10 Famous Songs Whose Meaning The Fans (And The Pundits) Got Wrong

Once in a Lifetime was described by Travis Morrison (of NPR) as being “a perfect song,” one with lyrics that are, “Astounding – they are meaningless and totally meaningful at the same time.”

After all, you have the seemingly nonsensical (“Water dissolving, and water removing. There is water at the bottom of the ocean.”) rubbing shoulders with what cuts uncomfortably close to the bone (“And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife, and you may ask yourself, well, ‘How did I get here?’”).

This contrast has led to the song being interpreted as everything from a critique of unchecked consumerism, a lament over advancing age, to addressing the drudgery of life, social expectations and the hollow pursuit of its status-bestowing trophies.

In reality, the intent is more philosophical. David Byrne, co-writer of the song and lead vocal, stated that the song is about the unconscious: “We operate half-awake or on autopilot and end up, whatever, with a house and family and job and everything else, and we haven’t really stopped to ask ourselves, ‘How did I get here?’”

And isn’t that a frightening thought?