Random Popular Songs That Aren't About What You Think They A (14 items)

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  (#13) Love Song Is About Sara Bareilles's Relationship With Her Record Label

  As the song seemed to describe uncertainty in a romantic relationship, Sara Bareilles fans always assumed her breakout hit "Love Song" was about a man. However, in April 2018, Bareilles revealed in a Tweet the song was not about a "he." While some initially assumed Bareilles was coming out as lesbian or bisexual, it didn't take long for Internet sleuths to fill in the gaps and discover the song's true meaning had nothing to do with love or romance. In a 2008 interview, Bareilles revealed she wrote "Love Song" for herself in response to her record label pressuring her to write more conventional songs. 
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  (#8) 'Love Myself' (Hailee Steinfeld) Is About Self-Pleasure

  Who would have thought that the little girl from True Grit would produce the definitive wank anthem for the ages? And it’s not just everyone having dirty minds and reading into the lyrics; Steinfeld herself admits that the song is all about taking care of yourself. During an interview with Noisey, during which she was asked if fans can feel free to view the song as a solo-romp bop, Steinfeld answered “Yes, of course!”. Take a look at some of the lyrics: 

  "Pictures in my mind on replay

  I'm gonna touch the pain away

  I know how to scream my own name

  I'll take it nice and slow

  Feeling good on my own without you, yeah

  Got me speaking in tongues

  The beautiful, it comes without you, yeah."
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  (#3) 'Macarena' Is About Cheating On Your Boyfriend

  Who'd have thought "The Macarena," a song that remains the quintessential end of the night pick for 'most likely to get everyone on the floor, regardless of dance ability,' was about anything more than touching your shoulders and hips? This school disco and wedding staple should be totally innocent, right? Wrong! "The Macarena" is actually about a woman whose boyfriend goes out of town, so she hooks up with his two friends. Take a look at these lyrics:   

  "Now come on, what was I supposed to do? 

  He was out of town and his two friends were so fine." 

  Get it, Macarena. 
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  (#9) Semi-Charmed Life

  • Third Eye Blind

  Most people probably don't look beyond the "doo-doo-doo doo-do-doo-doo" opening of this song by Third Eye Blind and just assume it's a fun bop with a catchy intro. In reality, "Semi-Charmed Life" is filled to the brim with drug references. The lyrical content is about a person's addiction to crystal meth getting the better of them. Lead singer Stephen Jenkins told Billboard that the song is about "snorting speed and getting bl*w jobs." 
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  (#6) 'The A Team' Is About A Crack Addict

  You probably associate Ed Sheeran with earnest acoustic songs about loving you forever, or why won't you love me, Taylor Swift? But one of Sheeran's tracks has a pretty dark subject matter, despite the soft acoustic strains that would normally prep you for an oral love in.  

  "The A Team" is about the not-so-romantic realities of being a crack addict in the streets of London. Sheeran explained that the inspiration for the song came from his time volunteering at homeless shelters, and that the song is specifically based on a woman named Angel.  
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  (#10) Pumped Up Kicks

  • Foster the People

  Who would have thought that "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People was about anything but being a teenager with cool shoes? As it transpires, the song is about a school shooting. Lead singer Mark Foster wrote the song after reading about the rise in mental illness among teenagers:  

  "I kind of wrote the song to bring awareness to the issue. That sort of thing keeps happening more and more in our country; it’s kind of turning into an epidemic. To me the epidemic isn’t gun violence; the epidemic is lack of family, lack of love, and isolation - kids who don’t have anywhere to go or anyone to talk to and that’s what makes them snap." 

  And the chorus does contain the lyrics "all the other kids with the pumped up kicks/you better run, better run, outrun my gun" so...

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