The true meanings behind 'Cotton Eye Joe,' 'Macarena,' and other popular hits
July 2024 · 4 minute read
2015-09-04T16:12:39Z
If you've ever sang along to "Blackbird" by the Beatles and thought it was actually about a bird, think again.
Some of the most popular songs ever have completely different meanings from what their lyrics might suggest.
From popular '90s hits by bands like Green Day and Semisonic to a rock anthem from Aerosmith, there might be more to your favorite songs than previously believed.
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images
Keep reading to find out 12 hit songs that have totally different meanings than most people think, according to the artists who wrote and performed them.
"Walk This Way" by Aerosmith (1975)
This classic from the Rolling Stone was actually inspired by the Mel Brooks film "Young Frankenstein," Rolling Stone reports. The title comes from a scene in the movie where Igor asks Dr. Frankenstein to "walk this way," and the doctor, played by Gene Wilder, complies by imitating Igor's iconic limp.
"Macarena" by Los del Rio (1994)
You probably remember this catchy dance jam from the '90s, but did you ever listen closely to the lyrics? "Macarena" is actually a woman's name and the song details a tryst with multiple men while her boyfriend is out of town. Check out this Distractify video of millennials re-listening to the song to see some people having their childhood memories ruined by this discovery.
"Blackbird" by the Beatles (1968)
Paul McCartney's iconic "Blackbird" shouldn't be interpreted literally.
"I wrote it in the '60s, when the civil rights movement was at its height," McCartney said in an interview with Diane Sawyer. "I liked to think of a blackbird as being a kind of symbol for a black woman."
"The A Team" by Ed Sheeran (2011)
This ballad was inspired by women that Sheeran met at a homeless shelter, Rolling Stone reports. The "A" in the title is a reference to Class A drugs. Lines like "breathing in snowflakes" are actually references to drug use.
"Closing Time" by Semisonic (1998)
Though the song has become a last-call anthem at many bars, "Closing Time" was actually inspired by the songwriter's pregnant wife.
"Part way into the writing of the song, I realized it was also about being born," Dan Wilson of Semisonic told American Songwriter. "My wife and I were expecting our first kid very soon after I wrote that song. I had birth on the brain, I was struck by what a funny pun it was to be bounced from the womb."
"Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex (1995)
While you might remember “Cotton Eye Joe” as a favorite middle school dance jam, the song (under its original name, "Cotton-Eyed Joe") actually has a more storied history. It’s based on a folk song that dates back to the Civil War, according to Wiki, and has also been recorded by artists like Nina Simone.
Some people swear that "Cotton Eye Joe" is also a euphemism for an STD, at least according to Urban Dictionary. Lines like "if it hadn't be for cotton eye Joe, I'd been married a long time ago," certainly take on a whole new meaning is you believe that interpretation.
"Waterfalls" by TLC (1994)
With lines like "three letters took him to his final resting place," this popular R&B song is actually a commentary on the 1990s' HIV and AIDS epidemic.
"We used to have so many patients come up and say, 'Thanks for being our voice and getting the message out there to let people know how easily this is contracted,'" TLC member T-Boz told Fuse TV about the song.
"Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind (1997)
Though the drug references in this song are anything but subtle, the fast tempo obscures lyrics like "doing crystal meth will lift you up until you break." Not to mention, the words "crystal meth" are censored in the radio edited version of the track, Mental Floss notes.
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler (1983)
Most people associate "royals" with European royalty. But for her breakout single, Lorde was actually inspired by America's favorite pasttime.
"I had this image from the 'National Geographic' of this dude just signing baseballs,” Lorde told VH1 of the picture that helped inspire her lyrics. “He was a baseball player and his shirt said, 'Royals.' It was just that word. It’s really cool."
"Rich Girl" by Hall and Oates (1977)
This '70s classic might be titled "Rich Girl," but it's actually about a man, TMZ reports. Daryl Hall wrote the song about his then-girlfriend's wealthy ex-boyfriend.
Though this Green Day track is often a popular choice for graduation celebrations, Billie Joe Armstrong actually wrote the song about an ex-girlfriend moving away to Ecuador, Mental Floss reports.