Top 10 Happy Sounding Songs With Dark Lyrics
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Jump - Van Halen
Looking more into this, it's not actually a song about suicide. Despite Roth being inspired to write the song after seeing a suicide attempt, "jumping" is actually his metaphor for starting a new romantic relationship.
Now that I think about it, yeah, this has a terrible message. Childhood ruined.
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Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People
This song's lyrics describe the thoughts of a would-be killer. Just listen to the chorus when they say, "Better run, better run, faster than my bullet." Yikes.
Great song, but the true meaning is just a dark thing!
School shootings. Pretty much sums it up.
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Detroit Rock City - Kiss
Another favorite rock song with dark lyrics. This song is based on a KISS fan's death while traveling to a KISS concert. Although it might be a tribute to that fan, it still can't hide that fact.
It's about a fan that died on their way to a Kiss concert. I'm assuming the fan was in Detroit.
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Ring a Ring o' Roses - Traditional
You may remember singing this as a child, but this song isn't really meant for children. It's based on the infamous Black Death outbreak of the 14th century. The lyrics describe how people died from and handled the disease. A sick children's song, if I may say so myself.
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You're Beautiful - James Blunt
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Every Breath You Take - The Police
Many people mistake this for a love song, but it's about stalking.
"I'll be watching you."
Enough said.
After listening closely to the lyrics, this song isn't the same when it's played at a wedding. It's all about stalking and stuff.
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Stan - Eminem
This is an amazing rap song with some pretty messed-up lyrics and an even more disturbing music video. It tells the story of an Eminem fan who verges on insanity when Eminem doesn't reply to his letters. He becomes so unhinged that he drives his car off a bridge with his pregnant wife in the trunk. Crazy enough for Slim Shady himself.
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Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
This song may sound innocent, but it isn't. It's about the downfall caused by drug abuse, specifically crystal meth, and the depravity that comes with it. Just listen to the lyrics: "The sky was gold, it was a rose/I was taking sips through my nose/And I wish I could get back there, someplace back there/Smiling in pictures you would take."
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Santa Claus is Coming to Town - John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie
Okay, okay, this song might not be dark for everyone, but for others like me, IT IS. The part that puts it here is when he says, "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake." That screams stalker!
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Bullet - Hollywood Undead
I think they made it sound cheerful on purpose.
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Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
If you think this song is just about going crazy, think again. It's about the state of the world during the Cold War and it still sounds extremely relevant today.
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Grapes - James Marriott
The lyrics are about a failing relationship despite the upbeat pop rock sound.
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London Bridge is Falling Down - Traditional
The title says it all. This song's lyrics are about a bridge in London collapsing. People were on this bridge when it collapsed. You see what I mean.
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Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
The lyrics sound pretty happy, and it has been played at lots of high school proms, but Billie Joe Armstrong wrote this after an ex-girlfriend moved to Ecuador. He said, "In the song, I tried to be level-headed about her leaving, even though I was completely pissed off. So I named it 'Good Riddance' just to express my anger."
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Pictures of Home - Deep Purple
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Killer On the Loose - Thin Lizzy
The music is too happy for this subject matter, but I totally love the song.
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50 Ways to Say Goodbye - Train
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Suicide and Mania - Primal Fear
I've always thought there's a huge discrepancy between the music and lyrics of this song, especially the chorus - it's too playful for lyrics like "No doctor, no healing, there's only disbelieving - the naked truth, no fantasy." I like this song for the music and its performance - vocals, guitars, and drums.
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Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue
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Today - Smashing Pumpkins
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Hey Ya! - Outkast
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Miss Murder - AFI
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Maxwell's Silver Hammer - The Beatles
It just sounds as happy as almost all Beatles songs, but whoa, what happened here?!
"But when she turns her back on the boy
He creeps up from behind
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Came down upon her head
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that she was dead."
It's about a child psycho going around murdering people with his hammer. It's so catchy though - pretty freaky.
By far, this should be #1. Listen to the sample.
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(Don't Fear) The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
Man, the lyrics to this song are really dark when you think about it, but damn if it isn't catchy as hell.
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Rock the Casbah - The Clash
This song is about censorship of Western culture during the Iranian Revolution.
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Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
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Little Talks - of Monsters and Men
