10 Hard Rock Song Lyrics That Nobody Understands
The cryptic rock lyrics that have brought offence, confusion and karaoke mishaps to the masses.
The hard rock landscape has been morphing and developing since its inception, connecting rock 'n' roll and blues to heavy metal. For better or worse, it has given us Zeppelin, Manson, Guns 'N' Roses and even Creed.
But, from stairways to teen spirit, one in a million to feel good hits, hard rock tracks are not always what they seem on the surface. Aside from the heavy guitars, foot-stomping rhythms and the trashed stages left in their wake, nothing typifies hard rock music more than their often dark, offensive or abstract lyrical content.
Whether their motivations are Satanic, pure of heart, or fuelled by a Millennium binge on every drug known to leather-clad man (looking at you, Josh Homme), hard rock lyricists have been reaching into uncharted territory since the dawn of the five minute solo to bring avid listeners lines that would have even Dr Johnson reaching for the encyclopedia.
What follows are a selection of rock songs whose lyrics have confused critics, offended radio stations and had fans debating over pints for decades, with everything from stadium anthems to sleeper hits getting in on the action.
10. If There's A Bustle In Your Hedgerow, Don't Be Alarmed Now
Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin's eight minute magnum opus and global guitar shop staple, ushered in a progressive new decade for rock music and brought fame and fortune to the ex-New Yardbirds in 1971.
With its sweeping three-section structure, building from a clean acoustic and recorder-driven sound into a hard rock crescendo, Stairway charts the narrative of a materialistic woman who has accumulated wealth instead of anything of meaning and value in her life and is trying to buy her stairway to heaven. All good so far.
As the song progresses, this idea is reinforced and listeners are faced with further admonitions against materialism, consumer culture's growth and its lack of spiritual worth, such as 'There's a feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving.' However, as the drums kick in and the song steps up a gear, the section leads in with the lyrics 'If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now, it's just a spring clean for the May queen.' While many millions of listeners will have cried out the line, few seem to know what it means.
The best interpretation available seems to be that the hedgerow represents the individual's life, with the lyrics advising a spiritual spring clean of sorts - getting rid of the old and letting in the new. But, as Zeppelin's singer, Robert Plant, has remained persistently tight-lipped on its real meaning over the years, we might never know.