Music · Posted 1 minute ago 14 Extremely Popular Songs With Devastating Backstories You Probably Didn't Know About You'll never hear "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" the same way again. by Daniella Emanuel BuzzFeed Staff Link Facebook Pinterest Twitter Mail Content warning: This post contains discussions of sexual assault and suicide. When I hear a great song, sometimes it takes me several listens to soak in the lyrics.
Even then, it's hard to be entirely sure what the song is really about. So when Reddit user u/tangre79 asked redditors, "What song became heartbreaking once you learned the context behind its origin?" I was all ears. Here are 14 super popular songs that have devastating backstories: 1.
" 'Dancing in the Moonlight' by King Harvest (originally recorded by Boffalongo). One of my favorite songs, with a very sad, unexpected origin. The songwriter (Sherman Kelly) and his girlfriend were on vacation at the beach when he was brutally beaten, and she was sexually assaulted by gang members.
He wrote the song afterward, envisioning an idyllic world where everyone is happy and just dances all the time." Dutch Public Television / Via youtube.com — Clear_Pressure_2878 2.
" 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' by Green Day. It’s not just a meme. It’s literally what Billie Joe Armstrong said to his mom after his dad died when he was a kid.
" Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for iHeartRadio — supergeek921 3. " 'The Show Must Go On' by Queen was recorded after Freddie Mer.