# Ordinary songs that no one notices are actually creepy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639 "2004-03-11T04:44:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/1 "2004-03-11T04:44:08Z")
Slithy Tove shocked me by his interpretation of \*Sad Eyes \*by Robert John: …“the singer’s wife/gf is returning, so he’s kicking out his short-term masterbation alternative, telling her to stop feeling bad… I don’t detect any irony in the song, so the singer/songwriter could only have climbed out from under some rock where this is acceptable”. Well, the song never weirded me out, but only because I really never listened to the lyrics. But it got me thinking, and I decided this question warranted its own thread: What else qualifies as an “innocent-sounding song that no one notices is actually pretty creepy”? _ **• "Every Breath You Take"** _ – Sting tells of starry-eyed couples gushing “We played that song at our wedding…” and he snaps “That’s disturbing. It’s about being obsessed – it’s really more of a stalker song than a love song, y’know.” _ **• "Run For Your Life"** _ – I love vintage Beatles. And I liked this until finally the lyrics registered… so Mr. LoveIsAllYouNeed is threatening to KILL his girlfriend?!? Now gets my award as worst Beatle song (and that’s saying something – beats out Mary Jane and #9 and Mi-ih-ih-stah Mooooooooon-li-yite…). _ **• "Johnny Get Angry"** _ – Girl cheats on guy in hopes that he’ll smack her around: “I want a brave man / I want a caveman…” _ **• "Wildfire"** _ – Great album by Michael Murphy, but howzbout that guy wanting to die so his wife can come get him on a dead horse? _ **• Every teen death song from the 50’s** – Teen Angel, Tell Laura I Love Her, Dead Man’s Curve, Leader of the Pack_, that one that Pearl Jam covered (aha! “Last Kiss”!)… . etc. etc. These don’t really count because no one’s going to think they’re harmless toe-tappin’ songs, but Sting and The Beatles snuck a couple of creepy ones past us. Can anyone think of others? ---
**Author:** ![audreyayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/2 "2004-03-11T05:05:04Z")
I don’t know the title, but the Clay Aiken (?) song that plays on the radio all the time now is definitely a stalker song. “If I was invisible” … creepy. ---
**Author:** ![terd\_ferguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@terd\_ferguson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terd_ferguson)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/3 "2004-03-11T05:13:25Z")
> [@digs](#): > > _ **• "Run For Your Life"** _ – I love vintage Beatles. And I liked this until finally the lyrics registered… so Mr. LoveIsAllYouNeed is threatening to KILL his girlfriend?!? Now gets my award as worst Beatle song (and that’s saying something – beats out Mary Jane and #9 and Mi-ih-ih-stah Mooooooooon-li-yite…). The “I’d rather see you dead little girl” line was borrowed from “Baby Let’s Play House” by Elvis. Not that it makes it any less creepy or what have you, I am just saying. I think I will go ahead and nominate ‘Hello’ by Lionel Richey. Especially the video. He was practically stalking a blind woman. A song I always thought was kind of sad is ‘Under the Boardwalk’ by The Drifters. It’s a nice song, but the lead singer died the night before the song was recorded and the rest of the band didn’t find out until they got to the studio. One of the backup singers sang the lead on it. I know there are more, but I can’t think of any others. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/4 "2004-03-11T05:15:02Z")
I can’t remember the title; it’s a C&W song about a little boy who gets lost coming home from school and meet a secret man whom Mommy can never see … I think this suppose to be a nice song about a guardian angel. And there’s a Mo-town song; Bernadette? No, but it’s another obsessive stalker song. Now I’ll be trying to remember it all night. I do remember it’s a good song … ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/5 "2004-03-11T05:18:34Z")
I used to think that the **Beach Boys’ “Heroes and Villains”** was just some harmless little tune about the Old West. I recently read the lyrics. Did you ever think the song was this weird or depressing ? ``` **Heroes and Villains** ``` I’ve been in this town so long that back in the city, I’ve been taken for lost and gone and unknown for a long, long time. Fell in love years ago with an innocent girl, From the Spanish and Indian home home of the heroes and villains. Once at night, Catillian squared the fight, And she was right in the rain of the bullets that eventually brought her down. But she’s still dancing in the night, unafraid, Of what a dude’ll do in a town full of heroes and villains. If you want the complete lyrics go to: [http://www.azlyrics.us/24546](http://www.azlyrics.us/24546) ---
**Author:** ![LtningBug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/73ab20/32.png) [@LtningBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LtningBug)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/6 "2004-03-11T05:43:21Z")
Another Beatles song: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. It’s a catchy tune, but wow, a lot of people get killed by Maxwell. Chalk up Sarah McLachlan’s Possession as another stalker song that flies under the radar. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/7 "2004-03-11T05:50:05Z")
> [@LtningBug](#): > > Another Beatles song: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. It’s a catchy tune, but wow, a lot of people get killed by Maxwell. > > Chalk up Sarah McLachlan’s Possession as another stalker song that flies under the radar. I always thought Maxwell’s Silver Hammer was a pretty funky song, with the overt serial killing, and also wondered a bit about the first line of ‘Good Morning, Good Morning’ \>\>\>Nothing to do to save his life call his wife in I always took Possession as a stalker song, as it fit perfectly a female friend (and her feelings/actions toward a guy she wanted). ---
**Author:** ![kspharm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ebca7d/32.png) [@kspharm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kspharm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/8 "2004-03-11T05:50:49Z")
I don’t remember the name of the band or even the name of the song, but that 80’s hit that contained the line " **The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades** seems like a pretty upbeat song. I seem to remember that it actually had a lot to do with nuclear devastation (VH-1 did something on it, I believe?) ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/9 "2004-03-11T05:53:13Z")
I have to second “Invisible”. Not only do I find Aiken himself somewhat creepy, but the song just gives me the shivers. “If I was invisible… then I would just watch you in your room”. How romantic. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/10 "2004-03-11T05:55:05Z")
> [@digs](#): > > _ **• "Run For Your Life"** _ – I love vintage Beatles. And I liked this until finally the lyrics registered… so Mr. LoveIsAllYouNeed is threatening to KILL his girlfriend?!? Now gets my award as worst Beatle song (and that’s saying something – beats out Mary Jane and #9 and Mi-ih-ih-stah Mooooooooon-li-yite…). How come all those people who complain about violent rap music don’t complain about the Beatles (and many others)? ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/11 "2004-03-11T05:56:11Z")
“Creep”, by Radiohead And, not so creepy but more misunderstood it the Boss’s “Born in the USA”, which is invariably used as some patriotic song, however the lyrics are obviously angry at the USA for neglect of the Viet Nam veteran. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/12 "2004-03-11T05:56:17Z")
_Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone_. Especially the “I know, I know, I know…” parts; sounds like someone with a nervous tic. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/13 "2004-03-11T06:04:20Z")
> [@kspharm](#): > > I don’t remember the name of the band or even the name of the song, but that 80’s hit that contained the line " **The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades** seems like a pretty upbeat song. I seem to remember that it actually had a lot to do with nuclear devastation (VH-1 did something on it, I believe?) You actually got it - “The Future’s So Bright” by Timbuck 3 I always thought it was more a mocking song than anything - the character is studying Nuclear Science, but no real mention of World War III I’ll like to what seems a reputable site for the lyrics - if this site is not acceptable (I think it is, but what do I know) then I’d like a Mod to remove it and prevent any trouble [http://www.mixed-up.com/lyrics/folk/show.phtml?std=futurebright](http://www.mixed-up.com/lyrics/folk/show.phtml?std=futurebright) ---
**Author:** ![Admiral\_Thistlebottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@Admiral\_Thistlebottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Admiral_Thistlebottom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/14 "2004-03-11T06:06:19Z")
‘Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect’ by the Decemberists has a bright melody, but if you listen closely some of the lyrics are actually quite creepy… it’s partly about a German concentration camp. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/15 "2004-03-11T06:20:58Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > and also wondered a bit about the first line of ‘Good Morning, Good Morning’ > > \>\>\>Nothing to do to save his life call his wife in You know, I’ve heard the song hundreds of times, and I recognized all the words fine, but for some reason I never pieced them together as a coherent sentence until I just read it there in print. And now I’m all creeped out. But then the next lines aren’t so bad: _Nothing to say but “What a day! How’s your boy been?”_ Which I guess is kind of funny, the idea of having to give your last words and having nothing interesting to say. Another Beatles song “We Can Work It Out” sounds all positive until you pay attention to the lyrics: McCartney is saying that he’s right and you’re wrong, and you’re just wasting everybody’s time by not agreeing with him. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/16 "2004-03-11T06:21:56Z")
Not _creepy_ per se, but not exactly what you’d expect from the Queen of Abstinence, Ms. Jessica Simpson (prior to the marriage): I yearn to live Pour yourself all over me And I’ll cherish every drop Here on my knees -_I Wanna Love You Forever_ (her debut single, I think) I don’t know what that sounds like to you guys, but I know what it makes me think of… ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/17 "2004-03-11T06:23:21Z")
And I should’ve mentioned the band The Beautiful South; this thread is basically their entire M.O. “Bell-Bottom Tear” has the chorus, “This is the woman you laid, this is the woman you laid,” presumably the singer talking about herself. And “36D” is about a prostitute with low self-esteem. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/18 "2004-03-11T06:43:30Z")
This is perhaps an uncharitable interpretation, but I always felt the lyrics of Extreme’s _More Than Words_ boiled down to, “If you really loved me, you’d have sex with me. In fact, I really wish you couldn’t speak so you’d shut up and f\*\*k me.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/19 "2004-03-11T06:50:28Z")
I think everybody knows about _Every Breath You Take_ at this point. Everyone who cares, anyway. I’m also not sure who wouldn’t notice _Creep_. My big nominee is _You Are My Sunshine_. The other night, dear As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, dear I was mistaken And I hung my head and cried [Chorus] I’ll always love you And make you happy If you will only say the same But if you leave me To love another You’ll regret it all some day; [Chorus] You told me once, dear You really loved me And no one else could come between But now you’ve left me And love another You have shattered all my dreams After that it seems to be about nothing at all, but read that a few times… ---
**Author:** ![DevilDan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DevilDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DevilDan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/20 "2004-03-11T07:03:52Z")
Since over 95% of popular music is concerned with some combination of sex and love, does it really surprise us that there are quite a few songs that veer into the psycho stalker end of the spectrum? My nomination for a creepy song is pretty much any gratuitously violent rap song. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639.md?page=2)