Songs that are not what they seem...

[JustaBurnerName]

Inspired by the other 'Songs that...' threads, I wanted to do one for songs that are not what they initially seem. So they could be happy, upbeat songs about things definitely not happy and upbeat.

I'm thinking anything from sad and depressing, creepy, up to out and out just weird and wrong etc

I know there are going to be so many of these but to start I'll go with:

Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks (Could add I Don't Like Mondays by The Booomtown Rats in the same vein, but it's not particularly upbeat and happy like FtP)

Nirvana - Pennyroyal Tea and Been a Son (many other Nirvana could be added here tbf)

Paloma Faith - Just Be (Different twist on a love song)

Stay Another Day - East 17 is about suicide.

Sorry, that's a very sad example of what you were talking about. I'm trying to think of other happier songs. Three by Lily Allen seems to be a love song in the very beginning but it isn't.

Sorry, didn't mean to put a damper on your thread. Hope someone else can think of some cheerier examples.

Golden Brown - The Stranglers.

One by REM. Sounds like a love song but is really a a put down to an ex.

Chandelier by Sia is about alcoholism.

The obvious one for me is Every Breath You Take by The Police being about a stalker, but apparently gets quite a few requests as a first wedding dance

Secret Smile by Semisonic is about a girl's vagina, and access thereto.

I've always been convinced that Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode) is a love song to heroin hiding in plain sight, given that Gahan was a major addict at the time. ("All I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here in my arms...")

Run for Your Life by The Beatles. A jaunty and upbeat tune about killing your girlfriend in case she’s cheating. An example of John Lennon at his most mad and misogynistic (but a brilliant song!)

Dido Thank You. It wasn't until Enimen asked to sample it for Stan that she saw another side to the song.

You Do Something to Me by Paul Weller

Seems to be thought of as romantic despite it being about unrequited love / toxic relationship. (Ive even heard this used as a first dance at a wedding!)

Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA. Often misappropriated by idiotic "patriots" who haven't listened to the lyrics.

@BIoodyStupidJohnson no way! I'm going to have to listen to Secret Smile again now but through a different lens (Lens? Listen? You know what I mean anyway)

One of my friends thought Let It Be was a religious song, and didn't believe me when I told her it was about Paul's own mother, Mary.

Can probably add Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden too?

Sufjan Stevens Casimir Pulaski about bone cancer.

Every Breath You Take is a stalker song - Sting keeping an eye on his ex wife.

Can't feel my face by The Weeknd is about coke