Favorite songs you stopped loving once you learned the lyrics.

[Basement Cat]

We've all had songs where the lyrics weren't clear but we loved them anyway. Half the fun of listening to people sing their own favorite songs is listening to them mangle the lyrics or make up ones to fill the gaps.

One of my absolute favorites songs from childhood was Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle".


I loved the music and the chorus was right up there with my understanding of "3 Blind Mice" and other songs of similar cerebral challenging caliber.

But when I came across the song years and years later I was old enough to listen to the lyrics--and was AGHAST!!!

The happy song from my childhood was about absentee parenting and wasted time, now regretted. And since my father died it makes me regret not having more time together, so I can't listen to it without getting melancholy.

What songs fell from your favorite's list when you learned the lyrics?

 

[IndomitableSam]

One of my absolute favorites songs from childhood was Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle".

I loved the music and the chorus was right up there with my understanding of "3 Blind Mice" and other songs of similar cerebral challenging caliber.

But when I came across the song years and years later I was old enough to listen to the lyrics--and was AGHAST!!!

The happy song from my childhood was about absentee parenting and wasted time, now regretted. And since my father died it makes me regret not having more time together, so I can't listen to it without getting melancholy.

What songs fell from your favorite's list when you learned the lyrics?

My dad's a musician and sings this song quite often.

Now that I'm an adult, whenever I hear it, it breaks my heart.

Thankfully, my dad was nothing like the one in the song, but to hear your father singing this is just shattering.

Edit: He was once asked to sing this at a wedding and was very uncomfortable doing so, but he did... Never found out what the father of the bride or groom thought of it, though.

 

[Kolby Jack]

The tune fucking rocks my socks, and I was pretty pumped when I first heard it. Aaaaand then I started hearing the lyrics, and I'm like "... What?" The song makes no sense. It'a apparently about cannibalism, or at least using cannibalism as a metaphor for... what? Social inequality? It's just a mess. Though I find such a dissonance is pretty common for Aerosmith.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

It's not quite the same, but:
Loses a lot of it's power once you know the lyrics. It's still great, but

Spoiler: Listen to it first!

It sounds like another song about a failed romance, but near the end you hear that it's actually about a man regretting his poor relationship with dad, who died. It's pretty heartbreaking stuff the first time you hear it.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

Black Sabbath's 'After Forever'. I used to love it, especially the main riff (still do, Iommi writes fucking amazing riffs) but the lyrics are horrible. Pathetic "my religion is right and you non-believers are wrong" shit.

Still, musically, the song is awesome.

Spoiler

 

[Sacman]

Well, not really any song lyrics... but I can never listen to Smashing Pumpkins the same again, after I found out what an idiotic, crazy, mother fucker Billy Corgan is...<.<

 

[BlazeRaider]

I believe this is relevant:

Also "Make way" with lil wayne. Keep in mind I only like the song because I now associate it with a certain video of Brianna Frost.

 

[crazyarms33]

I loved the song "Wrong Way" by Sublime as a kid. It was catchy, fun and just good car trip music. Now I know the lyrics...and I cannot stand the song. Makes me feel dirty.

 

[puff ball]

i cant really say that this has ever happened to me i view good lyrics the same as gravy there a plus but not 100% necessary for the meal to be enjoyable looking at my i pod the closest i can find is fever for the flavor which has some incredibly stupid lyrics but i still like it so meh.

 

[Dwarfman]

Snip

Very interesting. I first heard this song when I was a child too. My Father made damn sure we all knew what the lyrics to the song meant and assured us he would always be there for us. And at 70 odd the old bugger still is God bless 'im.

Probably due to my Dad's influence but I enjoy investigating my songs inside and out before they become a 'favourite' and that includes lyrics, meanings and what not. I'll listen to them over and over again ingesting every word and musical beat...but anyway.

There are several songs out there that are considered favourites among the general rabble that I don't like any more. One such example is lynyrd skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama. Very catching chorus line that I catch myself humming to whenever the song is played, but the lyrics - especially the line about Neil Young - amount to "We're a bunch of racist hicks and proud of it!"

The one that tops it all though is freakin, muther fuckin', Holy Grail by Hunters and Collectors. Easily the most overused and misinterpreted song ever! Especially by Victorians playing Aerial Ping Pong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6bsGtJoKnE

Still a great song to listen to though.

 

[piinyouri]

If I enjoy the music enough, and the lyrics are uninteligible/in a different language, than I don't really care.

Example I have a handful of bands that sing about NS and the like, but the music is good enough on it's own and the vocals just add atmosphere.

 

[Astoria]

Pretty much every Falling in Reverse song. First time I heard the album I thought it was amazing but then I paid attention and it's a whole album of Ronnie saying "I'm awesome! Escape the Fate suck!" Needless to say I haven't listened to them again.

 

[Dead Seerius]

I used to get really pumped when I heard this song but after seeing the lyrics I can't say I get the same feeling anymore. Still an amazing song, though, and one of my favorites by The Offspring.




The lyrics stung even more when I found out that Dexter Holland wrote this song for his girlfriend who died in a car crash. Needless to say, I felt a bit of a mood shift after learning that.

 

[Agrajagged]

I loved the music and the chorus was right up there with my understanding of "3 Blind Mice" and other songs of similar cerebral challenging caliber.

But when I came across the song years and years later I was old enough to listen to the lyrics--and was AGHAST!!!

The happy song from my childhood was about absentee parenting and wasted time, now regretted. And since my father died it makes me regret not having more time together, so I can't listen to it without getting melancholy.

I actually loved this song from the moment I heard it specifically because of the lyrics.


To answer the question, pick any Muse or Wolfmother song.

 

[Boggelz]

The song Winter Winds by Mumford and Sons. I really like the band and I used to really like that song, but when I started listening to the chorus it started to sound kind of dumb:

My head told my heart let love grow. But my heart told my head this time no

So maybe it's up for interpretation? I don't know, it might make sense but I just don't care that much

 

[uzo]

That Gorillaz song with the windmill bit.

WTF is that shit about? And these two rappers appear and start saying something about freakin' navigating somewhere? You wot mate?

 

[Kenbo Slice]

Pretty much every Falling in Reverse song. First time I heard the album I thought it was amazing but then I paid attention and it's a whole album of Ronnie saying "I'm awesome! Escape the Fate suck!" Needless to say I haven't listened to them again.

To be fair, ETF does suck.

OT: I never really hated a song because of the lyrics. So...yeah.

 

[JemothSkarii]

Well, I've never had that problem, but I've got songs that have that affect on people:



The lyrics (Especially I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry') are interesting, if weird.

 

[Camera]

Like most the posts here, I still like the song (more so if anything) but, now i find it depressing. Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones, I won't explain why, just listen to the lyrics.