Name a song that is popular even though its subject matter isn’t very popular, please. ~

I like that one.

I've always liked that one. I like the whole album, too.

 

  Thank you, but aren’t the main subjects redemption, declaring to do better, realizing wrongdoing and loss, regret for having strayed, for having lied, for having underestimated the partner’s intelligence, etc.? True, the infidelity is attested to, but it seems that the stronger messages seem to be instead of reflecting on it, eyes now open, making it right, and doing things better in the future.
~

Yeah, I don't think any of that (reflecting, opening eyes, making it right, doing things better) is very popular. 

Why not? It’s not only the opposite of cheating, it’s also the right thing to do, is it not?

cheating - bad
fixing it or trying to fix it - good
~

Why isn't it popular? I guess because doing all those things isn't terribly easy to do for most people, and it's popular to do what's easiest and what feels good at the time. 

I agree with your bad/good assessment, but I don't agree that it's popular practice. 

There's actually nothing in the song about redemption, if anything he's trying to justify himself and regrets being alone as the result of his actions. Embarrassed about being caught and it being public knowledge, so that he can't find another partner to trust him. Nothing about doing better.

I feel so unsure
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies
Something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all it's sad goodbyes

I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should have known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you

Time can never mend
The careless whisper of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth,
Pain is all you find

Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We've hurt each other with the things we wanted to say
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But no-one's gonna dance with me
Please stay

Now that you're gone
Was what I did so wrong, so wrong
That you had to leave me alone? This post was edited by Slartibartfast at July 19, 2021 7:04 PM MDT

I think all of those are pretty popular. 

Of course, so is death. 

I guess popular and common aren't always interchangeable. 

Same subject, different perspective ...

Yup, you're right.

I like this song, too.