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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 1982

This Bob Dylan Album Closer Went Back in Time Two Decades, Inspired by a Fleeting Moment With a Manhattan Call Girl

Over 60 Tracks of Marvin Gaye Found in Belgium

Marvin Gaye’s First Top 40 Hit Came With Its Own Dance Move

How Surgery Indirectly Led to Bonnie Tyler’s First Big Hit

How Clint Eastwood’s “The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly” and a National Health Crisis Inspired This 1980 AC/DC Classic

The Classic Rock Song That Devastated Keith Richards

“One of the Heaviest Hammers That Ever Hit Me”: The Classic 1950s Rock Song That Devastated Keith Richards

More stories

  • UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 01: Photo of Animotion (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

    Animotion’s Debut Smash Hit in 1984 Was Originally a Little-Heard Duet

    January 30, 2026, 5:00 am

  • How Pat Benatar Found Her Last Top 40 Hit From an Unlikely Source

    January 29, 2026, 7:00 am

  • The Decades-Long Bond Between Elton John and Ozzy Osbourne and the Story Behind Their Final Collaboration in 2020

  • The Rolling Stones in 1965

    The “Anti-Stones” Rolling Stones Track Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Wrote While Locked in a “Horrible Little Apartment”

    January 28, 2026, 10:08 am

  • Neil Young performing

    Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Picks Favorite Neil Young Song That Has a “Two Seconds Late” Guitar Feature Halfway Through the Song

    January 28, 2026, 7:27 am

  • Posed portrait of American singer Jean Knight in 1971. (Photo by Gems/Redferns)

    The Delicious R&B Smash Hit That Came From a One-Time Baker

    January 28, 2026, 5:00 am

  • How This ‘Starsky & Hutch’ Actor Returned to His Love of Music and Scored a No. 1 Hit

    January 27, 2026, 7:15 am

  • The Wings Single Paul McCartney Loves Most: "I Was in a Sensuous Mood"

    Paul McCartney Wrote This Underrated Gem in 2 Hours (And I Bet You Don’t Remember It at All)

    January 26, 2026, 11:31 am

  • Faith Hill Forever Changed Country Music With the Release of This Song

    Faith Hill Forever Changed Country Music With the Release of This 1999 Hit

  • David Crosby Credited This Steely Dan Album With Helping Him “Stay Alive” During Struggles With Addiction

    January 26, 2026, 6:00 am

  • Kenny Chesney Liked This Song So Much, He Recorded It Twice

    Kenny Chesney Liked This Song So Much, He Recorded It Twice

    January 25, 2026, 2:00 pm

  • Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple performing

    “They Were First”: Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore Reveals the Band That Predated His “Smoke On The Water” Riff

    January 25, 2026, 1:00 pm

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  • Features
    • Behind The Song
    • Digital Cover Exclusives
    • Interviews
    • The List
    • On This Day
    • Gear
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
      • Sign up for The Daily Co-Write
      • Sign up for the Sunday Soundbite
      • Sign Up for In The Round
  • 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
  • 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 on YouTube
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