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.

Behind The Song

12 hours ago

This Incredible Blondie Hit Was Actually a Cover of a Jamaican Song From 1967

By Gayle Thompson
Behind The Song

12 hours ago

How Van Morrison Displayed His Pop Chops With This 1965 Hit by Them

By Jim Beviglia
Behind The Song

16 hours ago

A Tennis Pro Inspired What Remains One of The Pretenders’ Biggest Hits

By Gayle Thompson
Behind The Song

18 hours ago

The “Good” Hit That Introduced Herman’s Hermits to the World in 1964

By Jim Beviglia
Behind The Song

21 hours ago

Stevie Nicks Wrote This Big Hit on Her Wedding Day, Inspired by a Prince Song From 1983

By Gayle Thompson
Behind The Song

1 day ago

The Bellamy Brothers Have Neil Diamond To Thank for Their First No. 1 Hit

By Gayle Thompson
Behind The Song

2 days ago

This 1979 Queen Single Made the Band Members Worry About Freddie Mercury

By Gayle Thompson
Behind The Song

3 days ago

Tina Turner Had a Big Hit in 1984 With a Song Mark Knopfler Wrote for Dire Straits

By Gayle Thompson
Behind The Song

3 days ago

Tom Petty Wrote This 2002 Song About Losing Our Moral Center, So Why Was He Happy When It Was Banned?

Tom Petty’s “The Last DJ” contains one of his strongest moralistic messages, yet he was still happy when radio stations banned it.

By Melanie Davis
Behind The Song

3 days ago

Remember When Charley Pride Covered This 1952 Hank Williams Hit?

By Gayle Thompson
Behind The Song

3 days ago

Van Morrison Hated This 1967 Single, Even Though It Remains His Biggest Hit

By Gayle Thompson
Behind The Song

5 days ago

A Brazen Single Woman Inspired Jeannie C. Riley’s Biggest Hit in 1968

By Gayle Thompson

Behind The Song

This Incredible Blondie Hit Was Actually a Cover of a Jamaican Song From 1967

How Van Morrison Displayed His Pop Chops With This 1965 Hit by Them

A Tennis Pro Inspired What Remains One of The Pretenders’ Biggest Hits

The “Good” Hit That Introduced Herman’s Hermits to the World in 1964

Stevie Nicks Wrote This Big Hit on Her Wedding Day, Inspired by a Prince Song From 1983

The Bellamy Brothers Have Neil Diamond To Thank for Their First No. 1 Hit

This 1979 Queen Single Made the Band Members Worry About Freddie Mercury

Tina Turner Had a Big Hit in 1984 With a Song Mark Knopfler Wrote for Dire Straits

Tom Petty Wrote This 2002 Song About Losing Our Moral Center, So Why Was He Happy When It Was Banned?

Remember When Charley Pride Covered This 1952 Hank Williams Hit?

Van Morrison Hated This 1967 Single, Even Though It Remains His Biggest Hit

A Brazen Single Woman Inspired Jeannie C. Riley’s Biggest Hit in 1968

44 Years Ago Today, Bruce Springsteen Released His Album Inspired by Classic American Literature, Blue-Collar Life, and an Infamous Serial Killer

3 Soft Rock Songs From 1980 That Every 80s Kid Still Knows Today

Born 61 Years Ago Today in Texas, the Preacher’s Boy Who Slept in His Truck for 3 Years, Scored a 90s Country Hit, Then Walked Away From Music

Paul McCartney Says He’s “Blown Away” by Celine Dion’s Work in ‘High in the Clouds’ Film Adaptation