10 Upbeat Rock Songs With Darker Meanings

7. Once In A Life Time - Talking Heads (1981)

The '80s new-wave classic is a staple at any decent indie club, with the upbeat melody and catchy chorus lending itself perfectly to a drunken boogie with friends. But the lyrics are somewhat less lighthearted than the sound of the song implies.

David Bryne's lyrics have been interpreted as a social commentary on the zombified lifestyles of Western middle class individuals. Malcolm Jack writing for the Guardian described them "as an art-pop rumination on the existential ticking time bomb of unchecked consumerism".

The song is all about the unconscious nature of Western day to day life. Drifting through careers and families, acquiring cars, houses and all the other possessions society deems necessary to obtain a successful and happy life, without even questioning why.

It's a great technique, doubtless an untold amount of fans have sung along to these lyrics, enjoying the carefree nature of the dance pop melodies and paying little attention to the song's over all message - a message they are, ironically demonstrating through their ignorance of it's meaning...

So, the next time you find yourself dancing to Talking Heads, you may ask yourself, are YOU letting the days go by?

Contributor

Before engrossing myself in the written word, I spent several years in the TV and film industry. During this time I became proficient at picking things up, moving things and putting things down again.