# Need some downer music ideas.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 23, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054 "2008-08-23T21:56:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/1 "2008-08-23T21:56:17Z")
So I’m being laid off from my job in November (unless I find something else first). And I’ve been directed to play music at the company cookout in September.
The only song I’ve put on the list so far is Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It”.
Ideally, I want stealthy downer songs, things with a lot of energy and a nice beat, so you have to listen carefully to tell that the basic message is “fuck you”.
I know I can’t get away with 3 hours of dirges, but I’m hoping you can help me find some tunes to slip in.
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### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/2 "2008-08-23T23:54:22Z")
The Alps “[Curriculum Vitae](http://www.last.fm/music/The+Alps/_/Curriculum+Vitae)”
Self “[It All Comes Out in the Wash](http://www.lyricsdir.com/self-it-all-comes-out-in-the-wash-lyrics.html)”
Tupelo Honey “[Why I Bother](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w492DUNEnKM)”
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### Author:  [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/3 "2008-08-24T00:14:27Z")
Green Day/“Good Riddance” The hook, “I hope you had the time of your life,” is sooo misleading.
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lml1MVvxzE)
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### Author:  [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/4 "2008-08-24T00:22:10Z")
Anything by Snog. I thought about putting the song, “Corporate Slave”, as the company’s hold music but I didn’t leave on bad terms. It’s quite upbeat, a dance track even.
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### Author:  [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/5 "2008-08-24T01:36:34Z")
Last Kiss
The End by the Doors
Teddy Bear
Big Bad John
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
> **["Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=144464)**
>
> first, I was wondering who EF was & why they named a ship after him- I didn’t find much but enough to satisfy me for a while, but then I realized something… I thought the Wreck occurred back in the 1950’s- but nope, the ship was built then- it...
Go down to post 31 & read on…
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/6 "2008-08-24T02:23:46Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed]
Last Kiss
The End by the Doors
Teddy Bear
Big Bad John
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
> **["Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=144464)**
>
> first, I was wondering who EF was & why they named a ship after him- I didn’t find much but enough to satisfy me for a while, but then I realized something… I thought the Wreck occurred back in the 1950’s- but nope, the ship was built then- it...
Go down to post 31 & read on…
[/QUOTE]
Thanks. Odly enough I have a fair number of those, and they’ve sparked som other ideas like “I shot the sheriff”.
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### Author:  [@uncle\_squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uncle_squeegee)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/7 "2008-08-24T04:02:30Z")
[Dear Employer](http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/minus_5_the_lyrics_30214/other_lyrics_60698/the_reason_i_quit_dear_employer_lyrics_609165.html) by The Minus 5
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### Author:  [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/8 "2008-08-24T15:39:33Z")
Working in the Coal Mine by Lee Dorsey
[Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1RvIiNymFM) by Jim Croce
Chain Gang by Sam Cooke
Five O’Clock World by the Vogues
We Gotta Get Outta This Place by the Animals
Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran
Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival
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### Author:  [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/9 "2008-08-24T15:58:38Z")
Strange Fruit, any version really, but Billie’s is really good
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs)
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### Author:  [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/10 "2008-08-24T16:08:23Z")
[No Sunlight](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqZ_vWDQ4qY) - Death Cab for Cutie
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/11 "2008-08-24T16:28:03Z")
Fits in with **Sigmagirl’s** list.
[Sixteen Tons](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBkrAESUbyI) by Tennessee Ernie Ford
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/12 "2008-08-24T16:57:16Z")
Belle & Sebastian, “Take Your Carriage Clock And Shove It”:
_In the boardroom the quiet man takes a
Second to think what to do
He’s out of his seat and he’s starting to speak
And he hears his own voice
For years and years he’s done nothing but bow down and put up with all their demands
She sits like a viper and offers the clock
Without giving a damn
He takes it_
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### Author:  [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/13 "2008-08-24T17:20:49Z")
What about Gilbert & Sullivan’s “I’ve got a little list?” I figure it’s a wonderfully cheerful “fuck you” song.
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### Author:  [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/14 "2008-08-25T02:15:22Z")
Please tell me they are paying you sick amounts of cash for this. What company can “direct you” to play music?
As a musician…I’d tell them to go fuck themselves. I hope you play with every string out of tune, in your underwear whilst singing in out of tune falsetto.
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### Author:  [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/15 "2008-08-25T02:26:01Z")
Workin’ On It by Chris Rhea
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/16 "2008-08-25T02:47:30Z")
_“You’re Breaking My Heart”_ by Harry Nilsson
_“I’d Rather See You Dead”_ by Pat Travers
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/17 "2008-08-25T03:21:35Z")
[QUOTE=Quasimodal]
Please tell me they are paying you sick amounts of cash for this. What company can “direct you” to play music?
As a musician…I’d tell them to go fuck themselves. I hope you play with every string out of tune, in your underwear whilst singing in out of tune falsetto.
[/QUOTE]
Sorry for lack of clarity. By “play” I mean as in Deejay playing recorded music.
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/18 "2008-08-25T03:45:09Z")
Billy Joel, “Movin’ Out” (which I blasted in the car on way out of the parking lot the last time I quit a job)
Mr. S says, “Hire a polka band.” Unfortunately, here in WI that could backfire if they like it.
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### Author:  [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/19 "2008-08-25T05:27:36Z")
Carly Simon, “You’re so Vain”
Gilbert O’Sullivan, “Alone Again, Naturally”
(Yeah, **Boyo Jim** , I know you’re male, but) Donna Summer, “She Works Hard for the Money”
Finally, play this about every third song or so to drive them insane: “Achy Breaky Heart”
Love, Phil
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### Author:  [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2008, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-downer-music-ideas/461054/20 "2008-08-25T07:00:53Z")
Harry Nilsson’s “You’re Breakin’ My Heart” might be a bit too much.
(I couldn’t link a sample from Amazon.)
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