I had the same problem until I realized that my V-moda headphones, which have their own controls, were the problem. I have yet to fully correct it, still often having the same problem when I first start up. However, if a song is playing and I press the center button of the controls several times eventually the double bars become an arrow (i.e. the song stops) and the next press the arrow becomes double bars again and he music continues indefinitely. Hopefully I'll eventually get the right combination and I'll restore my original settings, which allow me full use of the iPod regardless of the screen.