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

8. Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind

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These songs hide a brilliant, joyful melody, not so much as they seem to be enigmatic. Third Eye Blind's main singer, Stephan Jenkins, even called Semi-Charmed Life a "dirty, filthy song" and said he finds it odd that people would play it on the radio. Go ahead, listen to those lyrics once more. They center on a meth-addicted couple on a bender, but the reason these gloomy lyrics and upbeat rhythm contrast so brilliantly is really rather smart. Jenkins declared he aimed to produce the "bright, shiny feeling" crystal meth offers. We'll have to accept his word for it; we have no experience to know otherwise. We'll pay those words some attention next time we bounce our heads to this hit. A deft creative decision that reflects the dishonesty of drug addiction is the pairing of lively music with sad subject matter. "I'm packed and I'm holding," the first lines of the song obviously allude to drug use, but many listeners miss this because of the appealing tune. Jenkins weaves hints about drug usage and its effects throughout the song, including the well-known phrase "doing crystal meth will lift you up until you break." The song's fast-fire lyrics and forceful chorus reflect the highs and lows of drug addiction. Third Eye Blind slipped a strong anti-drug message onto popular radio by making such a serious topic so appealing and danceable, reaching listeners who might otherwise have tuned off a more overt public service broadcast.