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What is Johnny Cash’s I Walk the Line all about? Learn 12 songs’ meanings

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Song lyrics can be as simple or as complex and metaphorical as the composer wants, and examples of both can be found in almost any musical genre. Sometimes, being obscure can cripple a song’s chances to become a hit, but there are plenty of classic tracks that, if listened to carefully, have some odd or cryptic meanings, to say the least. The following 12 famous songs managed to captivate audiences despite their unusual meanings. Which ones do you like the most?

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The first item on our list is a classic 1970s hit that may sound like it is about a road trip, but it has a much deeper meaning. According to the band’s singer and songwriter, the song was written about the materialism and greed the band had experienced in the record industry, as well as the wider American culture.

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The Beatles experimented a lot, both with the sound and the lyrics of their music. And what might seem like a lovely simple song is, instead, a sharp criticism of the civil rights situation in mid-20th-century America.

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Back in 1973, Dolly Parton’s relationship with Porter Wagoner, her mentor and on-screen duet partner, was losing steam on all fronts. Dolly wrote this song as a farewell to Porter, who wasn’t ready to let her go.

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The lyrics to one of Johnny Cash’s most iconic songs, I Walk the Line, are a declaration of fidelity to Vivian, his first wife. The idea of walking straight served the Man in Black as a motto for his behavior.

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The second Beatles track on our list was penned by George Harrison, and it was inspired by his then-wife, Pattie Boyd, who was married to the Beatle from 1966 to 1977.

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This Phil Collins hit was inspired by his divorce from Andrea Bertorelli in 1980, according to Phil himself, who spilled the beans during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on his talk show.

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What seems like a beautiful love song is, instead, the message of a stalker to his wife. Clear hints spring to the fore with lines like "Every smile you fake", but overall, the message seemed to be masked for some as they were blinded by the soft rock music.

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A song title that was subject to varied interpretations, 5150 refers to the building of Eddie Van Halen’s recording studio, but many attribute this number to the newfound balance and compromise within the band after the new singer, Sammy Hagar, came aboard to replace David Lee Roth.

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The use of reverse recordings hidden within the song has been present for quite a few decades now but, most of the time, this was done to conceal what might have been an inappropriate lyric (at least, according to some). But the members of Tool decided to hide a positive message within the song that said: ‘Work hard, stay in school, listen to your mother, your father was right’.

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This famous 1980s ballad is, weirdly enough, about vampires. Originally written by composer Jim Steinman for the Broadway musical Nosferatu, the track was formerly titled ‘Vampires In Love’. The lyrics centre around life in eternal darkness and other standard vampire tropes.

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The subject of this classic Dylan track was Bruce Langhorne, who played guitar with Bob on a few records and was remembered as owning a giant tambourine, hence the name.

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The name "American Pie" refers to a quintessentially American creation that is filled with lyrical imagery for the song. One of the major inspirations behind it is thought to be the tragic plane crash that led to the demise of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP Richardson.

Word!

How do dictionaries decide which words to add each year?

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If you’ve ever wondered how new words like "binge-watch" or "hangry" end up in the dictionary, you’re not alone. Lexicographers—the editors who compile dictionaries—track how often and how widely a word is used before giving it a permanent spot. If enough people are saying it, writing it, and using it to mean the same thing, it just might be a good fit!

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Lexicographers track language by reading books, articles, and online content. They watch for new words, shifts in meaning, and changes in grammar.

They also study specialized terms from fields like medicine and technology, since these words often move into everyday use.

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Frequency plays a key role in whether a word makes it into the dictionary. A word must be used often enough to become part of everyday language. It can't be a one-time trend or a fad.

Frequent and consistent use across different sources shows that it's widely understood. That’s what helps it earn a place in the dictionary.

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For a new word to enter the dictionary, it must be widely used across various groups. It can't be limited to a small group, niche community, or a tribal thing.

The word should appear in different contexts and be used by a broad range of people. Widespread usage shows it has become part of the common language.

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Another requirement for adding a new word to the dictionary is that it must be meaningful. It should clearly express a specific idea or concept.

If the word doesn’t have a clear, understandable meaning, it won’t be considered. Clarity is essential for a word to earn its place in the dictionary.

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The next factor for dictionary inclusion is longevity. A word should show signs that it will stick around and not fade into obscurity shortly after emerging.

Even though language evolves quickly, words that disappear quickly or seem like short-lived trends usually don’t make the cut.

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To be included in the dictionary, a new word must have a stable meaning. It should consistently represent the same idea or concept over time.

If the definition shifts too often or remains unclear, the word is less likely to be accepted. Dictionaries prioritize reliability and consistency in usage.

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When considering the inclusion of a new word, lexicographers collect citations that show the word in context, along with the sources where it appears.

These citations help track how the word is used over time and support its case for entry into the dictionary. They are essential for verifying both meaning and consistent usage.

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After a proposed new word meets all the criteria, it is reviewed by the dictionary’s editorial board.

The board evaluates its usage and meaning, then decides whether to include it and how to define it accurately.

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Some words, while valid, are not suited for dictionaries and instead belong in encyclopedias. Dictionaries define words, while encyclopedias explain specific people, places, or things. That’s why proper nouns usually appear in encyclopedias rather than dictionaries.

For example, a dictionary defines sly as an adjective, but an encyclopedia might list Sly, the 1920 Italian opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari.

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Some dictionaries, such as the Oxford English Dictionary, allow the public to suggest new words and submit examples of their usage.

These contributions help lexicographers stay current with language changes and identify emerging trends.