A Certain Song(s) That Gained More Meaning As You Got Older/Or From Experiences?

[KingLouieLouie]

I thought of this idea for a thread while posting my "Born In The U.S.A." album-a-day.... Is there a certain song that gained more meaning as you got older?

I've been listening to music since I was virtually an infant, so there were naturally songs that I didnt understand what the lyrics were completely conveying until I experienced whatever the message of the song pertained to...

For example..... I have loved the Beatles (as most of you obviously know) since I was around 3 years-old and lyrics to some of their songs like "In My Life", "The Long And Winding Road", and "Help!" didnt really have any importance to me other than that I loved the song due to its instrumentation..... Although..as soon as I got older I began to realize the essence of the lyrics which made the songs more significant to me.....Pretty much would add another dimension altogether because those 3 songs were pretty much "message songs" that were too profound/over-my-head at 3 years-old, but as soon as I entered my later teenage years to mid-20s I began to comprehend what those songs were about through experience....

So.. just wondering...is there a certain song(s) that developed more meaning to you whether it was just through getting older or from actually experiencing what the writer had composed the lyrics about?

 

[Rook]

One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head has seriously changed in meaning for me. Released in 1985 while I was in high school and at that time it was just a cool song. Now, having been to Thailand and ummm, dabbled in the extracurricular activities there, I understand the song at every level. The semi-subtle references in the lyrics are proof enough to me that the writer experienced Thailand first-hand as well. It's a hell of a song in my book.

 

[Brian]

Too easy....

Cat's in the Cradle.

I liked it as a kid, it means so much more now as a father.

 

[thirty-two]

Mariah Carey/Boyz II Men: "One Sweet Day"

It's a song about someone passing away and how you will see them "one sweet day." I guess I never really sat down to reflect on all the lyrics until later in life. In 6th grade it was just "The best slow dance song EVER"

 

[Jersey Girl]

Kinda along the lines of "Born in the USA" is that John Cougar Mellencamp (or whatever he's calling himself nowadays) song "Pink Houses" ... or is it called "Ain't that America?" I dunno. In any case, I like it!

"Afternoon Delight" is also one that comes to mind. That song is so hokey, but I used to sing it so freaking loud when I was five years old, lol! For some reason, I still enjoy singing it when I hear it on the radio ... which is pretty much never, actually.

 

[NSD_Blonde]

Too easy....

Cat's in the Cradle.

I liked it as a kid, it means so much more now as a father.

Funny, as I was reading KLL's initial post--this was the first song that popped into my head, and I'm not even a parent, but man do I get it!

I'm sure there are others, but that is the one that came to me...my head can only hold one little thought at a time...

 

[AZ Shocker]

"Shooting Star" by Bad Company. Never cared that much for the song over the years. However a little incident happend to me after the passing of my grandfather a few years back. Let's just say that now every time I hear that song...well in the words of Micheal Myer from SNL...I get a little veclemped (sp?).

 

[justAndy]

...

The entire Stooges "Raw Power" lp.
I had to grow up and live some of it to get it.
Didn't like it when I was 12, but 20 years later...

 

[Stronso]

2 songs immediately come to mind:

"True Companion" by Marc Cohn and "Imagine" by Lennon

I fully understand these songs now and they are in my soul

 

[KingLouieLouie]

First... Lord... I feel like a stranger on this forum now!!!!!

Sorry..didnt want everyone to think I've gone absolutely AWOL...I've been reading/enjoying the forum every single day, but just havent entirely been in the mood to post about music....

Okay...to get back on topic..... One song that has come to mind since I created this thread was "Free Bird".... I've loved this song for practically my entire life (especially for the guitarwork), however, as I got older I began to devlop a better understanding of the lyrics and I view them from 2 different perspectives on how I can identify with them...

First.... I view the "Free Bird" as being several girls I've known/dated who were highly "free-spirited" and just couldnt be "grounded" in terms to settle down... They just loved having absolute liberation without any constraints and always wanted to "spread their wings" rather than settling in a nest... I tried to change them...in terms of them wanting to be willing to be committed to something for the long-haul, but they werent able to set-aside their complete freedom for anything.. maybe they were too young at the time.. who know...

Second... I apply this song to myself since Ive moved out here... I left many girls behind in MI when I came out here 3-yrs ago and I've changed my feelings about some, but they havent in regards to me.... If I stayed with those girls..perhaps nothing would have changed, but since I didnt... there is no way that I would revert/return back to my previous ways.. just wouldnt be the same...wouldnt matter if I forced myself.. I still wouldnt change....

Lord.. what a profound song that is..... Just unfortunate the fate of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but they didnt have to record anything else other than "Free Bird" and their legacy still would have been significant because what a stellar song that is.....