Songs that were covered by an artist where the meaning behind the song differs with the artist.

[iowajerms]

Right away, "Hurt" comes to mind. Nine Inch Nails wrote and originally sang the song and was about heroin addiction. Johnny Cash covered it to talk about regrets in life in general. Only change in lyrics is the beginning of 2nd verse. NIN says, "I wear this crown of shit" Cash says thorns.

Same lyrics but obviously different meaning for the artist. Not just a cover, but a song that the artists took the meaning differently without really changing the lyrics.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

The original "Back Door Man" By Willie Dixon & Howlin Wolf is about a man having an affair with a married woman.

The cover version by the Doors was done as a subliminal suggestion and slang for anal sex.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Another good example would be Otis Redding's "Respect", as opposed to the cover version by Aretha Franklin.

Otis meant it about a man wanting respect from his woman, whereas Aretha redid it and demanded that society start respecting women more, which all but became an anthem for the women's movement of the late 60's.

 

[thedddd]

Rolling Stones about a sexually frustrated man and Devo's is about consumerism.