# Songs that creeped you out when you were a kid **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135 "2002-10-13T21:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jerrybear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Jerrybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerrybear)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/61 "2002-10-17T22:45:43Z")
A song by Harry Chapin, IIRC the title is “The Shortest Story.” It is told from the point of view of a child dying of starvation in the Third World. Very sad, very depressing, and it kind of freaked me out when I was a young’un. Regarding “Wildfire:” I think that the young woman dies as well as the horse, so it is even sadder than you might have remembered. A song that I did not hear until I was grown up, but moved me to tears the first few times I heard it (and still does sometimes) is “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” by Bob Dylan. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/62 "2002-10-18T02:05:29Z")
Wildfire-I think his name is Michael something or other… ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/63 "2002-10-18T02:09:39Z")
Michael Martin Murphy? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/64 "2002-10-18T03:30:50Z")
Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton creeps me out. I remember seeing a tv movie about a girl who’s face was burned by acid. What that has to do with the song, I don’t know, but the song always makes me think of that tv movie and about what it would be like to have my face burned by acid. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/65 "2002-10-18T04:08:57Z")
Ooooooooooh…find a copy of the Maurice Level short story “The Last Kiss.” BEST face-burned-by-acid story EVER! ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/66 "2002-10-18T04:21:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by trishdish \* > \*\*Funny enough that when I went to look for the lyrics to DOA, I found a site called “creepy songs”. > > [http://music.deadbeatclub.com/creepy.htm](http://music.deadbeatclub.com/creepy.htm) \*\* I had never heard that song (or even heard of it) before, so I just gave it a listen…I think I’m gonna have nightmares now. > [@](#): > > _Originaly posted by Green Bean_ > **What that has to do with the song, I don’t know, but the song always makes me think of that tv movie and about what it would be like to have my face burned by acid.** Been there, done that. Not an experience I would recommend, I must say. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/67 "2002-10-18T10:18:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Labdad \* > \*\* That would be Sheb Wooley > \*\* And my cousin, I might note. We take our brushes with fame where we can. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/68 "2002-10-18T18:21:39Z")
This wasn’t exactly childhood, but ever since my freshman year in high school, the song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (or whatever it’s called–that’s the first line) has creeped me out. Why? Because in health class they showed us a video collage of people with faces ravaged by venereal disease (some really graphic stuff) and that was the song they played over it. Now everytime I hear that song I think of syphilis. Good thing I didn’t like the song much in the first place, huh? FWIW, “Angie Baby” was the first song I thought of when I saw the thread title. The other one was “Dark Lady” by Cher. I like both songs and did then, but they’re creepy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/69 "2002-10-18T20:56:17Z")
I’ve seen “Dark Lady” mentioned in a few posts now. I remember the song being played incessantly on the radio, but I was never really creeped out by it the way I was by “Angie Baby”. Ditto for “10,000 Years” (a/k/a "Year 2525). Although, now that I’m a grownup, hearing it seriously creeps me out. Drat you, Zager and Evans. ---
**Author:** ![Angelnside](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Angelnside](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angelnside)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/70 "2002-10-18T21:57:05Z")
\*\*Ode to Billie Joe \*\* by Bobbie Gentry has always been one that creeps me out a bit. I have a memory of a song from the early 70’s (I think) that my mother can’t help me with. I just remember that whenever this song came on my mom and I would sing it…it was about a “witchy” woman…there was a point in the song where she cackled I think. Something about a swamp. It was spooky. Does anyone know what song I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/71 "2002-10-18T21:57:59Z")
> [@](#): > > I was majorly creeped out by “Hotel California”. I remember first hearing it on one of those long famly road trips. A hotel where you can never leave? Scary! And you joined the SDMB, _knowing_ that, **Lamia**??? :o > [@](#): > > Tonight, said the Moderator > We are programmed to receive > You can log off any time you like… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TwungTister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TwungTister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwungTister)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/72 "2002-10-26T15:24:39Z")
Ahem, {high thin voice, sing very slowly} Lizzie Borden took an ax. Gave her father forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, Gave her mother forty-one. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/73 "2002-10-26T18:06:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MyFootsZZZ \* > \*\*When I was a kid “Man Eater” and “Somebody’s Watching Me” gave me the willies. > > (I don’t know if those are in fact the real name of those songs… they were 80’s tunes) \*\* Hall and Oates did “ManEater” (whose chorus was misheard by a [kissthesky.com](http://kissthesky.com) contributor as “She’s an anteater…”): [http://www.musiclinks.nl/songteksten/Hall\_And\_Oates/3808.html](http://www.musiclinks.nl/songteksten/Hall_And_Oates/3808.html) I had never heard of “Somebody’s Watching Me”, but it was done by Rockwell (not the Saturday Evening Post cover artist): [http://members.home.nl/hvangerven/lyrics/smbwatch.htm](http://members.home.nl/hvangerven/lyrics/smbwatch.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/74 "2002-10-26T18:19:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > \*\*“Ghost Riders in the Sky” still gives me chills. \*\* My mother used to sing that to us as a lullaby! I have no idea how that tradition got started, but we demaned that she it before we would go to sleep. I think we liked the “Yippie kie yay, yippie kie yo” part. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/75 "2002-10-26T18:31:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angelnside \* > \*\*I have a memory of a song from the early 70’s (I think) that my mother can’t help me with. I just remember that whenever this song came on my mom and I would sing it…it was about a “witchy” woman…there was a point in the song where she cackled I think. Something about a swamp. It was spooky. > > Does anyone know what song I’m talking about? \*\* Well, the Eagles’ “Witchy Woman” fits the time frame, but doesn’t really match your description. Here are the lyrics: [http://www.superseventies.com/sl\_witchywoman.html](http://www.superseventies.com/sl_witchywoman.html) **TwungTister** : You have the order reversed. Check out this page for more Lizzie lore: [http://www.hauntedhamilton.com/gotw\_lizzieborden.html](http://www.hauntedhamilton.com/gotw_lizzieborden.html) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/76 "2002-10-26T18:33:31Z")
I always thought “Never been to me” by Charlene was kind of strange. “Dear Mr. Jesus” by PowerSource really creeped me out…ALOT! “Ballroom Blitz” by Sweet wasn’t weird, but when it first came out I couldn’t understand the lyrics and thought the were singing “It’s…it’s…a bottle of piss…Yeah, a bottle of piss” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/77 "2002-10-28T15:56:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > \*\*The ending of Kiss’ “Black Diamond” scared me because of how the music slows down at the end. I must have been 7 or 8 when I first heard this song (my older sister was an avid Kiss fan at the time and she had all their records) The way they slow it down gave me this creepy impression of what it would be like if everything around me started slowing down until eventually the whole world came to a stop. \*\* [Jim Ignatowski] With me, it’s Echoes, from Meddle. It sounds and feels like a bad trip and those noises toward the end give me this weird image of infants being slaughtered by dolphins. [/Jim Ignatowski] ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/78 "2002-10-28T17:05:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angelnside \* > \*\*\*\*Ode to Billie Joe \*\* by Bobbie Gentry has always been one that creeps me out a bit. > > I have a memory of a song from the early 70’s (I think) that my mother can’t help me with. I just remember that whenever this song came on my mom and I would sing it…it was about a “witchy” woman…there was a point in the song where she cackled I think. Something about a swamp. It was spooky. > > Does anyone know what song I’m talking about? \*\* Perhaps [Marie LaVeau](http://www.sylviasmother.com/Lyrics/First/Marie%20Laveau.htm) ? ---
**Author:** ![PolishSausage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@PolishSausage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PolishSausage)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/79 "2002-10-29T02:57:31Z")
OMG! ‘They’re Coming to Take Me Away’ What was that guy thinking? It was on a K-Tel collection I had. Ewwwwww _shivers up spine_ I also found ‘Wildfire’ way too sad. You can add ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ to that particular list. What a depressing ending! ~t ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135/80 "2002-10-29T06:12:18Z")
I also got creeped out as a small child by “Puff the Magic Dragon.” I’d leave the house when I heard that song. My sister hated “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” We used to take vacations near Lake Superior and she was afraid to even look at it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-creeped-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/132135.md?page=3)