Secret Songs

Perhaps the eternal question about the Baby Boomer generation will be why we would love (and sing) songs that we haven’t a clue as to what they really mean.

The Rolling Stone magazine has an article out concerning a few of the secret songs that typify our boomer generation. It is pretty inane, in my opinion, which is surprising considering the source.

What do you know about the ”secret songs” from the 60s, 70s and 80s? (And why aren’t there any secret songs from newer generations?)

Do you know the meaning of lyrics of these songs, or their background?

Do you know who a particular song is about?

Do you have a song not on this list that you would like to understand?

If so, share it with us so that we too might, at the later half of our lives, finally know what the heck the songs we’ve been singing mean after all these years!

Here are a few of the secret songs, in no particular order –

The Kingsmen – Louie Louie
The Kinks – Lola
U2 – One
Bob Dylan – Rainy Day Women
The Beatles – Please, Please Me
Elvis Costello – Alison
R.E.M – One I Love
Stevie Nicks – Edge of Seventeen
The Who – Pictures of Lily
Nirvana – Polly
The Beatles – Hey Jude
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Tommy James – Crystal Blue Persuasion
The Beatles – Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Phil Collins – In the Air Tonight
Tiffany – Always Thought I’D See You Again
Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
Jesus and Mary Chain – Some Candy Talking
Springsteen – Born In The USA
Nirvana – Pennyroyal Tea
Iron Butterfly – Inagodavida
Jefferson Airplane – White Rabbit
Anything by the 13th Floor Elevators
Grateful Dead – Casey Jones
Grateful Dead – Easy Wind
Grateful Dead – Velvet Underground
Moody Blues – In Search Of The Lost Chord
Eagles – Witchy Woman
Beatles – Martha, My Dear
Randy Newman -Short People
Rod Stewart -You’re in My Heart
Rolling Stone – Ishmael
Rupert Holmes – Pina Colada Song
Credence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son
The Buoys – Timothy
Janis Joplin – Down on Me
Adam -Blink 182
Donovan – Mellow Yellow
Carly Simon – You’re So Vain
Dylan – Mr. Tambourine Man
Peter, Paul, and Mary – Puff the Magic Dragon
Springsteen – Blinded by the Light
Neil Diamond – Shilo
Guess Who – American Woman
Mamas and Papas – Monday, Monday
The Doors – 5 to 1
Dylan – Everybody Must Get Stoned
ZZTop – Pearl Necklace
Nirvana – Polly
The Eagles – Hotel California
Pink Floyd -Comfortably Numb
Norwegian Wood – Secret
Marty Balin – Miracles
Springsteen -Pink Cadillac
Don McLean – American Pie
Bon Scott – Whole Lotta Rosie
Police – Every Breath You Take
Byrd – 8 Miles High
Elton John – Pinball Wizard
Cindy Lauper – She Bop
The Carpenters – Superstar
Anything by Jefferson Starship

Regards, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Roger Born