# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/21 "2006-07-31T05:41:18Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] The “Whose Fault” song from Sondheim’s _Into The Woods_ comes to mind [/QUOTE] I had no contributions until this comment kick-started my brain into musicals (and both my examples are from the same writer): Rent “Another Day” (actually, there’s a number of arguments in this show. “Take Me or Leave Me” and “Goodbye Love” pop into my mind). And a comical argument in Tick Tick…Boom “Therapy”. _Now it’s four am And we have therapy tomorrow It’s too late to screw So let’s just get some rest_ ---
**Author:** ![footloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@footloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footloose)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/22 "2006-07-31T08:03:31Z")
> [@](#): > > She waited for the match to start > to start a fight up with me. > She said, “what’s that you’re watching?”, > “It’s a Programme about art”. > She said, “A Programme about art?”, I said > “A programme about art” and then the greatest > midfield artist of them all walked out onto the park. The rest of the lyrics are here, scroll down to “Strachan”: [Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos](http://www.geocities.com/thehitchers89_01/lyrics.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/23 "2006-07-31T12:19:35Z")
“The Last Supper” from Jesus Christ Superstar ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/24 "2006-07-31T12:59:14Z")
Not a perfect fit, but [A Little Time](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beautiful+south/a+little+time_20015215.html) by the Beautiful South has something of the feel of an argument, and is great song to boot. ---
**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, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/25 "2006-07-31T13:02:50Z")
[A Little Nightmare Music](http://www.schickele.com/shoppe/pdqrec/nightmare.htm), An Opera In One Irrevocable Act, by PDQ Bach. It’s mostly an argument sung in counterpoint to Mozart’s _Eine Kleine Nachtmusik_. The link contains a tiny RealAudio clip. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/26 "2006-07-31T13:02:59Z")
I’ll mention “Waltz for Evita & Che” only because it’s such a beautiful song. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/27 "2006-07-31T13:03:52Z")
“Don’t You Want Me Baby” by Human League. First thing that popped into my mind. You were working as a waitress In a cocktail bar When I met you I picked you out I shook you up ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/28 "2006-07-31T13:11:18Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] The Pogues “Fairytale of NY” has Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl trading some pretty cutting insults. Most excellent Xmas song evar. [/QUOTE] You’re a bum! You’re a punk! _You’re an old slut on junk, lying there almost dead oon a drip in that bed._ You scumbag! You maggot! You cheap, lousy faggot! ‘Happy Christmas’ your arse. I pray God it’s our last! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/29 "2006-07-31T13:16:29Z")
“I Can Do Without You” from the musical _Calamity Jane_ “Hatred (A Duet)” by The Kinks ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/30 "2006-07-31T13:25:08Z")
“Tramp” by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas. One of the best! Sample: “You know what, Otis?” “What?” “You’re country.” “That’s all right.” “You straight from the Georgia woods.” “That’s good.” “You know what? You wear overalls, and big old brogan shoes, and you need a haircut, Tramp.” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/31 "2006-07-31T13:37:19Z")
[Baby, It’s Cold Outside](http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22cold+outside%22+lyrics&meta=). Not sure if you’d actually call that an argument ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/32 "2006-07-31T13:48:57Z")
Continuing on the Musicals vein, Chess “Quartet” and (obviously enough) “Argument”. And “Nobody’s Side” and “The Deal (No Deal)”. Lots of conflict in that show. ---
**Author:** ![Heckxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@Heckxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckxx)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/33 "2006-07-31T13:57:46Z")
The Steets- The Irony of it All … Causing trouble, your stinking rabble Boys saying I’m the lad who’s spoiling it You’re on drugs it really bugs me when people try and tell me I’m a thug Just for getting drunk I like getting drunk ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/34 "2006-07-31T13:59:58Z")
[QUOTE=Only Mostly Dead] Continuing on the Musicals vein, Chess “Quartet” and (obviously enough) “Argument”. And “Nobody’s Side” and “The Deal (No Deal)”. Lots of conflict in that show. [/QUOTE] You could also toss in “Nobody’s Side.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/35 "2006-07-31T14:00:59Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] You could also toss in “Nobody’s Side.” [/QUOTE] :smack: I meant to do that. No, I meant to say “Someone Else’s Story” from the OBC. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/36 "2006-07-31T14:07:40Z")
[Women and Men](http://www.mollyandthetinker.com/Lyrics.asp?Action=Display&ID=8) Heard this done live by Molly & the Tinker, and was one of the reasons I bought their CD. ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/37 "2006-07-31T14:15:31Z")
“Jackstraw” by the Grateful Dead. ---
**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, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/38 "2006-07-31T14:31:19Z")
**"Keep Your Hnads to Yourself"** by the **Georgia Satellites** recounts an argument of sorts: \*See I wanted her real bad And I was about to give in Thats when she started talking about true love Started talking about sin \* ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/39 "2006-07-31T14:42:22Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] _The Girl is Mine_ by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. [/QUOTE] Similarly, “The Boy is Mine” by Brandy and Monica. Also, “Shut Up” by the Black Eyed Peas. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655/40 "2006-07-31T14:47:35Z")
Bo Diddley’s “Say Man” consists of the man himself and maracas player Jerome Green exchanging [trash talk](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/bo-diddley/say-man.html) including the line “But that chick looked so ugly she had to sneak up on a glass to get her a drink of water!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arguments-in-songs/366655.md?page=3)