# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/121 "2004-03-13T04:48:38Z")
[QUOTE=photopat] Eleanor Rigby is a sad song, but I wouldn’t call it creepy. It’s also one of my favorites, along with She’s Leaving Home. I see that song completely differently. To me it was about a young woman who had finally decided to leave home, but didn’t yet have enough courage to confront her parents about it. She ran off with her boyfriend but only left a note. The mother, finding the note, doesn’t understand and takes it intensely personally “how could she treat us so thoughtlessly, how could she do this to _me_?” The parents have given their daughter everything they think she could want and from their perspective that should be enough, but to her it isn’t. To me the song is about the inevitable break between parents and child, which is painful on both sides. QUOTE] I know somewhere else on the SDMB I wrote about She’s leaving home- that song used to make me cry- because I did just that to my parents at the time. I left and never told them where I was going (I was with my first husband, he was my boyfriend then) but I always felt that song on a deeply personal level. Like a Stone by I dont know who- that song is creepy. ---
**Author:** ![kalex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dfb087/32.png) [@kalex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kalex)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/122 "2004-03-13T05:21:33Z")
I can’t believe it falls to me to defend Dave Matthews. I always thought Crash Into Me was about a mutual - if unconventional - relationship. There’s bondage, voyeurism, role playing (I’m the king of the castle, etc), all the things that make life great! Dusty Springfield’s You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, now, that’s some seriously low self esteem. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/123 "2004-03-13T18:03:04Z")
- Fat Bottomed Girls\* by Queen Big Fat Fanny was a pediphile! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/124 "2004-03-13T18:22:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Like a Stone by I dont know who- that song is creepy. That’s Audioslave, and like a decent chunk of the other songs listed here, it’s supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/125 "2004-03-13T18:40:20Z")
I don’t see why Elanor Rigby is creepy. It seems to me to be about how people don’t really care about each other anymore, that’s why no one went to her funeral or tried to get to know her. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/126 "2004-03-13T19:13:14Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > I don’t see why Elanor Rigby is creepy. It seems to me to be about how people don’t really care about each other anymore, that’s why no one went to her funeral or tried to get to know her. I agree, I find it depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/127 "2004-03-13T19:35:02Z")
_Believe_ by Cher. Not only does it suck, but listen to the message. > [@](#): > > Do you believe in life after love? > I can feel something inside me say > I really don’t think I’m strong enough > and so on and so on. It’s the moebius strip of music. Aaaargh. So she’s not strong enough to survive a failed relationship. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard of someone committing suicide because of a failed relationship. Lovely message there. It’s the polar opposite of _I Will Survive_. not that I’d be crying if Cher were to go and off herself… And even though it was apparently posted as a joke, I agree with Britney Spears _Hit Me Baby One More Time_. She clearly doesn’t write her own songs, play any instruments, or provide anything to the stage but throat and tits. Does she even try to interpret the noises coming from her larynx? She’s got all the talent of a dancing bear. I’d say something about Sublime, but everybody knows a song about _child prostitution_ is creepy. Who knows why it’s so popular? The power of a good beat and a catchy tune. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/128 "2004-03-13T19:44:15Z")
Can’t believe this thread has gotten out to three pages and nobody’s mentioned “No Rain” by Blind Melon. Underneath that breezy guitar line and cheerful melody is a song about a man in the throes of a very deep depression. “Angie Baby” really creeped me out when I was a little kid, but I never really knew why. Hearing the song again as an adult made it all clear. _It’s so nice to be insane No one asks you to explain…_ ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/129 "2004-03-13T19:49:48Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > _Believe_ by Cher. > > Not only does it suck, but listen to the message. > > So she’s not strong enough to survive a failed relationship. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard of someone committing suicide because of a failed relationship. Lovely message there. It’s the polar opposite of _I Will Survive_. I think that song doesn’t mean what you think it means. First of all, it’s “I really don’t think _you’re_ strong enough”. Secondly, throughout the song, the basic message is “I don’t need you, but you need me, so you’re going to be sorry you left.” Lyrics: \*\*[snip] – No foolin’. Don’t quote the entire song. Or I’ll follow you home and place a sack of flaming crap on your stoop. – Ukulele Ike, CS mod\*\* ---
**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:** [March 13, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/130 "2004-03-13T19:51:27Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > So she’s not strong enough to survive a failed relationship. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard of someone committing suicide because of a failed relationship. Lovely message there. It’s the polar opposite of _I Will Survive_. [The lyrics to Believe](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Believe-lyrics-Cher/63CAF715719543DF48256AEE00285319). While the lines > [@](#): > > I need time to move on > I need love to feel strong more or less agree with your interpretation, there’s also > [@](#): > > Well I know that I’ll get through this > 'Cause I know that I am strong > And I don’t need you anymore > No, I don’t need you anymore which is quite the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/131 "2004-03-13T21:06:04Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > Same with “Your Body is a Wonderland.” Girls go all gaga over this, like the John Mayer’s being some romantic smoothie. He just wants to bang you, you twit! I know that’s what the song means… and I still like it! 😉 Someone earlier in the thread mentioned how _The One I Love_ by REM wasn’t a romantic song. Can you explain why, please? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/132 "2004-03-13T21:17:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Same with “Your Body is a Wonderland.” Girls go all gaga over this, like the John Mayer’s being some romantic smoothie. He just wants to bang you, you twit! Of course, this is true of ALL that wuss’s stupid songs. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/133 "2004-03-13T21:37:13Z")
Sweat by Inner Circle always freaked me out. It sounds a lot like a rape song to me. > [@](#): > > Girl I want to make you sweat, > sweat 'til you can’t sweat no more > And if you cry out I’m gonna push it some more. and > [@](#): > > So I said to myself: “Does she love me or not?” > But the dreads done know that love is his to get > With a little bit of this and a little bit of that > My lyrics goes on the attack Maybe that isn’t what it is about, but it still creeps me out. ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/134 "2004-03-13T21:45:07Z")
Bruce Springsteen’s classic “Born To Run” There was a movement at one point in Asbury Park, NJ to nominate this rip-roarin’ good-time rock tune as the official town song… till someone pointed out the lyrics: > [@](#): > > [http://www.brucespringsteen.net/songs/BornToRun.html](http://www.brucespringsteen.net/songs/BornToRun.html) > > Baby this town rips the bones from your back > It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap > We gotta get out while we’re young > 'Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run > > … > > Together we could break this trap > We’ll run till we drop, baby we’ll never go back Umm… not such a good town song after all. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/135 "2004-03-13T22:37:29Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > And even though it was apparently posted as a joke, I agree with Britney Spears _Hit Me Baby One More Time_. Her fans don’t find that one worrying because they don’t understand what it’s about, it’s Britney singing it. Everyone else doesn’t find it worrying because they do understand what it’s about, and it’s Britney singing it. ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/136 "2004-03-13T22:57:25Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > Someone earlier in the thread mentioned how _The One I Love_ by REM wasn’t a romantic song. Can you explain why, please? > [@](#): > > This one goes out to the one I love > This one goes out to the one I’ve left behind > _A simple prop to occupy my time_ > This one goes out to the one I love. Nothing like being called “a simple prop” to make a girl feel loved. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/137 "2004-03-13T23:15:08Z")
> [@look!ninjas](#): > > Nothing like being called “a simple prop” to make a girl feel loved. 😕 I’ve always heard that as “A simple rhyme to occupy my time” referring to the song itself (“ **This one** goes out to the one I love…”). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/138 "2004-03-13T23:18:47Z")
Okay. Having checked the lyrics on line (and checked and checked and checked), either I’m wrong or everyone else on the internet is. While my ego may hold to the latter hypothesis, I’m gonna have to go with the former and advise everyone to disregard my last post… ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/139 "2004-03-14T00:34:06Z")
> [@look!ninjas](#): > > Nothing like being called “a simple prop” to make a girl feel loved. It’s still one letter more than the worst case scenario. Besides, isn’t Stipe singing about the song itself, not the loved one? ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639/140 "2004-03-14T00:41:12Z")
Not creepy per sig, but there is a pop-song here that goes “I will love you for a thousand and one nights” and is supposed to be v. romantic. 1001 nights, that is like what, a little over 3 years? Hardly a huge declaration of love or anything… Ronan Keating sings “you say it best, when you say nothing at all”, which I always hear as “just shut the hell up”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordinary-songs-that-no-one-notices-are-actually-creepy/233639.md?page=8)