Can You Match the Classic Rock Lyric to the Song?
- by Jessie Dax-Setkus
- – on
- in Entertainment
Is there anything more classic than classic rock? Spanning back decades, we, as well as our parents and grandparents, grew up with these epic songs that we can and have all sung along to. They are feel good hits that gets us to get up and dance, bang our heads to, or simply reminisce. Every song brings us back to a memory, whether it was a first kiss, a birthday party, or just a really great day from childhood. These are the songs that made us because these are the songs our parents listened to when we were in our impressionable years.
These are songs that really had some serious meaning too like protesting the Vietnam War, paying homage to lost loved ones, and begging for the love of someone the songwriter couldn’t live without. Okay, maybe not every topic was the most important in the world, but they still hold a special place in our hearts regardless. Here’s the thing, can you name these classic songs based on a small snippet of lyrics? It may not sound hard if you listened to them over and over again, but it’s way harder than you think. Take our quiz to see if you can name them all!
"No one knows what its like to feel these feelings like I do, and I blame you!"
This song is actually a pretty sad one as it’s about a struggle with sexuality during a time when it wasn’t so widely accepted. Although it was a time of sex, drug, and rock and roll, same sex relations were somewhat shunned whether you were homosexual or gay and this songwriter struggled during the time this song came to be. Not many people know the true meaning behind the song, but this song remains close to the songwriter’s heart because of this somewhat secret struggle.
"Ooh, see the fire is sweepin' our very street today burns like a red coal carpet mad bull lost its way"
During the Vietnam War, many bands had no problem letting the world know their stance known about this battle and it wasn’t favorable. This song was no exception as this song expressed the horrific events going on over in Vietnam. Sure, the musicians in this band might not have had the opportunity to actually fight on the front lines, but they did feel for the people that were dying for what they thought was no reason. They made that pretty clear.
"The time to hesitate is through no time to wallow in the mire try now we can only lose and our love become a funeral pyre"
This song is pretty self explanatory as it’s about, well, drugs. Come on, it was the ‘60s what do you expect? This song actually got the band in a little bot of hot water as they were invited on the Ed Sullivan Show, but they were told to censor the song to eliminate the drug references. Instead, the band rubbed the drug references in Ed Sullivan’s face by making sure to say them on live air to his utter dismay. The band was told they’d never play the Ed Sullivan Show again to which they replied, “We already have.”
"For many hours and days that pass ever soon the tides have caused the flame to dim at last the arm is straight, the hand to the loom. Is this to end or just begin?"
This song is truly tragic as it is about a father’s love for his son that died of a stomach infection while he was on tour. This singer was so depressed over the loss of his son, he instantly wrote a song about him as he was overwhelmed with grief and guilt because he wasn’t there to see his son’s final breath. Every word in this song is full of tragedy and sadness and you can feel the true loss the singer is feeling as he seems to almost struggle to get through the song.
"Now the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and trunk and the only time he's satisfied is when he's on, a drunk"
Here’s a song that doesn’t have a definitive song writer since its history spans back to the slave days and has been remade quite a few times. However, this band really put this song on the map and has popularized it for many more people to remake in more recent times. This bluesy song is known for its powerful chorus and its straightforward lyrics that people can easily sing along to. Pretty much everyone knows the chorus to this song.
"Bye, bye, baby it's been a sweet love though this feeling I can't change but please don't take it so badly 'cause Lord knows I'm to blame"
Love wasn’t a major priority when it comes to the classic rock genre unless it involved the love that involved prioritizing yourself first. The whole, “It’s not you, it’s me,” spiel was a major anthem during the days of classic rock because love was a thing for…wusses according to rock stars. This song tries to give the woman the satisfaction of giving her the out because he just can’t be tamed and it isn’t her fault, which is lame in all reality but made for a pretty epic song in the meantime.
"Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice and she said, 'we are all just prisoners here, of our own device'"
Many people disagree what the meaning of this song truly is although many believe that it is about a drug rehabilitation center. The band has never formally come out to address what the meaning of the song is because they like the ambiguity of the lyrics and people interpreting them the way they see fit. This song has a very recognizable chorus and many licks within the song that people can easily pick out along with an outro guitar solo that’s pretty classic.
"Let's make the best of the situation before I finally go insane. Please don't say I'll never find a way and tell me all my love's in vain."
Spoiler alert: it’s a song about a woman! A popular trend back in past decades because love just wasn’t so easy for many rock stars. Break ups happened often and relationships just didn’t work out for the best according to many classic rock songs. This song was a classic example of a guy begging a girl to be with him because he was just “so in love with her.” Sure buddy, bet you were so infatuated until you saw another chick walk by and wrote another hit about her.
"Then the door was open and the wind appeared the candles blew then disappeared the curtains flew then he appeared, saying don't be afraid"
Now we’re deep in flower power era when drugs were prominent and free love was more than relevant. Songs didn’t make a ton of sense to people, but it didn’t matter as long as they had a great beat for parties or…other…extra circular activities. Talking about the occult was also something that was common in these times because many people rallied behind the mystical and the unexplainable like the contents of this song. Although this band didn’t have a ton of hits this song definitely went down in rock history.
"They don't give a damn about any trumpet playin' band it ain't what they call rock and roll"
This band is known for their easy-going guitar licks that actually have a ton of skill behind them. The meaning behind this song is actually pretty simple as it’s about touring as a famous rock band. Stepping on stage and not seeing all the faces because there is so much competition you are focusing on. This song was also one of the first hits for this band who went on to write one of the unofficial theme songs for MTV back in its heyday.
"Though his mind is not for rent, don't put him down as arrogant. He reserves the quiet defense, riding out the day's events, the river"
Some songs are about fictional characters rather than real life experiences and this song proves that you can make a hit out of just that. This band was very into the mystical and the fictional as many of their songs were about these topics rather than true to life experiences. Their very instrumental and even experimental type of music is stuff that you either love or hate as there’s not much of a grey area for their genre. Regardless, they’ve had quite a few hits.
"I'd be your lover, if you were there put your hurt on me, if you dare. Such a woman, you got style you make every man feel like a child"
This band wasn’t known for their incredibly deep lyrics, but this song was written by a band that, once again, wrote a song to excite the ladies as many of their hits were written for this reason. They were also not known for being the monogamous types either, but not many people in this genre was to be honest. Guitar solos reigned as king during this time in rock history as well as high-pitched lyrics, big hair, and tight leather pants.
"When the garden flowers baby, are dead, yes and your mind, your mind is so full of red"
Another song that is an example of love going sour—seems to be a trend doesn’t it? Rumor has it that this song was actually written about Jim Morrison’s inability to settle down with anyone and therefore suffering in his own loneliness because of it. Is that 100 percent true? The songwriter never fully confirmed it, but has made heavy hints towards it. It also seems to make sense with Morrison’s tumultuous past as he has had difficulty keeping a relationship with pretty much anyone throughout his life.
"You could have a big dipper going up and down, all around the bends. You could have a bumper car, bumping this amusement never ends"
Ladies and gentlemen, this song is about the action that happens between the sheets. The songwriter was also quoted saying, “Sometimes sex can break through barriers when other forms of communication are not working too well.” Perhaps this was his way of creating a clean song that was about a dirty topic. Influenced by ‘60s soul music this songwriter would regularly listen to like Otis Redding. It may not sound very bluesy, but you can hear the influence used here.
"Back over time when we were all trying for free met up with porpoise and me no right no wrong you're selling a song, a name whisper game"
You know, there are just so many songs about love, but this one talks about rumors about a relationship that didn’t exist. You could say this person really hurt the songwriter with the rumors they kept spewing out. Well, I guess the perfect payback is writing a hit song all about them, right? After a while the rumors died down, but the damage was done. Many people didn’t look at the band the same way as before the rumors were circulating.
"Nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street and now you're gonna have to get used to it"
This song is a folk classic about a person that is out on their own. At the time, folk wasn’t particularly the most popular genre around, but there were singer/songwriters that lit up the scene nonetheless and this artist was one that really made it big. Not known for having the best voice around, this artist still had a voice that was perfect for what he was doing at the time. It just seemed right to many. He wasn’t the traditional recipe for success but he became successful anyway.
"Don't know if I'm comin' up or down. Am I happy or in misery? What ever it is, that girl put a spell on me"
During the time of major psychadelics, there were many guitarists that stood out, but this guitarist really hit his stride during this time. This song is still highly regarded today and kids from the current generation still download it on their iPods to this very day because of its popularity. Another great thing about this song was the stage presence that went along with it. The crowd would go wild when the artist would use his teeth to play guitar or would set his guitar ablaze.
"Yes, don't turn your back on me baby stop messin' round with your tricks. Don't turn your back on me baby you just might pick up my magic sticks"
Love can put a spell on you…or at least a really attractive person can anyway. This is another one of those songs that was, of course, written about someone that this songwriter was completely head over heels for—at the moment anyway. It seems to be the trend. Songwriter falls for someone, writes a song, and moves on. Just keeps making for hit after hit because we as the fan eat it up. You’d think we’d get over it but nope, we sure don’t.
"I said, watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical, liberal, oh fanatical, criminal"
This song actually coined the term “radical” in the way that it’s used as in a far out train of thought. During the time this song was made, political views were shifting and it was becoming popular to be outspoken about being liberal as a younger person rather than being conservative like your parents were. This song was written to discuss this shift and to poke fun at the conservative side as many musicians typically do. It’s a coming of age type of song.
"Come on you target for faraway laughter, come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!"
Known for being a burnout band during the time, this band rose to major success in later years after the prime of their career. It seems odd, but many people were turned off by their extreme drug use during the time they were popular. Yeah, drugs were big during the time, but this band took it to a whole new level. After a while, people realized how truly talented they were and they became incredibly popular a while after their music was released including this song.
"Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers that grow so incredibly high"
Well, this song isn’t known for making a ton of sense, but it’s a classic nonetheless. This epic band wrote this song during their physcadelic era and it was pretty likely that drugs helped fuel this song. In fact, this song is speculated to be about drugs although the band hasn’t out and said exactly what the song is about because they may not know exactly what they were talking about themselves (kidding). Although no one knows what the heck they are talking about, everyone still seems to know the chorus anyway.
"Baby we ain't the first I'm sure a lot of other lovers been burned right now it seems real to you, but it's one of those things you gotta feel to be true"
Here’s a song that seems to be about abuse and a person that just can’t seem to get passed it sadly. This song was written to be somewhat of a small beacon to this person telling them that they don’t have to beat themselves up for something that wasn’t there fault and the songwriter really put a lot of emotion into telling this person this message. It just goes to show you that there were some really good messages that came out of rock and roll after all.
"Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'bout the dues you've been paying future's coming much too slow and you want to run but somehow you just keep on stayin' can't decide on which way to go"
Oh people. Can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. This song is about keeping up with everyone around you, but also taking time to take a breath at the same time. You can’t always be rushing around to keep up with the competition after all. It’s hard to climb up that corporate ladder hoping it doesn’t take too long because at the end of the day it won’t matter once you’re gone according to the song. It’s kind of true, but it’s also somewhat of a morbid what to look at it.
"I laughed and shook his hand and made my way back home I searched for form and land for years and years I roamed I gazed a gazeless stare at all the millions here I must have died alone a long, long time ago"
This song was popular both when it was released by the original artist as well as when it was remade. Many have speculated about what the meaning of the song is and the songwriter has mention that it is about his younger self and older self crossing paths with each other in a stairwell and what they would say or how they’d react to each other. This was a time in his life when he didn’t feel like he knew himself and was in the middle stages between these two people.
"You're out on the streets looking good and baby deep down in your heart I guess you know that it ain't right, Never, never, never, never, never, never hear me when I cry at night. Babe, I cry all the time!"
Oh yeah. It’s yet another song about love—dysfunctional love at that. This song actually begs the other person to break the songwriter’s heart. Why the heck would anyone want that? Sounds like crazy talk if you ask me. They also mention that it makes the other person feel good when they’re breaking a piece of their heart. What the heck? This songwriter must have some serious love issues to write a song like this one of you are asking me.