Happy songs that really aren't so happy.

[Blazer]

It's kinda funny how people can take the message of a song and see it differently from what it actually means. Take Ronald Reagen who took Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" and made it an anthem on patriotism while the song actually is about disfranchisement with being an American and the horrors of the Vietnam war.

So let's talk about more examples of that Happening.

People have been talking badly about REM ever since they released this song but despite the title and the Happy-go-lucky video there's actually nothing funny about this song, since it's about chronically unhappy people taking Prozac.


When I was in high school this song became the anthem of grunge kids and I do admit that I sang along with it too, but a "Really great to be alive" song this certainly isn't seeing that it's about incest and suicidal tendencies.


Same story with this one, it's got a hook big enough to haul in a blue whale and was a crowd favorite. But there's nothing happy about this song, seeing it's about multiple personality disorder and taking drugs (Luthium is the name of a pre-Prozac drug) to counter it.
 

[gweimer]

The Offspring - "Gone Away" has a nice tempo and some catchy vocals, but the lyrics are pretty depressing.



How about just about every song on Synchronicity?

[leftybass]

Instantly came to mind, "Marie Provost" by Nick Lowe.
Absolutely perfectly crafted pop song about an old lady who dies in a cheap hotel room and her little doggie eats her corpse.

[uwe]

What about Maxwell's Silver Hammer then? Or "I don't like Mondays"?

Or this:





Now you all know: Uwe listens to Garth Brooks. And even enjoys it. 

Quick to restore my credibility, this fits the bill too. I think that "I think it's because I'm clumsy ..." is heart-wrenching. 

[Chris P.]

Do you line dance, Uwe? With Stetson? I think you spend too much time here at the forum with ze damn Americans.



Listen to However Much I Booze of The Who By Number. It sounds nice, but if you listen to the lyrics. No hidden messages, just: I see myself on TV, I'm a faker, a paper clown, all my friend know I habitualy lie, I just bring them down.Well, thats clear, isn't it?

[gweimer]

Here's a lilting little ditty written by Warren Zevon.

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

CREAM~ I'm So Glad

Joe Jackson~ Happy Loving Couples:

[Freuds_Cat]

Not so much about sadness but it has always made me laugh that the Golden Oldy Radio stations here play Lookin' out my back door" by CCR. And my parents generation all happily tap (or even sing) along blissfully unaware that the song is about Dropping Acid and tripping out.