"Those magnificent men in their flying machines,
They go up diddly up, up; they go down diddly down, down."
After 9/11 and the Columbia, I don’t think this song would get much play time.
There are many more songs written in recent years that have content much more objectionable than any of these. None of the songs in this thread would generate much protest per se. The difference being if a major act performed them on the 6 PM news then there would probably be a negative public reaction, though a minor one at that. However, if these songs were just on someone’s album chances are it would never make it to the public’s general scope of awareness. Let me reiterate: these songs are tame.
Take A Letter Maria, by R. B. Greaves
Delilah, by *Tom Jones *
(unless rereleased by OJ Simpson)
There are a lot of songs that, when I listen to them now (as the father of three) seem to have a child exploitation angle and give the creeps.
Vehicle by the Ides of March.
Clare, by Gilbert O’Sullivan (I think it’s supposed to be a sly joke, but it’s a little too sly.)
Memphis Tennessee by Johnny Rivers et al.
Vehicle has always creeped me out, too. I know what it’s about, but everytime we would play it in a band I used to be in, it would just bother me.
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”.
[k]kunilou** - is that the same Memphis as Chuck Berry’s? Listen carefully - he’s Marie’s father. That one is still as sweet as ever, and Chuck’s best song, IMO.
These are some great ones. The best I can come up with that I haven’t seen here is Midnight Train to Georgia:
“'Cause I’d rather live in his world,
than be without him in my own.”
or maybe Elvis
“The lady loves me,
she just doesn’t know it yet.”
These pale next to contributions others have offered.
:smack:
How about The Rapper by the Jaggerz?
This 1970 rapper was probably not the role model for today’s rapper.
The Cure would take a lot of heat if they tried to release Killing an Arab today. Of course, they got a lot of grief back in the 80s, as well. but I can’t see a record company even releasing a song with that title today. (yeah, I know it’s really about Camus’ The Stranger)
Actually, I think I’ve heard all of the songs mentioned here on the radio within the last year or so. OK, except for “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines”. That one didn’t even make it on the air when it came out, just on the movie. 
(Avoiding a bad joke about “songs that wouldn’t fly”)
*I’ve sinned a lot, I’m mean a lot
But I’m like sweet seventeen a lot
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
I’ll sing to him, each spring to him
And worship the trousers that cling to him
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
When he talks, he is seeking
Words to get, off his chest
Horizontally speaking, he’s at his very best
Vexed again, perplexed again
Thank God, I can be oversexed again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I*
Gotta love Ella Fitzgerald
Yes, it’s true you still hear many of these songs today, especially on oldies stations, but I think what the OP means is, if songs with these lyrics were released today, it wouldn’t fly.
Chuck Berry freak checking in here: It is indeed as bup stated. Chuck did “Memphis, Tennessee” for his six-year old daughter.
"We were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
Tore apart our happy home in Memphis, Tennessee
Marie is only six years old, information please
Try to put me through to her in Memphis, Tennessee"
Not that Chuck Berry didn’t have a little problem with taking a teenage girl across State lines once, but this song, at least, should not be considered to be offensive.
Can’t believe no one’s mentioned “Havin’ my Baby” yet. GAG!
Also, along the lines of “Too Fat Polka”: “If You Want to be Happy for the Rest of Your Life, Never Make a Pretty Woman Your Wife.” Which includes lovely sentiments such as:
“An ugly woman cooks meals on time
she’ll always give you piece of mind
An ugly woman works hard to please
Works hard on her back and hard on her knees!”
And as for the argument that these sort of songs wouldn’t fly today, I offer the wretched: “I’m Everything I am Because You Loved Me.” DOUBLE GAG!
Here’s one, wish I’d heard IT on the radio…
My first GF Hated the Dead singing "We can share the women, "
My ex-wife hated it when I tried. …Ya canna win.
Slight clarification, folks: the Beatles’ line in “Run for Your Life” was ripped off directly from Elvis’s song “Baby, Let’s Play House.” John Lennon said numerous times that he’d heard the line, thought it sounded badass, and put it in their song.
The grammar in it doesn’t work too well, though: “I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man.” I believe that means he thinks seeing her dead would be preferable to having homosexual sex?
Anyway, one more song for the list: “Open Up the Doghouse,” a duet between Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby in which they get all chummy and agree that the only way to make sure a woman knows her place is to “knock her around a little bit.” Can’t find a lyrics link, but it’s in there.
Actually, the line is “I’d rather see you dead little girl than to see you with another man.”
Which makes a difference 
If Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Clair” sounds dirty, then our society has gotten awfully paranoid!
It’s not a song about a pedophile, it’s a song about a doting uncle being driven to exasperation while babysitting for his adorable niece!
I’m not sure if Gilbert (real name: Raymond O’Sullivan) actually had a niece named Clair, but when she says, “Will you marry me Uncle Ray,” it’s just the kind of adorable thing a little girl might say off-handedly to her favorite Uncle. And “Uncle Ray” melts when he hears it… which is the only reason he doesn’t blow his stack when refuses to go to bed, and keeps asking for a glass of water, etc.
Not so, I’m afraid. I’ve got both recordings here with me and just re-listened to them. The Elvis song (from “The Sun Sessions CD,” recorded about 200 yards from where I sit right now) is not of extremely high recording quality, but it definitely sounds more like “to be” than “to see you.”
On the other hand, the Beatles song (from “Rubber Soul”) is a far better recording (though an inferior song, to my mind :)), and Lennon very clearly sings, “…than to be with another man.”