# Singing about it makes it OK **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892 "2017-11-27T20:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/1 "2017-11-27T20:38:46Z")
In today’s bit of idiocy, [Breitbart editor Joel Pollak tried to defend Roy Moore](http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/27/politics/cnns-anchor-clashes-with-breitbart-editor-over-defense-of-roy-moore-cnntv/index.html) by drawing a parallel to the song “You’re Sixteen” as recorded by Ringo Starr in 1973. He said Ringo “was 30-something at the time, singing about a 16-year-old. You want to take away Ringo Starr’s achievement?” Why stop there? What other behaviors can we justify with music? Did Bob Marley make it OK to shoot sheriffs? Did The Prodigy make it OK to smack up bitches? We don’t want to take away their achievements, do we? So, what other songs could be used to justify antisocial behavior? ---
**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:** [November 27, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/2 "2017-11-27T20:46:58Z")
Yes, it was wrong for Ringo, and therefore he should never be president of the USA. Happy, breitbart? There’s no indication the narrator of the song was not also 16. Ringo-as-singer might be remembering when he was 16. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/3 "2017-11-27T20:47:51Z")
Maybe he was going on 17 at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/4 "2017-11-27T21:12:20Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > So, what other songs could be used to justify antisocial behavior? Taunting kids in pumped up kicks to outrun bullets. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/5 "2017-11-27T21:22:52Z")
Driving a train while high on cocaine, wanting to sniff some glue, wanting to be someone’s dog, becoming a flagpole sitta, not giving a damn about your bad reputation. The sky’s the limit. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/6 "2017-11-27T21:25:05Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > In today’s bit of idiocy, [Breitbart editor Joel Pollak tried to defend Roy Moore](http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/27/politics/cnns-anchor-clashes-with-breitbart-editor-over-defense-of-roy-moore-cnntv/index.html) by drawing a parallel to the song “You’re Sixteen” as recorded by Ringo Starr in 1973. He said Ringo “was 30-something at the time, singing about a 16-year-old. You want to take away Ringo Starr’s achievement?” > > Why stop there? What other behaviors can we justify with music? Did Bob Marley make it OK to shoot sheriffs? Did The Prodigy make it OK to smack up bitches? We don’t want to take away their achievements, do we? > > So, what other songs could be used to justify antisocial behavior? [_Young Girl_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJFVPxBpezk)-Gary Puckett and The Union Gap. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/7 "2017-11-27T21:27:53Z")
Neil Young shot his baby, down by the river. That ain’t cool, Neil. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/8 "2017-11-27T21:32:47Z")
Feeding abusive husbands poisoned black-eyed peas. Killing cheating wives with a semi. Tying your high school romance to a chair, shaving off all her hair, and leaving her in the desert all alone. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/9 "2017-11-27T21:40:39Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Neil Young shot his baby, down by the river. That ain’t cool, Neil. Someone shot a man in Reno once, just to watch him die. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/10 "2017-11-27T21:43:30Z")
Hey, it’s the [Roy Moore theme song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh9Vt02hvkI). ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/11 "2017-11-27T21:48:05Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Maybe he was going on 17 at the time. At 17, you learn the truth. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/12 "2017-11-27T21:59:49Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Tying your high school romance to a chair, shaving off all her hair, and leaving her in the desert all alone. wow those were the good old days…(I remember the whole song heh ) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/13 "2017-11-27T22:02:37Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Neil Young shot his baby, down by the river. That ain’t cool, Neil. Joe has a gun in his hand. He’s going out to shoot his old lady. Caught her messing around with another man. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/14 "2017-11-27T22:08:59Z")
Pat Travers is in real trouble (“I’d Rather See You Dead”, “Boom Boom, Out Go The Lights”) ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/15 "2017-11-27T22:37:18Z")
Excitable boy, they all said. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/16 "2017-11-27T22:49:44Z")
John Lee Pettimore is up to something out on Copperhead Road. Might want to avoid that area. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/17 "2017-11-27T22:49:59Z")
Who cares whether or not Germany is losing the war, so long as it’s springtime for Hitler? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/18 "2017-11-27T23:09:10Z")
There was a glut of people throwing babies off the Tallahachee Bridge as I recall. And for the OP, apparently it’s okay to shoot the sheriff as long as you cut the deputy some slack. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/19 "2017-11-27T23:15:58Z")
If we want to keep it to the Beatles, there’s **Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.** Ringo sang backup vocal. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892/20 "2017-11-27T23:16:49Z")
Well, I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, and then I smoke two more! …what is thread about again? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-about-it-makes-it-ok/802892.md?page=2)