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(#1) Jeremy
- Pearl Jam
While Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" is focused on a student taking his own life in front of his class in 1991 in Texas.
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(#17) Born in the U.S.A.
- Bruce Springsteen, E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
One of the most misinterpreted songs in the Bruce Springsteen canon, "Born in the USA" isn't a cherry anthem of patriotic flag-waving, but a scathing indictment of the treatment of Vietnam veterans.
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(#18) Listen to Her Heart
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Who was the "he" mentioned in the song who was going to take Tom Petty's lady away with promises of the fast life? Apparently, it was Ike Turner, who hit on Petty's wife, Jane, at a party.
Jane rebuffed Turner's advances, but Tom saw the whole thing go down and wrote the song in response.
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(#25) Bachman-Turner Overdrive - 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet'
A case of a seemingly tossed off song becoming a monster hit, Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" started its life as a rehearsal piece that for which Randy Bachman had only written temporary lyrics. The trademark stutter in the song was a way for Randy to tweak his brother Gary's stutter.
It was never meant for public consumption, but was included on the band's 1974 album Not Fragile because they needed one more track.
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(#24) The Kinks - 'Lola'
One of the biggest hits for the Kinks, "Lola" was inspired not by a fictional character, but by songwriter Ray Davies finding out that the band's manager, Robert Wace, had unknowingly spent an evening with a transgender individual in the midst of transition. The song was censored by many radio stations who were uncomfortable with the song's subject, which was considered taboo for the time.
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(#13) Sister
- Prince
Buried on Prince's 1980 album Dirty Mind is "Sister," a short funk track about seducing one's… well, you know. Prince fans thought the track was pure fantasy, but when more biographical details about the Purple One started to come out, the song took on a weird, dark meaning.
It seems that a 16-year-old Prince spent some time living with his half-sister, who was 32.
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About This Tool
Sad songs don't have to be based on real tragedy. But some hits speak the truth about the worst heartbreak things in life. Some of the most iconic songs of all time came about the real experiences of artists or bands. Breakups, divorce, friendships, betrayals, and mental health struggles are just a few of the life experiences that have inspired some of the most famous songs.
People rarely have a chance to know the intention of the songwriter or music artists. This page collates 14 entries, there is a collection of depressing stories behind some of the most popular songs in modern history. You can find more information.
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