In the English language, we use metaphors to help people better understand what we are talking about, especially when we want what we are saying to be better remembered. Music is one of the most powerful ways we communicate, so naturally, there are many songs with metaphors.
Metaphors, as traditionally defined by the Oxford dictionary, are “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not applicable.” These figures of speech have become increasingly popular not only in the English language but in most languages around the world. Most often, we see metaphors used in music and poetry.
Below we’ve put together a great playlist of songs that use metaphors effectively.
1. Through Glass by Stone Sour
| Genre | Alternative Metal |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Come What(ever) May |
People often mistake Stone Sour for lead vocalist Corey Taylor’s side project away from Slipknot. However, what most of them don’t realize is that Taylor was the frontman for Stone Sour years before he was the lead singer for Slipknot. Forming in 1992, the crew went on Hiatus from 1997 to 2000, not releasing their second album until 2006’s “Come What(ever) May.” One of the album’s standout tracks was “Through Glass,” which is a song about how people with mental illness see the rest of society and how they are seen.
2. Life Is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Mad, Mad World |
Although this song is known more for the Rascal Flatts cover that appears on the soundtrack of the Disney film “Cars,” the original version of “Life Is a Highway” was written and performed by Tom Cochrane, appearing on his 1991 studio album “Mad, Mad World.” The song, which was a number-one hit in Canada, is a metaphor for the long journey of life. It tells us that we should try to get as much enjoyment from our lives as we possibly can while taking the time to savor each moment along the way.
3. Hotel California by The Eagles
| Genre | Classic Rock, Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | Hotel California |
There hasn’t been a song with as many contested meanings as the title track from the Eagles’ 1976 album “Hotel California.” One of the most logical explanations that I have heard for the song is that it represents both darkness and light and the dangers of a lifestyle consisting mostly of hedonism and excess. Glenn Frey has said that the concept started with a novel by John Fowles called The Magus. The story is about a young boy who was corrupted by a wealthy, reclusive man who becomes shallow and detached from reality.
4. Burden In My Hand by Soundgarden
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Album | Down on the Upside |
There are some songs that you have to take at face value, and there are somewhere you may have to dig a little deeper to find the hidden meaning behind the track. For instance, let’s take “Burden In My Hand,” which was the second single from Soundgarden’s 1996 record “Down on the Upside.” Upon first listening, the lyrics to this song are about a man who is feeling guilty about killing his wife. However, if you read between the lines, this song is about a recovering addict who’s relapsed and feels ashamed.
5. Delicate by Taylor Swift
| Genre | Pop Country |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | reputation |
I’ve heard plenty of songs in my life that compare people to plenty of different things, but “Delicate” is a first from Ms. Heartbreak herself, the one and only Taylor Swift. In this track from Swift’s 2017 record “reputation,” Taylor compares her lover to real estate. Strangely enough, in this metaphor, she is looking for a dive bar, but he is a mansion with a view. What she is trying to say is that she expects to find a partner who is cheap and easy but has found someone who is beautiful on the inside and out.
6. Waterfalls by TLC
| Genre | R&B, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | CrazySexyCool |
TLC followed up their highly successful debut album with their much-anticipated effort, “CrazySexyCool,” in 1994. That album produced four Billboard Hot 100 top-five singles, including their number-one hit “Waterfalls.” The song sees a few cases in which excessive behavior brought forth the worst possible result or scenario. The message behind the song is simple. Don’t take things to the point where they are excessive. Taking things slower and doing things the right way may not result in instant gratification, but there will be less of a price to pay in the future.
7. I Am the Highway by Audioslave
| Genre | Post Grunge |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Audioslave |
In 2003, Soundgarden was on hiatus, and Rage Against the Machine parted ways with Zack de la Rocha. Because of a suggestion from their mutual friend Rick Rubin, Chris Cornell joined forces with Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk to form Audioslave. The band was nominated for three Grammy Awards and released three albums, including their self-titled debut, featuring the single “I Am the Highway.” The song’s message serves as a metaphor for both independence and self-reliance. It’s also about discovering your self-worth after being taken advantage of in relationships.
8. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
| Genre | Classic Rock, Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1971 |
| Album | Led Zeppelin IV |
This is quite possibly the most famous song in the history of rock and roll, and appeared on the 1971 classic album “Led Zeppelin IV.” The record would become the most commercially successful of the band’s career, selling over 37 million copies, thanks in no small part because of the legendary eight-minute opus known as “Stairway To Heaven.” Written by lead vocalist Robert Plant, the song is a metaphor for how materialistic society is, and how certain wealthy people think that you can buy your way into heaven.
9. Welcome To The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
| Genre | Pop Punk |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | The Black Parade |
My Chemical Romance released what many of their fans consider to be their finest work in 2006, which was a concept album called “The Black Parade.” The album told the heartbreaking tale of an individual diagnosed with cancer, simply known as The Patient. During the album’s fifth track, which was titled “Welcome To The Black Parade,” the patient realizes that he is about to die. Lead vocalist Gerard Way got the idea when he was a child. Gerard Way was told that death would always come as something he enjoyed most in life, which was parades.
10. The Dance by Garth Brooks
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1989 |
| Album | Garth Brooks |
Like most people, the first time I ever heard Garth Brooks was when I first heard his Academy Award-winning single “The Dance” from his 1989 self-titled debut album. This song would be the second of an astonishing 19 tracks to reach the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in his career. It takes one isolated incident from brooks’ childhood and turns it into a metaphor for taking risks in life. If you know the way everything ends, you may never take the risk. However, you may never get the enjoyment either.
11. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N’ Roses
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Appetite For Destruction |
Anyone familiar with this band knows that Axl Rose grew up in Indiana and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s as a founding member of the glam metal band Hollywood Rose, which would later become L.A. Guns. To this day, Rose has been the sole consistent member of Guns N’ Roses, who released one of the most critically-praised debut albums of all time, 1987’s “Appetite For Destruction.” The album’s lead single, “Welcome To The Jungle,” is a metaphor for Axl’s experience moving to the City of Angels.
12. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
| Genre | Classic Rock, Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1975 |
| Album | A Night At the Opera |
When you think of the legendary classic rock band Queen, you can’t help thinking of their larger-than-life frontman Freddie Mercury, whose personality was as large and outgoing as his voice. While Mercury’s sexuality is now common knowledge, being a gay man in the 1970s wasn’t as accepted as it is today. According to Sir Tim Smith, one of the chief lyricists for the song, the message was very clear. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which was featured on their 1975 album “A Night At the Opera,” was going to be Freddie Mercury’s coming-out party.
13. Black Rain by Ozzy Osbourne
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | Black Rain |
From being a founding member of heavy metal’s first band to a long and accomplished solo career, Ozzy Osbourne is no stranger to getting his point across in his music. In 2007, the man simply known as Ozzy released his tenth studio album, “Black Rain,” which was his most politically-charged work since “War Pigs.” Always outspoken against war, the Wizard of Oz penned the lyrics to the title track as an outspoken critic of the Gulf War in Iraq and how it was used to leverage the country’s vast oil reserves.
14. Wicked Garden by Stone Temple Pilots
| Genre | Grunge, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Core |
Although Stone Temple Pilots have changed their sound plenty of times in their career, they originally ordered the Seattle grunge wave of the early 1990s, despite hailing from San Diego. Although they were dismissed by most music critics, the band announced their arrival with a bang in 1992 when they released their debut album “Core.” The record would peak at number three on the Billboard 200 and spent a whopping 117 weeks on the charts. No stranger to addiction, Scott Weiland wrote the track “Wicked Garden” about the loss of Innocence through experimenting with drugs.
15. Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | In Utero |
Originally appearing on their 1994 record “In Utero,” which was the follow-up to their breakout album “Nevermind,” Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” just might be the most poorly disguised metaphor in modern music. It was during the early writing stages of this album that Kurt Cobain fell madly in love with Hole’s lead vocalist and guitar player, Courtney Love. So, as most artists do, Cobain celebrated the new romance by writing a song about it. Although it’s never been specifically confirmed nor denied, this track is rumored to be about a specific part of Love’s anatomy. If you like this song, check out our playlist of songs about young love.
16. Angry Chair by Alice In Chains
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Dirt |
Like most bands coming out of the Pacific Northwest in the early 1990s, Alice In Chains did not anticipate the success they initially received when they released their debut album “Facelift.” So, what happens when you factor in large amounts of cash and readily available narcotics into the equation? Well, the short answer is that you get a new album, which was 1992’s Grammy-nominated effort, “Dirt.” Featured on that album was the track “Angry Chair,” which is a metaphor for both Staley’s battles with heroin addiction and a brief glimpse into his childhood.
17. Blood Of Heroes by Megadeth
| Genre | Thrash Metal |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | Youthanasia |
Let it not be said that while Dave Mustaine has a veritable plethora of songwriting talent, his ego is just as immense as his skill. Take, for instance, the track “Blood of Heroes,” which was included on the Grammy-winning thrash metal outfit’s 1994 album “Youthanasia.” Initially, the song sounds like a salute to patriotism and a tribute to those who have fought and died for our country. Nevertheless, the song is really about how Megadeth is a brotherhood that stands together, which is a strange concept when you consider its revolving door policy for members.
18. Master Of Puppets by Metallica
| Genre | Thrash Metal |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Master Of Puppets |
Since this song was featured in a key scene in the Season 4 finale of the Netflix show “Stranger Things,” the title track from Metallica’s 1986 album “Master Of Puppets” has seen a resurgence in popularity. Metallica has also recently had their music enter the Billboard charts again, despite not having any new material since 2016’s “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct.” However, with Metallica gaining a hoard of new fans, many listeners may not know that lead vocalist James Hetfield has had struggles with alcohol and drug addiction in the past. This track reflects those struggles.
19. Laid To Rest by Lamb Of God
| Genre | Groove Metal |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Ashes of the Wake |
Richmond, Virginia’s Lamb of God, is no stranger to controversy, having formed in 1994 under the name Burn the Priest. Contrary to popular belief, the band did not change their name because it was difficult for them to land gigs. They changed their name because they did not want to get mistaken for a Satanic band. In 2004, they dropped the highly-political record “Ashes of the Wake,” which led off with “Laid To Rest.” With that said, this is one track on the album that isn’t political. Instead, this song is about overcoming addiction.
20. Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1979 |
| Album | The Wall |
Pink Floyd is one of the most commercially successful progressive rock bands in history, selling over 250 million albums in 65 years together. So, how did they top being one of the top-selling bands of the 1970s? They closed out the decade by releasing the semi-autobiographical double concept album “The Wall,” which follows a musician (aptly-named Pink) on the rise to being one of the world’s biggest rock stars. Each song represents a brick in the metaphorical wall that he is building to shut himself off from the rest of humanity.
21. White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane
| Genre | Classic Rock, Psychedelic Rock |
| Year Released | 1967 |
| Album | Surrealistic Pillow |
Formed in San Francisco in 1965, Jefferson Airplane was around in one iteration or another for a half-century. In 1967, they released “Surrealistic Pillow.” This was their second record and the album that introduced Grace Slick to the rest of the world. It featured the massive hit “Somebody To Love” and also included “White Rabbit,” which has been featured in 132 separate film and television soundtracks. Vocalist Grace Slick said that the song was meant to be a metaphor for experimentation. Unsurprisingly, she is said to have written the song after an acid trip.
22. Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds by The Beatles
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1967 |
| Album | Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band |
Unquestionably the biggest band in the history of the world, The Beatles, has sold over 183 million albums worldwide. To put that into perspective, Garth Brooks is a distant second place with 157 million units sold, with Elvis Presley coming in third. In 1967, they released the Billboard 200 number-one album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” which included the not-so-subtle track “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds.” As you might have expected from the initials indicated in the title, the song represents the band’s experimentation with psychedelic drugs at this stage in their career. This is one of my personal favorite songs with metaphors of all time.
23. Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band
| Genre | Pop,Vocal Harmony |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | Starland Vocal Band |
While it might seem unlikely that a vocal harmony group composed of two married couples would win two Grammy Awards for a song about having relations during the daytime, that’s exactly what Starland Vocal Band did in 1976 with their surprise hit “Afternoon Delight,” which appears on their self-titled debut album. If you think that this sounds out of place in 1970s America, you would be correct. Not only did the song have many of its listeners fold as to its secret meaning, but it also had plenty of DJs fooled as well.
24. 99 Luftballons by Nena
| Genre | New Wave, Pop |
| Year Released | 1983 |
| Album | Nena |
Formed in West Berlin in 1979, Nena has the distinction of being the only song sung in German to crack the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. Featured on their self-titled debut album in 1983, “99 Luftballons” is one of those songs that sounds better in its native tongue than translated into English, where it means “99 Red Balloons.” In the song, a batch of balloons was released into the air. The balloons were mistaken as a military threat, which led to mass confusion and resulted in a nuclear war being declared around the world.
25. My Adidas by Run DMC
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 1986 |
| Album | Raising Hell |
Founded in Hollis, Queens, in 1983 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell, Run DMC was one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time. In 1986, they released their third Studio album, “Raising Hell,” which became the first platinum album of the group’s career and the first hip-hop album to achieve this distinction. One of the standout tracks on the record was “My Adidas,” which is more than just a shout-out to their favorite brand of athletic apparel. In the song, the term “Adidas” is interchangeable for success and money.
26. Everything In Its Right Place/Idioteque by Radiohead
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | Kid A |
Radiohead is not only the most critically-acclaimed alternative band of the last few decades, but they are also the most critically-praised band of all time. What else would you expect from the band that landed four albums? Appearing at the number-twenty spot on Rolling Stone’s coveted list of the Top 500 Albums of All Time is “Kid A,” Radiohead’s 2000 masterpiece about an anonymous protagonist who suffers from anxiety, depression, and social inhibitions. When placed together, “Everything In Its Right Place” and “Idioteque symbolize the birth of Kid A and the end of civilization.
27. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall by Bob Dylan
| Genre | Folk, Indie |
| Year Released | 1963 |
| Album | The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan |
Known as one of the greatest lyricists and songwriters of all time, Bob Dylan has had an impressive career that has spanned well over six decades. He has been awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature, 10 Grammy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and two Academy Awards. In 1963, Dylan released “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” including “A Hard Rain’s A‐Gonna Fall.” When Dylan was asked about whether or not “hard rain” meant fallout from the atomic bomb, he simply responded with, “I just mean some sort of end that’s just gotta happen.”
28. Crucify by Tori Amos
| Genre | Alternative Pop |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Little Earthquakes |
Religious symbolism is one of the most often used metaphors in popular music today. For instance, take the Tori Amos single “Crucify,” which was from her 1992 debut album “Little Earthquakes.” Tori grew up the daughter of a minister and the granddaughter of a strictly religious Calvinist, which is where most of her feelings that stem from religious oppression come from. However, the single symbolizes more than just religious oppression. It represents how people are regularly oppressed from expressing their true feelings. This holds not only for religion but for society in general.
29. Take Me To Church by Hozier
| Genre | Pop, Indie |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Take Me To Church |
When Irish pop artist Andrew Hozier Byrne released the single “Take Me To Church,” which is the title track from his 2013 EP, he had no idea that he would end up drawing some heat from the LBGTQ+ community. However, that’s exactly what happened because the song’s video was initially misinterpreted as anti-gay. When given a chance to set the recording straight, Hozier said that he intended to show how religion undermines humanity. He went on to say that the song represents seeing yourself reborn through the eyes of someone you love.
30. Human Nature by Michael Jackson
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1983 |
| Album | Thriller |
After getting his start fronting the Jackson 5 at six years old, Michael Jackson would become one of the most popular and instantly recognized names in music. In 1983, Jackson released his massively successful album “Thriller,” which would sell over 100 million copies, eventually becoming the world’s best-selling album of all time. Although the meaning of the record’s fifth single, “Human Nature,” has been interpreted a few ways, I firmly believe that it’s about a guy who is stepping outside of his relationship with his significant other to have an affair.
31. Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | Fine Line |
Harry Styles was discovered as a participant in Simon Cowell’s “The X-Factor,” although he initially did not make it past the boot camp phase of the show. After forming a boy band with other contestants from The show, Styles went solo and became a hugely successful pop artist, earning his first-ever number-one hit with the single “Watermelon Sugar.” Styles, while initially remaining coy about the meaning of the song, finally admitted to the crowd during a concert in Nashville that the hit from 2019’s “Fine Line” is about sex, particularly the female orgasm.
32. With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails
| Genre | Industrial Rock |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | With Teeth |
Formed in 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio, Nine Inch Nails is an industrial rock band whose sole consistent member is their frontman and mastermind Trent Reznor. After releasing their debut album in 1989 to moderate acclaim, the band became one of the most successful alternative acts of the last few decades, being nominated for a Grammy Award for the 2005 record “With Teeth.” Like many other songs of the time, the title track from this album is about addiction and how it can sink its teeth into you and take over your life.
33. Wanna Be Be That Song by Brett Eldredge
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Illinois |
As long as there has been music, there have been plenty of young men who were more than willing to make fools of themselves, singing silly songs about pretty young ladies. This is especially prevalent in country music, and Brett Eldredge is one more in a line of long examples. Featured on his second studio album, 2015’s “Illinois,” Eldredge’s track “Wanna Be Be That Song” is about wanting to be that little something that puts a smile on that special person in your life’s face, even if it’s something as simple as a song. I really love songs about gratitude and being grateful for the little things in life, which is why this song resonates with me.
34. The Crow & the Butterfly by Shinedown
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | The Sound of Madness |
No other band in the history of music has had as much success on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts as Jacksonville, Florida’s Shinedown. The band has now had 18 of their singles reach the number-one spot, with every song they’ve ever released cracking the top five. In 2007, they released their Billboard number-two album “The Sound of Madness,” which included the touching ballad “The Crow & the Butterfly.” Lead vocalist Brent Smith said that he wrote the song after having a nightmare in which a mother lost her son in a very tragic way.
35. Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones
| Genre | Classic Rock, Rock and Roll |
| Year Released | 1966 |
| Album | Afternoon |
The Rolling Stones have one of the longest and most illustrious careers in the history of rock and roll music, forming in London in 1962 and spanning for over six decades. Throughout those 60 years, they have sold over 85 million albums around the world, releasing 30 studio albums and 34 live albums. In 1966, they released their landmark album “Afternoon,” which was the first Stones album to consist solely of original songs. One of those compositions was the phenomenal “Paint It Black,” which is a song that is about someone’s lover passing away.
36. Down By the River by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
| Genre | Folk, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1969 |
| Album | Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere |
The year 1969 was a banner year for Canadian singer-songwriter and rock musician Neil Young. This was the year that Young, with the help of his band Crazy Horse, released their classic album “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,” which marked the first time that they had a platinum album. Coincidentally, this was also the first time that Neil Young had a top 40 album, which contained some of his most beloved tracks. One of those was the nine-minute epic “Down By the River,” which is a metaphor for a relationship breaking up.
37. Stinkfist by Tool
| Genre | Progressive Metal |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Album | Ænima |
Throughout their career, Tool has consistently wrapped clever messages and lessons in ten-minute metaphors.” Stinkfist,” the first track from 1996’s “Ænima,” would prove to be no different for the three-time Grammy Award-winning band. At face value, it seems like this track is about nothing more than a sex act, but there’s something much deeper to it than that. The message that Tool was trying to convey in this song is that we as a society have become increasingly numb to things. The more numb we become, the more it takes to shock us.
38. Space Oddity by David Bowie
| Genre | Classic Rock, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1969 |
| Album | David Bowie |
Isn’t it funny how some of the songs that we consider to be all-time classics now weren’t thought of as anything more than novelties in past years? One of the best examples of this can be heard in David Bowie’s track “Space Oddity,” which appears in his 1969 self-titled effort. This track, which is a metaphor for the feelings of isolation and contentment that stem from addiction, is now listed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Bowie later recorded a sequel called “Ashes to Ashes.”
39. Rocket Man by Elton John
| Genre | Classic Rock, Rock and Roll |
| Year Released | 1972 |
| Album | Honky Chateau |
I had no idea that he did not write the lyrics to his music until I saw the film “Rocket Man” a few years ago. I guess ignorance is bliss. However, what this did was give me a new appreciation for the talent that it takes to write a great song. One of the best examples I can think of is found in Elton John’s classic “Rocket Man.” Featured in his 1972’s “Honky Chateau,” Elton John claims that this song is the result of a cocaine binge, while Bernie Taupin says that it represents familial detachment.
40. Purple Rain by Prince
| Genre | Pop, Rock |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Purple Rain |
Ever since seeing the 1984 film “Purple Rain,” I have been a devout Prince fan. Unfortunately, I was not able to process the sheer level of genius and scope of Prince’s music until I was much older. Like many other songs featured on this list, I had no idea what was going on beneath the surface of the Grammy Award-winning title track from this film. The song, which was originally meant to be a duet with Stevie Nicks, is about spending the end of the world with the person you love the most. If you enjoy this song, check out our playlist of songs about the end of the world.
41. Stir Fry by Migos
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Culture II |
Migos is a rap group formed in 2008 in Lawrenceville, Georgia, consisting of the rappers Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset. Unfortunately, the group split up earlier this year due to an undisclosed issue between Offset and Quavo, with Takeoff and Quavo rebranding themselves as Unc and Phew. However, before disbanding, the group released 12 mixtapes, one EP, and four studio albums, including 2018’s “Culture II.” That album featured the hit single “Stir Fry,” which uses different types of food to describe how incredibly attractive the ladies that the group is rapping about are.
42. Hound Dog by Elvis Presley
| Genre | Rock and Roll |
| Year Released | 1956 |
| Album | Single |
With 137 million albums sold worldwide, Elvis Presley Trails Only The Beatles and Garth Brooks as the top-selling musical artists of all time. In 1956, Presley released what would become the biggest-selling double-sided hit record of all time, with “Hound Dog” on one side of the recording and “Don’t Be Cruel” on the other. Combined, the two singles would sell 14 million copies. The slang term hound dog stood for a no-good gigolo in the 1950s, so the song was written from the perspective of a woman who is angry at her boyfriend.
43. Fireflies by Owl City
| Genre | Alternative |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Ocean Eyes |
Some of the best songs with the most powerful messages come from some of the simplest concepts. For example, take the song fireflies from Owl City’s 2009 album “Ocean Eyes.” Adam Young, known professionally as Owl City, suffers from insomnia. So, much like most other artists in his position, he writes about what he knows best. In this song, the fireflies that he speaks about represent the illusions that he goes through when he is suffering from one of his belts with sleeplessness because the fireflies are more interesting than his reality. If you’re looking for songs about surviving and hardship, look no further!
44. The Race Is On by George Jones
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1964 |
| Album | I Get Lonely in a Hurry |
Born in 1931 in Saratoga, Texas, George Jones is one of the most influential figures in country music history and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1991. In addition to this accomplishment, Jones had 69 top-ten singles and 13 number-one songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. One of those top 10 songs was from his 1964 effort “I Get Lonely in a Hurry” and was called “The Race Is On.” The song uses erase as a metaphor for Jones’s love life, with the narrator giving a play-by-play call of the events.
45. I’m Already There by Lonestar
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | I’m Already There by Lonestar |
Lonestar is a country music band hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, that has been together since 1992. The band wasn’t nominated for (and won) three Academy of Country Music Awards, including one for “I’m Already There,” which took home the award for Song Of the Year for the title track of their 2001 album. The message in the song is indicative of how life continues to move forward. His children continue to grow, and the routines of his everyday life are passing him by, and he can’t get home soon enough.
46. One By U2
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Achtung Baby |
The Irish alternative rock band U2 was formed in 1976 in Dublin and is one of the most decorated bands in music. They have been nominated for 46 Grammy Awards, winning 22 of them, including being nominated for their hit single “One” from their 1991 studio album “Achtung Baby.” The reason that the song was so successful was that the lyrics were a metaphorical bridge that got the band working together again, on the same page for the first time in a long while. Upon completion, the band felt whole again, together as one.
47. Youngblood by 5 Seconds of Summer
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Youngblood |
Formed in Sydney, New South Wales, in 2011, the pop group, 5 Seconds of Summer, is best known for contributing a song to the soundtrack for the television series “13 Reasons Why,” as well as the title track to their 2018 album “Youngblood,” which was also the only top-ten hit of the group’s career. In this song, the narrator uses the metaphor of serving a life sentence to describe the relationship he has with his girlfriend. He draws this comparison by saying that he is a dead man walking, and their conversations are like their last goodbye.
48. Paint Me a Birmingham by Tracy Lawrence
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Strong |
Tracy Lawrence is known as one of country music’s truest traditionalists and has had an impressive 30-year career in which he has sold over 13 million albums. He has also had 22 top-ten hits, including eight number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts. In 2004, Lawrence released his eighth studio album, “Strong,” which featured his Billboard top-five hit “Paint Me a Birmingham.” The track is a true-to-life representation of what Tracy Lawrence perceives the perfect life to be, which he comes to realize is nothing without the love of his life.
49. Butterfly by Screaming Trees
| Genre | Grunge, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Sweet Oblivion |
The Screaming Trees were formed in Washington state in 1984 but didn’t weren’t known nationally until their song “Nearly Lost You” was featured on the soundtrack for Cameron Crowe’s film “Singles.” That track also sparked sales for the band’s highly-praised 1992 effort “Sweet Oblivion” as well. The album’s fifth track, “Butterfly,” is a perfect example of lead vocalist Mark Lanegan’s lyrical prowess. In this song, the singer uses the butterfly, which usually symbolizes rebirth and change, to illustrate a significant change in a romantic relationship. However, the song’s feeling is indicative of sadness.
50. Scream Of The Butterfly by Acid Bath
| Genre | Metal |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | When the Kite String Pops |
Acid Bath was a metal band from Louisiana that was active from 1991 to 1997. Sadly, the group disbanded shortly after the sudden death of bass player Audi Pitre, who was killed by a drunk driver after the band’s second album. In 1994, they signed a record deal with Rotten Records and cut their debut album “When the Kite String Pops.” Some of the album’s standout tracks were the ballad “Scream Of the Butterfly,” which was rumored to be about a pregnancy that was terminated by someone close to the band.
Wrap Up:
That does it for this article; let us know if there are any great songs that we missed in the comments below.
Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.