Behind The Song Archives - Page 9 of 396 - American Songwriter
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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.

More stories

  • On This Day in 1967, a Banned Rolling Stones Song Helped “Ruby Tuesday” Go No. 1

    How Keith Richards Saved This Rolling Stones Track From an Engineer’s Potentially Disastrous “Total Incompetence”

    February 18, 2026, 10:18 am

  • Bob Dylan performing in 1966

    The “Throwaway Love Song” by Bob Dylan That Became a Major Influence for 1990s Alt-Rock Icon Beck

    February 18, 2026, 9:47 am

  • The Early David Bowie Single Syd Barrett “Liked” and Even Reviewed for ‘Melody Maker’ in 1967

  • Johnny Cash performing in 1975

    Johnny Cash Wrote This Half-Protest, Half-Patriotic Signature Song After Connecting With College Students in 1971

    February 16, 2026, 6:04 pm

  • "Act Naturally" singer Buck Owens

    3 Comments

    How a Canceled Date Led to This 1963 Country Classic (That the Beatles Would Cover Two Years Later)

    February 16, 2026, 2:08 pm

  • Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, Jimmy Marino and Richard Cole of the The Romantics at the Metro Center in Rockford, Illinois, March 26,1984. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

    The Romantics’ Biggest Hit Was an Afterthought at the End of the Album-Making Process

    February 16, 2026, 7:15 am

  • Ella Langley Just Made Country Music History with This Traditional-Sounding Single

    Ella Langley Just Made Country Music History With This Traditional-Sounding Single

    February 16, 2026, 7:00 am

  • Lionel Richie American Idol Shell

    Lionel Richie’s Last Top 40 Hit Came on the Heels of a Long Layoff

    February 15, 2026, 12:00 pm

  • Tina Turner Became the Surprising Inspiration for One of Waylon Jennings’ Biggest Hits

    Tina Turner Became the Surprising Inspiration for One of Waylon Jennings’ Biggest Hits

  • Why Most People Missed the Meaning of Eddy Grant’s Biggest Hit

    February 15, 2026, 5:00 am

  • The Who in 1966

    The 1966 Track by The Who That Was Inspired by Smokey Robinson and Censored for Its American Audience

    February 14, 2026, 5:00 pm

  • Simon & Garfunkel performing in the 1960s

    The Alternate, Arguably Clunkier Title That Nearly Replaced Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson”

    February 14, 2026, 3:00 pm

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  • We Struck "Lightnin’”on This Day in 1912 With the Birth of This Country-Blues Legend

    Born on This Day in 1912, the Country-Blues Legend and Guitar Hero Who Influenced Hank Williams Jr. 

  • On This Day in 1955, Elvis Presley Signed With a Man Who Once Managed Dancing Chickens

    On This Day in 1955, Elvis Presley Signed With a Man Who Once Managed Dancing Chickens

  • Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose performing

    Guns N’ Roses Rejected This Slash Lyric From Their 1989 Hit “Paradise City” (And I Can’t Say I Blame Them)

  • “See You August 7th”: Zach Bryan Invites Fan With Speech Impediment To Join Him Onstage in Utah

    “See You August 7th”: Zach Bryan Invites Fan With Speech Impediment To Join Him Onstage in Utah

  • 3 Unusual Pop Hooks From the 1980s That Still Dominate Radio Today

  • This Massive George Strait Hit Was Written for Johnny Paycheck Instead

    This Massive George Strait Hit Was Actually Written for Johnny Paycheck

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    • 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
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    • Foundations Songwriting Course
    • Apply To Songwriting Camps
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    • Manage My Subscription/Membership
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