# Popular songs that give terrible advice **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [February 5, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343 "2023-02-05T16:00:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/41 "2023-02-05T17:54:48Z")
> [@Apodder](#): > > Don’t Fear the Reaper Very bad advice. Which reminds me of the Theme from MASH. Terrible! ETA: Had asterisks in between the letters of MASH and got weird formatting. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/42 "2023-02-05T17:57:02Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I think it’s a 60’s love-in type song giving rock stars permission to cheat on their wives. It is _my_ interpretation. Not sure why Aretha covering it makes more palatable. Like she wouldn’t give bad song advice by virtue of being Aretha. Oh, I didn’t mention her cover as a proof that the song carries a good message, it’s just surprising that she did it because of her deep religiosity. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/43 "2023-02-05T17:57:46Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Which reminds me of the Theme from M_A_S\*H. Terrible! Weren’t those lyrics meant to be stupid? Like something a stoned participant at a fake funeral would write on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/44 "2023-02-05T17:59:43Z")
Is “love” always code for “sex” in Sixties songs? Not a challenge, because I think the answer might be “yes”. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/45 "2023-02-05T18:00:54Z")
Yes, I think in that particular song, “love” stands for sex. And in many others of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/46 "2023-02-05T18:01:36Z")
I thought the lyrics were a poem by some angsty teen/young adult. Aaaand, after reading the wiki, yes it was written by the director’s 15 year old son. Meant to be bad advice. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/47 "2023-02-05T18:06:07Z")
I would never advise anybody to Listen What the Man Says. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/48 "2023-02-05T18:07:16Z")
Do doodoo is good advice. Constipation is baaaad. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/49 "2023-02-05T18:13:53Z")
As Screamin’ Jay Hawkins already knew… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ic3g8Xnf7LI/hqdefault.jpg "Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Constipation Blues (1969)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic3g8Xnf7LI) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/50 "2023-02-05T18:21:47Z")
“Trim up your uncle and your aunt” ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/51 "2023-02-05T18:23:28Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I don’t think it’s terrible advice, but eating “a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down” would suggest there’s something wrong with the medicine. Old liquid medicine tasted terrible. The song was inspired by one of the Sherman brother’s son getting the oral polio vaccine delivered by dripping it onto sugar cubes. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/52 "2023-02-05T18:23:58Z")
Why don’t we do it in the road? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/53 "2023-02-05T18:26:19Z")
Let’s drop the big one. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/54 "2023-02-05T18:28:37Z")
Willow Smith’s 2010 “Whip My Hair” was said to possibly be a bad idea: > **[Medical Research Shows That Willow Smith's 'Whip My Hair' Could Be Hazardous...](https://www.mtv.com/news/8x8ckt/willow-smith-whip-my-hair-dangerous)** ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/55 "2023-02-05T18:30:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > In the summertime, when the weather is high > You can stretch right up and touch the sky > When the weather’s fine > You got women, you got women on your mind > _ **Have a drink, have a drive** _ > Go out and see what you can find. > > Drinking and driving is a really bad idea. From the same song: _If her daddy’s rich, take her out for a meal_ _If her daddy’s poor, just do what you feel_ So if there might be money in it, treat her fine, but if she’s poor, you can do anything you want? Better advice would be: if her daddy’s rich, let her pay the bill, if her daddy’s poor, invite her to a nice diner. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/56 "2023-02-05T18:32:41Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I thought the lyrics were a poem by some angsty teen/young adult. > > Aaaand, after reading the wiki, yes it was written by the director’s 15 year old son. Meant to be bad advice. Actually, it makes sense within the context of the film. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/57 "2023-02-05T18:50:16Z")
**Suicide is painless** - Theme song from M \* A \* S \*H - the TV series _Suicide is painless_ _It brings on many changes_ _And I can take or leave it_ _If I please_ _And you can do the same thing_ _If you please_ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/58 "2023-02-05T18:53:59Z")
> [@knavette57](#): > > Knowing when to hold em, when to fold em, that might work if you dealing with a simple problem. I am not sure it helps when things are complex and multi layered. Our brains are not exactly wired to understand too much info, at least that it what I notice. Yes, and ultimately it’s pretty lame advice. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/59 "2023-02-05T19:33:28Z")
In a river the colour of lead Immerse the baby’s head Wrap her up in the _News of the World_ Dump her on a doorstep, girl – [Dr Steven Morrissey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWcQqWW3QCI), Paediatrics ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/60 "2023-02-05T19:35:08Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Right, that has also always been my interpretation: if the one you love doesn’t want you, you can’t force it, but why stay celibate? Have sex with someone who wants you. Nothing wrong with that. Some of the song sounds like that’s the advice, but the beginning makes me think it’s advice for someone in a long term relationship. I.e.,cheat. > If you’re down and confused > And you don’t remember who you’re talkin’ to > Concentration slip away > **Because your baby is so far away** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343.md?page=4)