# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/141 "2023-02-06T20:29:52Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Uncle Lou also sang Heroin, which may or may not be an advice, but the way he puts it, it sure sounds… tempting. Not when I listen to it. The chaos and the discord sounds extremely uninviting. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/142 "2023-02-06T20:45:04Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Jimmy Dean told us to smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette. Very bad advice. And the Fun Lovin’ Criminals advised: > _Smoke 'em, smoke 'em, smoke 'em if you got 'em…_ Now, I’m not sure what exactly we’re supposed to smoke, but I’m pretty sure all smoking has associated health risks of one sort or another. j ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/143 "2023-02-06T21:12:47Z")
> [@eburacum45](#): > > > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > > > I can think of a few professions in which it’s a bad idea to whistle while you work… > > Scuba divers? And ninjas. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/144 "2023-02-06T21:54:56Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Jimmy Dean told us to smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette. Very bad advice. Agree. Though if you listen to the rest of the lyrics, it’s obviously an anti-smoking song. ---
**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, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/145 "2023-02-06T22:38:47Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Jimmy Dean told us to smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette. To give credit where credit is due, as much as I love Jimmy Dean (who introduced the world to the Muppets, BTW), that song was originally performed (and ridden to #1) by Tex Williams. Written by the great Merle Travis, if memory serves. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/146 "2023-02-06T23:38:30Z")
“Oh, it’s a crime for man to go philanderin’ And fill his wife’s poor heart with grief and doubt Oh, it’s a crime for man to go philanderin’, but With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck You can see the bloodhound don’t find out!“ ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/147 "2023-02-07T02:56:36Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Unless you know you have her enthusiastic consent, you should not just kiss the girl, no matter what the singing crab says. This made me laugh out loud. Good luck weaving sunshine out of the falling rain. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/148 "2023-02-07T03:10:28Z")
_The landlord say your rent is late He may have to litigate Don’t worry, be happy._ You may want to reconsider that strategy, Mr. McFerrin. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/149 "2023-02-07T03:45:05Z")
“Let it Be” also not the best advice. When you find yourself in times of trouble, things generally work out better if you proactively attempt to solve your problems, rather than just letting it be. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/150 "2023-02-07T04:12:00Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > singing crab says. If your crabs are singing you should most certainly not be kissing the girl. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/151 "2023-02-07T05:13:57Z")
Sting has explicitly stated that this is the meaning of the song. IMO, he didn’t make it sound sinister enough ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/152 "2023-02-07T05:23:01Z")
_Go ahead and hate your neighbor Go ahead and cheat a friend Do it in the name of heaven You can justify it in the end There won’t be any trumpets blowing Come the judgment day On the bloody morning after One tin soldier rides away_ Definitely not advice - I read this as “you can do what you want and pretend you’re not being an asshole, but you’re still an asshole” ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/153 "2023-02-07T06:33:32Z")
I always thought it was a shot at Christan hypocracy ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/154 "2023-02-07T07:15:22Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Definitely not advice - I read this as “you can do what you want and pretend you’re not being an asshole, but you’re still an asshole” - And “look where your hypocracy has led you - mutually assured destruction”. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/155 "2023-02-07T14:01:10Z")
Of course. I guess I need to use more emojis. I remember that insufferable ditty from the equally insufferable _Billy Jack_ movie. The message of the song is 'nyah, nyah, you’re going to hell when you die." If only. ---
**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 7, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/156 "2023-02-07T15:37:05Z")
It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy is in the OP. The worst. And people STILL keep mentioning songs where people do dumb things, not give bad advice. What advice is given in I Shot the Sheriff or Every Breath You Take? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/157 "2023-02-07T20:26:56Z")
Oh one more “if you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair” is terrible advice whether you’re giving it in 1967 or 2023 ---
**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 7, 2023, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/158 "2023-02-07T20:39:07Z")
“Drink to me only with thine eyes…” ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/159 "2023-02-07T20:55:12Z")
“Beer for My Horses” advocates lynching. No words for how bad that is. ---
**Author:** ![tastysandwiches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@tastysandwiches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tastysandwiches)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343/160 "2023-02-07T21:30:07Z")
Pretty bad advice from Nirvana’s _In Bloom_: > Sell your kids for food Extremely bad advice from Megadeth’s _Captive Honor_: > When you kill a man, you’re a murderer > Kill many, you’re a conqueror > Kill 'em all, ooh, you’re a god And Alanis Morrissette’s _You Learn_ has all sorts of suggestions, including bad advice: > I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone [likely to be fatal] > … > I recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone [choking hazard] advice that could go either way: > I recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time [nothing wrong with it if you’re sufficiently flexible and into that sort of thing, but many aren’t] and excellent advice: > I recommend walking around naked in your living room [just close the blinds first] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-give-terrible-advice/979343.md?page=9)