# Arguments in songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655 "2006-07-31T03:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/1 "2006-07-31T03:37:55Z")
I’m looking for songs where there are arguments or insults going back and forth in the lyrics. My favourite ones that come to mind are The Dirty Glass by Dropkick Murphy’s, Fairytale of New York by The Pogues, You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly by Delbert McClinton and my favourite version of Seven Drunken Nights which includes audience participation in the form of the men and women yelling as part of the chorus “Hey wife, you bitch” “Whaddya want, you drunken asshole?” So what other songs out there include arguments or insults in similar fashion? My tastes are pretty eclectic, so whatever genre or style is fine. I’m willing to listen once to see if it’ll interest me. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/2 "2006-07-31T03:43:02Z")
**"Jackson"** - Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/3 "2006-07-31T03:43:09Z")
Well, more of a discussion than an argument, but _Paradise by the Dashboard Light_ by Meatloaf ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/4 "2006-07-31T03:46:49Z")
_What’s The Difference (Between Me and You?)_ by Eminem, Dre and Xibit. I am not a fan of mainstream rap, but I love, love, love this song. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/5 "2006-07-31T03:47:59Z")
Here are some sample [lyrics](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Jackson-lyrics-Johnny-) from “Jackson”: [Both:] We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout, We’ve been talkin’ ‘bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out. [Johnny:] I’m goin’ to Jackson, I’m gonna mess around, Yeah, I’m goin’ to Jackson, Look out Jackson town. [June:] Well, go on down to Jackson; go ahead and wreck your health. Go play your hand you big-talkin’ man, make a big fool of yourself, Yeah, go to Jackson; go comb your hair! [Johnny:] I’m gonna snowball Jackson. [June:] See if I care. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/6 "2006-07-31T03:52:15Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] _What’s The Difference (Between Me and You?)_ by Eminem, Dre and Xibit. I am not a fan of mainstream rap, but I love, love, love this song. [/QUOTE] In a similar vein, \*Guilty Conscience \* by Eminem and Dre. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/7 "2006-07-31T03:59:42Z")
Oh, and from the world of bluegrass there’s [“Pearl, Pearl, Pearl”](http://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/flatt-and-scruggs/pearl-pearl-pearl-6183.html), in which Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs trade insults while trying to woo the same girl: Earl: _Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, come be my loving girl Don’t you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with possum fat Change your name to Mrs. Earl Scruggs_ Lester: _Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, you’ll get no love from Earl This here man is such a sap, He won’t hold you on his lap Unless you are an old 5-string banjo_ ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/8 "2006-07-31T04:00:32Z")
The “Whose Fault” song from Sondheim’s _Into The Woods_ comes to mind…the few surviving characters are arguing whose fault it is that the giant has come to destroy their world. It’s very odd…funny as hell on the soundtrack, but in performance by the same persons, rather grim. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/9 "2006-07-31T04:12:23Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] **“Jackson”** - Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash [/QUOTE] How could I forget about that one? This is another of my favourites. As is Paradise by the Dashboard Light, ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/10 "2006-07-31T04:14:17Z")
_Don’t You Want Me?_ by Human League. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/11 "2006-07-31T04:18:59Z")
- Anything you can do, I can to better \* Excerpt: _I can shoot a partridge With a single cartridge. I can get a sparrow With a bow and arrow._ ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/12 "2006-07-31T04:25:40Z")
_Ciao!_ by Lush (w/ Jarvis Cocker) It’s light. Pop. But fun. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/13 "2006-07-31T04:26:07Z")
[Ciao!](http://www.curve.demon.co.uk/lush/lyrics/ciao.html) - Lush ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/14 "2006-07-31T04:27:08Z")
Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/15 "2006-07-31T04:32:00Z")
D12’s _How Come_ is another rap featuring Eminem that’s pretty fantastic with everyone in the song arguing how come their friendship’s dying; Maynard rips into someone calling him a sell-out in _Hooker With a Penis_; and Henry Rollins and William Shatner argue a bit in _I Can’t Get Behind That_. I don’t really see much else on a cursory glance of my library although there’s a good number of songs with omnidirectional insults, just not traded. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/16 "2006-07-31T04:32:38Z")
_The Girl is Mine_ by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Please accept my sincere apologies for any unpleasant memories that may have resurrected. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/17 "2006-07-31T04:41:56Z")
The doggone girl is mine! ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/18 "2006-07-31T05:04:05Z")
Cat Stevens - [Father and Son](http://www.lyricswiki.org/artist_c/cat-stevens_lyrics/father-and-son_lyrics.html) Jethro Tull - [Son](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jethrotull/son.html) Jethro Tull - [Back to the Family](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jethrotull/backtothefamily.html) has the protagonist arguing with himself, if that counts. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/19 "2006-07-31T05:10:43Z")
“Nothing Better” by the Postal Service is a guy who willing to do anything to salvage his relationship (“So, just say how to make it right / and, I swear, I’ll do my best to comply”), and the girl who isn’t having it (“You’re getting carried away feeling sorry for yourself”). A really lovely duet, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/20 "2006-07-31T05:29:17Z")
The Pogues “Fairytale of NY” has Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl trading some pretty cutting insults. Most excellent Xmas song evar. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655.md?page=2)