Domestic Violence Rock WTF?

Cafe Society
1

Beatles: Getting Better “I used to be cruel to my woman/I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved.” John and Paul, what were you thinking?

Beatles: (Again!) Run for your Life “I’d rather see you dead, little girl / than to be with another man”. (Borrowed from Elvis).

Pink Floyd: Don’t Leave Me Now "How could you go? / When you know how I need you / to beat to a pulp on Saturday night.” Nice, Roger!

Neil Young: Down By The River “Down by the river/ I shot my baby/ Down by the river/ Dead, oh shot her dead”. Great lyric, Neil! (Notice how he doesn’t play this in concert.)

Any others?

2

Hey Joe:
Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand
Hey Joe, I said where you goin’ with that gun in your hand
I’m goin’ down to shoot my ol’ lady
I caught her messin’ 'round with another man

3

Goodbye, Earl-Dixie Chicks. Though he does get what he has coming in the end.

4

At least for Neil, I’m guessing it’s a riff on old blues murder ballads.
Unfortunately, at least one Beatles has been accused of domestic violence in his real life.
But, a song can be from the POV of a shit and it doesn’t have to be the singer’s POV, just like how actors aren’t the characters they play. One song that has always made me :dubious: was Weezer’s “No One Else” where at least emotional abuse is going on. The verses get progressively more creepy*, although I assume it isn’t Rivers’ actual thoughts! (?)
*“I want a girl who will laugh for no one else” aww he wants a close relationship. I’m sure it’s metaphorical…
…later…
“When I’m away she never leaves the house” uhh…

5

As a lark I once made a cd of misogynistic songs for my wife for Mother’s Day,

Jolene ( Begging for the woman to not take her man rather than going after the man for his infidelity )

It’s My Party (similar reasons)

He Hit Me ( And it Felt Like a Kiss )

Under My Thumb

Wives and Lovers
…and yeah, let’s not include murder ballads cause there’s a billion of them.

6

“Me and the Devil Blues” is such a good song, I put it on the first tape I made my wife when we started dating, even though it has this verse:

Me and the devil, was walking side by side
Me and the devil, ooh, was walking side by side
And I’m going to beat my woman, until I get satisfied

7

Valentines Day is Over-- Billy Bragg

8

The Dixie Chicks - Goodbye, Earl

9

L7 - Diet Pill

10

That line was pretty much all John, and he was thinking ‘yes, this is the kind of thing I’ve done in the past, but, I’m Getting Better’.

He also had Jealous Guy, as a whole-song confessional, after going solo, so he was clearly a work in progress on that note.