Musiciansfind inspiration everywhere; not just in happy moments, but also in uncertainty and pain, turning even the darkest experiences into a tune that resonates with the human soul.So Reddit userTangre79decided to broaden their understanding of this complex art form and asked everyone on the platform to list some songs with devastating origin stories.From popular rock ballads to reggae-pop hits, people immediately started sharing the tracks they can not listen to without getting emotional.This post may includeaffiliate links.
Musiciansfind inspiration everywhere; not just in happy moments, but also in uncertainty and pain, turning even the darkest experiences into a tune that resonates with the human soul.
So Reddit userTangre79decided to broaden their understanding of this complex art form and asked everyone on the platform to list some songs with devastating origin stories.
From popular rock ballads to reggae-pop hits, people immediately started sharing the tracks they can not listen to without getting emotional.
This post may includeaffiliate links.
I always loved (and still do) The Show Must Go On, but once Freddie Mercury revealed he was dying of AIDS, those words suddenly made horrible sense.supergeek921:He recorded it after his diagnosis. Reportedly he could barely stand in the studio when they recorded it and the band offered to do it another time, but he just said “I’ll sing it darling” and belted it out in one take.Amazing and tragic.
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA. I thought it was a happy song.. about being born in the USA, I guess?And of course it’s not. According to Wikipedia: “The song addresses the economic hardships of Vietnam veterans upon their return home, juxtaposed ironically against patriotic glorification of the nation’s fighting forces.”Yeah, not a happy song.
Okay, not heartbreaking, but definitely more serious than I ever thought:The dogs in Who Let the Dogs Out are men who harass women in the clubs. The song is basically “who let in these a******s who don’t know how to act?”.
Wake me up when September Ends. It’s not just a meme. It’s literally all Billy Joe Armstrong said after his dad died when he was a teenager.
American Pie - I already knew it was heartbreaking, I just didn’t know what it was about.mrglumdaddy:[it’s about] the plane crash that [unalived] Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper among others.
Pink Floyds song dedicated to their former bandmate Syd Barrett who tragically lost his mind/mental state.Shine onYou crazyDiamond"On 5 June 1975, Barrett, now heavyset, with a completely shaved head and eyebrows, wandered into the studio where the band were recording. They did not recognize him for some time because of his drastically changed appearance, but when they eventually realized who the withdrawn man in the corner was, Roger Waters became so distressed about Barrett’s appearance that he was reduced to tears." Wikipedia.
Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again” is inherently sentimental but it became synonymous with WW2 and the reality that many people were not going to see their friends and loved ones before the war ended. It’s implied that “some sunny day” won’t be a homecoming but rather a reunion in the afterlife.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. It was in theory about a family planning to move. But it was written and recorded during WWII. Some of the lyrics were later changed. It originally had: >Someday soon we all will be together, if the fates allow. Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow. So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
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Janet Jackson’s ‘Together Again’ was written for her friend that died of AIDS, gets me every time.
Don’t Fear the Reaper. By Blue Oyster Cult. All these decades I didnt realize it was about committing su*icide.
Cat’s In The Craddle.Duel_Option:I remember my Dad explaining the meaning of the song to me at probably age 13 or so as he was driving.He was crying and I told him we’d never be like that not realizing that he was already an alcoholic who wasn’t there much already.30 years later he hasn’t met his grandkids because the beer is still more important than family.The self torment he puts himself through doesn’t make sense to me to this very day.Maybe we’ll meet in the afterlife.
One More Light became a depressing listen after Chester’s s*icide.
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How to save a life, The Fray, it’s about d**g addiction and how he couldn’t save his friend.
I just started listened to a podcast called “60 songs that explain the 90s” and Hey Jealousy is way sadder now than it already was.mr_ckean:When I learned the story, it was the first time I felt I had any real understanding of the depths of alcoholism and depression like that.
You are my Sunshine.tyboxer87:For the longest time I thought it was about a miscarriage or a the death of child.I was a little relieved when I dug a bit and realized its just any old person. Could just be breakup. That’s much easier to live with.
Drops of Jupiter. He wrote it for his mother who died of cancer.
What a Catch–FallOut Boy. It was years before I learned that Pete Wentz wrote it following his s*icide attempt.
Did you ever sing Ring Around a Rosie as a kid? It’s about the bubonic plague and everyone dies at the end of the song.
Of Monster’s and Men have Little talks. Which is actually about a grieving wife talking to her deceased husband and her sanity is slipping.King and Lionheart is another one. The story behind that one is the singer Nanna was forced to be separated from her brother when her father left for Canada and took her brother with him, leaving their mother and Nanna behind.
La Mer - Nine Inch Nails It was pretty much Reznor’s s*icide note. So glad he made it through.
An Innocent Warrior from the Moana soundtrack. It was written about 19 girls who died in a boarding school fire. .
That Year - Brandi Carlisle. This is a bit of a cheat on my part because I was at the same school as the person mentioned along with Brandi when it happened. He was one of her best friends and I knew him in a casual manner. When she released the song I was absolutely floored at how much strength she showed approaching the “what ifs.” Heartbreaking song about such a gentle soul. Brandi treated it with a very delicate hand. Beautifully written song Brandi…RIP BB.
Heatwaves - Glass AnimalsIt’s about his dead friend.
Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton.Wondering if his son that died will recognize him in Heaven.
Jagged Little Pill: The ending of the relationship between Alanis Morissette and Dave Coulier.
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