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Misunderstood"

Should I?
Could I?
Have said the wrong things right a thousand times
If I could just rewind, I see it in my mind
If I could turn back time, you′d still be mine
You cried, I died
I should have shut my mouth, things headed south
As the words slipped off my tongue, they sounded dumb
If this old heart could talk, it'd say you′re the one
I'm wasting time when I think about itI should have drove all night, I would have run all the lights
I was misunderstood
I stumbled like my words, Did the best I could
Damn, misunderstood
Could I?
Should I?
Apologize for sleeping on the couch that night
Staying out too late with all my friends
You found me passed out in the yard again
You cried, I tried
To stretch the truth, but didn't lie
It′s not so bad when you think about itI should have drove all night, I would have run all the lights
I was misunderstood
I stumbled like my words, did the best I could
Damn, misunderstood
Intentions goodIt′s you and I, just think about it... I should have drove all night
I would have run all the lights
I was misunderstood
I stumbled like my words, did the best I could
I 'm hanging outside your door
I′ve been here before
Misunderstood
I stumbled like my words, did the best I could




Damn, misunderstood
Intentions good.

Overall Meaning

To Bruce Springsteen, "Misunderstood" is a melancholic reflection on an estranged relationship. The lyrics reflect on missed opportunities and moments that could have been salvaged. There's a recurring theme of regret and the desire to turn back time to fix past mistakes. The singer is haunted by his errors and wants to apologize and make amends. The lines "I stumbled like my words, did the best I could, damn misunderstood," showcase this sense of disappointment and regret.


To Avril Lavigne, "Misunderstood" would be an angsty pop-punk ballad. The lyrics would match her signature style of being a rebel and not conforming to social norms. Through the singer's frustration, we see a glimpse into the limitations put on the individual based on society's expectations. The lines "Damn, misunderstood, Intentions good" would embody the frustration with the world not grasping their good intentions. It's a song of disillusionment and wanting to break free from labels placed on them.


Line by Line Meaning

Should I?
Wondering if it was the right decision


Could I?
Questioning if there was an alternative option


Have said the wrong things right a thousand times
Reflecting on all the times the wrong thing was said


If I could just rewind, I see it in my mind
Wishing to go back in time and change the past


If I could turn back time, you'd still be mine
If time travel were possible, wanting to be with the person again


You cried, I died
Feeling terrible for making the other person upset


I should have shut my mouth, things headed south
Realizing talking too much made the situation worse


As the words slipped off my tongue, they sounded dumb
Regretting words that were said didn't come out gracefully or intelligently


If this old heart could talk, it'd say you're the one
Heartfelt declaration of love for the person


I'm wasting time when I think about it
Feeling like dwelling on the past is counterproductive


I should have drove all night, I would have run all the lights
Wanting to do anything to fix the situation, even if it required a long journey or breaking traffic laws


I was misunderstood
Feeling like the other person didn't accurately interpret what was meant to be said or done


I stumbled like my words, Did the best I could
Trying the best one could even if the outcome wasn't ideal


Damn, misunderstood
Expressing frustration at the situation


Apologize for sleeping on the couch that night
Regretting past behavior and wanting to make amends


Staying out too late with all my friends
Acknowledging other mistakes that were made


You found me passed out in the yard again
Describing a specific instance of reckless behavior that hurt the other person


I tried
Making an effort to not make the same mistakes again


To stretch the truth, but didn't lie
Trying to make oneself look better without actually lying


It's not so bad when you think about it
Trying to stay optimistic and hopeful


Intentions good
Believing one's intentions were honest and earnest


It's you and I, just think about it...
Trying to convince the other person that the relationship is worth it


I'm hanging outside your door
Literally or metaphorically waiting for the other person to accept an apology




Writer(s): Rex Gosdin, Carole Halupke

Contributed by Harper S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@carpediem7286

Very hard to select the 12 most famous paintings. The selection is definitely very good.
Just a few honorable mentions:
- The Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo)
- The school of Athens (Raffaello)
- Las Meninas (Velasquez)
- Bal du moulin de la Galette (Renoir)
- The third of May 1808 (Goya)
- Wanderer above the sea fog (Friedrich)
- The Tower of Babel (Bruegel the Elder)
- The Son of Man (Magritte)
- Napoleon crossing the Alps (David)
- The garden of earthly delights (Bosch)
- The birth of Venus (Botticelli)
- Guernica (Picasso)
- The raft of the Medusa (Géricault)
- Turquoise Marilyn (Warhol)
- The wedding at Cana (Veronese)
- Arnolfini portrait (van Eyck)
- Girl with balloon/Love is in the bin (Banksy)
- Liberty leading the people (Delacroix)
- A Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte (Seurat)



All comments from YouTube:

@twraven1

I have been fortunate to have seen all of these, all in their home museums, and most multiple times on exhibition tours. Art is so much fun and these are certainly some of the most iconic works in history. Nicely voiced over too. Well done.

@Jinka1950

Wow…how lucky you are….I’ve see only a few….thank you.

@AGMundy

You have indeed been fortunate to see these works "in the flesh" though I'm not sure "fun" is a word either artists or critics would generally use. I am somewhat puzzled as to where you saw these on tour as most of them have either never been loaned/ are too large/ impossible or too valuable to move.

On a lighter note, the mispronunciations of Dutch were bizarre.

@AGMundy

@Canary in a Coal Mine What a stupid comment. The painting was purchased by Francis I of France who indeed provided Leonardo with a home and funds, unlike his fellow Italians.

@cenccenc946

yea, I have also been lucky and seen most of these myself in person. I might quibble a bit however with their list. If you are seeing these in person, you most likely are seeing hundreds of other paintings that could easily be on the list; thousands more that are at least close runner's up. Also, keep in mind this list has strong western european and American bias. There are some very good, but obscure paintings from all over the world that simply do not get the press they deserve.

@tomwittner1490

Even the Nazis appreciated fine art !

6 More Replies...

@ArtHistorywithAlder

So hard to pick 12, but pretty good selections. I love how art tells the human story throughout history and places and is able to connect people across time, place, and culture!

@ireneuszpyc6684

the focus on paintings is too narrow: it should have been a list of images, including for example the blue gate of Babylon

@eldenizray7029

https://youtu.be/2lMce0lHmPI?si=iDua3HOyFiMSR7QO

@carpediem7286

Very hard to select the 12 most famous paintings. The selection is definitely very good.
Just a few honorable mentions:
- The Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo)
- The school of Athens (Raffaello)
- Las Meninas (Velasquez)
- Bal du moulin de la Galette (Renoir)
- The third of May 1808 (Goya)
- Wanderer above the sea fog (Friedrich)
- The Tower of Babel (Bruegel the Elder)
- The Son of Man (Magritte)
- Napoleon crossing the Alps (David)
- The garden of earthly delights (Bosch)
- The birth of Venus (Botticelli)
- Guernica (Picasso)
- The raft of the Medusa (Géricault)
- Turquoise Marilyn (Warhol)
- The wedding at Cana (Veronese)
- Arnolfini portrait (van Eyck)
- Girl with balloon/Love is in the bin (Banksy)
- Liberty leading the people (Delacroix)
- A Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte (Seurat)

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