# Cheerful-sounding songs with surprisingly dark lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 11, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217 "2018-04-11T15:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/101 "2018-04-12T17:47:07Z")
No one’s mentioned ‘We’ll Sing In the Sunshine’ by Gale Garnett? A warm, homey, sunny-honey of a countryish song, conjuring up images of strolling down a lane, hand in hand, alongside a field of sunflowers. And yet, the singer is saying loud and clear ‘I will never love you’ and ‘I will stay with you a year and a day, and then I’ll be on my way’. Rather cold lyrics set to a lovely warm song. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/102 "2018-04-12T17:54:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’s all fairly arbitrary. Is a song notated in C# major “brighter” than one in Db major? (It’s the same key in our equal tempered system.) That’s just notational. > > But yes, there is some sort of idea that if you go counterclockwise around the circle of fifth vs clockwise around the circle of fifths, one sounds “brighter” and the other “darker.” I just don’t really feel that. That said, I don’t find plagal cadences (IV-I) to be dark or minor sounding at all. I just find it more, I dunno, “pop” sounding or something while the perfect/authentic cadence, V7-I, sounds more "classical"or “jazz” to my ears. The IV-I maybe not as forceful, but that’s not so much to do with the sharps, but rather that the V7 has the tritone (third and seventh) that wants to resolve to the tonic and third. That’s probably what you mean by “upward pull,” I think. That’s a function not of key or accidentals, but one of “tendency tones.” I think it’s a mistake to ever think of “tendency tones” as a separate issue. They are nothing but a piece of the explanation of what “key” means, and an aspect of how harmony operates. Like saying “That’s not chemistry, that’s just a simple ion exchange”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/103 "2018-04-12T18:03:34Z")
My favorite Cheerful Song with Dark Lyrics has to be the Big Daddy remake of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”. They recast it as an upbeat, bouncy, Elvis Presley song. It is absolutely hilarious: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ISujjBWWPcM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDISujjBWWPcM&start=6 https://www.last.fm/music/Big+Daddy/\_/My+Heart+Will+Go+On ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/104 "2018-04-12T18:12:24Z")
“Luka” by Suzanne Vega - surprisingly bright & peppy for a song about a physically abused boy. “Family Snapshot” by Peter Gabriel - while not exactly cheeful, the song’s remarkably upbeat for its subject matter (although I could never determine if it’s about a real political assassination or someone fantasizing about a political assassination.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/105 "2018-04-12T20:32:48Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > I think it’s a mistake to ever think of “tendency tones” as a separate issue. They are nothing but a piece of the explanation of what “key” means, and an aspect of how harmony operates. Like saying “That’s not chemistry, that’s just a simple ion exchange”. 🙂 I disagree, but we’re going a bit far afield here of the OP, so I’ll leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/106 "2018-04-12T20:38:34Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Family Snapshot” by Peter Gabriel - while not exactly cheeful, the song’s remarkably upbeat for its subject matter (although I could never determine if it’s about a real political assassination or someone fantasizing about a political assassination.) See Wikipedia: [Family Snapshot - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Snapshot) > [@](#): > > The song was inspired by An Assassin’s Diary, published in 1973 and written by Arthur Bremer, who attempted to assassinate George Wallace, a politician who supported racial segregation. Gabriel talked about the book in a 1988 authorized biography:[1] > > An Assassin’s Diary was a really nasty book, but you do get a sense of the person who is writing it. Bremer was obsessed with the idea of fame. He was aware of the news broadcasts all over the world and was trying to time the assassination to hit the early evening news in the States and the late night in Europe to get maximum coverage. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/107 "2018-04-12T21:58:28Z")
“Hungry Heart” by Bruce Springsteen. And written by the Boss: “Out of Work” by Gary U.S. Bonds. And Petula Clark's "Don't Sleep in the Subway". I once heard a comedienne say, "What kind of guys does she date, anyway? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0ISX9mW78Dw/maxresdefault.jpg "Petula Clark ~ Don't Sleep in The Subway (1967)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ISX9mW78Dw) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/108 "2018-04-12T22:12:09Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > First thing that came to mind. Quite a few of the Smiths are bouncy and happy until you pay attention to the lyrics but I think this one may be the peppiest / darkest of them. This somehow only just came to mind, but searching the thread, I see you mentioned it. I think the Smiths have to be up there in terms of writing jangly, upbeat-sounding pop songs that should be about love and rainbows and puppy dogs, but end up being about much more melancholy subjects. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/109 "2018-04-12T22:23:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > This somehow only just came to mind, but searching the thread, I see you mentioned it. I think the Smiths have to be up there in terms of writing jangly, upbeat-sounding pop songs that should be about love and rainbows and puppy dogs, but end up being about much more melancholy subjects. Belle And Sebastian are also good at this (definitely inspired by the Smiths). The most beautiful melodies, but the lyrics might kick you in the face. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/110 "2018-04-12T22:29:38Z")
And to finally get it out of my system after having followed this thread for some days now: one of the most obvious examples for this trope hasn’t been posted yet, [Bad Moon Rising](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BmEGm-mraE). A bouncy country-pop song about impending doom, maybe apocalypse. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/111 "2018-04-12T22:47:30Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Belle And Sebastian are also good at this (definitely inspired by the Smiths). The most beautiful melodies, but the lyrics might kick you in the face. Yes. Good one! ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/112 "2018-04-12T22:51:12Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And to finally get it out of my system after having followed this thread for some days now: one of the most obvious examples for this trope hasn’t been posted yet, [Bad Moon Rising](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BmEGm-mraE). A bouncy country-pop song about impending doom, maybe apocalypse. With the added bonus of directions to the restroom. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/113 "2018-04-12T23:05:42Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > There seems to be a “thing” some songs have, whatever it is that gives some people the impression that they’re in minor keys when in fact they’re solidly major. I’ve heard people say other pretty-much-100%-major-chord songs were minor too. Not sure what it would be. Downward jumps in the melody? Whiny singers? 🙂 > > IDK. I would just say because in general music appreciation is very broad but understanding what you just wrote is a niche subject few people even know about. So people who are fans of music but don’t know about writing or making music make assumptions based on feeling. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/114 "2018-04-12T23:09:04Z")
How many times has “Semi-charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind been mentioned? Always the first one I think of. Not only that but it always seems like one that people don’t really pay attention to the lyrics or only later discover them. A lot of these are cheerful/upbeat but the lyrics hit you over the head with how dark they are. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/115 "2018-04-13T01:24:17Z")
One could include almost the entire Rage Against the Machine library here. Not sure I’d consider the music “upbeat,” but it’s brighter than the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/116 "2018-04-13T01:49:30Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > With the added bonus of directions to the restroom. 🙂 Should be easy to find, I hear Big Old Jed left the light on. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/117 "2018-04-13T02:46:38Z")
This song is intentionally structured this way and if you see the video it is obvious, I am mostly commenting because it hasn’t been mentioned yet and is an extreme example. Amanda Palmer - Oasis [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8C17yfGyJjM/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gPiglMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCf3t25vsgbVNRg8o7R2hDaw-qliA "The "Oasis" Music Video - From "Who Killed Amanda Palmer"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C17yfGyJjM) Edited to add: Any song by the Violent Femmes. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/118 "2018-04-13T04:44:36Z")
How about Another One Bites the Dust? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/119 "2018-04-13T08:20:31Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Clapton’s Promises Also “Peaches and Diesel” — he cheerfully sings “Boy, you’re gonna he dead!” ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/120 "2018-04-13T08:45:27Z")
[Radiation City - Zombies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqBZgX5z9g8) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217.md?page=7)