Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers became a symbol of 1970s American rock, and one of their greatest hits was the song “American Girl.” For years, many people believed the song was about a girl who’d taken her own life. Nevertheless, Petty denied the whole thing in his 2005 book, ‘Conversations with Tom Petty.’
Petty explains, “It’s become a huge urban myth down in Florida…The song has nothing to do with that. But that story really gets around. …I’ve even seen magazine articles about that story. They could have just called me and found out it wasn’t true.” The rock star then goes on to explain that the song’s actual inspiration came from the time when he lived in California: “I was living in an apartment right by the freeway. And the cars sounded like the ocean to me. That was my ocean. My Malibu. Where I heard the waves crash, but it was just the cars going by. I think that must have inspired the lyric.”
"The One I Love" by R.E.M.
Despite its title, "The One I Love" by R.E.M. is far from a love song. Actually, R.E.M. almost decided not to record it because they thought it was “too brutal, … really violent and awful,” according to Michael Stipe, the band's lead singer.
Obviously, the song's title makes us think it's another typical love song, but once you listen to the lyrics, you quickly realize this is not a song you would ever dedicate to the love of your life. For one thing, they call a lover "a simple prop to occupy my time." It's hard to think that would get you any points with your sweetheart.
"Slide" by Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls were a popular 90s band, but it was their 1998 hit single, "Slide," that got them into the big leagues. At first, the upbeat song seems to be a typical story about two young lovers against the world. But apparently, the song was far less romantic than people thought.
As lead singer and songwriter Johnny Rzeznik explained, "The song is actually about these two teenage kids, and the girlfriend gets pregnant and … they’re trying to decide whether she should get an abortion, or they should get married, or what should go on."
"Puff the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul, and Mary
It makes sense that most people thought "Puff the Magic Dragon" was about substance use. But most people would be wrong.
The hit song, written by Peter, Paul, and Mary, in 1963, is actually based on a poem that a friend of band member Peter Yarrow wrote. The poem, written by Leonard Lipton, was about a child that played with an imaginary friend - a dragon named Puff.
"Like a Virgin" by Madonna
It may seem that Madonna's "Like a Virgin" is pretty self-explanatory - a tribute to a young woman that is having intimate relations for the first time. However, the 1984 hit song was actually written by artists Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and it was inspired by how vulnerable Steinberg felt about a new relationship.
In an interview with the 'LA Times' a few years after the song came out, Steinberg explained, “I wasn’t just trying to get that racy word virgin in a lyric. I was just starting a new relationship, and it just feels so good; it’s healing all the wounds and making me feel like I’ve never done this before because it’s so much deeper and more profound than anything I’ve ever felt.”