# Songs that just wouldn't fly today **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283 "2003-02-11T04:12:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/101 "2003-02-14T01:19:29Z")
Todd Rundgren had a song I think came out in the sixties or seventies–“We gotta get you a woman” that had this lyric, “They may be stupid, but they sure are fun”. It’s too bad the melody was so catchy, but I hated that song. ---
**Author:** ![thirdshiftgrottoslack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@thirdshiftgrottoslack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdshiftgrottoslack)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/102 "2003-02-14T02:08:45Z")
i really don’t think many of these songs would cause an uproar today, personally. but i always thought krs-1’s “thirteen and good” was really disturbing. heres a sample: We jumped in the ride rushed to the crib I ain’t gotta explain what we did Built to last I simply waxed that… Ax the question, no need for guessin’ Hey baby, how old are you? 21, 24 maybe 22? I’m twenty five She shucked and kinda neeghed And said, “hee, hee, hee I’m only 13” 13!! I need a quick escape That’s statutory rape But she was GOOD! she calls her dad, a cop, and he arrives with a pistol: He closed the door and, “I’m happy we’re all alone Jump on the bed and look me straight into my eyes I think you’re kinda cute, don’t make me use my 45” Daddy’s lookin’ for a lubricant He pulled out a little piece of gum and started chewin’ it He said, "For year I’ve been lookin for a big strong man I’ve got an apartment out in Brooklyn Only my daughter and I live there You can see my daughter anytime, anywhere But it’s you that I want to be mine The price tag is your behind ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/103 "2003-02-14T04:15:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bup \* > \*\*Fine, I’m outvoted. Look, I like all those songs - don’t try to trump me on blues appreciation - but you’re not going to hear them on the radio, nor would you ever have. > > Except certain NPR stations Saturday midnight to Sunday 6 am. And I think that fits my ‘historical interest’ qualifier. \*\* **bup** , I’m not trying to trump anyone, but like I said above, I have heard **every one** of the songs listed above\* on the radio within the past year – and not NPR. Don’t blame me if you don’t have good radio stations in town! 😛 (hint: college radio stations are the best! And Clear Channel can … well this isn’t the pit, so I can’t say, but you get my drift.) \*(Again, the only exception was _Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines_ and that might have been played, since we have a station in town that plays songs from movie musicals on Sunday afternoons; but I don’t listen to it, so I couldn’t say for sure.) ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/104 "2003-02-14T04:36:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dorkusmalorkusmafia \* > \*\*This song would probably go over real well with rednecks now but would really enrage black people. > > [Strange Fruit](http://www.billieholidaycircle.freeserve.co.uk/PAGEI.htm) > > Southern trees bear a strange fruit > Blood on the leaves and blood on the roots. > Black bodies swingin’ in the southern breeze > Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees… \*\* Siouxsie and the Banshees recorded in in 1987 on their album A Kiss In The Dreamhouse. It is not taboo as it speaks from the position of being sad that it happened. It was written by Billie Holiday. ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/105 "2003-02-14T04:36:50Z")
Basketball Jones ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Fescue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@Hank\_Fescue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Fescue)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/106 "2003-02-14T04:42:54Z")
**Copperhead Road** by Steve earle speaks of everything from running moonshine to growing pot to killing cops. Song was very popular and got lots o airplay in the eighties. **Convoy** was a popular airplay song during the truckers strike back in the late seventies. It is absolutely hilarious to listen to now. No idea who did it. **Rosie** by Jackson Browne was the most skillfully crafted song about masturbation ever. Comes off like a sweet love song. ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/107 "2003-02-14T04:52:39Z")
"WHEN I HAVE A BRAND NEW HAIRDO WITH MY EYELASHES ALL IN CURL, I FLOAT AS THE CLOUDS ON AIR DO, I ENJOY BEING A GIRL! WHEN MEN SAY I’M CUTE AND FUNNY AND MY TEETH AREN’T TEETH BUT PEARL, I JUST LAP IT UP LIKE HONEY, I ENJOY BEING A GIRL!" Not really a strong feminist statement, but could enjoy a small cult following among transgendered…folk. ---
**Author:** ![A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_wizard_song_for_thee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/108 "2003-02-14T08:19:10Z")
About “Strange Fruit” > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > It is not taboo as it speaks from the position of being sad that it happened. It was written by Billie Holiday. \*\* Er, no, it wasn’t. It was written by a guyn whose nom de plume was Lewis Allen, and it wasn’t a jazz song to begin with, but Billie made it such. Also of interest, here on the SDMB, it was debuted in the Manhattan club called Cafe Society. And it’s not a song about, y’know, “Yay! Jim Crow!” so much as a sad song about, well, y’know, “Boo! Jim Crow!” Er. I probably should have thought of something more profound to say… ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/109 "2003-02-14T09:24:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by manwithaplan \* > \*\*_In the Summertime_ by Mungo Jerry has two classic lyrics: > “If her Daddy’s rich, take her out for a meal, > If her Daddy’s poor, just do what you feel” > > They don’t make 'em like they used to. \*\* That actually sounds like great modern dating advice, wouldn’t say that’s aged at all. Rich girls do expect you to throw some money around, they’re used to it. Poor girls, from my albeit VERY limited experience, will be pretty satisfied with a walk in the park. ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/110 "2003-02-14T10:26:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Improvisor \* > \*\* > Another lyric that’s always bugged me is the Beatles “It’s Getting Better all the Time”. A nice bouncy song and then they throw in > “I used to be cruel to my woman > I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved”. \*\* I think both this and the “Run for your life little girl” songs are just fine. I’m sure, judging from the Beatles love lives, that they don’t represent any actual behaviours or desires of the members. So they fall into the class of songs that is portraying a character. C’mon, that STP song “Sex Type Thing” is about a date rape, told from the POV of the rapist justifying the rape to himself. That’s ALOT more twisted than any of this stuff, and was a popular hit. I don’t think anyone took that seriously as a call to commit date rape, so I’m sure nobody took the Beatles lyrics as anything like that either. Songs can take on a narrator who’s a bad guy, it’s interesting, and most people see it for what it is. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/111 "2003-02-14T14:40:03Z")
Je suis un rock star - Bill Wyman Can’t find the lyrics anywhere but definately disturbing on the paedophilia front. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/112 "2003-02-14T15:44:46Z")
Mockingbird, Billie Holiday didn’t write it. There are two sources given to the words, Lewis Allan and Abel Meeropol, depending on where you go. > [@](#): > > [Holiday seems to have claimed that she essentially co-wrote the song, coming up with the melody herself, but there is evidence that refutes this. The transformation of other material that Holiday performed shows that she was certainly capable of making a song convey much more than the composer had originally intended. On the other hand, some biographers have suggested that Holiday did not even understand the lyrical content of the song at first and had to have it explained to her.](http://www.jazzitude.com/strange_fruit.htm) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/113 "2003-02-14T16:15:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dorkusmalorkusmafia \* > \*\*Mockingbird, Billie Holiday didn’t write it. There are two sources given to the words, Lewis Allan and Abel Meeropol, depending on where you go. \*\* Same guy. ---
**Author:** ![ecugrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@ecugrad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecugrad)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/114 "2003-02-14T21:59:48Z")
Ogre takes it all hands down… But here are a couple minor league additions: “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix “Hey Joe? What are you doing with that gun in your hand?..I caught my lady with another man…so I shot her, I shot her down…” (paraphrased) “Into the Night” by Bennie Mardones “She’s just 16 years old, leave her alone they say…if I could fly, I’d pick you up and take you into the night and show you a love like you’ve never seen…” “Hot-Blooded” by Foreigner “I’m hot-blooded, check IT and see. Got a fever of a hundred and three. Come on baby do you do more than dance?..are you old enough? will you be ready when I call your bluff?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/115 "2003-02-14T22:24:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mothchunks \* > \*\*"WHEN I HAVE A BRAND NEW HAIRDO [more lyrics, snipped] > Not really a strong feminist statement, but could enjoy a small cult following among transgendered…folk. \*\* I first heard this sung by Miss Piggy, on The Muppet Show. She was “Hiiiiii-yah!” punching all kinds of people at the same time. It gives the song a little bit of an edge that makes it palatable. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/116 "2003-02-14T23:15:59Z")
“You’ll have bad times, and he’ll have good times, doing things you don’t understand, … Stand by your man.” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/117 "2003-02-15T00:04:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ecugrad \* > **Ogre takes it all hands down…** Ogre’s never heard of the Macc Lads, and it looks like nobody else present has either. They held the dubious distinction of being the only act banned from more venues than the Sex Pistols, including a five year ban from every student union in the UK. Songs about sex with sheep, Chinese takeaway hygiene and vicars slipping on jism number among the highlights of their often hilarious and always insanely obscene ouevre. Here’s an small excerpt from their “classic” Beer, Sex, Chips and Gravy: Clean my teeth, put on my best clobber Tonight’s the night, I’m going for t’knob her Vauxhall Viva’s covered in rust But you can’t fuck your bird on the 29 bus. Airplay? Forget it… ---
**Author:** ![tesseract](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tesseract](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tesseract)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/118 "2003-02-15T00:27:13Z")
I love the blues, but some of the lyrics just have to be ignored or taken as a joke, or else it’s a bit unbearable. My favorite blues musician is Albert King, but in Answer to the Laundromat Blues he’s talking about his woman cheating on him and what will happen if/when she does: And we’re gonna kick the door down that goes to the basement Where we can hear the washer when it stop And baby baby baby, when that washer stop You better be through or you better have a darn good explanation Cause you gonna get whupped all on the toe (?) lids We’re gonna raise your eyelashes and whup you some And if you run fast enough We gonna whup you on the bottom of the feet and later… You better take my advice You might need it on your vacation this summer I’d hate to see you come up With a leg screwed off or an eye punched out Alrighty then! ---
**Author:** ![ravesaint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ravesaint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ravesaint)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/119 "2003-02-15T00:46:22Z")
I think you can still get away with quite a bit on the radio, even today. Quite a few current and popular acts talk about some pretty violent stuff, just look at groups like _Limp Bizkit_ or _Eminem_. One song that sticks in my mind that still gets air time (at least around where I live) is _Tyler_ by the _Toadies_\*. It’s gotta be one of the top stalker songs ever. “I found a window in the kitchen, and I let myself in. Rummaged through the refrigerator poured myself a beer. I can’t beleive I’m really in, and she’s lying in that bed, I can almost feel her touch, and her angel breath. I stumble in the hallway, outside her bedroom door, I hear her call out to me, I hear the fear in her voice. She pulls the covers tighter, I press against the door, I will be with her tonight, yeah, I will be with her…” \*I don’t know if this band ever got much play nationwide, they were pretty popular in Texas for a while though. ---
**Author:** ![tesseract](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tesseract](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tesseract)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283/120 "2003-02-15T00:49:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by dorkusmalorkusmafia \* **On the other hand, some biographers have suggested that Holiday did not even understand the lyrical content of the song at first and had to have it explained to her. Given the emotional quality that she brings to her performance, this seems highly unlikely.** _ I think the original issue was authorship, not comprehension, but it seems that omitting the italicized sentence leaves a perhaps incorrect impression…allow me to add it on behalf of Ms. Holiday… \ ***dorkus** did not post the italicized sentence, but on preview, coded any other way, it seemed to emphasize, rather than de-emphasize (which is what I am so elegantly trying to accomplish), the previous sentence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-just-wouldnt-fly-today/154283.md?page=7)