Lyrics that make you cringe

[ebikeerwidnes]

Pat Boone wanted to change his version of 'Ain't that a shame' to 'Isn't that a shame' as he had a degree in English. His record company wouldn't let him.

there is a thing called artistic license
like painters are allowed to fiddle with things for artistic purposes

 

[yello]

I suspect there's something called financial licence too, and I don't mean to practice or trade. Tweaking something in an attempt to maximise revenues.

 

[Badger_Boom]

Pink Floyd - Young Lust

(Ah) I am just a new boy
A stranger in this town
Where are all the good times?
Who's gonna show this stranger around?

Ooh, I need a dirty woman
Ooh, I need a dirty girl

I realize the words are used ironically but they're still uncomfortable to listen to.

That applies to big chunks of The Wall. It's become even more problematic recently as I've seen several Gen-Z social media posts questioning Roger Waters' intent based on an absence of understanding of either irony or history.

 

[Badger_Boom]

On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue


On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue


All day long, all day long, on the chaise longue
All day long, all day long, on the chaise longue
All day long, all day long, on the chaise longue
On the chaise longue, all day long, on the chaise longue

I'm conflicted with that example because I actually like the tongue in cheek wordplay of the first half. What's not to like about:

Is your muffin buttered?
Would you like us to assign someone to butter your muffin?
or
Hey you, in the front row
Are you coming backstage after the show?
Because I've got a chaise longue in my dressing room
And a pack of warm beer that we can consume

 

[yello]

It's become even more problematic recently as I've seen several Gen-Z social media posts questioning Roger Waters' intent based on an absence of understanding of either irony or history.

Yes, this happens. I mentioned revisionism upstream. Not saying whatever meaning isn't there (in whatever) but there's always going to be a different light shone in a different time and/or culture. A couple of songs I can think of off the top of my head ("Girl, you'll be a woman soon" and "Tonight's the night") give me the creeps and the only way I can cut them some slack is to say they were written 'back then'.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I'm conflicted with that example because I actually like the tongue in cheek wordplay of the first half. What's not to like about:

Is your muffin buttered?
Would you like us to assign someone to butter your muffin?
or
Hey you, in the front row
Are you coming backstage after the show?
Because I've got a chaise longue in my dressing room
And a pack of warm beer that we can consume

I think it's a great song, but "that we can consume" doesn't scan. Gets on my wick

 

[yello]

It's an intentionally silly song, and I really do like that. No, "that we can consume" doesn't scan, not at all, and that just adds to its silliness for me. I reckon they fully know it doesn't scan! That all said, it's not likely to be a song that I'll play again (after the 1st 50 times wore it out). One for 'where are they now?' perhaps?

 

[Dogtrousers]

That applies to big chunks of The Wall. It's become even more problematic recently as I've seen several Gen-Z social media posts questioning Roger Waters' intent based on an absence of understanding of either irony or history.

In my teens I was a massive Pink Floyd fan. When the Wall came out I dashed off and unquestioningly listened to it. It was PF so obviously I liked it.

Then suddenly it dawned on me. I don't actually like this at all. A distinct fork in the road for my music tastes. I know they made some more albums after that but I never heard them.

 

[yello]

I have a similar 'what's all the fuss' feeling for 'Dark Side of the Moon'. 'Wish You Were Here' and 'Animals', I get. They work for me but for all it's obvious talent, I kinda find DSOTM a bit, well, lyrically tedious/cliched.

 

[Drago]

Really don't mind if you sit this one out
My word's but a whisper your deafness a shout
I may make you feel but I can't make you think
Your sperm's in the gutter your love's in the sink
So you ride yourselves over the fields
And you make all your animal deals
And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be thick as a brick
And the sandcastle virtues are all swept away
In the tidal destruction the moral melee
The elastic retreat rings the close of play
As the last wave uncovers the newfangled way
But your new shoes are worn at the heels
And your suntan does rapidly peel
And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be thick as a brick
And the love that I feel is so far away:
I'm a bad dream that I just had today
And you shake your head
And said it's a shame
Spin me back down the years and the days of my youth
Draw the lace and black curtains and shut out the whole truth
Spin me down the long ages, let them sing the song
See there, a son is born and we pronounce him fit to fight
There are blackheads on his shoulders, and he pees himself in the night
We'll make a man of him, put him to trade
Teach him to play Monopoly and how to sing in the rain
The poet and the painter casting shadows on the water
As the sun plays on the infantry returning from the sea
The do-er and the thinker, no allowance for the other
As the failing light illuminates the mercenary's creed
The home fire burning, the kettle almost boiling
But the master of the house is far away
The horses stamping, their warm breath clouding
In the sharp and frosty morning of the day
And the poet lifts his pen while the soldier sheaths his sword
And the youngest of the family is moving with authority
Building castles by the sea, he dares the tardy tide to wash them all aside
The cattle quietly grazing at the grass down by the river
Where the swelling mountain water moves onward to the sea:
The builder of the castles renews the age-old purpose
And contemplates the milking girl whose offer is his need
The young men of the household have all gone into service
And are not to be expected for a year
The innocent young master, thoughts moving ever faster
Has formed the plan to change the man he seems
And the poet sheaths his pen while the soldier lifts his sword
And the oldest of the family is moving with authority
Coming from across the sea, he challenges the son
Who puts him to the run
What do you do when the old man's gone, ddo you want to be him?
And your real self sings the song, do you want to free him?
No one to help you get up steam
And the whirlpool turns you way off-beam
I've come down from the upper class to mend your rotten ways
My father was a man of power whom everyone obeyed
So come on all you criminals! I've got to put you straight
Just like I did with my old man twenty years too late
Your bread and water's going cold, your hair is short and neat
I'll judge you all and make damn sure that no-one judges me
You curl your toes in fun as you smile at everyone
You meet the stares, you're unaware that your doings aren't done
And you laugh most ruthlessly as you tell us what not to be
But how are we supposed to see where we should run?
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
I see you shuffle in the courtroom
With your rings upon your fingers and your downy little sidies
And your silver buckle shoes
Playing at the hard case
You follow the example of the comic-paper idol
Who lets you bend the rules
So, come on ye childhood heroes!
Won't you rise up from the pages of your comic-books, your super crooks
And show us all the way?
Well, make your will and testament
Won't you join your local government?
We'll have Superman for president
Let Robin save the day
You put your bet on number one and it comes up every time
The other kids have all backed down and they put you first in line
And so you finally ask yourself just how big you are
And you take your place in a wiser world of bigger motor cars
And you wonder who to call on
So, where the hell was Biggles when you needed him last saturday?
And where were all the sportsmen who always pulled you though?
They're all resting down in Cornwall
Writing up their memoirs for a paperback edition
Of the Boy Scout manual

 

[Dogtrousers]

I have a similar 'what's all the fuss' feeling for 'Dark Side of the Moon'. 'Wish You Were Here' and 'Animals', I get. They work for me but for all it's obvious talent, I kinda find DSOTM a bit, well, lyrically tedious/cliched.

Yes, fully agree. I'm sure I could find some cringe in DSOTM if I looked. The line "if your head explodes with dark forebodings too" always struck me asa bit cack.

 

[Evil_Breakfast]

Always thought the line
"My uncle Bill, my Belisha beacon"
From Radiohead's 'My Iron Lung' was a bit pants.

 

[MontyVeda]

... A couple of songs I can think of off the top of my head ("Girl, you'll be a woman soon" and "Tonight's the night") give me the creeps and the only way I can cut them some slack is to say they were written 'back then'.

yeah but in that song the girl's dad claims 'the boy's no good' ...so that suggests they're both teenagers waiting for adulthood when they can ignore their parents.

 

[Chris S]

Baby, it's cold outside

Another dodgy song but the line 'Is there something in my drink?' is particularly creepy.

 

[Chris S]

Delilah - I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more.