Come to think of it, quite a few of the silly songs I know are a little creepy/gruesome if you think about the lyrics. Certainly some of them are unsuitable for children. Here’s a nice, cheerful number–the original writer is unknown, but these are the lyrics sung by the Corsairs, my favorite shanty group.
Oh, we sailed from port the other day,
Intendin’ to land at Botany Bay,
But it happened we were cast away,
Among the cannibal islands.
(chorus)
Hokey-pokey, winky-wum,
Bonny magoo, agoo, agum,
Heggery beggary biggery bum.
The king of the cannibal islands!
(oogabah oogabah oogabah oogabah oogabah oo)
The king invited us up for tea,
His name was Katori-katori-kachee,
And we were as thick as thick could be,
Among the cannibal islands
(chorus)
Said the king, “Would you be my son-in-law,
And marry the Princess Wishiwaw?”
Said I, “I would, your Majesty.” Hold your jaw
To the king of the cannibal islands!
(chorus)
Woman pie and baby sauce,
And little-boy pudding for the second course
He swallowed them all without remorse,
the king of the cannibal islands.
(chorus)
The end of my story remains to be told,
About this monarch so brave and bold,
He died of eating his clergyman cold,
The king of the cannibal islands!
(final chorus)