Songs - how did it’s meaning get so lost?

[PrincipalVernon]

Sparked from another thread that was slightly off topic but reminded me how irritated I get by it-
Anyone else feel a slow burning rage when people mistake the meaning of songs so for example I have been to a fair few weddings where the couple walk onto the dance floor and their song is ‘marry you’ or ‘every breath you take’
Now I know it’s their choice, their song so who cares but I can’t help that little build up in side that makes me what to grab the mic and shout ‘listen to the words people!!’
Just want to point out that I’ve never actually done that, I stand there and smile
Am I alone in getting irritated by something so pointless?

HairsprayBabe, how about "Shining Light' by Ash? There are even some bride references.

@ghislaine ooh that could work

Chains that cannot be broken, she insists it’s kinky

It was always "cords that cannot be broken" when DH and I used to sing it at inter-church gatherings. And not kinky at all. Tell her to read the full words.

@QuinionsRainbow - I wouldn’t dream of being so rude as to tell her to read the full words, she’s been an organist playing at at least 5 church services a week for over 40 years, she knows them backwards.

It was cords at school and it’s chains in the (new American Issue) hymnal at her current church.

Of course she knows it’s not literally kinky. She just says her, and a lot of other organists, find hard to hear some of the lyrics (bind us together in love) and not think of bondage. They must have dirty minds! She also dislikes playing Lead us Heavenly Father Lead Us week in week out because one line “may our souls be pure and spotless” sounds like “may arse holes be pure and spotless”. Just the way her mind works.

‘You’re gorgeous ‘ by Babybird. Not heard it at a wedding but often requested on radio love song programmes. It’s about a glamour model, I think.

I had "Something So Right" by Annie Lennox - I still fill up everytime I hear it :-)

Every breath you take is about Sting's divorce from his first wife. 'every vow you break, every claim you stake, ill be watching you'. So still not perfect for a wedding ;)

We really wanted Mardy Bum by Arctic Monkeys as it's DH song to me lol!! Didn't think it would go down too well though...

We had The Ramones - Baby I Love You. Don't think I misinterpreted the lyrics, but ready to be told otherwise.

LYRICS
Have I ever told you how good it feels to hold you
It isn't easy to explain
And though I really keep trying, I think I may start crying
My heart can't wait another day
When you kiss me I've just got to say
see'mon baby
(Baby I love you) Ooh-ee baby
(Baby I love you) Baby I love only you
(Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh)
I can't live without you, I love everything about you
I can't help it if I feel this way
Oh I'm so glad I found you, I want my arms around you
I love to hear you call my name
Oh tell me that you feel the same
see'mon baby
(Baby I love you) Ooh-ee baby
(Baby I love you) Baby I love only you
(Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh)

C.mon baby (Baby I love you)
C.mon baby (Baby I love you)
Sweet baby (Baby I love you)
FADE
C.mon baby (Baby I love you)
Ooh-ee baby (Baby I love you)
Oh, oh oh

We also had Take That Greatest Day and Elbow One Day Like This.

We knew the song for our first dance - Midnight Train to Georgia - had questionable lyrics, but sod it, it was ‘our’ song, it was good to dance too, and I couldn’t think of any straightforward love songs that we both like.

Though if I could go back in time I think I’d probably go for Nick Cave’s Into my Arms, which has already been mentioned on this threads. Love love love the lyrics to that.

My dad walked me into my wedding to I loved her first by heartlands lovely song

We’re rock fans so had Wonderful World by Joey Ramone. DH hates dancing and being centre of attention, so this was perfect for us at 1 minute 40 seconds. Hard to Concentrate by RHCP was a close contender. I still love it so much

As for inappropriate songs I'll throw in a few..
Sugar Walls- Sheena Easton
She Bop- Cyndi Lauper
Master and Servant- Depeche Mode.

'Darling Nikki' though...hahahaha!

I've never been up the aisle but my first dance would have to be led zep Thank You. Beautiful.
Would like it played at my funeral too, along with Wish You Were Here.

I don’t think it matters what it means to the writer of the song, nor ALL the words really, but certainly some are clearly not ideal 🤣
I think the thing that matters most, is what it means to the couple 🤷🏻‍♀️

I find funeral music much harder to choose because I think the words are far more important. When we were organising my Dad’s funeral my Mum wanted a song that they both loved, but had never realised was about an affair. I was torn between just having it played & knowing lots of people would be or upsetting her and telling her what it was about. I ended up telling her. I still think it was the right decision, but equally still feel terrible about upsetting her more.

Walked down the aisle to chi mai by ennio morricone. Can't remember what we left to!
First dance was-this guy's in love with you by herb alpert & second was somewhere only we know by keane(our tune).
Dh says God only knows really applies to him even after 12 years of marriage.

@MyChildrenHaveHorns I walked out to Hard to Concentrate and it was perfect!

Our first dance was “I just can’t stop loving you” ... would still choose it all these years later because (1) it wasn’t the fashionable love song of the moment when we married, (2) it was sung by an artist that DH and I both loved as kids and (3) our DCs now love listening to MJ. Whenever I hear it now I get tears in my eyes.

I know someone who does wedding discos and for a while one of the most popular choices for the first dance was "Band of Gold". He never had the heart to tell them it was about a break up not a wedding.

I also know a couple who's first dance was to Sam Smith's "Stay With Me". Everyone was saying how lovely the song was, think I was the only one actually listening to the lyrics...
Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand
But I still need love cause I'm just a man
These nights never seem to go to plan
I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand?

Oh won't you stay with me?
Cause you're all I need
This ain't love, it's clear to see
But darling, stay with me

Attended a very sad memorial service for a young man killed in an accident, called Ben. A group of his friends ( in 20’s) sang the Michael Jackson song Ben which is about a pet rat.
Struck us older folk there as rather odd.

Now I remember the song Ben in the context of the That’s Life programme where it was used to raise funds in jrmiry if s lityke boy with leukaemia I think it was.

AlexanderHamilton the little lad was called Ben hardwick and he he needed a liver transplant( I remember this as I knew his dad when I was young)

Yes I remember now. There was a big transplant donation campaign.

DM has told me very solemnly that she wants "wish me luck as you wave me goodbye" as her final song at her funeral.

We had Ten Storey Love Song by The Stone Roses. Totally appropriate wedding lyrics & an awesome tune - ideal