# Hit Songs in Bad Taste **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784 "2019-05-30T16:39:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/121 "2019-05-31T21:29:43Z")
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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/122 "2019-05-31T21:30:52Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The Andrews Sisters sang “workin” on their hit recording. The lyrics to the original song by Lord Invader is “workin”. They modified lyrics that Morey Amsterdam (yes, that Morey Amsterdam!) plagiarized are “workin”. > > [Andrews Sisters version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeY2ORU5uU4) > [Lord Invader version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjKxUMtC6uQ) > > There appears to be a version recorded by **Hot Chip** that changed the lyrics to “singing” but I can’t find a recording of it and it’s clearly not the original lyrics. > > [Rum & Coca Cola Lyrics - Hot Chip feat. The Andrews Sisters](https://www.lyricsbox.com/hot-chip-feat.-the-andrews-sisters-rum-and-coca-cola-lyrics-g5mx87m.html) > > ETA - Ninja’d, but I’m posting anyway I checked again, and Google sez : [https://www.google.com/search?q=Rum+and+Coca+Cola&oq=Rum+and+Coca+Cola&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i59j69i60l3&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8](https://www.google.com/search?q=Rum+and+Coca+Cola&oq=Rum+and+Coca+Cola&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i59j69i60l3&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) _f you ever go to Trinidad They make you feel so very glad Calypso sing and make up rhyme Guarantee you one good real fine time Drinkin’ Rum and Coca Cola Go down “Point Koo mah nah” Both mother and daughter singin’ for the Yankee dollar_ But yes, I checked others and listened to a better recording and \*workin \*seems to be more common. However, so what? Does 'working" imply sex work? In the 1940s? I doubt that. How about in this song:_Come, my little friends As we all sing a happy little working song Merry little voices clear and strong Come and roll your sleeves up so that we can pitch in_ Or _It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve been working like a dog It’s been a hard day’s night, I should be sleeping like a log But when I get home to you I’ll find the things that you do Will make me feel alright_ Or _Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’ Barely gettin’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin’ They just use your mind and they never give you credit It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it_ or _Workin’ for a livin’ (Workin’) Workin’ for a livin’ (Workin’) Workin’ for a livin’, livin’ and workin’ I’m taking what they’re giving ‘cause I’m workin’ for a livin’_ or _Workin’ in the coal mine Goin’ down, down, down Workin’ in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down_ I mean if \*all \*of those are about sex work, it does put a completely different spin on many songs…😛 ---
**Author:** ![Helmut\_Doork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/123 "2019-05-31T21:41:27Z")
> [@TimfromNapa](#): > > Of course, I meant Pearl Jam. God I hate auto-correct! Just FYI, NOT to be pedantic, the song’s actual title is “Last Kiss”🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/124 "2019-05-31T21:47:11Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > [The Homecoming Queen’s Got A Gun](https://youtu.be/xG3yGdQYwqg) was a hit on Dr. Demento back in the day, but would be even more tasteless today… MTV refused to air it. Night Flight did. ---
**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:** [May 31, 2019, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/125 "2019-05-31T23:02:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Does 'working" imply sex work? In the 1940s? I doubt that. [Here is](https://genius.com/The-andrews-sisters-rum-and-coca-cola-lyrics) a complete transcription of the lyrics. It includes the verse, > [@](#): > > Out on Manzanella Beach > G.I. romance with native peach > All night long, make tropic love > Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off That’s not about working in an office or a coal mine. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/126 "2019-05-31T23:07:22Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > [Here is](https://genius.com/The-andrews-sisters-rum-and-coca-cola-lyrics) a complete transcription of the lyrics. It includes the verse, > > That’s not about working in an office or a coal mine. Sure, and? What’s your point? That in a song there’s a verse about making love? ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/127 "2019-05-31T23:19:35Z")
I always thought _I Touch Myself_ (#1 in Australia, #4 in US) by the Divinyls was pretty tasteless. _She Bop_ by Cyndi Lauper covered the same topic, but was a little more subdued. ---
**Author:** ![jadielyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jadielyn/32/8808_2.png) [@jadielyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jadielyn)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/128 "2019-06-01T00:03:28Z")
_Timber_ by Pitbull (featuring Kesha) was #1 on Billboard for three weeks. > [@](#): > > One more shot, another round > End of the night, it’s going down > > Let’s make a night, you won’t remember > I’ll be the one, you won’t forget Sounds like date rape to me, whether from alcohol, Ketamine, or Rohypnol. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/129 "2019-06-01T00:53:24Z")
The old-timey classic “Little Sadie” could be called a murder ballad, I guess, but the protagonist doesn’t seem to have ANY rationale for the killing…he just guns her down cold. _Went out one night to make a little round I met little Sadie and I shot her down Went back home, jumped into bed .44 smokeless under my head…_ ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/130 "2019-06-01T01:23:14Z")
> [@jadielyn](#): > > _Timber_ by Pitbull (featuring Kesha) was #1 on Billboard for three weeks. > > Sounds like date rape to me, whether from alcohol, Ketamine, or Rohypnol. Yeah, but IIRC it’s Ke$ha singing those lines. I think he does too, but it’s her voicing those lyrics at the beginning of the song. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/131 "2019-06-01T01:25:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure, and? What’s your point? That in a song there’s a verse about making love? No, there’s no question by anyone involved what the song is about. Here are the some of the original lyrics sung by Lord Invader: > [@](#): > > And when the Yankees first went to Trinidad > Some of the young girls were more than glad > They said that the Yankees treat them nice > And they give them a better price > > Ah, look, I had a little chick the other day > But her mother came and took her away > Herself, her mother and her sisters > Went in a cab with some soldiers Literally, the only lyrics online for the Morey Amsterdam version that uses “singing” is the one Google links to, and that appears to the version by Hot Chip. I have no idea why Google returns that link but it’s not the lyrics as written. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/132 "2019-06-01T02:16:45Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Really hard to beat Tom Jones’ Delilah: Because they’re breaking down the door to take him away (and that would be the death penalty)? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2019, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/133 "2019-06-01T07:29:55Z")
The lyrics to [Vehicle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXvegzWNIps) by Ides of March are pretty skeevy, especially at the beginning: > [@](#): > > Hey well > I’m a friendly stranger in the black Sedan > Won’t you hop inside my car? > I got pictures, got candy > I’m a lovable man > And I can take you to the nearest star ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/134 "2019-06-01T09:11:56Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Hot Child in the CIty by Nick Gilder -glorifying child prostitution. Gilder even admits he was writing it from the POV of a lecher. It’s a darn catchy song. But I generally feel gross after listening to it. )-: ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/135 "2019-06-01T09:20:02Z")
i don’t know the exact name of it but there was a garth brooks song that was sung sort of tongue in cheek where dad was a trucker and mamma was always lonely so she developed wandering eye dad came home a couple of days early and caught her fooling around and drove the rig through the house… the tag line was “mammas in the graveyard papas in the pen” ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/136 "2019-06-01T09:23:32Z")
just a pov but wasn’t most of dr dementos stuff considered tasteless at best and utter shit at worst ? like" dead puppies arent much fun"… and i thought “hot child in the city” was sung by a girl … ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/137 "2019-06-01T09:27:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Take This Job and Shove It, Johnny Paycheck. Charted #1 > > Everyone gets frustrated with their job. Expressing that venom in a song is over the top. Especially with violence at the workplace a modern reality. but that was in the what the late 70s? no one was shooting up their job sites every week like we seem to be now … ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/138 "2019-06-01T09:29:26Z")
“Wrong Way” by **Sublime** : \*Annie’s twelve years old in two more she’ll be a whore Nobody ever told her it’s the wrong way Don’t be afraid with the quickness you get laid For your family’ll get paid It’s the wrong way I gave her all that I had to give I’m gonna make it hard to live Salty tears running down to her chin And the ruins up her makeup I never wanna live A cigarette pressed between her lips But I’m staring at her tits It’s the wrong way Strong if I can but I am only a man So I take her to the can It’s the wrong way The only family that she’s ever had Is the seven horny brothers and a drunk-ass dad He needed money so he put her on the street Everything was going fine till the day she met me \* ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/139 "2019-06-01T09:31:39Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > … and i thought “hot child in the city” was sung by a girl … Nick Gilder is definitely a man. Just has an unusually high voice. ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784/140 "2019-06-01T09:32:46Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > The lyrics to [Vehicle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXvegzWNIps) by Ides of March are pretty skeevy, especially at the beginning: Dammit - now you’ve ruined the song for me. The sound of those horns is _amazing_… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-songs-in-bad-taste/834784.md?page=8)