at the lead singer's wedding a while back. I asked if he played 'Strange Love.' He didn't. Crud. LOL! --susie

---

Posted by: Fanta C
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 21:01:48 2008
Message:

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" reportedly came from a drawing Julian Lennon made of a classmate...

Replies: (list all replies)

I remember reading that somewhere. That's what John CLAIMS it's about. I'm still thinking there was LSD involved and I seriously doubt Julian had taken a hit. LOL! --susie

LOL, I ALWAYS thought it was about LSD, until I read that... maybe a bit of both... Fanta C

---

Posted by: bad dog
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 20:58:53 2008
Message:

Story has it Phil Collins wrote In the Air Tonight about an incident he saw happen on a yachet.  Years after the incident Phil invited the man from the incident to a front row concert seat and shone a single spotlight on the man while he sang ''In the Air Tonight'' live for the first time.

Although I have also heard Phil Collins denies that story and says the song is about his marital breakup.  But the first story makes for better gossip.

Replies: (list all replies)

*snickering at your posting name* LOVE IT! And I'm always one for good gossip, so we'll go with the yachting accident. I like that song. They used it on DOOL back in the '80s when it was a hit. The radio station I listen to at work often mentions that Phil Collins' songs are usually about his breakups. And he's had many. --susie

I LOVE that song. My dad used to play it LOUD when we were growing up and it used to scare my youngest sister. So when she got married, for the father/daughter dance, she had that one played. I always think of my dad when I hear it.--Sarah

---

Posted by: Mac Mac
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 20:57:38 2008
Message:
June Carter Cash wrote "Ring of Fire" when she was so deeply in love with Johnny and she was married already.  Love Mac Mac

Replies: (list all replies)

*sigh* Reminds me of Capp and her obsession with ''Walk the Line.'' I've heard other falsities (is that a word?) about ''Ring of Fire'' -- that it's about a feeling you get when you have the poops. LOL! HUGS to you Queen Mac Mac. --susie

---

Posted by: Jana
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 20:41:26 2008
Message:

Dolly Pardon's Coat of Many Colors was supposedly about kids at school making fun of a coat her mother made her.  If that is true, those kids are laughing on the other side of their face today.

Replies: (list all replies)

YEAH, they are! --susie

---

Posted by: Tooncey
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 20:24:49 2008
Message:

Elton John's 'Philadelphia Freedom' is about his friend Billie Jean King when she played on a tennis team called the Philadelphia Freedoms. 

Also, Elton's 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight' is about a girl he was engaged to before he started his music career.  He was told he was no good at music and pressured by family to get married and 'get a real job.'  The girl's dad owned a business like a pickle factory or something weird like that lol and and Elton {well actually real name back then was Reginald Dwight) was supposed to work there.  Some of his closest friends convinced him not to and the rest is history.

Replies: (list all replies)

NICE! I knew I'd get some interesting facts in this post. LOVE Elton John. And I'm so glad he didn't drop his music to marry a woman. --susie

I always heard that he tried to kill himself with natural gas and someone saved him. LOL. Oh well. eom/pm

---

Posted by: ingyandbert
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 19:56:46 2008
Message:
Like I mentioned in the Carly Simo topic, Anticipation was written about how she felt while waiting for her hot date with Cat Stevens.  That has always cracked me up, I guess because Cat Stevens is not the first person I think of when I think hot date.

Replies: (list all replies)

OMG, no! Not an anticipatory date at ALL! (click inside) --susie

Wanna see my moonshadow? LOL! ~i&b

The song Anticipation always makes me think of..... KETCHUP!!!! Remember that commercial? eom/pm

Yup, guess the date didn't go that well if Carly was willing to license the song for KETCHUP, lol! ~i&b

Shadow and the Fire Cat (if I remember the name of the album correctly) was out when I was around 12 or so. At the time I thought he was a real cutie pie... Looking at the inside pic, OMG. My taste has improved with age... and that pic looks ridiculous... I never saw a fully dressed dude looking so positively pornish!!!! LOL. ....... Fanta C

Teaser and the Fire Cat ... I knew I was remembering wrong.... ... Fanta C

---

Posted by: amie
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 19:40:09 2008
Message:
REM's "Choosing My Religion" is about the pressure Michael Stipes felt about being forced to "come out". He did not think it was anyone's business, yet the music community and other gay advocates were pressuring him to admit he was gay. He wasn't ashamed, he just wanted to be private about his life. It's a great song though, regardless of how it came about.

Replies: (list all replies)

Oops, the song is Losing my Religion, not choosing my religion~amie

Hi Amie!! Nice to see you over here. I feel like I SHOULD have known that, but didn't. I cracked up recently when the media jumped all over his ''official'' coming out (or something). It had to have been a ploy to get publicity for the new record. REM is one of my favorite groups - particularly their earlier stuff. --susie

---

Posted by: Anne
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 19:35:09 2008
Message:

Of course "American Pie" is about Buddy Holly.

"You're So Vain" I believe is about Warren Beatty. Mick Jagger sang background vocals.

Wings' "Band on the Run" is about Mcartney's jail time for pot posession.

I thought "Puff the Magic Dragon" was about pot too. LOL

"Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd is about bandmate Syd Barrett who was institutionalized.

"Woolly Bully" was about a cat.

 

 

 

 

 

Replies: (list all replies)

DANG, girl!!! You're loaded with info. I knew about ''American Pie'' and suspected about ''Puff the Magic Dragon.'' LOL! Thanks for the scoop! --susie

Actually Band on the Run came about about six years prior to McCartney's jail time for marijuana. Ginger G

---

Posted by: SherylM
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 19:05:21 2008
Message:
Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" as "Hey Jules," a song meant to comfort John Lennon's son Julian as his parents were getting a divorce. He changed the title to "Jude" which came from a character in Oklahoma the musical.  Hey Jude is my favorite Beatles song.

Replies: (list all replies)

I knew about that one. Poor Julian. Once John married Yoko and they had Sean, it was like Julian didn't even exist! And he's a dead-ringer for his dad, too. I have always admired Paul for writing that song. --susie

---

Posted by: lifetimeviewer
Date posted: Wed Apr 30 19:01:08 2008
Message:
Paul Simon's "Mother and Child Reunion" got its name from a bowl of chicken/egg drop soup in a Chinese restaurant.

Replies: (list all replies)

LOL! That's hilarious. But Paul Simon has always amused me. --susie

---

---