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

[Arlanymor]

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?!

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.

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

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

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

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

I never said anything about taking drugs being seedy! I think you've confused me with another poster.

I'm another one who misheard lyrics, or didn't understand the meaning. I tend to be literal, so struggle with inferred meaning. I'm also a 70/80's kid so we didn't have Google to look them up. I couldn't afford many records so it was mainly listening to the radio. I'm amazed at the number of dodgy records that were mainstream and not banned considering the others they did ban.

Didn't Sarah write that song for her friend who was a member of the Smashing Pumpkins who died?

“You should see what I can see,when I’m cleaning winders” Dirty peeping tom.

Mind you Mrs Formby was a fabulous woman. She acted as his manager. When he went to do a concert in South Africa and only white people were allowed to attend, she immediately organised another concert for black people only.

Oh no! I’ve believed this for ages and ages. Never thought to question it. 😊

I'm not convinced his 'little stick of Blackpool rock' was actually confectionery. 🤔

Me too and the mental image is still there, even now I know the correct lyric! 😄

This is slightly different from OP's original point (that even knowing what the lyrics are people are often unaware of their intended meaning).

I just don't hear the lyrics in the first place so I never know what songs are about. I'm using 'hear' in this instance as in parse / attend to / focus on / listen to actively rather than perceive (I'm aware there are lyrics taking place at the same time as the music, though I don't generally perceive their meaning without effort). I just hear it all as a melody. They might as well be singing tra-la-la :)

This is actually pretty common as far as I'm aware. I've always thought of it as "the world is divided into people who hear song lyrics and those who don't". I'm in the "don't" camp.

Every song sounds like this to me haha

or Adriano Celentano's intentionally gibberish "Prisencolinensinainciusol"

Jo

The Wurzels are a naughty bunch. Compared to overt stuff these days its pretty tame. But if you like a bit of subtle or not so subtle double entendre in your scrumpy and western, try 'Threshing Machine', 'Twice Daily' or 'I am a cider drinker!'

The Carole King song "will you still love me tomorrow" which she wrote (in 1960!) I always felt was about a girl losing her virginity to someone who says they love them as an inducement, written at a very different time.

I came here to say this. It's not a ONS. She's in love, but now she's given it up, she wonders if he'll dump her for being too easy.

I do childishly snigger at " Can I believe the magic of your sighs?" though.

My SD who went through (and still is) a devoutly religious phase gave us a stern talking to in the car one trip home back to her mums house … ‘he’s not talking about church you know!!!’

Think she was joking about the Bob the Builder song.

Escape is not about Pina coladas 😂
It's about both husband and wife putting an ad in the lonely hearts column and meeting each other there

Goodness, I always thought that was a lovely but meaningless song!

I haven't seen it mentioned here but when a mother of the bride wanted "White Wedding", the DJ persuaded her to chose another song.
Is there a negative to it?

Closing Time about a man who has just found out his wife is pregnant and his carefree life is changing.

I finally got round to googling the ‘chimney on her’ song. It makes a lot more sense if you know that chimney is slang for a black eye.

Me too I spent my youth thinking it was a song about a beautiful girl 😂oh the innocence of youth!

I thought it was "with my man she runs"; not sure who I thought his man was.

George Formby had to change the title of his song With My Little Ukulele in My Hand to My ukulele by the BBC because it was deemed too rude and they outright banned With my Little Stick of Blackpool Rock and When I'm Cleaning Windows! Seems funny now