# Songs about the Oldest Profession **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312 "2013-05-02T15:07:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/81 "2013-05-03T15:36:24Z")
_Ten Cents a Dance._ ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/82 "2013-05-03T16:16:12Z")
_(I’m) Just a Gigolo_ ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/83 "2013-05-03T16:19:24Z")
If I Can’t Sell It I’ll Keep Sittin’ On It (Before I’ll Give It Away) – Ruth Brown ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/84 "2013-05-03T16:23:09Z")
“Factory Girl” by The Pretty Reckless: “I am a factory girl, won’t you pardon me? See I can make my whole world in a backseat Lost point, want a joint, show me how to treat a john Someone save me, save me from what I’m on” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/85 "2013-05-03T16:25:33Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > “When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?” by John Ball Not a song. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/86 "2013-05-03T17:37:50Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > “Black Bird” by Lennon-Macarthney Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/87 "2013-05-03T17:38:34Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > From “Sweet Charity”: > \* > You Should See Yourself > Big Spender > Charity’s Soliloquy > Rich Man’s Frug > There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This > The Rhythm of Life > \* > And probably a few more. How is Rich Man’s Frug (or several of the other songs, but that especially) about prostitution? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/88 "2013-05-03T18:12:21Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > “Black Bird” by Lennon-Macarthney > “Lying Eyes” by The Eagles _Blackbird_ was inspired by the civil rights movement of the day. _Lying Eyes_ is about a goldigger, which is not the same as a prostitute. > [@Noel\_Prosequi](#): > > Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John (“I’m not a present for your friends to open…”) That is really stretching it. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/89 "2013-05-04T02:41:32Z")
Hey Hey What Can I do - Led Zeppelin “I walk to town, keep searchin’ all around. Lookin’ for my street corner girl.” ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/90 "2013-05-04T03:36:32Z")
What about Joni Mitchell’s [Raised on Robbery](http://www.songlyrics.com/mitchell-joni/raised-on-robbery-lyrics/)? the lyrics never explicitly state she is a hooker, maybe she’s just a floozy out to get laid. But it is strongly implied, she’s looking to get some money out of the deal (and that apparently she doesn’t get it.) ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/91 "2013-05-04T04:18:54Z")
From the classic country division: [Streets of Baltimore, Bobby Bare](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNDn6vpGlQM) [Bed of Roses, the Statler Brothers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAPiWiOORIM) [The Night Miss Nancy Ann’s Hotel For Single Girls Burned Down, Tex Williams](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-WI1fEYE0s) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/92 "2013-05-04T04:36:03Z")
[The Ladies of the Evening](http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/theboysfromsyracuse/theladiesoftheevening.htm) from _The Boys From Syracuse_ (Rodgers/Hart) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/93 "2013-05-04T04:43:42Z")
“Mary Jane’s Last Dance” by Tom Petty ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/94 "2013-05-04T05:40:41Z")
_String of Pearls_ by Soul Asylum, though the woman in question only appears at the beginning and end of the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/95 "2013-05-04T12:20:59Z")
“Tecumseh Valley” Townes Van Zandt (“So she turned to whorin’ out on the streets/With all the lust inside her”) ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/96 "2013-05-04T12:55:16Z")
Maggie M’Gill - The Doors Wrong Way - Sublime Call Me - Blondie You Don’t Have to be a Prostitute - The Flight of the Conchords Queer - Garbage There She Goes Again - The Velvet Underground Girl Gone Bad - Van Halen ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/97 "2013-05-05T17:26:18Z")
[QUOTE=the\_diego;16255866"I don’t know how to love him" by Loyd-Webber [/QUOTE] Nitpick: That’s Tim Rice’s lyrics to Lloyd Webber’s music. “Strange Thing Mysterfying” also qualifies: Yes, I can understand that she amuses, But to let her kiss you, stroke your hair, that’s hardly in your line. It’s not that I object to her profession, But she doesn’t fit in well with what you teach and say. It doesn’t help us if you’re inconsistent. hey only need a small excuse to put us all away. ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/98 "2013-05-05T20:23:09Z")
[Rene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwdMFeg_c2o) by Small Faces ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/99 "2013-05-05T21:23:42Z")
“Queen of the Silver Dollar” by Emmylou Harris. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312/100 "2013-05-05T22:53:59Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > If I Can’t Sell It I’ll Keep Sittin’ On It (Before I’ll Give It Away) – Ruth Brown Doesn’t fit at all. [She’s talking about a chair](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLf9mg2sC54). 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-oldest-profession/657312.md?page=6)