Entertainment | Katy Perry The Real Stories Behind 10 Famous Songs Even 'I Kissed a Girl' not as obvious as it sounds By Evann Gastaldo Posted Nov 21, 2010 3:49 PM CST Copied US singer Katy Perry performs at the MTV European Music Awards 2010 concert, in Independence Square, Madrid, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Angel Navarrete) In honor of Jay-Z’s Decoded, which breaks down the meanings behind his songs, the Independent offers up the true stories behind 10 hits: Katy Perry, “I Kissed a Girl”: The message behind this one seems fairly obvious, but Perry has insisted it’s actually about heterosexual friendships and was only sexed up to sell more records. Van Morrison, “Brown Eyed Girl”: Though many think it’s about heroin use, Van Morrison has said it is about an interracial relationship and was originally titled “Brown Skinned Girl.” Bruce Springsteen, “Born in the USA”: It gets used as a patriotic anthem quite a bit, but it’s actually about a Vietnam veteran trying to adjust after returning home. The Libertines, “What Katie Did”: Widely believed to be about Pete Doherty’s ex-girlfriend Kate Moss, this song was actually written in 2004—about another Katie—a year before Doherty and Moss met. Click here for the full list. Want more stories behind the songs? Click here or here. Read These Next Trump is calling out the 'arm of the Democratic party.' Trump fired a fed governor, but she says she's not leaving. His life was full of intrigue, diamonds—and years with Jackie O. YouTubers learn to check the fine print at sacred sites. Report an error