Finally You Can Learn The Truth Behind These 18 Classic Song Lyrics' Meanings
These songs have stood the test of time as classic hits in pop culture. However, the fact remains, you probably had no idea was they were talking about. Here's what these crazy lyrics meant.
The gut bass was an over turned washtub that made sounds using a broomstick, resembling a bass violin. Kalamazoo is a reference to Gibson Guitar Corporation which was founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1902.
Colitas means "Little buds" in Spanish, i.e. a slang term for marijuana. Light up, boys.
“Sweet†Connie Hamzy is a notorious rock and rock groupie, who shared, well, herself withthe likes of: The Who, Neil Diamond, the Allman Brothers, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin, not to name drop or anything.
The second lyric, references Grand Funk's opening act, Â Freddie King, who loved to play high-stakes games after a show.
Pompatus is a made up word, but Miller didn't make it up, entirely. He was influenced by a line from a 50s song called "The Letter" which features the line: "Oh my darling, let me whisper sweet words of pizmotality and discuss the puppetutes of love."
Baggies are the boxer style bathing suits that surfers preferred over speedos. Huarache sandals are made of woven leather and actually look more like a shoe. So, there you go. That's what they were wearing in this lyric.
Haver means to talk babble or nonsense, which is a perfect line considering their Scottish accents make them sound like they're saying ""heaver" instead.
"Brass in pocket" is a London slang term meaning money, i.e. the gold coins, and "bottle" means courage. Money and courage…sounds good to us.
The tab collared shirt has two fabric tabs in the middle with collar points that push a tie up and out. Sidewinders are a slip on shoe, of many varieties. George “Beau†Brummell was a leader in men's fashion in England. Put al these things together and Billy Joel is talking about a very well-dressed man.
Chunder is cool way to say vomit. You know, men drinking too much beer and chundering. That's what it means.
Scaramouche is a traditional clown character featured in commedia dell'arte in Italia, while the fandango is a couples dance. Bismillah is an Arabic word meaning "In the name of God," so put all that together, and we still don't know what this means.
The gavotte was 16th century French folk dance, and it's majestic pose was how Simon pictured the character in this song making their dramatic entrance. Like, with a hand on their hip.
Moët et Chandon created in 1743 holds a warrant to supply bubbly to Queen Elizabeth II. That's a high order.
Neil Young is of course, Neil Young, but just to be clear Lynyrd Skynyrd didn't like the fact that a Canadian man was singing songs about the south, i.e. "Southern Man" off his 1970 album After the Gold Rush.
The Purple Gang was the Al Capone and his crew of Detroit. They helped smuggle booze across the border from Canada. They initially were in it with Capone, but then a turf war broke out.
Bobbie Brooks is a blue jean brand sold exclusively at dollar stores, and well you can imagine, if the jeans are off, what do what he pleases means.
Rabbit test was a way that women found out if they were pregnant, in which the urine of of female was placed in the ovaries of a rabbit and then 48-hours later the results were in. So, yeah.Â
Lon Chaney, a silent-film actor, was known for playing Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera. He's known as the "Man of 1000s faces" and his son carried on the legacy playing The Mummy, Frankenstein and others. Trader Vic is a restaurant chain, and the owner claims to be the creator of the Mai Tai cocktail. Â All that make sense now?
"Between the Scylla and Charybdis" is a way to say "between a rock and a hard place," a reference you'd understand if you're a fan of Homer's Odyssey.