# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/141 "2018-04-14T18:03:36Z")
Ring Around the Roses. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/142 "2018-04-14T19:08:59Z")
Not the song itself, God no, or the main lyrical performance, which was way better than I expected, but the backing vocals on the Partridge Family version of “We Gotta Get Outta This Place” are… well, they’re cheery. It’s like somebody decided to toss in a spare track they had lying around from recording “Afternoon Delight”. Still, if you were covered by The Partridge Family, Jello Biafra, and Arthur Brown I think you can say you have done well. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/143 "2018-04-14T19:19:42Z")
Also, “Fast Car”, which in my head is a response song to “Born to Run”. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/144 "2018-04-14T19:32:28Z")
I submit Tim Minchin’s “The Song for Phil Daoust”, when he goes after a reporter who gave him a bad review. _It’s been three years since you wrote it, And time is very healing But I still want to cut big chunks of flesh out of your stupid face And make your children watch while I force you to eat them Yeah, I wanna make your children watch you eat your own face meat!_ ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/145 "2018-04-14T20:21:04Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I submit Tim Minchin’s “The Song for Phil Daoust”, when he goes after a reporter who gave him a bad review. > > _It’s been three years since you wrote it, > And time is very healing > But I still want to cut big chunks of flesh out of your stupid face > And make your children watch while I force you to eat them > Yeah, I wanna make your children watch you eat your own face meat!_ Speaking of… I’m not sure the tune is entirely “cheerful-sounding,” but the tune certainly doesn’t portend what the lyrics make clear: [Timothy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqDu5LBT8_Y), by the Buoys. I came in to mention Mack the Knife, but I see **Hilarity N. Suze** got it on Page 2. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/146 "2018-04-14T20:37:16Z")
Harry Nilsson’s “You’re Breaking My Heart.” Cheery little tune with the lyrics: “You’re breaking my heart You’re tearing me apart So fuck you.” Nilsson also wrote the very cheery “[I’d Rather Be Dead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHmH9lQZq6I)” and then did a video singing it with a chorus of senior citizens. ---
**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, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/147 "2018-04-14T20:43:18Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > You mean like [THIS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR1W4ViDjeE)?: Yes, like that. It honestly took me years to actually look at the lyrics for “Carol of the Bells” to realize how very… cheerful the words were. The way it’s usually sung just does not lend to a cheery spirit (at least, nowhere near the level of the cheeriness of the lyrics). ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/148 "2018-04-14T20:50:04Z")
[Candy Everybody Wants](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jORFcH5uAjM) by 10,000 Maniacs. Very upbeat music, complete with horn section, but lyrics that are an indictment of crass commercialism. Sample lyrics: > [@](#): > > If lust and hate is the candy > if blood and love tastes so sweet > then we give 'em what they want > So their eyes are growing hazy 'cause they want to turn it on > so their minds are soft and lazy. > Well who do you want to blame? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/149 "2018-04-14T21:18:59Z")
[“With A Gun”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAwJAZsNF9A) - more upbeat, downright perky music from the Minus Five: \*I’ll kick your sister’s ass I’m going to take your brother’s face and smash it in the grass It’s no wonder I am spiral-bound 'Cause I just want to I just want to be around Every day when I feel this way I need somebody to say, “It’s okay” Shoot some holes in my crow-black sky Saying, “Life doesn’t really half-suck most of the time” \* ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/150 "2018-04-14T22:04:04Z")
> [@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. As the Clancy Brothers said between songs once: “Ahhh, Ireland. Land of Happy Wars and Sad Love Songs!” > [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Like the Weather is a perfect choice for this. First song where I ever stopped what I was doing, pulled out the lyrics (best thing about The Days Of Vinyl), and followed along. Perfect for this thread, it blew me away with phrases like _Four-poster/ Dull torpor/ Pulling downwards._ ---
**Author:** ![Rogerthat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Rogerthat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rogerthat)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/151 "2018-04-15T00:21:37Z")
Country Joe and the Fish, “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag”, a Vietnam War protest song. Country Joe, by the way, was a Vietnam vet. Very peppy tune, with lyrics like “Ain’t no time to wonder why. WHOOPIE! We’re all gonna die!” Or “Be the first one your block to have your boy come home in a box.” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/152 "2018-04-15T00:42:23Z")
Oh man I thought of a great example of a terrible song. The Misfits’ “Last Caress” has terrible terrible horrifying lyrics, but really it’s an uptempo metal/punk song. This video of Danzig performing has the song with lyrics. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVH9d30_WBk) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/153 "2018-04-15T00:50:29Z")
[She’s a Woman and Now He Is a Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOh_2FhOApw)– Husker Du I know parodies don’t count, but… [Imagine You Were Mine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5uP7YeKduQ)–Mitch Benn ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/154 "2018-04-15T01:10:28Z")
“[Those Were the Good Old Days](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P0SplN4DTU)” from _Damn Yankees_ (the musical). “[Cell Block Tango](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrrz54UtkCc)” from _Chicago_ ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/155 "2018-04-15T01:20:52Z")
The OP doesn’t specify pop music — there are loads of dark blues songs and ballads. But two that come to mind are “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” and “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/156 "2018-04-15T01:26:51Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet: > \*\*You Are My SunShine \*\*(at least the version on the Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack) Yeah, I came in to mention this one. A bit stalkery, and controlling. 'll always love you and make you happy If you will only say the same But if you leave me and love another You’ll regret it all some day ---
**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 15, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/157 "2018-04-15T01:45:59Z")
> [@Rogerthat](#): > > Country Joe and the Fish, “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag”, a Vietnam War protest song. Country Joe, by the way, was a Vietnam vet. Very peppy tune, with lyrics like “Ain’t no time to wonder why. WHOOPIE! We’re all gonna die!” Or “Be the first one your block to have your boy come home in a box.” Country Joe took the melody from [Muskrat Ramble](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L7G2klHjOc), a jazz piece that Kid Ory wrote in 1921. Ory’s daughter sued Country Joe for copyright infringement in 2001. The suit was dismissed because the Ory (and the Ory estate) waited too long to file it (Country Joe originally recorded “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag” in 1965). There was also the little problem that Ory never registered the song with the copyright office, something that was necessary at the time. The peppiness of the tune is part of what makes the Country Joe song work. It underlines the enthusiasm people were supposed to have for the war despite the reality of it. ---
**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 15, 2018, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/158 "2018-04-15T02:26:29Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The OP doesn’t specify pop music — there are loads of dark blues songs and ballads. > > But two that come to mind are “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” and “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues. Yeah, but these sound sad. The OP is asking for songs with cheery melodies but dark lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/159 "2018-04-15T11:22:07Z")
[Moderating] A reminder, everyone, to only quote short excerpts of the lyrics, in accord with Fair Use of copyrighted material. If more is needed, link to the full lyrics elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![sfriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@sfriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sfriver)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217/160 "2018-04-15T18:59:12Z")
Goodbye Earl - Dixie Chicks Possum Kingdom - Toadies. This song is not cheerful but it got a LOT darker for me when I realized it was from the perspective of a psycho luring his girlfriend/date to be murdered. Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton. I have never wanted to be fighting in a war more in my life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerful-sounding-songs-with-surprisingly-dark-lyrics/812217.md?page=9)