# Love the song, hate what it's about **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017 "2008-09-17T19:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/41 "2008-09-17T23:50:42Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I cling to the belief that Mick and the boys were being ironic with [“Brown Sugar”](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rolling+stones/brown+sugar_20117857.html) and [“Under My Thumb”](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rolling+stones/under+my+thumb_20117884.html). Great, terrible songs. The former is a description of what went on in slaveholding plantations, I don’t think anyone ever claimed it was advocating the abuse of enslaved women as something that is in any way good or laudable. The latter, not so much. Lets face it, rock stars are dickwads 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/42 "2008-09-17T23:58:08Z")
_Follow Me_ by Uncle Kracker. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/43 "2008-09-18T00:03:53Z")
“Imagine”, by John Lennon > [@](#): > > Imagine no possessions > I wonder if you can > No need for greed or hunger > A brotherhood of man > Imagine all the people > Sharing all the world I can imagine it. It’s called a hunter-gatherer culture. And, in such cultures, people with my medical issues tended to have short life expectancies. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/44 "2008-09-18T00:08:02Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > “Imagine”, by John Lennon > > I can imagine it. It’s called a hunter-gatherer culture. And, in such cultures, people with my medical issues tended to have short life expectancies. I am so with you. Here is a multi-millionaire singing to us about having no-possessions. What crap. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/45 "2008-09-18T00:19:20Z")
> [@Stauderhorse](#): > > “Waiting on the world to change” by Jon Meyer I concur, wholeheartedly! This song is my _#1 Worst Song Ever, Even Worse Than That Christmas Shoes Song_. The music is catchy, the message is pathetic and indefensible. > [@Marley23](#): > > I still think he may be being ironic there, and saying “we keep waiting, but it isn’t a good thing.” I’d listen more closely but I don’t like his music, whatever the message is. I’ve seen some Boomers complain bitterly about this song because they, of course, made the world a much better place and these kids today… Having spent at least a little time going over the lyrics, I’m pretty sure that there’s _no_ sense of irony in it. Or, if there is, he is unable to communicate it. The song is Hippy Slacker Glurge, and is as ironic as the forwards you get from that one female coworker (you know, the one who’s got the stuffed animals in her cubicle and who always puts graphical backgrounds or borders on every e-mail she sends) about how some cutesy-wutesy something-or-other did something cute and followed Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/46 "2008-09-18T00:23:04Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > “Imagine”, by John Lennon I’ve always worried more about [Getting Better](http://www.bjornetjenesten.dk/teksterdk/beatles/sgtpepper.html#04): _I used to be cruel to my woman I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved_ ---
**Author:** ![troubledwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@troubledwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troubledwater)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/47 "2008-09-18T00:32:35Z")
[Tomb of the Unknown Love](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Love-lyrics-Kenny-Rogers/2267C7F37FF5956648256FC9000BBAF4) by Kenny Rogers. I don’t even normally like Kenny Rogers, but I feel deeply touched by the melody of this song. Pity it’s about a guy who murders his girlfriend for dumping him. The song describes his “true love cheating”, but earlier it mentions a letter she had sent him, so I think she played fair and wrote him that it was over. He had to drive somewhere to kill her, so it wasn’t even a crime of passion. Premeditated, pure and simple. ---
**Author:** ![Lambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lambo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/48 "2008-09-18T00:40:50Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > “Deportee” by Peter, Paul, and Mary. It is beautifully done, but the lyrics are laughable. It is about illegal immigrant migrant workers who are deported. Apparently losing their jobs and being sent back to Mexico is unfortunate, but what really grinds their gears is the people who guard them on the way back to Mexico don’t take the time to learn everyone’s names. I would guess that a dying in a [fiery plane crash](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportee_(Plane_Wreck_at_Los_Gatos)) on the way back to Mexico, and being referred to as just “deportees”, was the actual thing that ground their gears. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/49 "2008-09-18T00:54:57Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > There are a number of songs like this for me, but the most disturbing are the “stalker” songs. For example, …“Possession” by Sarah McLaughlin. “Possession” was actually written from letters from a guy who was stalking Sarah McLachlan. He then sued her over it, and lost. So…yeah, it’s a creepy song, but one of my favorites. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/50 "2008-09-18T00:59:04Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > “Deportee” by Peter, Paul, and Mary. It is beautifully done, but the lyrics are laughable. It is about illegal immigrant migrant workers who are deported. Apparently losing their jobs and being sent back to Mexico is unfortunate, but what really grinds their gears is the people who guard them on the way back to Mexico don’t take the time to learn everyone’s names. That was written by Woody Guthrie, and it was written after he read a newspaper story which referred to the Mexican victims only as “deportees,” without giving their names. Guthrie gave them names. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/51 "2008-09-18T03:44:48Z")
Wow, I’m kept away from my computer for a while, so when I come back to comment on something that was being talked about, it’s already several posts away. But I’ll comment anyway. For the song “More Than Words”, I saw an interview with Gary Cherone, I think it was on VH1’s Bands Reunited that ran a couple of years ago, anyway, he said it was one of the most misunderstood songs and that the message wasn’t “If you love me than prove it by sleeping with me.” like a lot of people think it is. Unfortunately my Google-fu is week, and I can’t find a link to post. It’s also funny that people mention John Mayer nobody’s brought up “Daughters”, because when I’ve heard people mention that song, all I hear about is how wrong it is. I’m not mentioning it myself because, with the sole exception of “Bigger Than my Body”, I’ve never liked any song I’ve heard from him. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyFlair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@JimmyFlair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyFlair)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/52 "2008-09-18T05:16:07Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > “Drunk Daddy” by Cherry Poppin’ Daddies is a very upbeat swing tune but if you listen to the lyrics it’s a deeply disturbing song about alcoholism and child abuse. It’s not that I hate the lyrics, just that they are definitely disturbing. But they’re supposed to be. Sublime’s “Wrong Way” is much the same - so upbeat! with catchy horns! and a twelve year old prostitute with a “drunk ass Dad”☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/53 "2008-09-18T07:14:56Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > _Follow Me_ by Uncle Kracker. Agreed. The music is rather catchy, and reminiscent of a lazy summer afternoon, if you don’t pay attention to the lyrics, which are basically about a sleazy guy trying to pick up a married woman: [QUOTE=Uncle Kracker] I’m not worried 'bout the ring you wear 'Cause as long as no one knows then nobody can care [/QUOTE] All I think about when I hear this song now is sitting around the bar at Joe’s Crab Shack while some yuppie loser keeps buying me umbrella drinks in the hopes of getting some action in the parking lot. :rolleyes: I used to love a song by Enya called _The Longships_. Then I found out that the lyrics were about Ireland being conquered by Vikings, and the subsequent enslavement of the Irish. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/54 "2008-09-18T07:35:30Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > “Possession” was actually written from letters from a guy who was stalking Sarah McLachlan. He then sued her over it, and lost. And then [committed suicide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possession_(song)). The fan in question, Uwe Vandrei, used to lurk on the Sarah McLachlan fan mailing list, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, which I was a part of for a few years. I don’t remember him posting except [when he thought he had to defend himself](http://web.archive.org/web/19971010233948/users.compassworks.com/~squid/sarah/oldfaq/uwe.html) from all the shit he was getting from other posters when the word about the lawsuit came out. I have to admit I felt a bit sorry for him, but stalking is stalking, and it’s bad mojo to make someone whose music you love feel creeped out. I wish he hadn’t killed himself, but better himself than Sarah or anyone else, if things were heading in that direction. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/55 "2008-09-18T07:52:30Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > Even more disturbing, by the same group, is **Don’t Stand so close to Me** , retelling Sting’s experiences as a sub HS teacher: > > _Its no use, he sees her > He starts to shake and cough > Just like the old man in > That book by Nabakov_ Actually, Mr. Sumner wasn’t a sub at the time. He was a full-time English teacher at a girl’s conservatory! I’ve heard from a reliable source that events basically happened as described in the song. > [@](#): > > I’ve always worried more about Getting Better: > > I used to be cruel to my woman > I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved Well yeah, he was mean, but he’s changing his scene and he’s doing the best that he can! ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/56 "2008-09-18T08:04:27Z")
Alizee - _Moi… lolita_ It’s a brilliant tune, lyrics in French so I can’t really understand them (translations tend to transliterate, which loses the idiom), but with a title like “moi… lolita”, and being sung by a (then) 15 y/old it’s never going to be particularly wholesome. ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/57 "2008-09-18T08:11:29Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > Wow, I’m kept away from my computer for a while, so when I come back to comment on something that was being talked about, it’s already several posts away. But I’ll comment anyway. > > For the song “More Than Words”, I saw an interview with Gary Cherone, I think it was on VH1’s Bands Reunited that ran a couple of years ago, anyway, he said it was one of the most misunderstood songs and that the message wasn’t “If you love me than prove it by sleeping with me.” like a lot of people think it is. Unfortunately my Google-fu is week, and I can’t find a link to post. More Than Words is one of my favs and I _never_ got a bad impression from it. Wow, needless to say I was shocked seeing the posts of how others had interpreted it. The song I love but hate is one I cannot think of the title or singer… just that it talks about sneaking out the back door and how it’s ok to be having an affair because that’s all he’s good for (?) Catchy tune, really bad message. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mojo\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Pin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/58 "2008-09-18T08:55:01Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > “More Than Words,” by Poison, I think. It’s a lovely tune, and the singer has a great voice, but the lyrics can realy be summed up as “If you really loved me, you’d swallow after I came in your mouth.” Are you talking about that sappy acoustic ballad song? Cause that’s Extreme, not Poison (and it’s the worst song they’ve done :p) ---
**Author:** ![Mojo\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mojo\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Pin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/59 "2008-09-18T09:00:36Z")
how do i delete a post? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017/60 "2008-09-18T13:09:56Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > “Imagine”, by John Lennon > > I can imagine it. It’s called a hunter-gatherer culture. And, in such cultures, people with my medical issues tended to have short life expectancies. You do Lennon a grave disservice. He’s writing about a modern well-equipped society (e.g. National Health Service) where people share. Like Christians or Kibbutzes. He also sings: “Imagine there’s no countries It isn’t hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace” Everyone’s life expectancy drops with war. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-the-song-hate-what-its-about/464017.md?page=4)