Song lyrics changed to make them PC

[Baker]

While watching the Kentucky Derby I heard the folks singing "My Old Kentucky Home" Of course there have been some changes to the lyrics to make it PC for our current world.

But that got me to thinking, where does one go to get original lyrics to songs that have been altered? Or to check which of two versions is original?

For example, in "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" I always remember singing a certain line as "As he died to make men holy let us die to make men free" but not I'll hear it as "As he died to make us holy let us live to make men free"

Or in the Christmas carol "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" I would sing "Born to raise the sons of earth" and now it's "Born to raise each child of earth"

So, if I don't know which is earliest, where do I go to find out?

[AskNott]

In Leadbelly's Goodnight Irene he wrote "If Irene turns her back on me/ I'm gonna take morphine and die." When the Weavers sang it for a big hit, the morphine was gone.

[Don Draper]

In the late 80s, George Thoroughgood had a hit called "You Talk Too Much" (lyrics (http://www.lyricsdownload.com/george-thorogood-you-talk-too-much-lyrics.html)) that was an unapologetically misogynist rant about his girlfriend never shutting her big mouth. Several years later, the song became a semi-classic rock staple, but significantly changed. Now the song was "You Drink Too Much", and it became an anti-alcoholic rant.

[Miller]

Krusty the Clown: It's great to have you guys on the show, but the network has requested that you make one little change to one of your songs.
Red Hot Chili Pepper #1: No way, man!
Chili Pepper #2: Our music is sacred!
Krusty: Okay. But here where it say, "What I got I want to get it, put it in you," how about if you changed that to, "What I got I want to get it, hug and kiss you?"
Pepper #2: Why, that's much better!
Pepper #1: Yeah! Now it's a song everyone can enjoy!

[cochrane]

In the late 80s, George Thoroughgood had a hit called "You Talk Too Much" (lyrics (http://www.lyricsdownload.com/george-thorogood-you-talk-too-much-lyrics.html)) that was an unapologetically misogynist rant about his girlfriend never shutting her big mouth. Several years later, the song became a semi-classic rock staple, but significantly changed. Now the song was "You Drink Too Much", and it became an anti-alcoholic rant.
:dubious: Can you post a link to this version? I've never known Thorogood to be anti-drinking in his lyrics, what with "I Drink Alone" and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer." In fact, one of his hits after "You Talk Too Much" was called If You Don't Start Drinking (I'm Gonna Leave). (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkAGHI5v99E)

[Eutychus]

"Old Man River" should be ...

Nah, never mind ... it's been done. :D

[mobo85]

Age-Challenged MacDonald had an agricultural collective, e i e i o!

[Eutychus]

Age-Challenged MacDonald had an agricultural collective, e i e i o!

That's pretty exclusive towards the rest of the vowels, isn't it?

[rowrrbazzle]

"Old Man River" should be ...

Nah, never mind ... it's been done. :DYou're welcome, I'm sure. :D

[RealityChuck]

For example, in "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" I always remember singing a certain line as "As he died to make men holy let us die to make men free" but not I'll hear it as "As he died to make us holy let us live to make men free"The original manuscript version (http://womenshistory.about.com/library/etext/bl_howe_battle_hymn2.htm) has "die to make men free." That made sense, since the poem* was written during the Civil War, when people were dying.

I don't believe there's much record as to when the lyrics were changed. Certainly after the war ended, and it was common for congregations to change lyrics of hymns as they saw necessary to make them more relevant.

To add to the example, the original Broadway lyrics to "I Get a Kick Out of You," started the second verse as "I get no kick from cocaine." When they made the show in to a movie in 1936, the Hayes Code would not allow any reference to illegal drugs, so Porter changed the lyrics to "Some like the perfumes in Spain." Actually, the change may even have been before that, so the song could get radio airplay, but the movie is definitive.

*It was originally just a poem. But it fit into an existing rhyme scheme of the song "John Brown's Body," so became a song, much like "The Star Spangled Banner" was.

[dalej42]

My church changes hymns frequently to make them PC.
It shows up during Advent and Christmas since everyone know the words to Christmas carols.

Here's some of the PC versions:

Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the Christ child, bring.
O Come all ye faithful. O come in adoration.
Joy to the world! Let earth with praises ring.

Ugh.

[Renob]

The original manuscript version (http://womenshistory.about.com/library/etext/bl_howe_battle_hymn2.htm) has "die to make men free." That made sense, since the poem* was written during the Civil War, when people were dying.

I don't believe there's much record as to when the lyrics were changed. Certainly after the war ended, and it was common for congregations to change lyrics of hymns as they saw necessary to make them more relevant.
In the 80's the church I attended had a hymnal that had the "die" lyrics, and it wasn't a very old hymnal, so I imagine changing that word to "live" is fairly recent.

[tnetennba]

Most people drop the coke reference from "I get a kick out of you."

[Fretful Porpentine]

My church changes hymns frequently to make them PC.
It shows up during Advent and Christmas since everyone know the words to Christmas carols.

Here's some of the PC versions:

Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the Christ child, bring.
O Come all ye faithful. O come in adoration.
Joy to the world! Let earth with praises ring.

Ugh.
Wha? How are the original lyrics to any of those carols un-PC?

[Antinor01]

Wha? How are the original lyrics to any of those carols un-PC?

The reference to a King in Hark the Herald Angels could be construed that way, same with Joy to the World.

O Come All Ye Faithful, it sounds like they're removing the masculine pronoun. (gender-neutral language is big in some churches)

[dalej42]

The reference to a King in Hark the Herald Angels could be construed that way, same with Joy to the World.

O Come All Ye Faithful, it sounds like they're removing the masculine pronoun. (gender-neutral language is big in some churches)

Gender neutral language is very big in the United Church of Christ.

I guess it is better than God Damn American sermons.

[Antinor01]

Gender neutral language is very big in the United Church of Christ.

I guess it is better than God Damn American sermons.

I went to a Presbyterian church in the mid 90's, they did the same thing.

[Captain Amazing]

"Old Man River" should be ...

Nah, never mind ... it's been done. :D

"Old Man River" actually was changed to keep up with sensibilities.

When the song was first written in 1927 for the play Show Boat, it started

"Niggers all work on the Mississippi.
Niggers all work while the white folks play"

In the 1936 film version of Show Boat, it became:

"Darkies all work on the Mississippi.
Darkies all work while the white folks play".

When the show was revived on broadway in 1946, it became:

"Colored folks work on the Mississippi.
Colored folks work while the white folks play"

Now there are some versions, like the London revival about 10 years back that changed the line to:

"Here we all work on the Mississippi.
Here we all work while the white folks play"

[NDP]

To add to the example, the original Broadway lyrics to "I Get a Kick Out of You," started the second verse as "I get no kick from cocaine." When they made the show in to a movie in 1936, the Hayes Code would not allow any reference to illegal drugs, so Porter changed the lyrics to "Some like the perfumes in Spain." Actually, the change may even have been before that, so the song could get radio airplay, but the movie is definitive.

Sometimes it wasn't censorship but shifting political attitudes that made Cole Porter change his songs. The original lyrics for "You're the Top" contained a positive reference to Benito Mussolini. However, events during the 1930's soon made such sentiments unpopular and the line was changed.

[DSYoungEsq]

"Old Man River" actually was changed to keep up with sensibilities.

When the song was first written in 1927 for the play Show Boat, it started

"Niggers all work on the Mississippi.
Niggers all work while the white folks play"

In the 1936 film version of Show Boat, it became:

"Darkies all work on the Mississippi.
Darkies all work while the white folks play".

When the show was revived on broadway in 1946, it became:

"Colored folks work on the Mississippi.
Colored folks work while the white folks play"

Now there are some versions, like the London revival about 10 years back that changed the line to:

"Here we all work on the Mississippi.
Here we all work while the white folks play"
The full evolution can be found at Wikipedia: Ol' Man River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ol'_Man_River).

[Southern Yankee]

Two jumped out at me:

The Devil Went Down To Georgia: "I told you once you son of a bitch..." to "I told you once you son of a gun..." on AM radio, and

Brown Eyed Girl: "Making love in the green grass..." to "Having fun in the green grass..."

[jtgain]

Jimmy Buffett's Come Monday

Original: "..that's the reason I just let you go.."

New: "..that's the reason we just had to go.."

[DWMarch]

Lil' Jon's "Get Low" appears in the game Need for Speed: Underground. But since EA is very PC, they've removed all of the drug and sex references, leaving not much of a song behind. What they didn't realize is that "skeet" is slang for "shoot sperm all over." So the chorus, instead of being "Down skeet skeet muthafucka, down skeet skeet goddamn" becomes "Down skeet skeet skeet skeet skeet..."

There's also a song by Sly Boogy and one by DMX that have large chunks removed because of violent or drug-related content. It's almost hilarious listening to the long gaps in the songs.

[mobo85]

Another un-PC Cole Porter one, before the birds, bees, and educated fleas:

Chinks do it, Japs do it,
Even up it Lapland Lapps do it,
Let's do it, let's fall in love.

You're A Grand Old Flag was originally You're A Grand Old Rag, but it was changed because it was considered offensive to refer to the American flag as a rag. Rhyming "flag" with "flag" kind of messes up the clever rhyme of the original: "You're a grand old rag, you're a high-flying flag..."

[HongKongFooey]

Wasn't Let's Get It Started by Black Eyed Peas originally released as Let's Get Retarded?

[PunditLisa]

"Let there be Peace on Earth" has been changed from "brothers all our we" to "family all our we" or something like that. I refuse to sing it that way.

In "Amazing Grace" "...that saved a wretch like me." has been changed to "that saved a good person with some minor, correctible psychological shortcomings."

Okay, I'm kidding about the last one.

[FriarTed]

"Let there be Peace on Earth" has been changed from "brothers all our we" to "family all our we" or something like that. I refuse to sing it that way.

In "Amazing Grace" "...that saved a wretch like me." has been changed to "that saved a good person with some minor, correctible psychological shortcomings."

Okay, I'm kidding about the last one.

I've heard "Amazing Grace" where "wretch" has been replaced by "soul" or "child". I don't like it.

The change to "Let there be Peace", however, does fit a bit better, though I admire your refusal. I'd totally refuse to sing the revised Christmas Carols mentioned above.

[Annie-Xmas]

In the movie Evita, the lyric "She's a new world Madonna with the golden touch" was changed to "She's our lady of the new world with the golden touch."

Evita was portrayed by Madonna, and I wish the original lyric had been kept.

[jimmmy]

This thread reminds me of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the Simpsons:

Krusty: Now boys, the network has a problem with some of your lyrics. Do you mind changing them for the show?

Anthony: Forget you, clown.

Chad: Yeah, our lyrics are like our children, man. No way.

Krusty: Well okay, but here where it says, "What I got you gotta get and put it in ya," how about just, "What I'd like is I'd like to hug and kiss ya."

Flea: Wow. That's much better.

Arik: Everyone can enjoy that.

[Sophistry and Illusion]

Not sure if it was changed for PC or other reasons, but when Leadbelly sings "In the Pines," he sings "Black girl, black girl, don't lie to me". When Kurt Cobain sings it, it's "My girl, my girl..."

[jjimm]

Not lyrics, but sound effects. Sri Lankan hip hop artiste MIA has a slightly amateurish, but strangely alluring, track called Paper Planes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sei-eEjy4g) (original mix) - about her disdain for the moneygrabbing attitude of some fellow immigrants. The chorus has sound effects that go:

"All I wanna do is [four gunshots]
And [ka ching!]
And take your money"

When she performed it live on Letterman the sound of gunshots was censored merely to be clicks. Not only did this kinda ruin the ethos of the song, but if you watch the clip, you can see that she clearly wasn't told about the alteration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaxIELjpDxc).

[asterion]

It's not really a PC change, but The Connells did a cover of "Insane in the Brain" (I first heard this song on XM Saturday Night on Lucy) on a compilation of weird covers called "When Pigs Fly - Songs You Never Thought You'd Hear". Since the Connells are an all-white band from North Carolina, they changed several of the lyrics; for instance, "Cause a nigga like me is going insane" becomes "Cause a cracker like me is going insane" which made me laugh so hard it made it a little difficult to drive the car.

[rayh]

"Peaches" by the Stranglers.

The line "is she trying to get out of that clitoris" was replaced by "is she trying to get out of that bikini" on the radio version, "oh shit" with "oh no" and "what a bummer" with "what a summer".

[kaylasdad99]

Speaking of Brown-Eyed Girl (somebody did, up above, right?), I understand that Van Morrison had originally titled the song Brown-Skinned Girl.

Apparently the record company execs felt it would risk offense to fewer uhhhh, demographics if they had the oblique reference to interracial dating toned down.

[madrabbitwoman]

While I was growing up 'Tie me kangaroo down sport' was popular children's song. http://www.rolfharris.com/Music/lyrics/lyrics_tieme.htm

It wasn't untill a couple of years ago that I realised that the original song included these lyrics

Let me abo's go loose, Lew
Let me abo's go loose
They're of no further use, Lew
So let me abo's go loose
Altogether now!
:eek:
(Abo=Aboriginal)

Rolf says sorry:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20878429-2,00.html

The most recent times I have listened to the song there is now no mention of the stockman dying or his hide being tanned and hung on the shed (I always thought that was the best bit of the song and sung it extra loud)


MRW

[Biffy the Elephant Shrew]

The line "is she trying to get out of that clitoris" was replaced by "is she trying to get out of that bikini" on the radio version
I've never been sure if that was changed because it was rude, or because the uncensored version doesn't make any fucking sense.

[Johnny L.A.]

You beat me to it, madrabbitwoman!
The most recent times I have listened to the song there is now no mention of the stockman dying or his hide being tanned and hung on the shed (I always thought that was the best bit of the song and sung it extra loud)
The version I have does have the dying stockman and the hide on the shed bits.

[Sir Prize]

Puttin' On The Ritz was originally about Thursday nights in harlem when the servants of the well to do had the night off.

[TWDuke]

This thread reminds me of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the Simpsons:

Krusty: Now boys, the network has a problem with some of your lyrics. Do you mind changing them for the show?And your post reminds me of post #4. Anyway, it's a reference to when the Rolling Stones performed "Let's Spend the Night Some Time Together" on Ed Sullivan's show.

Didn't the final words to The Flinstones theme change from "a gay old time" to "a great old time" at some point?

[MadTheSwine]

Son and Daughter by Queen.

"Buckle down and shovel shit" was changed at times to"Buckle down and a-shovel it"

[T_SQUARE]

Did "Money for Nothing" have the "little faggot" lyrics changed or just edited out?

[T_SQUARE]

Jimmy Buffett's Come Monday

Original: "..that's the reason I just let you go.."

New: "..that's the reason we just had to go.."

I'm not sure I get this one. How is old cut not PC?

[Bag of Mostly Water]

I'm surprised no one has brought this up yet. From the IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103639/trivia):
In the original recording for the opening song "Arabian Nights" Aladdin], part originally went "where they cut off your ear, if they don't like your face". After the movies release Arabic Americans took offense so the line was changed to: "where it's flat and immense, and the heat is intense". If you listen closely, you can hear a distinct vocal change when he sings: "it's barbaric, but hey it's home!"

[mobo85]

You know who one of the major Arab celebrities was who demanded that change? Casey Kasem.

[Saint Cad]

In "The Mikado", Gilbert & Sullivan has the Mikado paint a certain crimal painted "like a nigger" in permanant blackberry juice. In modern time they are "painted with vigor".

[cochrane]

Did "Money for Nothing" have the "little faggot" lyrics changed or just edited out?
Just edited out.

[Eliahna]

I'm still trying to get my Mum to remember to catch a tiger by the toe. Fingers crossed that I can get the new rendition to stick before baby is old enough to learn that rhyme from her grandmother.

[Blank Slate]

And the African-American girls go

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo....

[Zoe]

T_SQUARE:

Originally Posted by jtgain:

Jimmy Buffett's Come Monday

Original: "..that's the reason I just let you go.."

New: "..that's the reason we just had to go.."



I'm not sure I get this one. How is old cut not PC?

The concept of "letting someone go" and "not letting someone go" suggests control and dominance. Women don't like the implication of not having a choice anymore than slaves would have. Why should they? Buffet was sensitive to that issue.

BTW, it was a male who taught me not to use words like "I will let you..." with anyone, male or female. I'm still breaking the habit after thirty years.

[dalej42]

Just edited out.

? There are version with "That little queenie"

[Musicat]

Steve Miller, Jet Airliner:

"Funky shit goin' down in the city..." changed to "Funky kicks goin' down in the city..."

If you haven't heard the original, take it from me. I did the lead sheet for Miller off of an acetate pre-pressing of the Fly Like an Eagle album.