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The Meaning Behind “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” by The Beatles and...
“The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” tells such a bizarre tale that it seems like it only could have emanated from the boundless imagination of its writer, John Lennon. Well, would you believe that...
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The Debut Solo Single That Jeff Beck Regretted the Most: “It’s Just a Bit...
Shortly after splitting from the Yardbirds and in the process of forming his group, Jeff Beck recorded a few solo singles with producer Mickie Most in 1967. During the sessions, Beck still had some...
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Behind the Meaning of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”–and the Musician It’s Dedicated To
“Blue” is the title track to Joni Mitchell’s groundbreaking 1971 album. This song alone should key you into the kind of intense feeling Mitchell was working through at the time of this album’s release....
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The Meaning Behind “Down by the Water” by PJ Harvey and the Early...
When Polly Jean Harvey appeared alone on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1993, she had just dissolved her trio. But there she stood, alone with a Fender Telecaster performing the title track to her...
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The Meaning Behind “Cannonball” by The Breeders and the French Libertine Who...
Before “Cannonball,” The Breeders were known as Kim Deal’s side project, overshadowed by her first band, Pixies. However, by 1993, Pixies singer/songwriter Black Francis had broken up the band by fax,...
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The Meaning Behind Deep Sea Diver’s “Impossible Weight” and the Volunteer...
Released seven months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Deep Sea Diver’s third album Impossible Weight struck a chord with fans of alternative rock. The Seattle-based band’s blend of textured synths,...
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The Meaning of “Hey Nineteen” by Steely Dan and the Setbacks They Faced While...
Steely Dan famously challenged their fans with their complex musical structures and occasionally opaque lyrics. “Hey Nineteen,” however, represented one of their more straightforward, catchier efforts....
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The Drug Bust That Made Waylon Jennings Write “Don’t You Think This Outlaw...
By 1977, Waylon Jennings was riding high on the outlaw movement. Coming off the success of the first platinum-selling country album, Wanted: The Outlaws, a collaboration with Willie Nelson, wife Jessi...
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On Its 50th Anniversary, the Meaning Behind “Stranded in the Jungle” by New...
When the New York Dolls released Too Much Too Soon 50 years ago, they simultaneously closed a chapter on their young career while opening a new era in punk rock. Their Todd Rundgren-produced debut...
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The Meaning Behind “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers and How It...
“What a Fool Believes” represented a major departure from The Doobie Brothers‘ boogie-rocking style. Ironically, it became the track for which the group is most known. It even pulled off a rare...
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Behind the Violent Meaning of “DAUGHTER” by Beyoncé
In many ways, “Daughter” (usually stylized in capital letters) sees Beyoncé pick up where she left off on Lemonade, her 2016 blockbuster album. She takes on infidelity with anger leading her actions....
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The Story Behind “Being with You” by Smokey Robinson and the Ironic...
Music history is littered with stories about an artist writing a song for someone else, only to decide they want to keep that song for themselves. In the case of “Being with You,” it wasn’t until...
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Why Dolly Parton Never Liked Her Song “I’ll Oilwells Love You”
On the surface, it may sound like a play on “I Will Always Love You,” but years before releasing her 1973 classic, Dolly Parton recorded a song about falling in love with a wealthy oil man. Written by...
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The Female Muse Behind “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol
The year 1984 was a big one for Billy Idol. While his self-titled debut album from two years earlier had produced two successful singles—“Hot in the City” and “White Wedding”—it would be the Rebel Yell...
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The Meaning Behind “Why Can’t I?” by Liz Phair and Why She May Have Been...
When Liz Phair released her self-titled pop album in 2003, indie critics responded, “How could you?” But she answered, “Why Can’t I?” The Exit in Guyville singer made an album that foreshadowed a...
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As ‘Illinois’ Comes to Broadway, the Meaning Behind “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens
On April 24, Sufjan Stevens’ masterpiece Illinois opens as a dance musical on Broadway. The adaptation of his 2005 album is a collaboration between Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies...
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The Meaning Behind Vince Gill’s Grief-Ridden “Go Rest High on That Mountain”
Vince Gill‘s “Go Rest High on That Mountain” strikes a particular chord. It bypasses the ears and cuts straight to the heart. Anyone feeling the pain of grief will find a special kind of solace in this...
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The Meaning Behind “Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones and the Fan Incident...
It’s hard to stand out on an album as colossally great as The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers, one of the band’s all-time best, which automatically qualifies it as one of the finest rock and roll albums...
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The Homicidal Meaning Behind Johnny Cash’s “Cocaine Blues”
Plenty of odes to drugs and stories of addiction made their way into the outlaw country songbook, from Willie Nelson‘s “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” Waylon Jennings‘ “Don’t You Think This...
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The Paternal Separation Behind “Too Bad” by Nickelback
Canadian rock icons Nickelback broke big in 2001 with their third album Silver Side Up, which featured the monster hit “How You Remind Me,” a sarcastic breakup song inspired by the personal experience...
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