I don't know if anyone can help me here but......
Can anyone think of any songs where the lyrics are given a different meaning (to what you would think was the meaning just reading them) by the music (does that make any sense?)  I think I mean lyrics which on first reading sound say 'happy' or 'sad', when put with their music can evoke a the opposite reaction.  This is for a class I am trying to prepare and am getting very stuck on so any help would really be appreciated. 
Many thanks.

Like ,for example, an upbeat tune but with sad words or vise versa ? like normally you would associate a ballad (slow tempo) with sad or loving words. What about meatloaf? His is rock but are love songs if you listen. Or one of the other heavy rock or metal groups.

Yes absolutely!  Thank you, you have said exactly what I want in a tenth of the words I used!!  Meatloaf is a great idea, I will have a look at him, any other suggestions much appreciated.

Ok going to sound mad but I think hymn Abide with Me is like that only the opposite way music is sad but words aren't

How about the police song Every breath I take? If you read the lyrics without the music you would immediatly see it would be quite a dark song basically about stalking but with the music it turns it into a love song played at many a wedding.

REMs everybody hurts? everybody thinks its a depressing song, but read an interview with michael stipe, and the inspiration for the song is, his sister is a teacher and one of her pupils tried to kill himself at the age of 15. michael stipe was so saddened to think that anyone at that age could possible think their life was so bad that it wasnt worth living and he wrote the song to let people know that they arent alone, so its actually meant to be an uplifting song, to make you feel better.

What about Christina Agulaia (sp, sorry!) Beautiful...

I always think this about "Local Boy in the Photograph" by the Sterophonics. On first listen the tune sounds like a happy summery song but when you listen to the lyrics it is actually about a boy who lost his life on the train tracks...

Basshunter - Now your gone. The words are very sad about a finished relationship but yet its a very upbeat dance track.

dido, "thank you"? it sounds pretty sad but the lyrics are about having a lovely partner.

"the times they are a changin", bob dylan

er... tenatious d "fu** her gently" though that might not be terribly appropriate... sounds like a rather sweet love song till you actually listen...

"born in the USA" fun, get you going, then the lyrics are not nice.

any help?

Thank you - brilliant ideas all of them.  I did the class last night so didn't use the last ones but it went down really well so I will be using this idea again in the future (so any more ideas always welcome!!)
Isn't it nice to see the sun!

Pussycat Dolls - Feeling Good (lyrics are happy, but the music is melencholy)

(probably will think of more during the day...it always works that way!)