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Original poster

Meanings behind songs that people don't seem to know...

605 replies

Arlanymor · 28/10/2025 21:38

Do you remember the Real Fires advert with the dog kissing the cat and the cat kissing a mouse? My mum brought it up the other day as one of their neighbours has just got a dog that looks identical to the one in the advertisement. Awww!

I couldn't quite remember the song that was the soundtrack so I looked it up later... it's Will You Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles and I brought it up on YouTube to listen to it. It's about a one night stand isn't it? I had no idea until now... there I was thinking it was a lovely warm anthem for chaste kisses between pets!

By the way, not remotely making a judgement about the topic, I've a had a few 'Shirelles' nights of my own in the past... I just never knew what it was about before. Have you had any similar revelations?!

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 29/10/2025 11:19

RaraRachael · 29/10/2025 11:18

My dad used to call George Formby a dirty old bugger but didn't elaborate as to why.

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His songs were filthy for the time. My grandad loved him

Mothership4two · 29/10/2025 11:18

BoomBoom70 · 29/10/2025 11:09

I’m trying to think of something cool but failing, so here’s one about The Black Death

“Ring a ring of roses
A pocket full of posies
Atishoo, Atishoo
we all fall down”

Except it isn't, but it's a common misconception. It isn't old enough and it doesn't describe the symptoms of the plague

https://www.tiktok.com/@theqielves/video/7480510971719650562

RaraRachael · 29/10/2025 11:18

Nolongera · 29/10/2025 11:15

I have a strong suspicion the George Formby song " with me little ukulele in me hand" isn't about his little ukulele.

He normally played the banjolele. It's not about that either.

My dad used to call George Formby a dirty old bugger but didn't elaborate as to why.

Needhelp101 · 29/10/2025 11:16

I'm onto Ebeneezer Good. About as subtle as a brick to the face 😂

Nolongera · 29/10/2025 11:15

I have a strong suspicion the George Formby song " with me little ukulele in me hand" isn't about his little ukulele.

He normally played the banjolele. It's not about that either.

PrawnofthePatriarchy · 29/10/2025 11:14

LaserPumpkin · 29/10/2025 00:53

Although he’s denied it, but then according to John Lennon Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was not about drugs either, so…

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Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds originated from a painting done by John's son. That was the title the boy gave it. I know this because I used to work for Lucy's father. Lucy and John's son were in the same class.

Bringonthefatfurcat · 29/10/2025 11:10

ThatBlackCat · 29/10/2025 10:26

I've never even heard of the song Golden Brown. But: "The needle tears a hole" from Hurt' would make me think of a girl losing her virginity/hymen. The penis being the needle. That would be my automatic first thought.

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Fucking hell. And you think taking drugs is ‘seedy.’ That’s another level of weird

BoomBoom70 · 29/10/2025 11:09

I’m trying to think of something cool but failing, so here’s one about The Black Death

“Ring a ring of roses
A pocket full of posies
Atishoo, Atishoo
we all fall down”

KimberleyClark · 29/10/2025 11:00

If ou have a dirty mind the Frank Ifield song She Taught Me To Yodel might be construe d as being about something other than singing lessons……

VickyEadieofThigh · 29/10/2025 10:54

LaserPumpkin · 29/10/2025 00:11

I Will Always Love You - played so often at weddings, but it’s a breakup song.

Friends long ago had "With or without you" as their first dance song. I remember my partner and I pulling the "WTF?" face at that one.

Ironically, the bloke of the friend (and he really was a lovely bloke) had the same song as "our song" with his previous girlfriend.

MyCheekyEagle · 29/10/2025 10:54

As a child I merrily sang along to the seemingly innocent lyrics of I've got a brand new combine harvester by the Wurzels. I might be wrong but now I think there's a double entendre in the lyrics. Who'd have thought it, good wholesome, family fun Wurzels would have a an underlying sex meaning to their songs 😆

Katiesaidthat · 29/10/2025 10:53

Needhelp101 · 29/10/2025 09:59

Elvis was blonde?!

And yes, I am listening to Black Velvet right now.

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He had medium brown hair naturally. Priscilla also died her hair black as he liked it that way.

Dontlickthebin · 29/10/2025 10:52

Ebeneezer Goode by The Shamen anyone? A quite literal endorsement to take pills camouflaged in a tune about a local eccentric gentleman. Genius!

Thecarstairsitreallyhurtsmegirl · 29/10/2025 10:47

The Small Faces.Here comes the nice.
He's got what I need
He's always there when I need some speed.
Not hidden but got past the BBC.
Years before Ebenezer good..the Shamen.

MyCheekyEagle · 29/10/2025 10:44

@emilysquest & @SriouslyWhutNow
Calm down, why the anger? It's supposed to be a light hearted thread, did you know?
Most people don't get the meanings of songs cos it's sometimes hard to decipher the lyrics, & they pay more attention to the music & have a bit of a sing-a-long than the underlying meanings 🙄

ThatBlackCat · 29/10/2025 10:41

These must be newer songs some are discussing. The only 'Relax' song I know was from Frankie goes to Hollywood.

PastaAllaNorma · 29/10/2025 10:41

This has been educational. I didn't even know the titles of loads of these so googling them for the lyrics has been a series of "Oh! So that's what that song is called..." moments.
For example, I didn't know the I Could Be song was actually called Grace Kelly. I'm hopeless.

When it comes to "what is a song really about" drugs, sex or abuse of women seem to cover about 90%.

Needhelp101 · 29/10/2025 10:38

CurlewKate · 29/10/2025 10:29

I hate the fact that people call their children Delilah.
I hate that people think Fairy Tale of New York is a cute Christmas song.

"You're a bum, you're a punk"
"You're an old slut on junk"

It's not cute. I do love it though, it's a heartbreaking song.

Guiltfreehappiness · 29/10/2025 10:38

Relax was banned from radio for a time I recall…

Guiltfreehappiness · 29/10/2025 10:38

WinterFrogs · 29/10/2025 06:17

The Winds Of Change by Scorpions. Beautiful melodies and didn't really take notice of the lyrics, to my shame ( at the time)

Also in defence of some of us older posters, some of us spent ages trying to work out lyrics of a song, by taping it from the radio, them repeatedly pressing pause/play and writing the lyrics as we heard them. If you were lucky, the lyrics would be written on the record sleeve or you'd find them in Smash Hits. It made for a few misheard lyrics and earnest discussions at school!

I was 18 when Relax came out, and my mum kept on at me wanting to know why the song was banned. I'll never know if she genuinely didn't understand, or if she was testing me. I said I had no idea.

Haha. Yes those were the days !!

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 29/10/2025 10:34

Petula Clark "Downtown".
"forget all your worries, forget all your cares..."

When I was going out with my mates, we went "uptown" or "up west" to the West End of London - even though we actually travelled south to get there.

So I thought downtown was the nasty, seedy part of a town, full of drugs & prossies.

Everanewbie · 29/10/2025 10:34

Has anyone mentioned 99 Red Balloons? Nuclear war.

PullTheBricksDown · 29/10/2025 10:33

TheSilentSister · 29/10/2025 02:13

My own DM listened to a lot of Dr Hook. There was noooo mistaking what his songs were about even at a tender age of 12. Makes my knees wobble now thinking about it (plans to play it next time b/g is here). Lol.

When you're in love with a beautiful woman... It's hard 😉

Anyone else find the determination in A Little Bit More creepy? 'When your body's had enough of me..' take the hint, dude!

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 29/10/2025 10:30

Kingsleadhat · 29/10/2025 00:48

So apparently is Lou Reed's Perfect Day

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I knew that about Perfect Day but not about Golden Brown.

CurlewKate · 29/10/2025 10:29

I hate the fact that people call their children Delilah.
I hate that people think Fairy Tale of New York is a cute Christmas song.