# Amusing Anachronistic Bits of Culture **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873 "2016-07-01T17:00:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/1 "2016-07-01T17:00:14Z")
I’ve been playing Fallout 4 recently, and one of the songs on the soundtrack is “Atom Bomb”, a catchy little tune comparing a hot chick to a nuclear weapon. I like it because I have a dark sense of humor, but I can’t imagine a jaunty tune openly about nuclear weapons being a hit in my lifetime. Sure, “99 luftballoons” was a big hit in the 80s, but it hides it’s subject matter (especially playing the German version in the US) and it’s actually more of a protest song. Other examples that I could think of either portray them in a negative light or are from obscure punk/metal/etc. bands that aren’t coming anywhere near being a ‘hit song’. Here’s a link to the song: [Five Stars - Atom Bomb Baby - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXSUEU7ISfQ) What other weird songs/shows/books/etc. that sound really off now but were considered mainstream in their time have you encountered? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/2 "2016-07-01T17:20:28Z")
_[Run For Your Life](https://youtu.be/pmCkQeijCIw?t=142)_-The Beatles > [@](#): > > Well I’d rather see you dead, little girl > Than to be with another man > You better keep your head, little girl > Or I won’t know where I am > > You better run for your life if you can, little girl > Hide your head in the sand little girl > Catch you with another man > That’s the end ah little girl :eek: ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/3 "2016-07-01T17:42:36Z")
_Wishin’ and Hopin’_ doesn’t exactly mesh with today’s more feminist sensibilities “Show him that you care just for him Do the things he likes to do Wear your hair just for him, ‘cause You won’t get him Thinkin’ and a-prayin’ Wishin’ and hopin’” Also, I believe the term ‘gypsy’ has been deemed derogatory since Cher sang about them,no? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/4 "2016-07-01T17:51:55Z")
Flanders and Swan’s “[Madeira, My Dear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW_zi8n4HDQ)” is not as funny as it once was. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/5 "2016-07-01T18:26:09Z")
Songs that are about the use of now-outdated technology are appropriate for this thread, I take it? If so then [Party Line by the Kinks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8W2PrgPIOg) is a good example. You’d have to have grown up no later than the '70s to be likely to know what a party line was. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/6 "2016-07-01T18:36:38Z")
Butcher Pete from Fallout 4 and 3 is… interesting. The Buoys - Timothy ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/7 "2016-07-01T18:45:14Z")
> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > Songs that are about the use of now-outdated technology are appropriate for this thread, I take it? If so then [Party Line by the Kinks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8W2PrgPIOg) is a good example. You’d have to have grown up no later than the '70s to be likely to know what a party line was. [_Operator_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RA4MykPm4s)-Jom Croce ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/8 "2016-07-01T19:10:49Z")
Billie Holliday, _Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do_ > [@](#): > > If my man ain’t got no money > And I say “take all mine, honey” > Ain’t nobody’s business if I do > > If I give him my last nickel > And it leaves me in a pickle > Ain’t nobody’s business if I do > > But I’d rather my man would hit me > Than follow him to jump up and quit me > Ain’t nobody’s business if I do > > I swear I won’t call no copper > If I’m beat up by my papa > Ain’t nobody’s business if I do ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/9 "2016-07-01T19:14:11Z")
My wife always mutters about this song, not exacty full of female impowerment: _I will Follow Him_, Little Peggy March: > [@](#): > > I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go > There isn’t an ocean too deep > A mountain so high it can keep > Keep me awaaaay! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/10 "2016-07-01T22:28:49Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > _Wishin’ and Hopin’_ doesn’t exactly mesh with today’s more feminist sensibilities > > “Show him that you care just for him > Do the things he likes to do > Wear your hair just for him, ‘cause > You won’t get him > Thinkin’ and a-prayin’ > Wishin’ and hopin’” > [@Morbo](#): > > My wife always mutters about this song, not exacty full of female impowerment: > > _I will Follow Him_, Little Peggy March: Even more recently, the Cardigans recorded “Wishin’ & Hopin’”'s little sister, "Lovefool, " in 1996: > [@](#): > > Love me love me > Say that you love me > Leave me leave me > Just say that you need me > I can’t care 'bout anything but you… > > Reason will not lead to solution > I will end up lost in confusion > I don’t care if you really care > As long as you don’t go ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/11 "2016-07-01T23:05:59Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > I’ve been playing Fallout 4 recently, and one of the songs on the soundtrack is “Atom Bomb”, a catchy little tune comparing a hot chick to a nuclear weapon. I like it because I have a dark sense of humor, but I can’t imagine a jaunty tune openly about nuclear weapons being a hit in my lifetime. Sure, “99 luftballoons” was a big hit in the 80s, but it hides it’s subject matter (especially playing the German version in the US) and it’s actually more of a protest song. Other examples that I could think of either portray them in a negative light or are from obscure punk/metal/etc. bands that aren’t coming anywhere near being a ‘hit song’. Here’s a link to the song: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXSUEU7ISfQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXSUEU7ISfQ) > > What other weird songs/shows/books/etc. that sound really off now but were considered mainstream in their time have you encountered? Any of these other Conalrad Radio songs from Fallout work. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/12 "2016-07-01T23:07:02Z")
I forgot the link…😕 [CONELRAD 640-1240 - Civil Defense Radio at Fallout New Vegas - mods and community](http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/35061/)? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/13 "2016-07-01T23:08:04Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > …I can’t imagine a jaunty tune openly about nuclear weapons being a hit in my lifetime. [I Melt With You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/14 "2016-07-01T23:41:04Z")
Joe Tex’s [I Gotcha](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDEZQxg2TSM) sounds exactly like date rape to me now 40 odd years later. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/15 "2016-07-02T00:03:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > [I Melt With You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls) I never never knew it was about Nuclear war. I had always assumed it was the high temps on the facing side of a tidally-locked planet. Ok I didn’t really think that, but the lyrics “I’ll stop the world and melt with you” did make the thought occur to me with a giggle back then. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/16 "2016-07-02T00:11:56Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Flanders and Swan’s “[Madeira, My Dear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW_zi8n4HDQ)” is not as funny as it once was. Well, **I** liked that one a lot, and now I have a new comedy team to check out, even though they’re quite obviously from the past. I had never heard of these guys before. Thanks **RealityChuck**! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/17 "2016-07-02T01:34:11Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Even more recently, the Cardigans recorded “Wishin’ & Hopin’”'s little sister, "Lovefool, " in 1996: And Sheryl Crow Lie to me, I promise I’ll believe Lie to me, but please don’t leave “I Don’t Like Mondays” by Boomtown Rats was kind of a catchy tune about an active shooter. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/18 "2016-07-02T01:40:15Z")
I had never sat through “Having My Baby” long enough to hear this reference to abortion Didn’t have to keep it Wouldn’t put you through it You could have swept it from your life But you wouldn’t do it, no, you wouldn’t do it > **[Paul Anka - (You're) Having My Baby Lyrics | AZLyrics.com](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/paulanka/yourehavingmybaby.html)** > > Paul Anka "(You're) Having My Baby": Havin' my baby What a lovely way of sayin' How much you love me Havin' my baby What a lovely way of... ---
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/19 "2016-07-02T01:57:12Z")
Not amusing, but probably the all-time, drop-the-mic, make-you-most uncomfortable song is “He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)” by the Crystals, under the direction of Phil Spector. He hit me and it felt like a kiss He hit me but it didn’t hurt me He couldn’t stand to hear me say That I’d been with someone new And when I told him I had been untrue He hit me (da-da-da-ah) and it felt like a kiss (felt like a kiss) He hit me (da-da-da-ah) and I knew he loved me If he didn’t care for me, I could have never made him mad But he hit me (da-da-da-ah) and I was glad (Da-da-da-ah) (Da-da-da-ah) Yes, he hit me (da-da-da-ah) and it felt like a kiss (felt like a kiss) He hit me (da-da-da-ah) and I knew I loved him And then, he took me in his arms With all the tenderness there is And when he kissed me (da-da-da-ah), he made me his (Da-da-da) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873/20 "2016-07-02T02:12:11Z")
“Brick” by Ben Folds Five? > [@](#): > > 6 a.m., day after Christmas > I throw some clothes on in the dark > The smell of cold > Car seat is freezing > The world is sleeping > I am numb > > Up the stairs to her apartment > She is balled up on the couch > Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte > They’re not home to find us out > And we drive > Now that I have found someone > I’m feeling more alone > Than I ever have before > > She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly > Off the coast and I’m headed nowhere > She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-anachronistic-bits-of-culture/758873.md?page=2)