# Deceiving Song appreciation thread -- share your deceptive songs with others! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044 "2001-10-02T20:49:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anal\_Scurvy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@Anal\_Scurvy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anal_Scurvy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/1 "2001-10-02T20:49:33Z")
Hey, I just listened to BONE OF CONTENTION by Spirit of the West again and am always reduced to a little puddle of awe when I listen to it. It’s a beautiful, sweeping, melodic piece with lyrics that are simultaneously cryptic and piercing. Listening to it, you feel part of an amazing saga. Then I found out what the song is about. The true nature of the song doesn’t detract from my appreciation, though. Quite the opposite, in fact, as I marvel at what vulgar thing they so wondrously hid amidst fields of grace. I won’t tell you what the song is about, because I want you guys to download it and try to guess what it’s about. Go on, try. You’ll never guess in a million years. (Though you could always cheat by searching Google, but then you would just know what the song is about without hearing the amazingly beautiful tune that disguises it.) ---
**Author:** ![milo\_minderbinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@milo\_minderbinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milo_minderbinder)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/2 "2001-10-02T21:22:46Z")
**The Stranglers - Golden Brown** - A quirky, waltz like and very un punk song which revived the bands then flagging fortunes, and is in fact about the heroin trade. **The Vapours - Turning Japanese** - I’ve heard a few people suggest that the title and chorus of this is a euphemism for masterbation. I’m a bit dubious about this one. Alright, I’m downloading Bone of Contention. Will listen to it and hazard a guess, maybe see if I can think of a couple more of my own. milo ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/3 "2001-10-03T02:22:53Z")
_The Banana Boat Song_, by **Harry Belafonte** , at first listen seems to be an insipid little ditty about work & play. However, on closer inspection, seems to be about slavery. Of course, I could be wrong… ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/4 "2001-10-03T02:32:43Z")
The song **Molly’s Lips** , a Vaseline’s song Nirvana covered, I always thought was about two addicts in love. From the song… “She says she’ll take me anywhere, she’ll take me anywhere as long as she stays clean. She said she’ll take me anywhere as long as I stay clean. Kiss, kiss Molly’s lips…” Then I read in a book of Nirvana lyrics it’s about child molestation? WTF? ---
**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:** [October 3, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/5 "2001-10-03T02:43:27Z")
**Chestnut Mare** by the Byrds. It seems to be a story song about a man riding a wild horse. If you listen closely to the lyrics, however, it’s a long, extended sexual metaphor. ---
**Author:** ![Muslim\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Muslim\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muslim_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/6 "2001-10-03T02:45:18Z")
I recommend [“With God On Our Side”](http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/withgod.html) by Bob Dylan. When hearing it for the first time, you might think it’s this ultra-patriotic jingoistic song. Like Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.” Then after a few verses sink in, you realize how profoundly ironic the words are. It’s a valuable song that deserves to be revived in the present situation. _“If God’s on our side He’ll stop the next war.”_ Joan Baez sang the last couplet: _“If we’re on God’s side We’ll stop the next war.”_ ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/7 "2001-10-03T02:46:24Z")
How about **Semi-charmed Life** by Third Eye Blind? It was fairly popular and was seen as a peppy, happy kind of pop song; it was about being a crystal meth addict. Yeah, that’s peppy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/8 "2001-10-03T03:34:07Z")
**God Only Knows** by the Beach Boys. On an innocent listening, it’s a simple love song. But the lyrics are shot through with irony. First of all the refrain is: > [@](#): > > God only knows what I’d be without you Which can be read all kinds of ways. And look at this stanza: > [@](#): > > I may not always love you > But long as there are stars above you > You’ll never need to doubt it > I’ll make you so sure about it. He’s not promising to love forever, he’s simply promising not to let the girl know when he doesn’t love her anymore. > [@](#): > > If you should ever leave me > Though _life will still go on, believe me_ {emphasis mine} Somehow, I’m picking up the word `bitch’ sous rature. ---
**Author:** ![portajon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@portajon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/portajon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/9 "2001-10-03T03:37:40Z")
Geezus how about “Rosie” by Jackson Browne. Rosie you’re alright you wear my ring when you hold me tight Rosie that’s my thing when you turn out the lights I’ve got to hand it to me Looks like it’s you and me again tonight Rosie ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/10 "2001-10-03T03:43:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milo\_minderbinder \* > **The Vapours - Turning Japanese** - I’ve heard a few people suggest that the title and chorus of this is a euphemism for masterbation. I’m a bit dubious about this one. > \*\* The rest of the lyrics are about a guy obsessed with staring at a picture of a beautiful woman, so it at least makes some sense to interpret the song as being about masturbation. That song is the leadoff track of the CD that I just burned. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/11 "2001-10-03T09:45:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\*How about **Semi-charmed Life** by Third Eye Blind? It was fairly popular and was seen as a peppy, happy kind of pop song; it was about being a crystal meth addict. Yeah, that’s peppy. \*\* Yup yup. I was going to name this song, too. I heard it’s the same with Sarah McLachlan’s **Angel**. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/12 "2001-10-03T10:55:45Z")
It’s pretty obvious when you read the lyrics, but before I knew what they were I had no idea that Metallica’s ‘Creeping Death’ is based on part of the Book of Exodus. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/13 "2001-10-03T11:58:48Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milo\_minderbinder \* > **The Vapours - Turning Japanese** - I’ve heard a few people suggest that the title and chorus of this is a euphemism for masterbation. I’m a bit dubious about this one. > \*\* The rest of the lyrics are about a guy obsessed with staring at a picture of a beautiful woman, so it at least makes some sense to interpret the song as being about masturbation. It most certainly is about masturbation. It is English schoolboy slang (well it was when I was an English schoolboy), and refers to the facial expression whilst going at it. ---
**Author:** ![dlb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@dlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dlb)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/14 "2001-10-03T13:07:58Z")
“Every Day a Little Death”, from _A Little Night Music_. The tune is light and carefree, and the lyrics talk about being killed, piece by piece, by love. “He talks softly of his wars, and his horses and his whores, a humiliating business!” ---
**Author:** ![milo\_minderbinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@milo\_minderbinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milo_minderbinder)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/15 "2001-10-03T15:03:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anal Scurvy \* > I won’t tell you what the song is about, because I want you guys to download it and try to guess what it’s about. A comedian caught whacking off in public while on a drunken bender? milo ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/16 "2001-10-03T15:15:12Z")
How 'bout the Barry Manilow classic “Mandy,” originally titled “Brandy,” but changed to avoid confusion with the (different) Looking Glass song by the same name of a couple of years earlier. It’s about a dog. And The Association’s song “Windy,” which was actually inspired by a hippie _guy_ friend of the group, not a gal. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/17 "2001-10-03T15:24:59Z")
The LAs There she goes: Lovely little pop love song about a girl? Nah it’s about heroin. Perfect Day - Lou Reed: Another cosy love song? Heroin again. Heroin by the velvet underground is really about a fluffy bunny. Lucy in the sky anyone? ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/18 "2001-10-03T15:39:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muslim Guy \* > **[snip] you might think it’s this ultra-patriotic jingoistic song. Like Springsteen’s "Born in the USA."** I don’t know if you are just being ironic, but if you listen carefully to the lyrics of Springsteen’s song, it is obviously an very bitter review of how various individuals have been betrayed by their own country: [Link to lyrics](http://www.xs4all.nl/~maroen/engels/lyrics/bornusa.htm) ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/19 "2001-10-03T17:29:24Z")
American Woman - Guess Who (covered by Lenny Kravitz) I don’t know if Americans don’t “get it” or if they don’t care. It’s about the Canadian psyche - overshadowing American influence and all that. ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044/20 "2001-10-03T17:36:53Z")
American Woman - Guess Who (covered by Lenny Kravitz) I don’t know if Americans don’t “get it” or if they don’t care. It’s about the Canadian psyche - overshadowing American influence and all that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceiving-song-appreciation-thread-share-your-deceptive-songs-with-others/85044.md?page=2)