The Message Behind the Music: Understanding the lyrics of “Africa” by Toto
This song is a tribute to the African continent told through the eyes of a traveler who reflects on his life. Creative Liberties Were Taken "Africa" was written by Toto keyboardist and vocalist, David Paich, with Jeff Porcaro, drummer. The percussion is essential to...
A Closer Look at the Lyrics & Meaning Behind “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads
"Once in a Lifetime" blends existentialism with consumer culture to tackle topics like coming of age and imposter syndrome. Bear Witness Fans were introduced to "Once in a Lifetime" in 1980 as the first track on "Remain in Light." Vocalist David Byrne alternates...
Uncovering the Deeper Significance of “Baby Blue” by George Strait
This is a song about losing someone you dearly love without having the closure to understand why. Who wrote "Baby Blue"? The name that most people think of first when they hear the song "Baby Blue" is George Strait, which is understandable: He did, after all, serve as...
A Closer Look at the Lyrics & Meaning Behind Sweet Child of Mine by Guns ‘n Roses
bout? Erin Everly served as the inspiration for this song, who was Rose's girlfriend at the time and Don Everly's daughter of the Everly Brothers fame. It was also Rose's attempt to write a sincere love song inspired by such southern rock bands as Lynyrd Skynyrd. The...
Uncovering the Deeper Significance of “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2
In "Where the Streets Have No Name," Bono envisions a world where people from all walks of life can live together peacefully, happily and without judgment. What's in a Name? In the first verse, Bono sings: "I wanna run, I want to hide / I wanna tear down the walls...
Uncovering the Deeper Significance of “Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty
"Free Fallin'" is about men who leave women brokenhearted and the desire to disconnect from everything. Musical Comedy What started out as something of a joke for Petty's songwriting partner resulted in a hit song. Tom Petty was hanging out with Jeff Lynne, Petty on...
Uncovering the Deeper Significance of “Under the Influence” by Chris Brown
This song is about being in a drug haze while feeling a strong physical attraction to someone who doesn't seem to care. Kid Indigo Sets the Record Straight To some, he's better known as Breezy. Others call him Kid Indigo. There's also C. Breezy, Indigo Breezy, CB and...
Digging Deeper Into the Lyrics of Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”
"Bad Romance" is all about loving someone so fiercely and deeply that you accept the toxicity that comes from such an unhealthy devotion. The lyrics for the song describe the singer's feelings for her love interest. Her love for this person is so overwhelming and...
The Message Behind the Music: Understanding the lyrics of Alannah Myles – “Black Velvet”
"Black Velvet" is an homage to Elvis Presley. Alannah Myles didn't write "Black Velvet." Her boyfriend at the time, who was named Christopher Ward, wrote the lyrics on his lap while riding a bus to Graceland with a bunch of fans so that they could celebrate the 10th...
Digging Deeper Into the Lyrics of Culture Club – “Karma Chameleon”
The song "Karma Chameleon" is about the combination of fear of alienation and the pressure to conform. Everyone faces societal pressure in one way or another. In the 1980s, when being gay was still seen as a defect instead of just who someone is, George Alan O'Dowd,...
A Closer Look at the Lyrics & Meaning Behind Musical Youth – “Pass the Dutchie”
The version of the song sung by Musical Youth is about having no food while being poor and dealing with that. The original version of the song, which is sung by the group The Mighty Diamonds, is about the spirituality of sharing marijuana in a "koutchie," which is a...
Digging Deeper Into the Lyrics of Eurhythmics – “Sweet Dreams”
The song isn't about what most people think it's about. It's not happiness and sweet dreams; it's all irony and sarcasm about the lousy times the band was having. Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart were in Australia. Their band, the Tourists, had crashed and burned, and...
