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Behind The Song

We here at American Songwriter are obsessed with uncovering the meaning behind our favorite songs. Below, you’ll find deep dives into big hits, deep cuts, and everything in between.

Latest stories

Bob Dylan performing in 1975

Bob Dylan Admitted He Went “Too Far” With This 1975 Track: “What Did I Do That For?”

Neil Young in 1999

Neil Young Said He Had “No Idea” What His Song Was About When Dolly Parton Called To Ask, Much to Her Amusement

Wild Cherry performing in the 1970s

How This Groovy 1976 One-Hit Wonder Reflected a Major Musical Shift Happening From the 1970s to 1980s

Tom Waits Plays The Agora Ballroom, Atlanta

Johnny Cash Called the Outlaw Hymn That Tom Waits Wrote for Him One of the “Greatest Spirituals” He Ever Heard

Townes Van Zandt playing guitar

Townes Van Zandt Was “Peed-Off” That This Country Star Didn’t Cover His Song, but That Star Had a Good Reason

More stories

  • Merle Haggard and Leona Williams performing

    Merle Haggard Was Reduced to Tears When His Then-Wife Shared a “Personal Statement” to Him Through Song

    March 12, 2026, 4:22 pm

  • John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin performing in 1970

    John Paul Jones Called This Led Zeppelin Riff the Most Difficult He Ever Wrote, but It’s Not the One You Might Think

    March 12, 2026, 11:19 am

  • No Matter How Many Years Pass, These 3 Country Songs From 1966 Will Never Be Forgotten

    This 1975 Loretta Lynn Song Was So Controversial That Radio Stations Wouldn’t Play It

  • The Everly Brothers performing

    This 1958 Everly Brothers Track Was Recorded Live in Only Two Takes (and Broke Chart Records Everywhere)

    March 12, 2026, 9:30 am

  • This Massive Trisha Yearwood Hit Was Almost Recorded by an Iconic Duo First

    This Massive Trisha Yearwood Hit Was Almost Recorded by an Iconic Duo Instead

    March 12, 2026, 8:30 am

  • George Harrison Originally Offered This Song to Eric Clapton Before Giving it to Guitarist, and Traveling Wilburys Collaborator, Gary Moore

    March 12, 2026, 7:00 am

  • Gordon Lightfoot Performing

    A Volatile Affair Inspired This Gordon Lightfoot Smash Hit From 1974

    March 12, 2026, 6:00 am

  • How Blondie Dusted Off a Forgotten Reggae Song and Turned It Into a Chart-Topper

    March 12, 2026, 5:00 am

  • Pink Floyd in 1973

    Pink Floyd Turned Into the Very Thing They Were Criticizing After This Song Hit the Top 20

  • Paula Abdul in the 1980s

    This 1988 Pop Hit Was Thrown Out by the Singer’s Mother and Recorded in a Bathroom (And Still Sounds Great)

    March 11, 2026, 11:15 am

  • Alanis Morissette performing

    This 1995 Alanis Morissette Song Might Be About a Famous Actor

    March 11, 2026, 11:00 am

  • The Bangles Had a 4-Week No. 1 Hit With This Song, Which Came With a Heavy Price

    The Bangles Had a 4-Week No. 1 Hit With This Song, Which Came With a Heavy Price

    March 11, 2026, 9:28 am

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    These 4 Bruce Springsteen Songs From the 80s Are Ready for a Remake Today

  • Emotional Video Presentation Featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono with the World Trade Center Posted to Commemorate 9/11

    3 Reasons Why 1971 Was One of the Greatest Songwriting Years in Classic Rock History

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    Before the Break: What Joni Mitchell Was Writing Right Before the World Was Listening

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    3 British Invasion Bands From the 1990s Who Inspire Us To Sing

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    • Digital Cover Exclusives
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    • The List
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      • Album Reviews
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
      • Sign up for The Daily Co-Write
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  • Latest News
  • Contests
    • Song Contest
      • Enter Song Contest
      • Song Contest Winners
      • Rules and Deadlines
      • Meet the Judges
    • Lyric Contest
      • Enter Lyric Contest
      • Dream Day on Music Row
      • Lyric Contest Winners
      • 2026 Lyric Contest Judges
      • Rules and Deadlines
    • Road Ready Talent Contest
      • Enter Road Ready
      • Road Ready Winners
      • The Public’s Pick
      • Road Ready Rules and Deadlines
    • Hip Hop Contest
      • Enter The Beat4Beat Contest
    • Contest Promotions
      • Promotion Winners
  • Song Contest
  • Community
    • Subscribe to Magazine
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
    • Foundations Songwriting Course
    • Apply To Songwriting Camps
    • Become Songwriter Member
    • Access Membership Hub
    • Manage My Subscription/Membership
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  • Watch
    • Watch on YouTube
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