Lyrical Mysteries Unveiled: Famous Songs That Aren't What You Think

5. Closing Time - Semisonic

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From closing the bar to finishing college, this sad song lets you know, it's time to head home. Closing Time has lately become the anthem for everything ending. Still, the song was composed with rather distinct intentions. Written as a metaphor for birthing, "Closing Time" was not meant to close the bar! Dan Wilson, Semisonic's main singer, was considering the miracle of delivery as he was expecting his first child. It makes a little more sense now when you hear the phrase, "this room won't be open 'til your brothers or your sisters come" - he was literally referring about his wife's womb - creepy! This discovery gives what many would consider a basic end-of- the-night song layers of complexity. Realizing it's about a baby being born, the first phrase, "Closing time, open all the doors and let you out into the world," gains whole new significance. The song deftly employs bar closing time as a protracted metaphor for the end of pregnancy and the start of fresh life. For bar customers as well as for a newborn exiting the womb, even the sometimes-quoted remark "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here" works on both sides. Wilson's composition is demonstrated by its dual meaning, which produces a melody that appeals to listeners on several levels whether or not they know its actual inspiration. It's a lovely illustration of how individual experiences could be turned into generally relevant art.