Category Archives: 1990s songs

The best 500 songs from the 1990s. Lyrics, meanings and interpretations from your favorite musicians. Radiohead, REM, Weezer, No Doubt, Alanis, Jewel, and Guns and Roses. See which of your favorite 90s bands and artists rank highest on the greatest songs of all-time lists.

1990s songs, life is hard

#327 Adia- Sarah Mclachlan

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It’s easy, we all falter
Does it matter?

Adia is hard on herself. Sarah Mclachlan says we are born innocent and we are still innocent. This language leads me to believe that Adia has feelings of religious guilt. Adia feels that she is a bad person and seems to have withdrawn from the people who love her. Perhaps it is because she is self-loathing, perhaps it is to protect them from herself. We don’t know.

Adia Meaning
Sarah McLachlan

Sarah is trying to reach out to Adia and tell her that we are good people. We make mistakes and it doesn’t matter; you can still make mistakes and be a good person. Forgive yourself.

Mclachlan’s voice is great as usual. She sounds empathetic in her attempt to reach out to Adia. This song is notable in that it is less piano-driven than a lot of Mclachlan’s other work. There is still a piano, but in her other work, she will often just perform with her and a piano. Here, we have electric guitars, a slide guitar, drums, bass, etc.

Adia and Do What You Have To Do both appear on her excellent album Surfacing (along with Angel, another gem). Like Jewel, she seemed to have all of her hits packed into one album. At the time of the release it seemed like she would be the next superstar. She never had another hit. However, with two top 500 songs she is a great candidate for Rock n Roll HOF eligibility when her time comes.

Adia Lyrics

Adia, I do believe I failed you
Adia, I know I’ve let you down
Don’t you know I tried so hard
To love you in my way
It’s easy, let it go

Adia, I’m empty since you left me
Trying to find a way to carry on
I search myself and everyone
To see where we went wrong

There’s no one left to finger
There’s no one here to blame
There’s no one left to talk to, honey
And there ain’t no one to buy our innocence

‘Cause we are born innocent
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
It’s easy, we all falter
Does it matter?

Adia, I thought that we could make it
I know I can’t change the way you feel
I leave you with your misery
A friend who won’t betray
I pull you from your tower
I take away your pain
And show you all the beauty you possess
If you’d only let yourself believe

That we are born innocent
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
It’s easy, we all falter
Does it matter?

‘Cause we are born innocent
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
It’s easy, we all falter
Does it matter?
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
‘Cause we are born innocent
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
It’s easy, we all falter
Does it matter?

Songwriters: Pierre Marchand / Sarah McLachlan

1990s songs, relationship problems

#306 Again- Janet Jackson

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A wounded heart you gave/
My soul you took away.

Jackson’s “Again” tells the story of an ex coming back into Janet’s life. She was deeply in love with him and she was hurt when he left. Now, he is back in town and wants to see her again. Does she want to see him again? Does she still have feelings for him?

She eventually concludes that she does, but warns him: “don’t you stand there and then tell me you love me and leave again…Cause I’m falling in love with you..again.” It is the most powerful line in the song and really one of the more powerful moments in any song. It’s the delivery.

The melody of “Again” is great, and the background tale is especially fun. I like Janet’s voice throughout: she sounds very feminine and vulnerable. The background piano and strings are a great combo for any love song and the production is done just right. For aspiring divas out there, note how she chooses exactly one note in the entire song to carry out longer than a measure. And she doesn’t use her entire voice to do it, she just sings slightly louder than the rest of the song. That is how you convey emotion in a song.

Again Greatest Alltime Song
Janet Jackson

“Again” received some mild radio play when it first came out, but it quickly faded into obscurity. It is odd, Janet Jackson was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, but when was the last time you heard this—her best song by far—on the radio?  It is deserving.

You might like this older song with a similar theme.

Again Lyrics

I heard from a friend today
And she said you were in town.
Suddenly the memories came back to me
In my mind.

How can I be strong I’ve asked myself
Time and time I’ve said.
That I’ll never fall in love with you again.

A wounded heart you gave,
My soul you took away.
Good intentions you had many,
I know you did.

I come from a place that hurts,
And God knows how I’ve cried.
And I never want to return,
never fall again.

Making love to you
Oh it felt so good and
Oh so right.

How can I be strong I’ve asked myself
Time and time I’ve said,
That I’ll never fall in love with you again.

So here we are alone again’,
Didn’t think it’d come to this.
And to know it all began
With just a little kiss.

I’ve come too close to happiness
To have it swept away.
Don’t think I can take the pain;
No never fall again.

Kinda late in the game, and my heart is in
Your hands.
Don’t you stand there and then
Tell me you love
Me then leave again.
Cause. I’m falling in love with
You again.

Hold me.
Hold me.
Don’t ever let me go.
Say it just one time
Say you love me.
God knows I do
Love you
Again.

Songwriters: Venus Dodson / Jerry Harris / Ivan Barias / Carvin Haggins / Faith Renee Evans

1990s songs, love is gone

#304 November Rain- Guns N’ Roses

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‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever/
Even cold November rain.

“November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses is about a relationship that is facing strain. The man and woman know it. What they do next will probably determine if they last forever or break apart. Axl seems to be wanting the girl to jump in and give her all to the relationship. In his mind that would seal the deal.

But he equivocates: sometimes people need some time on their own to figure their shit out. “Which way do you want to go” he is asking the girl. Yes, you’ve been burned in the past, do you need time to heal? Or what? His love is like a flame in the cold November rain…it’s unlikely to last long unless things change.

November Rain Meaning
Guns N’ Roses

The piano and orchestration in the beginning of the “November Rain”…and throughout, is especially beautiful. As is the choir that sings background. They are used sparsely– just the right amount. It sounds like the Angels lighting the way through the November rain. Axl’s voice is clear and we still have an iconic lead guitar solo as is customary in a Guns N Roses song. This is one of their best overall performances. I would have loved to have heard more songs from GNR in this vein. Cool outro.

Lyrics November Rain
When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin’ when I hold you
Don’t you know I feel the same

Nothin’ lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it’s hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

We’ve been through this such a long long time
Just tryin’ to kill the pain, oo yeah
But love is always coming and love is always going
And no one’s really sure who’s lettin’ go today
Walking away

If we could take the time
To lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin’ that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
Then darlin’ don’t refrain
Or I’ll just end up walkin’
In the cold November rain

Do you need some time on your own
Do you need some time all alone
Everybody needs some time
On their own
Don’t you know you need some time all alone

I know it’s hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn’t time be out to charm you

Sometimes I need some time
On my own
Sometimes I need some time all alone
Everybody needs some time
On their own
Don’t you know you need some time all alone

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, oh yeah
I know that you can love me
When there’s no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever
Even cold November rain

Don’t ya think that you need somebody
Don’t ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody
Don’t ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody
Don’t ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one
You’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody
Don’t ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody

Songwriters: Saul Hudson / Izzy Stradlin / Duff McKagan / Darren A Reed / Matt Sorum / W. Axl Rose