# Love songs with unhealthy ideas about love **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218 "2011-03-19T01:53:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/81 "2011-03-20T16:07:40Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Oo, speaking of Elvis…What exactly is “Hound Dog” supposed to be about? On the surface, it seems “hound dog” is a metaphor for a girlfriend who complains all the time, but what’s up with “catching a rabbit?” “Hound Dog” was originally a Big mama Thornton song and the lyrics were more explicitly about a man trying to get into a woman’s pants. The original lyrics for the chorus were: _You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog snoopin’ around my door. You can wag your tail, but I ain’t gonna feed you no more_ The lyrics were changed to be “more radio friendly” by a band called the Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, who more or less made it more literally about a dog. Elvis saw their own performance of the song in Vegas, liked it and asked them if he could do their version himself. He thought of that version as basically a goof on the original. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/82 "2011-03-20T16:24:27Z")
And didn’t Ed Sullivan insist that Elvis sing to an actual dog on stage when the King made his TV debut? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/83 "2011-03-20T19:04:45Z")
Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” is about a guy who loves his woman because she is co-dependent and supports his alcoholism and drug abuse. The entire album _Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs_ is pretty much a compendium of Clapton obsessing over Pattie Boyd (who was at the time married to Clapton’s friend George Harrison). “Why Does Love Have To Be So Sad?” and “Thorn Tree in the Garden” are particularly twisted. It’s a great album musically–perhaps the best composed album in all of rock music–but it has a twisted view of romance and love. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/84 "2011-03-20T21:06:03Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” is about a guy who loves his woman because she is co-dependent and supports his alcoholism and drug abuse. There must be a hell of a lot of subtext that I’m plain missing from those lyrics! ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/85 "2011-03-20T21:13:26Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > And didn’t Ed Sullivan insist that Elvis sing to an actual dog on stage when the King made his TV debut? Also he had to be shot from the waist up to prevent his hip gyrations from corrupting the nation. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/86 "2011-03-20T21:39:06Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” is about a guy who loves his woman because she is co-dependent and supports his alcoholism and drug abuse. [/QUOTE] > [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > There must be a hell of a lot of subtext that I’m plain missing from those lyrics! The only thing I can think of is that in the last verse, Clapton mentions his SO helping him home after he’s had too much to drink at a party. When the song came out around 1978, I doubt that reference gave anyone pause but now people are more likely to assume it’s a sign of a serious drinking problem. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/87 "2011-03-20T22:06:50Z")
> [@kelly5078](#): > > “I’ll Regret It All in the Morning” by Richard Thompson (certainly not the only one by him) “A Heart Needs A Home” by Richard Thompson is about two people who get together because they’re lonely and when the relationship goes bad, they won’t breakup because they’re afraid of being alone again. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/88 "2011-03-21T01:20:04Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Jonathan Coulton’s "[Skullcrusher Mountain"](http://www.lyricstime.com/jonathan-coulton-skullcrusher-mountain-lyrics.html) > > It’s about a woman whose high standards won’t allow her to see beyond her suitor’s choice of career. Sad. Beautifully put. 😃 But if we’re going to include JoCo in this he may need his own category; he’s written more than a few songs with somewhat unhealthy ideas about love. 🙂 Just off the top of my head: [ul] [li]Better[/li][li]Make You Cry (although arguably a stalker song).[/li][li]Not About You (errm… another stalker song).[/li][li]Shop Vac[/li][li]Soft rocked by Me (although arguably creepy).[/li][li]Someone is Crazy[/li][li]Take Care of Me[/li][li]The Future Soon[/li][li]Till the Money Comes[/li][/ul] … Betty and Me… Millionaire Girlfriend… Blue Sunny Day… You know, it might be easier to go through his discography and name the ones that aren’t unhealthy love songs. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sakuma\_Drops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sakuma\_Drops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sakuma_Drops)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/89 "2011-03-21T01:40:19Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > The only thing I can think of is that in the last verse, Clapton mentions his SO helping him home after he’s had too much to drink at a party. When the song came out around 1978, I doubt that reference gave anyone pause but now people are more likely to assume it’s a sign of a serious drinking problem. It’s still kind of a big leap from “I had a little too much fun at a party, and I had my wife/partner drive me home” to “I’m an alcoholic, thank goodness I have my wife/partner to help me when I go on a binge”. I know plenty of people who have had too much on a couple of occasions and AREN’T alcoholics. I do know a couple of people who have had DUIs, at least Eric had the sense not to try and drive, right? 😉 And where on Earth does the “drug abuse” reference come up? Unless that’s supposed to be some vague illusion to something Eric Clapton himself might have done, but I don’t see it in the song. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/90 "2011-03-21T01:48:07Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > The only thing I can think of is that in the last verse, Clapton mentions his SO helping him home after he’s had too much to drink at a party. When the song came out around 1978, I doubt that reference gave anyone pause but now people are more likely to assume it’s a sign of a serious drinking problem. Really, all he says is that he has an aching head, so he gives his girlfriend/wife the car keys, and she helps him to bed. It’s a huge stretch to alcoholism and drug abuse. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/91 "2011-03-21T01:52:28Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There’s the Beatles’ “Run for Your Life” > > I’d rather see you dead little girl, > than to be with another man. > You better keep your head, little girl > If I see you with another man > > You better run for your life if you can, little girl > Hide your head in the sand, little girl > If I see you with another man. > That’s the end, little girl. > > The first line was actually taken from an Elvis song, but John Lennon still ended up hating the song and saying he wished he’d never written it. Especially as it appears on the same album as “Norweigan Wood,” a tune supposedly inspired by a tryst Lennon had (while married to Cynthia). Tsk, tsk. On another note: we have the twin odes to stalkerism with the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/92 "2011-03-21T03:20:07Z")
> [@Crusoe](#): > > Although, arguably, the first one doesn’t quite meet the OP’s theme of not being creepy. And “Young Girl” isn’t creepy? 🙂 > [@jsgoddess](#): > > There’s a line early on about “Because your baby is so far away.” I guess that could be in a metaphysical sense, but I always took it as “She’s out of town or you are.” I’ve always interpreted the song as a breakup that the singer hasn’t gotten over. However, I agree that the song fits the category no matter what interpretation is put on the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/93 "2011-03-21T03:35:33Z")
_I Fall to Pieces_ (second verse) _You want me to find someone else to love Someone who loves me too The way you used to do But each time I go out With someone new You walk by and I fall to pieces._ Or for that matter, most of Patsy Cline’s catalog. Or a good sized hunk of country music in general. In bluegrass / mountain / English-Scottish-Irish ballads, there are a whole slew of guys killing their girlfriends for various reasons. I guess when the country genre evolved, the dysfunction remained, but the remedies weren’t quite so extreme. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/94 "2011-03-21T04:39:50Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Really, all he says is that he has an aching head, so he gives his girlfriend/wife the car keys, and she helps him to bed. It’s a huge stretch to alcoholism and drug abuse. It’s implied the aching head’s from a hangover but you are right that it’s a real jump to assume he’s an alcoholic and she’s in denial about it. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/95 "2011-03-21T06:29:54Z")
> [@Crusoe](#): > > Couple of obvious songs I’m a little surprised haven’t been mentioned already (apologies if I missed a post — I did read the thread first). > > **Rolling Stones — Under My Thumb** > **Gary Puckett & The Union Gap — Young Girl** > [@Crusoe](#): > > Although, arguably, the first one doesn’t quite meet the OP’s theme of not being creepy. Yeah, I said the same thing on the first page. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/96 "2011-03-21T08:32:16Z")
**Maroon 5** Harder to Breathe. _How dare you say that my behavior is unacceptable So condescending unnecessarily critical I have the tendency of getting very physical So watch your step cause if I do you’ll need a miracle_ Interpreted as a rant by a band to the record company it makes sense. Interpreted as a guy mouthing off to his (ex)girlfriend- creepy and unhealthy. **Tracey Chapman’s** For My Lover _Two weeks in a Virginia jail For my lover, for my lover Twenty thousand dollar bail For my lover, for my lover And everybody thinks That I’m the fool But they don’t get Any love from you_ But at least the protaganist wonders _Is this love worth the sacrifices I make?_ ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/97 "2011-03-21T10:47:29Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > That classic stalking song _Every Move You Make_ was once commonly played at weddings. It took 45 posts? I’m surprised… ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/98 "2011-03-21T10:54:13Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > It took 45 posts? I’m surprised… Actually it was eliminated in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/99 "2011-03-21T14:18:58Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > How are we supposed to know for sure? > > I came in to mention Kiss With a Fist, Every Breath You Take, Nightvision Binoculars, and If I Were Invisible. The first two were already mentioned, the third failed the ‘deliberately stalker’ criterion, and so perhaps only the last one counts. What you’re forgetting is the most obnoxious part about that song, which is that it’s “If I WAS Invisible”. The grammar bothers me even more than the sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218/100 "2011-03-21T16:45:08Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’s actually just called “If You Wanna Be Happy.” And it was the second song I thought of at this thread title, but I read it as a bit more tongue-in-cheek. You missed my favorite (spoken) line: “Say man. Hey Barry(?). Saw your wife the other day. Yeah? Yeah, she’s ugly. Yeah, she’s ugly but she sure can cook.” It’s so over-the-top I can’t help but crack up every time I hear it. Yeah, the song is supposed to be a joke. When the guy says, “saw your wife the other day… she’s uglyyyyyyyyy!” it was like Eddie Murphy telling his friend, Gus, that he married a bigfoot. So every time the song gets to that part “She’s uglyyyyyyyyyyy…” I mentally add: “Goonie-goo-goo!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-songs-with-unhealthy-ideas-about-love/575218.md?page=6)