# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/121 "2018-04-13T12:42:45Z")
Just a gigolo - Louis Prima There are lots of other versions, but Louis version is the one I like. How the sentiment seems to change fro, the original ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/122 "2018-04-13T13:13:11Z")
> [@3trew](#): > > Should be easy to find, I hear Big Old Jed left the light on. Bingo Jed left her lighter. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/123 "2018-04-13T14:48:36Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Just a gigolo - Louis Prima > > There are lots of other versions, but Louis version is the one I like. > > How the sentiment seems to change fro, the original Oh, _NOW_ you’ve done it: Bo-zy, bo-zy BOP, ziddy BOP! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Ain’t Got No- Bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-DAY! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/124 "2018-04-13T15:05:53Z")
And now, a word from _**[DAVE TV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUsWiIN-LfE)!**_ ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/125 "2018-04-13T15:26:12Z")
Surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet: \*\*You Are My SunShine \*\*(at least the version on the Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack) A couple of verses… The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken And I hung my head and cried You told me once dear, you really loved me And no one could come between But now you’ve left me to love another You have shattered all of my dreams ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/126 "2018-04-13T15:43:43Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Luka” by Suzanne Vega - surprisingly bright & peppy for a song about a physically abused boy. Similarly, 10,000 Maniacs’ [What’s the Matter Here](http://www.metrolyrics.com/whats-the-matter-here-lyrics-10000-maniacs.html). They also have [LIke the Weather](http://www.metrolyrics.com/like-the-weather-lyrics-10000-maniacs.html), which is a catchy song about depression. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/127 "2018-04-13T16:06:48Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Similarly, 10,000 Maniacs’ [What’s the Matter Here](http://www.metrolyrics.com/whats-the-matter-here-lyrics-10000-maniacs.html). They also have [LIke the Weather](http://www.metrolyrics.com/like-the-weather-lyrics-10000-maniacs.html), which is a catchy song about depression. Like the Weather is a perfect choice for this. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/128 "2018-04-13T17:26:00Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > How about Another One Bites the Dust? That sounds…cheerful to you? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/129 "2018-04-13T18:07:56Z")
“Here Comes My Baby” by the Tremeloes. Great clap-along-to-the-tempo song (even has a cowbell) about a guy who’s lost a girl and keeps seeing her around town with one guy after another. ☹ Comes to think of it, “Don’t Fear The Reaper” pretty up-tempo, but it’s a song about death. Doesn’t get much darker than that. Even with the cowbell. ---
**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 13, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/130 "2018-04-13T22:22:53Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Mea culpa. I am absolutely shit at music theory. > > Still, ain’t an upbeat song 🙂 Just for fun, if you want to hear the difference between “Brick” main theme being played as a minor progression vs a major progression, I put up an audio sample [here](http://www.pawinskiphotography.com/public/brickminor.mp3). I play the two-chord progression twice in the major key (as on the record), and then twice changing the first chord into a minor instead of a major. (I kept the second chord exactly the same). The minor version definitely sounds dirgey. (Then I throw in a gratuitous “Picardy third” and end it on a D major chord. ---
**Author:** ![Monimonika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Monimonika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monimonika)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/131 "2018-04-14T01:06:50Z")
“Lump” by the Presidents of the United States of America. Spotted an old thread discussing the meaning of the lyrics: > **[The meaning of the lyrics of "Lump" by the Presidents of the United States of...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=484146)** > > I was listening to this song today and I realized…this is one weird-ass fucking song. What on earth is it supposed to be about? If you listen to the lyrics carefully, it describes a somewhat disturbing situation: OK, so “Lump” is a woman. Why a... One song that I feel does the somewhat-opposite of “Music up, lyrics down” is “Carol of the Bells”. The lyrics are oh-so-very-happy but the music is more fitting for a horror or suspense scene. Actually, I think Christmas movies tend to use “Carol of Bells” music for the non-cheerful parts… ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/132 "2018-04-14T01:22:14Z")
> [@Monimonika](#): > > \ One song that I feel does the somewhat-opposite of “Music up, lyrics down” is “Carol of the Bells”. The lyrics are oh-so-very-happy but the music is more fitting for a horror or suspense scene. Actually, I think Christmas movies tend to use “Carol of Bells” music for the non-cheerful parts… You mean like [THIS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR1W4ViDjeE)?: ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/133 "2018-04-14T01:23:28Z")
[The Green, Green Grass of Home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoaEXADvv5o) sounds like someone sweetly reminiscing about a trip back to the home where he grew up, until you get to the part where he wakes up from his dream to face his execution. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/134 "2018-04-14T03:42:40Z")
Folk music can get in on this too. “Do You Love an Apple” has been recorded numerous times, and sounds like a sweet love song until you really listen: Do you love an apple? Do you love a pear? Do you love a laddie with bonnie brown hair? Chorus (after each verse): But still I love him, I can’t deny him I’ll be with him wherever he goes Before I got married I wore a black shawl But since I got married I wear bugger all He stood at the corner, a fag in his mouth Two hands in his pockets, he whistled me out He works at the pier for nine bob a week Come Saturday night, he comes rolling home drunk Before I got married I’d sport and I’d play But now, the cradle, it gets in me way Do you love an apple? Do you love a pear? Do you love a laddie with bonnie brown hair? ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/135 "2018-04-14T04:32:16Z")
Hard to play Listen to the Mocking-bird other than cheerfully, but the mockingbird is singing o’er her grave. ---
**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 14, 2018, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/136 "2018-04-14T05:33:40Z")
No one’s mentioned “Love Fool” by the Cardigans? "Lately I have desperately pondered Spent my nights awake, and I wondered What I could have done in another way To make you stay 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:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/137 "2018-04-14T13:51:55Z")
After the edit window closed, Mr. Celtic Knot pointed out that many Celtic folk songs have this characteristic: cheerful tune, peppy tempo, and lyrics more fitting to a dirge. Bonnie Light Horseman came to mind first to him. Oh, Napoleon Bonaparte, you’re the cause of my woe Since my bonny light horseman to the wars he did go Broken hearted I’ll wander, broken hearted I’ll remain Since my bonny light horseman in the wars he was slain When Boney commanded his armies to stand And proud lift his banners all gayly and grand He levelled his cannons right over the plain And my bonny light horseman in the wars he was slain Lyrics found \here\ I guess the Celts had to find a way to deal with the miseries dumped on them by their conquerers. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/138 "2018-04-14T14:10:06Z")
> [@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. The Smiths were the first thing that leapt to my mind too and yeah, a lot of them are upbeat but dark songs with [Girlfriend in a Coma](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GhoWZ5qTwI) leading the pack. \*Girlfriend in a coma, I know I know, it’s serious Girlfriend in a coma, I know I know, it’s really serious …\* Honorable mention to The Smiths’ [There Is a Light That Never Goes Out](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Gf-f_hWpU): _… And if a double-decker bus Crashes into us To die by your side Is such a heavenly way to die And if a ten-ton truck Kills the both of us To die by your side Well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine …_ There’s more but I’ll leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/139 "2018-04-14T17:00:09Z")
The sweet stalker’s lullaby [“Now that I’ve found you” by Allison Krause](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvKtxTsVoMo) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/140 "2018-04-14T17:09:00Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > After the edit window closed, Mr. Celtic Knot pointed out that many Celtic folk songs have this characteristic: cheerful tune, peppy tempo, and lyrics more fitting to a dirge. > . . . “Cockles and Mussels Alive-o” is one of my favorite examples of this. Most Americans learn the first two verses at their mother’s knee, and cheerfully sing along. If you go back to the version a hundred years ago, you’ll find that it’s actually a ghost story. And if you go back a hundred years more, you’ll find that it’s also a suicide note. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217.md?page=8)