# Ruin a favorite song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 13, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806 "2021-03-13T04:06:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [March 15, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/61 "2021-03-15T23:30:01Z")
When you think rain is talking to you, it’s time to see a doctor. _Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain_ _Telling me just what a fool I’ve been_ _I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain_ _And let me be alone again_ _Rain please tell me now does that seem fair_ _For her to steal my heart away when she don’t care?_ _I can’t love another when my hearts somewhere far away_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gmF_bG5IVnM/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGAgYChgMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCxR64_Q9nQMYRODaDdFO-5SeLgVw "The Cascades Rhythm of the Falling Rain") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmF_bG5IVnM) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/62 "2021-03-15T23:36:04Z")
> [@digs](#): > > _‘Don’t be an idiot.’"_ I believe that is the hidden commandment behind the story of the sons of Aaron who die offering “Strange fire” (and you can tell your pastor I said so) in Leviticus, 10:1-3 (it was in my bat mitzvah portion). I scraped together a drash about how even legitimate authority can err, so the general population has an obligation to be informed-- as Jews, we need to study Torah & Talmud, and as Americans, the Constitution. But really, I’m thinking, it’s a cautionary tale about READING THE FREAKING INSTRUCTIONS! ---
**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:** [March 16, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/63 "2021-03-16T00:14:24Z")
Little River Band - Reminiscing (1978) If you watch the video it’s a sad looking dude wandering through a party of guys. No girl to be seen. It’s because the girl he is reminiscing about is dead, right? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XBETVhHpcPk/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgSygoMA8=&rs=AOn4CLC9NfIZlH-d5adX13Ouh_J3uNJDQA "Little River Band - Reminiscing (1978)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBETVhHpcPk) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/64 "2021-03-16T00:32:26Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > When you think rain is talking to you, it’s time to see a doctor. What about when you talk to the trees? Your post reminded me of how the Smothers Brothers ruined that song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cLrdb4EXN8s/maxresdefault.jpg "I Talk To The Trees") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLrdb4EXN8s) ---
**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:** [March 16, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/65 "2021-03-16T01:30:20Z")
Or Eccles on **The Goon Show** : > I talk to the trees…that’s why they put me away… ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/66 "2021-03-16T12:33:22Z")
‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’ is a fun song, but makes no sense, even if you accept it as fact that The Prince of Darkness is moving among mankind, actively recruiting souls. _ **"He was in a bind because he was way behind, so he was willing to make a deal."** _ The devil has quotas? _ **"I’ll bet a fiddle of gold…"** _ I understand the symbolism of the prize being a fancy fiddle, but a fiddle of gold would be unplayable and too heavy to hold up for long. Better to make the prize either the best real fiddle ever made, the Stradivarius of fiddles, or gold in much more practical brick form. What’s Johnny going to do with a fiddle of gold-- pawn it? _ **"I’ll take that bet, and you’re going to regret it…"** _ Even a country bumpkin like Johnny should be aware that no literal deal with the devil has ever gone well for the other person. There’s always a catch. Also, who’s judging the competition-- is Johnny just taking it for granted that the devil will impartially judge their playing? And as for the actual playing, I always thought the devil won. Johnny’s playing was competent but utterly conventional. The devil’s playing was spookily cool and avant-garde. I think the devil really sold himself short. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2021, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/67 "2021-03-16T12:40:39Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > What about when you talk to the trees? Your post reminded me of how the Smothers Brothers ruined that song. So we have talking to the rain and talking to the trees. The only thing missing is talking to the wind. Oh wait… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UlKrH07au6E/maxresdefault.jpg "King Crimson - I Talk To The Wind") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlKrH07au6E) ---
**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:** [March 16, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/68 "2021-03-16T15:03:08Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2UPMK1f-nbg/maxresdefault.jpg "Talk To The Animals") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UPMK1f-nbg) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/69 "2021-03-16T16:04:15Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The only thing missing is talking to the wind. Oh wait… That album cover ruins that song. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/70 "2021-03-16T16:11:54Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > That album cover ruins that song. Yeah, right? It’s like a diagram for ENT training. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/71 "2021-03-16T16:16:28Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > That album cover ruins that song. Agree. Not sure what they were thinking. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/72 "2021-03-16T17:15:00Z")
Are you kidding? I love that painting. At Halloween I often make pumpkins based on it. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Cg7khR8KgM8_lHCghb0OwSfnqur_13BMMDoNkb2gARnVYkx8HT10S8miEob0deZ5P_5QmU-4SXMviRZaQXuwd1xwyjEvEqZ13uWQA99HMHC5hmwKtcsViSXP6Lw2Cjk6LEWGhzy81d8=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Mark Nudelman") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yer9iXDAKQd3SGQS7) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/73 "2021-03-16T17:28:46Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Are you kidding? I love that painting You are an Artist. Therefor, you are weird. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/74 "2021-03-16T19:42:21Z")
> And if she should tell you: “Come closer” > And if she tempts you with her charms > > Tell her no, no, no, no, no-no-no-no > No, no, no, no, no-no-no-no > No, no, no, no, no > Don’t hurt me now for her love belongs to me Well, it really doesn’t, does it? Tell her to find a real man, not this pussy. GROW A SPINE!!! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/75 "2021-03-16T19:42:56Z")
The theme song from Mr. Ed is nobody’s favorite song, and it comes pre-ruined, but I have to always point out that “no one can talk to a horse, of course” is just stupid. You can talk to a horse, but (except in the case of Mr. Ed, it never talks back. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/76 "2021-03-16T23:15:52Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > “no one can talk to a horse, of course” But, “no one can communicate with a horse, of course” doesn’t scan. Don’t get me started on songs with grammar errors for the sake of a rhyme. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/77 "2021-03-16T23:26:37Z")
Ohhhhhh! Missed the edit window for adding this to my previous post, but another song that comes pre-ruined, for your convenience, is the one with the refrain “You and I, march to the beat of a different drum.” If you listen to the song, it’s clearly saying that you and I _do not_ belong together. However, if you and I are marching to the beat of a different drum, we should be great together. We are both marching to the beat of _one_ drum. It is somehow _different_ in some way, by which, I infer, different from the one most people march to, but _we are both marching to it._ Kinda like Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler. Or my last ex, and his current lady, who are meant for each other. Like “paranoid” and “schizophrenic.” What I think the songwriter was reaching for, and missed, was “You and I march to the beats of two different drums.” Or maybe, “You and I march to the beats of our own separate drums.” OK. So I’m not a songwriter. I am a proofreader. I would never have let that song slip through. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/78 "2021-03-16T23:46:48Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Styx, Too Much Time On My Hands > > > [@](#): > > > > Yeah, I’m sitting on this bar stool, > > Talking like a damn fool > > Got the twelve o’clock news blues > > And I’ve given up hope for the afternoon soaps > > And a bottle of cold brew > > Is it any wonder I’m not crazy > > Is it any wonder I’m sane at all > > Those last two lines, they don’t make sense. Do you mean, it’s not surprising that you’re not crazy? It’s not surprising that you’re sane? > I feel like you meant the opposite. > > Same with the next verse, > > > [@](#): > > > > Is it any wonder I’m not a criminal > > Is it any wonder I’m not in jail > > The implied answer to those questions would be no. Would it not? THANK YOU. Love the song, but the lyrics bug the hell out of me. I try to imagine him drunk in the afternoon, which is why he messed up what he was trying to say. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > > The only thing missing is talking to the wind. Oh wait… > > That album cover ruins that song. It’s up there with many works of art with how iconic it is. It grabs your attention, it’s compelling and memorable. That is a monstrously successful album cover. . .but I get it if you also find it a little disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/79 "2021-03-16T23:53:05Z")
Can’t forget the Carpenters _Why do birds suddenly appear_ _Every time you are near?_ _Why do stars fall down from the sky_ _Every time you walk by?_ Is she dating David Caopperfield? ---
**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 16, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806/80 "2021-03-16T23:57:08Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > _Why do stars fall down from the sky_ > _Every time you walk by?_ Isn’t that how the dinosaurs died? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-a-favorite-song/937806.md?page=5)