# Songs that make you cringe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 1, 2022, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173 "2022-11-01T21:43:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/121 "2022-11-10T21:01:46Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > I forget that name of the song. . . a 90’s rock band. . . "Take my heart so tender, put it in a blender, spin it all around to a beautiful oblivion. . . " Gag! Man, that make me nauseous. I love Eve 6 especially because of their innovative lyrics, but I was gonna mention a line at the end of their song “Bang,” which says _Brush that sand off your_ _Ask your questions later_ _Love me long time_ I otherwise love the song but I always cringe at that part. I also nominate almost every song Aerosmith ever released but especially the album _Permanent Vacation_. Musically exceptional, lyrically horrifying. We’ve got… \*Steven Tyler singing in historical African American Vernacular English \*A song about a black man who murdered his slut wife, with references to domestic violence, see above (And every night she take her thing into the city And in the morning make me beg And if I’d taken all her real titty gritty I’d smack her right upside the head) \*A song about using a woman for sex on the d/l (“I’m rippin’ up a rag doll, like throwin’ away an old toy”) \*A song about a guy’s emotionally unstable girlfriend, and how hard a time she’s having, and this about her: (“There she was, buns up and kneeling, I was wheeling and dealing, my ace in the hole so to speak.”) That’s all just off the top of my head. Listened to that album all the time in high school. Now I’m like, “What??” ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/122 "2022-11-10T21:13:36Z")
Regarding The Kinks… I’ve always interpreted _Art Lover_ as a sad song about a divorced dad who lost custody, although it’s set up to make you think the singer is a creepy perv at first, and then sucker punches you with the reveal. No cringe there. As for _Lola_, also no cringe there for me. I strained my face rolling my eyes at a relatively recent lefty example of Poe’s Law that declared the song to be hate speech because Ray deliberately misgendered Lola in the line “I’m glad I’m a man, and so is Lola”. I honestly don’t know if the writer was serious or attempting to parody extreme wokeness. However… the 1978 **Misfits** album has a cringe two-fer with _Black Messiah_ and _Out of the Wardrobe_. I get _Black Messiah_ is a Randy Newman-ish character song, but the line “I’m the only honky on an all black street” makes me cringe. As for OOTW, it does support Dick’s love of being a cross-dresser and his wife’s eventual acceptance but the couplet “He’s not a f\*ggot as you might suppose, He just feels restricted in conventional clothes” makes me wince every time I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/123 "2022-11-10T22:52:54Z")
May I ask the titles? Just curious. Ca. 1990, I dated a man who owned a used record store, and there were 4 artists that I remember to this day whose albums/cassettes/CDs they couldn’t give away. Asia, Twisted Sister, Huey Lewis & The News, and surprisingly, you guessed it, Bob Seger. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/124 "2022-11-10T22:54:16Z")
And “my, how you have grown” may well be around the middle. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/125 "2022-11-10T23:38:26Z")
Art Lover is cringe. What is the reveal lyrics? Without knowing that is about a divorced dad at the park with his kid, I don’t know how you would infer that from the lyrics. Misfits have plenty of cringey albums, but I think that was their point. That’s like bringing Slayer lyrics into this discussion 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/126 "2022-11-10T23:45:11Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Misfits have plenty of cringey albums I was referring to the Kinks album titled **Misfits** , not Glenn Danzig’s old band. The latter would be like complaining that GG Allin makes me cringe. I mean, that was the point of his “music” (unless that was a whoosh) > [@wguy123](#): > > What is the reveal lyrics? “She’s just a substitute for what’s been taken from me”. Seemed like a custody issue to me the first time I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/127 "2022-11-10T23:57:38Z")
I am doing a quadruple facepalm _DOH!_ And no, it wasn’t a whoosh…that was me reading far too fast for my own good. Please strike my stupid comments about the band Misfits and Slayer from the record. I still don’t see that line as a reveal. I guess if you squint real hard and give it a charitable interpretation, you might, but as the lyrics read, they are creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/128 "2022-11-11T00:09:42Z")
Yes, popularized by noted racist [Louis Jordan](https://youtu.be/HnyB0a8G71Y). ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/129 "2022-11-11T03:09:30Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Is this a segue into “I’m my Own Grandpa”? I remember it being mentioned in print at the time. Bill being his own son-in-law or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/130 "2022-11-11T12:49:52Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > May I ask the titles? Just curious. Consider “Like A Rock” and “The Fire Down Below” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/131 "2022-11-11T13:21:38Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Consider “Like A Rock” and “The Fire Down Below” Wow, I don’t really get that from either of those songs. The titles, sure, but the lyrics taken in their entirety seem to have a bit more depth than “I must follow my dick”. But I’m only a casual fan, so you may be totally right. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/132 "2022-11-11T20:15:12Z")
Okay, “Fire Down Below” is self-explanatory, but I’ve always viewed “Like A Rock” as a song about self-confidence. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/133 "2022-11-11T21:51:16Z")
[quote=“Spice\_Weasel, post:121, topic:974173”] (“There she was, buns up and kneeling, I was wheeling and dealing, my ace in the hole so to speak.”)[/quote] Not to be mistaken for Frank Zappa’s “Dinah-Moe Humm” - [She was buns-up kneelin’ BUNS UP! I was wheelin’ an dealin’ WHEELIN’ AN’ DEALIN’ AN’ OOOOH! She surrender to the feelin’ SHE SWEETLY SURRENDERED An’ she started in to squealin’] ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/134 "2022-11-11T22:06:37Z")
Huh. So that’s where that came from. I want to clarify I don’t care about obscenity in songs. The context is what I find cringe-worthy. “My girl’s in a state of emotional crisis, but it’s cool, at least I’m getting laid.” ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/135 "2022-11-12T13:56:17Z")
George Michael’s _Faith_ album has two songs that I find a little cringe-worthy: “Look at Your Hands” ----about a bitter ex-lover telling a woman who is a victim of domestic violence that she would be better off with him “I Want Your Sex: Part 3: A Last Request”—seems to be about date rape. Opening lyrics: > "It’s late > Time for bed > So I sit and I wait > For that gin and tonic > To go to your head > > I know > It’s a devious plan > But it’s the only way that I know > To get those big bad car keys > Out of your hand" ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/136 "2022-11-16T17:46:04Z")
I guess I’m swimming against the tide. I love Seger. “Rock and Roll Never Forgets”, “Night Moves” (yeah tell me no one else ever reference boobs in a song) “Turn The Page”, “Fire Down Below”, not just about his dick. Oh, and he does one of the best versions of “The Little Drummer Boy.” ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/137 "2022-11-16T18:10:13Z")
Black Eyed Peas - _Let’s Get Retarded_ Forget ‘has it aged well?’, released in 2003, I felt uncomfortable singing it in the car the day it came out. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/138 "2022-11-16T18:25:41Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > (yeah tell me no one else ever reference boobs in a song) Didn’t Elton John in Bennie and the Jets? (She’s got electric boobs) Sorry, I’ll show myself out. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/139 "2022-11-16T18:44:59Z")
Shakira said it best? _Lucky that my breasts are small and humble_ _So you don’t confuse them with mountains_ Uh, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/140 "2022-11-16T19:14:47Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > I forget that name of the song. . . a 90’s rock band. . . "Take my heart so tender, put it in a blender, spin it all around to a beautiful oblivion. . . " Gag! Man, that make me nauseous. Speaking of artists whose whole catalogue is a full-body cringe, Limp Bizkit also used the same rhyme in “Nookie” (“She put my tender/Heart in a blender/And still I surrender.”) But the Eve 6 song predates it, I’m certain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173.md?page=8)