Episodes
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"When Doves Cry" by Prince
Song Lyrics Meaning - When Doves Cry by Prince "When Doves Cry" is a song by American musician Prince, and the lead single from his sixth studio album Purple Rain. According to the DVD commentary of the film Purple Rain (1984), Prince was asked by director Albert Magnoli to write a song to match...
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"Hey Jude" by The Beatles
Song Lyrics Meaning - Hey Jude by The Beatles "Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in August 1968. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The single was the Beatles' first release on their…
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"Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye
Song Lyrics Meaning - Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye "Sexual Healing" is a song recorded by American singer Marvin Gaye from his seventeenth and final studio album, Midnight Love (1982). It was his first single since his exit from his long-term record label Motown earlier in the year, following…
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"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
Song Lyrics Meaning - Rolling in the Deep by Adele "Rolling in the Deep" is a song by English singer-songwriter Adele from her second studio album, 21 (2011). It is the lead single and opening track on the album. The song was written by Adele and Paul Epworth. The singer herself describes it as a...
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"Thank U, Next" by Arianna Grande
Song Lyrics Meaning - Thank U, Next by Arianna Grande "Thank U, Next" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. It was surprise released on November 3, 2018, through Republic Records, as the lead single from her fifth studio album of the same name. Written by Grande, Tayla Parx and Victoria...
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"I Can’t Stand the Rain" by Ann Peebles
Song Lyrics Meaning - I Can’t Stand the Rain by Ann Peebles "I Can't Stand the Rain" is a song originally recorded by Ann Peebles in 1973, and written by Peebles, Don Bryant, and Bernard "Bernie" Miller. Other notable versions were later recorded by Eruption, Graham Central Station, Tina Turner…
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"Ponta De Lanca Africano (Umbabarauma)" by Jorge Ben
Song Lyrics Meaning - Ponta De Lanca Africano (Umbabarauma) by Jorge Ben África Brasil is a 1976 release by Brazilian artist Jorge Ben (recording since the 1980s as Jorge Ben Jor). It was Ben's 14th studio album. África Brasil represented a milestone in Ben's career with his switch to electric...
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"Paid in Full" by Eric B. and Rakim
Song Lyrics Meaning - Paid in Full by Eric B. and Rakim "Paid in Full" is a 1987 song by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. Written and produced by group members Eric Barrier and Rakim Allah, the song was released as the fifth single from the duo's debut studio album of the same name. It…
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"Tumbling Dice" by The Rolling Stones
Song Lyrics Meaning - Tumbling Dice by The Rolling Stones "Tumbling Dice" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. A product of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' songwriting partnership, the song has a blues, boogie-woogie rhythm that scholars and musicians have noted for its...
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"Wonderwall" by Oasis
Song Lyrics Meaning - Wonderwall by Oasis "Wonderwall" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by lead guitarist and chief songwriter Noel Gallagher. The song was produced by Gallagher and Owen Morris for the band's second studio album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, released in 1995....
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"Grace" by Jeff Buckley
Song Lyrics Meaning - Grace by Jeff Buckley "Grace" is the title track from Jeff Buckley's debut album Grace (1994). It was the album's first single, and was also released as a video. The song was based on an instrumental song called "Rise Up to Be" written by Buckley's collaborator, Gary Lucas....
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"Stand by Me" by Ben E. King
Song Lyrics Meaning - Stand by Me by Ben E. King "Stand by Me" is a song originally performed in 1961 by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King and written by him, along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who together used the pseudonym Elmo Glick. According to King, the title is derived from…
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"Rid of Me" by PJ Harvey
Song Lyrics Meaning - Rid of Me by PJ Harvey Rid of Me is the second studio album by the English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, released on 26 April 1993 by Island Records, approximately one year after the release of her critically acclaimed debut studio album Dry (1992). It marked a departure from...
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"Killing Me Softly with His Song" by The Fugees
Song Lyrics Meaning - Killing Me Softly with His Song by The Fugees "Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The lyrics were written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman after she was inspired by a Don McLean performance in late 1971.…
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"Seven Nation Army" by White Stripes
Song Lyrics Meaning - Seven Nation Army by White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" is a song by American rock duo the White Stripes. It is the opening track on their fourth studio album, Elephant (2003). V2 Records released the song to American alternative radio on February 17, 2003, as the lead single...
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"Cross Road Blues" by Robert Johnson
Song Lyrics Meaning - Cross Road Blues by Robert Johnson "Cross Road Blues" (commonly known as "Crossroads") is a song written by the American blues artist Robert Johnson. He performed it as a solo piece with his vocal and acoustic slide guitar in the Delta blues-style. The song has become part…
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"Seven Nation Army" by White Stripes
Song Lyrics Meaning - Seven Nation Army by White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" is a song by American rock duo the White Stripes. It is the opening track on their fourth studio album, Elephant (2003). V2 Records released the song to American alternative radio on February 17, 2003, as the lead single...
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"Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Kris Kristofferson
Song Lyrics Meaning - Sunday Morning Coming Down by Kris Kristofferson "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson that was recorded in 1969 by Ray Stevens before becoming a No.1 hit on the Billboard US Country chart for Johnny Cash. Amazon Merchandise Affiliate Links...
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"Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vandellas
Song Lyrics Meaning - Heat Wave by Martha and the Vandellas "Heat Wave" is a 1963 song written by the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team. It was first made popular by the Motown vocal group Martha and the Vandellas. Released as a 45 rpm single on July 9, 1963, on the Motown subsidiary Gordy...
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"I’ll Take You There" by Staple Singers
Song Lyrics Meaning - I’ll Take You There by Staple Singers "I'll Take You There" is a song written by Al Bell (using his real name Alvertis Isbell), and originally performed by soul/gospel family band the Staple Singers. The Staple Singers version, produced by Bell, was released on Stax Records…
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"That’ll Be the Day" by Buddy Holly
Song Lyrics Meaning - That’ll Be the Day by Buddy Holly "That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison. It was first recorded by Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes in 1956 and was re-recorded in 1957 by Holly and his new band, The Crickets. The 1957 recording achieved...
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"Merry Go Round" by Kacey Musgraves
Song Lyrics Meaning - Merry Go Round by Kacey Musgraves "Merry Go 'Round" is the debut single by American country music artist Kacey Musgraves. It was released in September 2012 as the lead single from her debut album Same Trailer Different Park. Musgraves co-wrote and co-produced the song with...
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"West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys
Song Lyrics Meaning - West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the song was released twice as a single. The song's lyrics are concerned with class and the pressures of inner-city life which were...
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"Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie
Song Lyrics Meaning - Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie "Under Pressure" is a song by the British rock band Queen and singer David Bowie. Originally released as a single in October 1981, it was later included on Queen's 1982 album Hot Space. The song reached number one on the UK Singles...
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"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis
Song Lyrics Meaning - Jailhouse Rock by Elvis "Jailhouse Rock" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the film of the same name. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. RCA Victor released the song on a 45 rpm single on September 24, 1957, as the first single from the...
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"Cranes in the Sky" by Solange
Song Lyrics Meaning - Cranes in the Sky by Solange "Cranes in the Sky" is a song by American singer-songwriter Solange. Released on October 5, 2016 by Saint Records and Columbia Records, it is the first single from Solange's third album, A Seat at the Table. The song was written by Solange, who...
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"I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams
Song Lyrics Meaning - I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song has been covered by a wide range of musicians. Amazon Merchandise Affiliate Links I’m So...
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"Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell
Song Lyrics Meaning - Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell "Both Sides, Now" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. First recorded by Judy Collins, it appeared on the US singles chart during the fall of 1968. The next year it was included on Mitchell's album Clouds, and became one of…
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"Criminal" by Fiona Apple
Song Lyrics Meaning - Criminal by Fiona Apple "Criminal" is a song by American recording artist Fiona Apple, the third single from her debut studio album, Tidal. The single was shipped to radio on June 2, 1997, and was physically released in September. Apple has stated that the song is about...
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"Nightswimming" by R.E.M.
Song Lyrics Meaning - Nightswimming by R.E.M. "Nightswimming" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in July 1993 by Warner Bros. as the fifth single from the band's eighth album, Automatic for the People (1992). The song is a ballad featuring singer Michael Stipe…
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"London Calling" by The Clash
Song Lyrics Meaning - London Calling by The Clash London Calling is the third studio album by English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records. The Clash...
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"Imagine" by John Lennon
Song Lyrics Meaning - Imagine by John Lennon "Imagine" is a song by British rock musician John Lennon from his 1971 album of the same name. The best-selling single of his solo career, the lyrics encourage listeners to imagine a world of peace, without materialism, without borders separating…
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"Party Up (Up in Here)" by DMX
Song Lyrics Meaning - Party Up (Up in Here) by DMX "Party Up (Up in Here)" is a song by American rapper DMX, released as the second single from his third album ... And Then There Was X (1999) and as of 2020 his most successful single (in the US). There are three versions of the song: an...
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"Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen
Song Lyrics Meaning - Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen from her EP Curiosity (2012) and later appeared on her second studio album and first international album Kiss (2012). The song was written by Jepsen and Tavish Crowe as…
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"Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan
Song Lyrics Meaning - Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan "Like a Rolling Stone" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on July 20, 1965, by Columbia Records. Its confrontational lyrics originated in an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, when he returned…
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"Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton
Song Lyrics Meaning - Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton "Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Recorded originally by Big Mama Thornton on August 13, 1952, in Los Angeles and released by Peacock Records in late February 1953, "Hound Dog" was Thornton's only...
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"Coat of Many Colors" by Dolly Parton
Song Lyrics Meaning - Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton "Coat of Many Colors" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Dolly Parton. It was released in September 1971 as the second single and title track from the album Coat of Many Colors. Amazon Merchandise Affiliate…
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"Trans-Europe Express" by Kraftwerk
Song Lyrics Meaning - Trans-Europe Express by Kraftwerk "Trans-Europe Express" is a song by German electronic music band Kraftwerk. The song was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album of the same name in 1977. The long version of the song was on the original released album, is...
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"Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson
Song Lyrics Meaning - Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson "Uptown Funk" is a song by British record producer Mark Ronson, featuring American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released on 10 November 2014, as the lead single from Ronson's fourth studio album, Uptown Special (2015). "Uptown Funk" was...
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"Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliott
Song Lyrics Meaning - Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott "Get Ur Freak On" is a song by American rapper Missy Elliott. It was written and produced by Elliott and Timbaland for her third studio album Miss E... So Addictive (2001). Based on heavy bhangra elements, a popular music and dance form from...
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"Ripple" by Grateful Dead
Song Lyrics Meaning - Ripple by Grateful Dead "Ripple" is the sixth song on the Grateful Dead album American Beauty. It was released as the B-side to the single "Truckin'". Amazon Merchandise Affiliate Links Ripple by Grateful Dead Merch Explanations from OpenAI ChatGPT API with proprietary...
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"Gloria" by Them
Song Lyrics Meaning - Gloria by Them "Gloria" is a rock song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and originally recorded by Morrison's band Them in 1964. It was released as the B-side of "Baby, Please Don't Go". The song became a garage rock staple and a part of many rock...
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"Grace" by Jeff Buckley
Song Lyrics Meaning - Grace by Jeff Buckley "Grace" is the title track from Jeff Buckley's debut album Grace (1994). It was the album's first single, and was also released as a video. The song was based on an instrumental song called "Rise Up to Be" written by Buckley's collaborator, Gary Lucas....
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"Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan
Song Lyrics Meaning - Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is a song by Bob Dylan, recorded on January 14, 1965, and released as a single by Columbia Records, catalogue number 43242, on March 8. It was the lead track on the album Bringing It All Back Home…
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"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston
Song Lyrics Meaning - I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a...
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"One" by U2
Song Lyrics Meaning - One by U2 "One" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track from their seventh album, Achtung Baby (1991), and it was released as the record's third single in February 1992. During the album's recording sessions at Hansa Studios in Berlin, conflict arose between…
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"American Girl" by Tom Petty
Song Lyrics Meaning - American Girl by Tom Petty "American Girl" is a rock song written by Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for their self-titled debut album in 1976. It was released as a single and did not chart in the United States, but peaked at No. 40 in the UK for…
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"In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins
Song Lyrics Meaning - In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" is the debut solo single by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released as the lead single from Collins's debut solo album, Face Value, in January 1981. Collins co-produced "In the Air Tonight"...
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"Penny Lane" by The Beatles
Song Lyrics Meaning - Penny Lane by The Beatles "Penny Lane" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released in February 1967 as a double A-side single with "Strawberry Fields Forever". It was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting...
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"Hey Ya!" by Outkast
Song Lyrics Meaning - Hey Ya! by Outkast "Hey Ya!" is a song by American hip hop duo Outkast, performed by its member André 3000, who wrote and produced the song. Along with "The Way You Move", recorded by Outkast's other member Big Boi, "Hey Ya!" was released by Arista Records as one of the two...
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Learn about the meanings of the top songs in history in less than 5 minutes a day.
Inspired by the Top 500 Most Influential Songs in History by the Rolling Stones.
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Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.
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