Most songs can be explained. While we may not know what inspired a songwriter on first listen, a quick explanation from them can clear things right up. Then, some songs cannot be explained so easily. These songs remain mysteries to us and, in turn, ignite our imagination. Below find three iconic songs with mysteries no one has ever truly solved.
“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” (Beatles)
While the Beatles may have provided an innocent explanation to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” it’s hard to truly quell the theory that it is a coded reference to LSD. According to John Lennon, a childhood drawing done by his son, Julian, inspired this Beatles classic. We can see how that could be, but come on, John…Are we meant to think that drugs didn’t play a part? The Fabs were no strangers to LSD at the time of this song’s release, sparking the pervasive theory around this song. While Lennon stayed true to his story throughout his life, there will always be a modicum of doubt—enough doubt to keep this debate going for the foreseeable future.
“Hotel California” (Eagles)
“Hotel California” is one of the most talked-about songs in history. This mirage of a song feels almost as hard to pin down as the titular hotel. Is it real? Was it all a dream? Many questions can be (and have been) asked about this Eagles track. The Eagles have claimed this song is an extended metaphor for the dark side of the “American Dream.” But, what have they seen that we haven’t? Many fans have long held the belief that there is more at play in this song than the band’s explanation suggests. Whatever the truth may be, “Hotel California” has become a modern ghost story—a folk tale that has profoundly shaped rock music.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” (Queen)
Lastly, on our list of songs that sparked mysteries is Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This song has many sections which all seem to reveal a different side of one, utterly confusing story. Is this a murder confession, a parable, or a song created just for the fun of it? Moreover, what went on in Freddie Mercury’s life that made him pen such a confounding song? For a song as pervasive as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” we know little about what lies between the lines. Perhaps that is what has kept audiences intrigued for decades.
