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Behind The Song

We here at American Songwriter are obsessed with uncovering the meaning behind our favorite songs. Below, you’ll find deep dives into big hits, deep cuts, and everything in between.

Latest stories

A Spark of Brilliance: Behind the Unfiltered Tom Petty Classic That He Wrote in Under Four Minutes

Meat Loaf’s Last Top 40 Hit Came Didn’t Include His Most Trusted Collaborator

John Lennon of the Beatles

The Anthemic Beatles Song John Lennon Said He Wrote “About Something I Hadn’t Experienced”

Richie Blackmore Honors the Late Duane Eddy With Touching Tribute

Why Deep Purple’s First US Top 40 Hit Didn’t Sound Like the Heavy Metal Heroes They Became

80's Weekend #7

When In Rome Didn’t Last Long, but They Delivered on an 80s Classic Called “The Promise”

More stories

  • Paul Simon, writer of "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

    Inside a Musical Icon’s Brain: Paul Simon Breaks Down “Bridge Over Troubled Water” Songwriting Process From Start To Finish

    July 3, 2025, 11:17 am

  • The Beatles Song That Made Paul McCartney Believe in Magic

    The Beatles Song That Made Paul McCartney Believe in Magic—and Reportedly Trigger John Lennon’s “Insecurity”

    July 3, 2025, 11:06 am

  • Photo by Ferenc Szelepcsenyi/Shutterstock

    “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)”: Chris Rea’s Unintended Contribution to the Yacht Rock Genre

  • How “Don’t Let It End” Was Meant To Ease Styx Fans Into Their Most Daring Album

    July 3, 2025, 6:30 am

  • The Meaning Behind “Easy Money” by Johnny Marr and How Greed Never Falls Out of Fashion

    July 3, 2025, 5:39 am

  • The Song Paul Simon "Loathes" and Has Only Played as a Punishment for a Live Blunder

    The Song Paul Simon “Loathes” and Has Only Played as a Punishment for a Live Blunder

    July 2, 2025, 2:55 pm

  • Neil Young of CSNY

    “Oh, We Screwed Up”: Neil Young Reveals Biggest Regret About Iconic CSNY Track “Woodstock”

    July 2, 2025, 2:05 pm

  • John Lennon

    “That’s Paul, What Can You Say?”: Why John Lennon Was Unimpressed with “Let It Be”

    July 2, 2025, 9:19 am

  • How Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me” Finally Reached Its Potential

  • The Heartbreaking Story Behind the 1967 Song Neil Diamond Wrote About an Imaginary Childhood Friend

    July 2, 2025, 6:00 am

  • Bob Dylan

    “What’s That?”: Bob Dylan Hears the Byrds’ Version of “Mr. Tambourine Man” for the First Time

    July 1, 2025, 2:01 pm

  • How a Sweet Sound System Propelled Steppenwolf to a “Magic Carpet Ride”

    July 1, 2025, 9:00 am

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    On This Day in 1973, Queen Released Their Unheralded Debut Single—a Brian May-Penned Track Rejected by Radio

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    “We’re Talking About It”: Joe Perry Teases Big Aerosmith News on Heels of Steven Tyler’s Killer Performance at Black Sabbath’s Farewell

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  • Features
    • Behind The Song
    • Digital Cover Exclusives
    • Interviews
    • The List
    • On This Day
    • Gear
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
      • Sign up for The Daily Co-Write
      • Sign up for the Sunday Soundbite
      • Sign Up for In The Round
  • Latest News
  • Contests
    • Song Contest
      • Enter Song Contest
      • Song Contest Winners
      • Rules and Deadlines
      • Meet the Judges
    • Lyric Contest
      • Enter Lyric Contest
      • Dream Day on Music Row
      • Lyric Contest Winners
      • 2025 Lyric Contest Judges
      • Rules and Deadlines
    • Road Ready Talent Contest
      • Enter Road Ready
      • Road Ready Winners
      • The Public’s Pick
      • Road Ready Rules and Deadlines
    • Hip Hop Contest
      • Enter The Beat4Beat Contest
    • Contest Promotions
  • Song Contest
  • Community
    • Subscribe to Magazine
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
    • Apply To Songwriting Camps
    • Become Songwriter Member
    • Access Membership Hub
    • Manage My Subscription/Membership
  • Shop
  • Watch
    • Watch on YouTube
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