# lyrics that don't sound right/make you cringe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831 "2003-05-17T03:48:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/81 "2003-05-18T21:06:28Z")
Well there’s always the all time classic “Everybody have fun tonight / everybody Wang Chung tonight” … ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/82 "2003-05-18T21:07:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Comfortably Numb \* > \*\*Beatles song. I think its, “Girl,” off Rubber Soul, but don’t quote me on that, 'cause I forget exactly. > > If you listen to the back-up vocals at one point, the rest of the guys are singing, “TIT TIT TIT TIT TIT TIT TIT!” I think its the back-up vocals for the part where he sings, “When she says she’s looking good she acts as if its understood she’s cool.” > > Lennon talked about it in an interview later on, he was laughing wildly about it. \*\* That’s right, **Comfortably Numb** , it’s from _Girl_. ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/83 "2003-05-18T23:54:53Z")
The one that currently makes me cringe is Counting Crows cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”. They changed the line “Late last night I heard the screen door slam, and a big yellow taxi took away my old man” to Listen, late last night, I heard the screen door slam And a big yellow taxi took my girl away Why he didn’t just say took away my girl…which would have at least kept the rhythm of the song going instead, that clunker of a phrase (which is much worse sung then written). ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/84 "2003-05-19T01:51:03Z")
Uhm…‘took away my girl’ is not anything like the proper rhythm of that line. Plus it sounds awful even when it’s spoken, rather than being shoehorned into a line it’s just not meant for. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/85 "2003-05-19T01:58:42Z")
Everyone has already mentioned the worst songs, so I can only add this lame example that’s been bugging me for a few days now. It’s a new song by Train, I think. The song as a whole is dippy and inane but these two lines in the chorus just really irritate me for some reason. _I won’t give up, If you won’t give up._ It sounds A LOT worse if you actually hear it. It’s as if the songwriter just got lazy while writing the chorus and just jotted down the first thing that popped into his head. It just sounds so clunky. ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/86 "2003-05-19T02:19:52Z")
My biggest song pet peeve is for Bob Seger’s **Rock And Roll Never Forgets** , for the very first line: _So you’re a little bit older and a lot **less bolder** Than you used to be_ Gah!! Definitely cringeworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Ruiniform](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@Ruiniform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruiniform)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/87 "2003-05-19T02:54:14Z")
The Corrs have some outright Yoda-isms: [q]Was it a lie right from the start Answer, answer me do… [/q] … ---
**Author:** ![Ruiniform](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@Ruiniform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruiniform)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/88 "2003-05-19T03:21:15Z")
Oh, and from Alanis Morrisette’s “Thank U” (which is vometic from the outgo for employing the Sk8ter Boi/Nothing Compares 2 U lamer speech from hell): "how 'bout getting off of these antibiotics how 'bout stopping eating when I’m full up **how 'bout them transparent dangling carrots** how 'bout that ever elusive kudo[/q] **What?** ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/89 "2003-05-19T03:33:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Greywolf73 \* > \*\* > It’s a new song by Train, I think. \*\* Oh, god. You just opened a whole barrel of lyrical craps. I was going to select a few choice quotes, but I think I’ll save everyone’s time by linking to [the lyrics for “Drops of Jupiter.”](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/train/dropsofjupiter.html) Oh, hell, I have to quote the bridge: > [@](#): > > \*\*Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken > Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you’re wrong > Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation > The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me > \*\* And [“Meet Virginia”](http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~harel/cgi/page/htmlit?Meet_Virginia.html): > [@](#): > > \*\*Smokes a pack a day, but wait that’s me > But anyway \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/90 "2003-05-19T03:36:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ruiniform \* > > "how 'bout getting off of these antibiotics > how 'bout stopping eating when I’m full up > **how 'bout them transparent dangling carrots** > how 'bout that ever elusive kudo[/q] > > **What?** \*\* I _think_ the dangling carrot line is about this form of gardening where the ammount of moisture in the air enables plants to grow while not being in soil…or something like that. In any event, something is done so that the plants can grow suspended in the air. I saw this at a zoo several years ago IIRC, and the plants roots were sort of weirdly transparent. If that’s something I dreamed and my brain barfed back up, just ignore this. It’s possible, and it’s happened before). If I’m right about the whole air gardening thing, Alanis would be alikening a discovery most people would find unbelievable to things she’s recently achieved in her life that are equally amazing for her to think about. Her getting off of antibiotics is every bit as amazing as the (possibly non-existant) transparent dangling carrot thing. Regardless, a weird lyric, but I sort of like it. ---
**Author:** ![Ruiniform](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@Ruiniform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruiniform)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/91 "2003-05-19T03:42:50Z")
Ah, thanks. That makes more sense now. In my uneducated state, that line made about as much sense as ‘How about those uneducated extraneous polar bears’. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/92 "2003-05-19T03:56:03Z")
> [@](#): > > An oldie and a goodie, but this line has bothered me ever since I was a teeny tiny tot. > Why, oh why, did she have to leave and go away? > > Well, she couldn’t very well leave and stay could she? Nothing wrong with that line; deliberate tautology has been a popular lyrical technique for many centuries. Likewise for inexact rhymes. Here’s a line from Billy Joel: _She can’t be convicted; she’s earned her degree._ Always puzzled me. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/93 "2003-05-19T04:41:23Z")
Can I nominate all of Bob Carlisle’s “Butterfly Kisses”? Not only is it a horrible piece of glurge, it’s also creepy in a “bad touch” kind of way: _Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer Stickin’ little white flowers all up in her hair “You know how much I love you daddy, but if you don’t mind, I’m only going to kiss you on cheek this time.”_ :eek: Also, parts of “One” as sung by Filter. The whispered beginning is okay, but it’s when they swing into Angry Alternative Mode™ to sing _IT’S JUST NO GOOD ANYMORE SINCE SHE WENT AWAY! NOW I SPEND MY TIME JUST MAKING UP RHYMES OF YESTERDAY!_ that my cringe muscles involuntarily activate. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/94 "2003-05-19T07:05:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ruiniform \* > \*\*Oh, and from Alanis Morrisette’s “Thank U” (which is vometic from the outgo for employing the Sk8ter Boi/Nothing Compares 2 U lamer speech from hell): > > "how 'bout getting off of these antibiotics > how 'bout stopping eating when I’m full up > **how 'bout them transparent dangling carrots** > how 'bout that ever elusive kudo[/q] > > **What?** \*\* To add to what **Orange Skinner** said: It’s possible the line you highlighted is also intended to play off the concept of “transparent dangling **carats** ”, as would be found in diamond pendants. Or maybe I’m just giving Alanis too much credit for cleverness… At any rate, _kudos_ is a singular, as opposed to plural, noun. So singing of an “ever elusive kudo” is akin to speaking of one molass. Here’s a classic [http://www.lovedungeon.net/humor/dave/the\_bad\_song\_contest\_iii.html](http://www.lovedungeon.net/framemaker.html?%5Burl)]Dave Barry column on the topic of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/95 "2003-05-19T08:04:55Z")
I thought the “transparent dangling carrots” line refered to the old metaphor of a horse chasing after a carrot dangling from a rope tied to the end of a stick over the horse’s head, so that the carrot is forever out of reach. I figured the line meant catching on when she was being led on or used, the motive for putting “the carrot” there becoming obvious or transparent. In other words: not being a sucker. I mentioned this in the thread about songs we can’t stand, but the line: “I love you like a fat kid loves cake,” from “21 Questions” by 50 Cent send me up the wall; proof of his lack of talent. Ladies, would you consider it romantic if someone said it to you? Even the girl at work who gripes about my “hating on” 50 Cent all the time agrees it’s a bad line. The new Train song is called “Calling All Angels”, and they do seem to be headed down the road to sappy ruin like Collective Soul. Although I always liked the “smokes a pack a day…” lines. It was funny. Jim Morrison’s lyrics lose their appeal without the Doors to back him up. Whenever someone calls him a poet, I direct them to listen to Nico’s version of “The End” from 1974. Stripped of cool backing music it sounds like the bad high school English class poetry it is. If Morrison is a poet, then Nipsy Russell should be our poet laureate. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/96 "2003-05-19T08:25:42Z")
“Cracklin’ Rosie makes me smile…” Neil Diamond. Who is Rosie and why is the poor girl cracklin? Is she on fire? Is Diamond some kind of pyromaniac who doused Rosie in gasoline and set her alight and is now smiling in maniacal glee while she writhes in fiery agony. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/97 "2003-05-19T09:42:15Z")
> [@](#): > > I thought the “transparent dangling carrots” line refered to the old metaphor of a horse chasing after a carrot dangling from a rope tied to the end of a stick over the horse’s head, so that the carrot is forever out of reach. I figured the line meant catching on when she was being led on or used, the motive for putting “the carrot” there becoming obvious or transparent. In other words: not being a sucker. Yeah, me too. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/98 "2003-05-19T12:45:26Z")
Another Jim Morrison gem: I’m gonna love you 'til the stars fall from the sky, for you and **I**. What kind of a poet can’t think of a rhyme for “me?” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/99 "2003-05-19T13:08:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by h.sapiens \* > \*\*Another Jim Morrison gem: > > I’m gonna love you 'til the stars fall from the sky, for you and **I**. > > What kind of a poet can’t think of a rhyme for “me?” \*\* Jim Morrison didn’t write “Touch Me.” Robbie Krieger did. ---
**Author:** ![eno801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@eno801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eno801)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831/100 "2003-05-19T13:28:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marlitharn \* > \*\*“Cracklin’ Rosie makes me smile…” Neil Diamond. Who is Rosie and why is the poor girl cracklin? Is she on fire? Is Diamond some kind of pyromaniac who doused Rosie in gasoline and set her alight and is now smiling in maniacal glee while she writhes in fiery agony. \*\* I always wondered that myself til I read recently that he was referring to that abomination of cheap liquor (if it can be called that) called wild irish rose here is a link to the an article on it. [http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/publications/iprc/factline/high\_potency.html](http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/publications/iprc/factline/high_potency.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-that-dont-sound-right-make-you-cringe/175831.md?page=6)