# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/121 "2023-02-06T17:37:40Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Sympathy for the devil The continued survival of Keith Richards speaks against this 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/122 "2023-02-06T17:38:20Z")
…shave your face with some Mace in the dark… ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/123 "2023-02-06T17:40:49Z")
Its not really advice but I Shot The Sheriff seems to layout a really bad defense strategy. I mean the DA isn’t going to need to push it with the murder charge for the deputy when you’re admitting to capital murder of the sheriff. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/124 "2023-02-06T17:50:46Z")
Rock and roll generally, and Rolling Stones lyrics specifically are full of awful and flat out abusive descriptions of relationships, not sure how much counts as advice. The nearest that could be described as advice is “19th Nervous Breakdown”.: “You better stop, look around” how about get professional psychiatric help instead? “On our first trip i tried so hard to rearrange your mind” instead of getting amateur counseling (and psychoactive drugs) from your emotionally abusive arsehole rock star boy friend, maybe just dump his arse and deal with your problems in positive way? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/125 "2023-02-06T17:53:15Z")
And you can’t get much worse than Mungo Jerry: > Have a drink, have a drive > Go out and see what you can find ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/126 "2023-02-06T17:57:16Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > The gambler want talking about nice, polite tables where chips are used. He’s talking about smoky saloons and shady back rooms where it’s always cash and you can assume everyone is armed and inebriated. I’ve played in some sketchy games. I once had to jump a six foot fence to escape a cop raid. Really, no one cares if you count your chips. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/127 "2023-02-06T18:00:26Z")
Wait, do orders to dance in a certain manner constitute advice? If so, “The Safety Dance” is advice to look like a total asshole. “Everyone look at your hands”? What kind of dance is that? Who does that when they’re dancing? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/128 "2023-02-06T18:02:48Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Sympathy for the devil The actual advice given is very good, basically the devil telling his listeners that he’s a very dangerous individual and should be treated with respect so as not to elicit a harmful reaction. ---
**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 6, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/129 "2023-02-06T18:13:47Z")
> [@Jack\_Burden](#): > > The actual advice given is very good, basically the devil telling his listeners that he’s a very dangerous individual and should be treated with respect so as not to elicit a harmful reaction. Right on: _So if you meet me_ _Have some courtesy_ _Have some sympathy, and some taste_ _Use all your well-learned politesse_ _Or I’ll lay your soul to waste_ ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/130 "2023-02-06T18:14:33Z")
From Neil Young: A man needs a maid Even Richard Nixon has got soul ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/131 "2023-02-06T18:16:37Z")
Also Neil Diamond, Girl You’ll be a Woman Soon. “Don’t let them make up your mind”, “Please, come take my hand.” Seriously, do listen to the adults in your life, they have good reasons to put down the dodgy grown ass man who’s creeping on a teenage girl, do not go near him or touch his hand or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/132 "2023-02-06T18:17:31Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Basically deny, deny until you die [Like this?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN2gU0XU5FU) ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/133 "2023-02-06T18:32:08Z")
Never mind a spoonful of sugar, ‘feed the birds’, specifically pigeons, is terrible advice. Pigeons are regarded as vermin in towns and cities. ---
**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 6, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/134 "2023-02-06T18:37:44Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > A man needs a maid Sondheim got there first: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ahqu1nd3Zu8/hqdefault.jpg "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahqu1nd3Zu8) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/135 "2023-02-06T18:38:59Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Never mind a spoonful of sugar, ‘feed the birds’, specifically pigeons, is terrible advice. Pretty sure that was a scam the old lady was running. Probably got the discarded bread and was selling it in small bags to make a buck. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/136 "2023-02-06T19:18:31Z")
Jimmy Dean told us to smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette. Very bad advice. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/137 "2023-02-06T19:44:01Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > you’re admitting to capital murder of the sheriff. It was self defense. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/138 "2023-02-06T19:59:51Z")
how about the Police “with every breath you take/I’ll be watching you”–stalking anyone? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/139 "2023-02-06T20:08:55Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It was self defense. Still dubious as a legal strategy, how many defense lawyers would fancy their chances of getting a client off on self defence who had admitted to shooting a sheriff? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/140 "2023-02-06T20:23:30Z")
Oh and “it wasn’t me” by Shaggy has to be up there with worst advice. Its recommending gaslighting, and seeing as the advisor says “if she pack a gun you know you better run fast”, that’s clearly an eventuality that seems realistic, which makes the advice doubly bad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343.md?page=8)