# "Bad" grammar and music: How universal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-grammar-and-music-how-universal/695786>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 17, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-grammar-and-music-how-universal/695786 "2014-08-17T22:49:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-grammar-and-music-how-universal/695786/61 "2014-08-22T21:46:51Z")

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> [@cochrane](#):
>
> I was actually commenting on the redundant use of the word “from.” It’s like saying, “Cause there ain’t no one there for to give you no pain.”

I know. I also know that area of Indiana, and it’s shocking the mistakes you hear from English teachers in the classroom.

> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> Anyway, back to “Me and Bobby McGee.” As mentioned above, it’s not even bad grammar in the context of the song. It’s fine as a title (as you admitted), and lyrically, the way it is used in the song, the grammar is correct. Even if it were being used as a subject, it’s a colloquialism, and song lyrics tend not to be high-diction affairs, rather going more for the sound of spoken speech. Plus, you know, “Bobby McGee and I” isn’t exactly euphonious like “Me and Bobby McGee” is.

It’s already been pointed out that there’s nothing wrong with “Me” rather than “I” in that song, and the only question is the position of “Me.” As written, it’s iambic, pretty much, which is the natural rhythm of English. The meter is unnatural the other way.

> [@gigi](#):
>
> Do you insist on parallel construction, too? 😉

If I were one doctor writing to another, particularly a letter that would remain in a patient’s file, you bet I’d go over the letter for things like that. I care a lot less about posts to a message board on the internet.

My main complaints on message boards are things that affect clarity, like usage errors, dangling participles, pronouns without antecedents, and egregious spelling errors\*. Also, people who refuse to use punctuation, and think it’s cute to use 4 instead of “for,” and other things that are pretty much acceptable only in phone texts with character limits.  
\*Everyone types “teh” now and then, and I can figure out what “seperate” is. But you are in front of a computer. Go to an online dictionary and look up “calliope.” “Kolyapie(sp?)-- music thingie” is not acceptable.

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**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-grammar-and-music-how-universal/695786/62 "2014-08-22T21:54:27Z")

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I’ve heard the story (which may or may not be true) that Paul McCartney’s father begged his son to please, just once, sing “She loves you, yes, yes, yes”…to no avail.

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