Revealing the True Meanings Behind These Misunderstood Songs

Published on 09/19/2023
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‘Pink Houses’ – John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp penned “Pink Houses” in response to Reaganomics and the conservative “greed is good” culture of the early 1980s. However, due to its upbeat music and “Ain’t that America” lyric, the song is frequently misconstrued as a simple patriotic song. Conservative political candidates and organizations that have utilized the song have received public condemnation from the song’s firmly leftist author, John Mellencamp.

'Pink Houses' John Mellencamp

‘Pink Houses’ John Mellencamp

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‘Higher’ – Creed

Creed’s “Higher,” one of 1999’s biggest singles, has become the band’s hallmark song and is indicative of the post-grunge rock culture of the period. While the song appears to be about either a drug-induced high or (on the opposite end of the spectrum) Creed’s publicized Christianity, it is actually about neither. Instead, the song is about the concept of lucid dreaming, according to lead singer Scott Stapp.

'Higher' Creed

‘Higher’ Creed

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