That Song Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

Let me warn you beforehand that this post includes a word that could not be aired on U.S. radio back in the day. With that warning, I will move forward.

Isn’t it wonderful when a man loves a woman? And isn’t it great to be born in the U.S.A.? And didn’t the devil get what he deserved when he went down to Georgia?

No, no, and no. Apparently we weren’t paying attention to what these three songs actually SAID.

This is not a love song

Almost everyone agrees that “When a Man Loves a Woman” is the perfect song for the first dance at a wedding reception. But when you actually read all of the lyrics, you discover that any marriage that starts with this song is doomed to failure. Here’s just a small sample:

She can bring him such misery
If she is playin’ him for a fool
He’s the last one to know

From Genius.

This is NOT a love song. (Sung by John, not by the Johnny that we will meet later.) The woman in Percy Sledge’s song obviously has other plans.

Not proud to be an American

There are also misunderstandings about our Third National Anthem (after Francis Scott Key’s and Lee Greenwood’s compositions). I speak, of course, of “BORN IN THE U.S.A.!!!” Cue the fireworks.

But take a detailed look at the main character in Springsteen’s song.

Rather than celebrating the “proud to be an American” opportunities his country provides him, he ends up in despair after getting “in a little hometown jam,” being sent away to Vietnam to “kill the yellow man,” and returning home to a less than warm welcome.

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says, “Son, if it was up to me”
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said, “Son, don’t you understand”

From Genius.

Why the HELL was his country doing this to him?

The Devil went down to Georgia…and WON

Which brings us to the Charlie Daniels Band’s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” (Language warning.)

Those who know that Johnny won the fiddle contest may think that I’m just overreacting to the then controversial b-word at the end of the song. Well, I do have a problem with the b-word…but not THAT b-word.

You know the story. The devil goes down to Georgia, finds fiddle-playing Johnny, and challenges him to a contest. If Johnny wins, he gets a “fiddle of gold.” If Johnny loses, the devil gets his soul. Even though “it might be a sin,” Johnny proceeds with the bet. The devil and Johnny trade fiddle solos. Frankly, the devil’s solo is pretty impressive…until we hear Johnny’s good ol’ Southern solo.

And what happens next?

The Devil bowed his head because he knew that he’d been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny’s feet
Johnny said, “Devil, just come on back if you ever wanna try again
I done told you once–you son of a bitch–I’m the best there’s ever been.”

From Genius.

Yes, Johnny DID say “bitch”…except on over-the-air radio, which bleeped out the word. The real issue is what Johnny said next, echoing what he said before: I’m the best there’s ever been. And this is the moment when the devil achieved his ultimate victory and snatched Johnny’s soul, because Johnny “did not give God the glory.” (See Acts 12:21-23 for the consequences, if you’re so inclined.)

I didn’t get the message, and the message wasn’t clear

In all three examples, the lyrics of the song state one thing, but we refuse to listen to it. Why? Because we’re so enamored of what we THINK the message says.

• Let’s play this lovely wedding song for our first dance, ignoring the fact that the woman in the song is already preparing to file for divorce and lots of alimony.
• Let’s celebrate our wonnderful country, ignoring the fact that it disposes of its cannon fodder when it is no longer needed.
• Let’s celebrate the activities of the Georgian fiddle player, ignoring the fact that he displays many of the “deadly sins,” including wrath, greed/envy/lust, and pride.

But what happens when we DO pay attention to the message, but there’s a “metamessage” that is also conveyed that says something COMPLETELY different?

To be continued in the next post; click here. (You’ll see some comments about how Inland Empire businesses can support their metamessages via case studies.)

But first I’ll present one other song about messages. French language warning.