# Songs That Wouldn't Fly Today **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227 "2017-01-26T15:05:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/21 "2017-01-26T16:54:44Z")
Regardless of the actual age of the singer in most of these songs, weren’t they geared to teenagers? I’m not seeing the skeevyness of most of these. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/22 "2017-01-26T17:03:33Z")
Money for Nothing by Dire Straits ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/23 "2017-01-26T17:08:53Z")
David Allan Coe “If That Ain’t Country…” – includes a racial slur. IIRC, several of his early songs as well were openly racist and misogynistic. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_X2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90db22/32.png) [@Karen\_X2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_X2)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/24 "2017-01-26T17:10:36Z")
Toadies - Possum Kingdom. Rape and murder? Ray Stevens - Ahab the Arab ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/25 "2017-01-26T17:23:15Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > Regardless of the actual age of the singer in most of these songs, weren’t they geared to teenagers? I’m not seeing the skeevyness of most of these. I made a similar point in post #4. One of the songs that comes to mind that crosses to the skeevy side of the line is [_Little Girls_ by Oingo Boingo](https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tqvpvgzjlzolesfofcbmdlctbna?lyrics), the lyrics of which would _definitely_ never [be parodied in a children’s comic in 2013](https://derpicdn.net/img/2013/9/25/434563/full.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/26 "2017-01-26T17:26:02Z")
> [@Karen\_X2](#): > > Ray Stevens - Ahab the Arab And that makes me think of one that should never have been made, not necessarily because it isn’t PC, but because of [general awfulness](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqlR4IEl_04). ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/27 "2017-01-26T17:37:29Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Money for Nothing by Dire Straits Most stations play a radio-friendly edit with the offending verse removed. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/28 "2017-01-26T17:41:08Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Most stations play a radio-friendly edit with the offending verse removed. And a number of them play the original version. Self-censorship (and that’s all this is) is always unevenly applied, and some stations are more cautious than the norm due to a real or perceived difference in their local audience. Or the station manager has a bigger-than-usual stick up their ass, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/29 "2017-01-26T17:43:29Z")
Weren’t the original words to Puttin’ On the Ritz fairly obviously patronising about black people and subsequently re-written? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/30 "2017-01-26T17:43:40Z")
[I Shot The Sheriff.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Shot_the_Sheriff) Especially Marley’s version. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/31 "2017-01-26T18:02:16Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Most stations play a radio-friendly edit with the offending verse removed. i thought the point of the song was the character singing was supposed to be perceived as a loudmouth lout; the song being an indictment of that kind of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/32 "2017-01-26T18:06:27Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I Saw Her Standing There (she was just 17) > > Sweet Little Sixteen > Sweet Little Rock n Roller (9 years old and sweet as she can be). > > Stray Cat Blues (I can see that you’re fifteen years old) > > Others? . . . Sweet Little Rock and Roller is about a child. It’s your mind that is making it dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/33 "2017-01-26T18:12:25Z")
An obscure song to most, written ca. 1975: Pardon me, compadre, May I have this place in line? You see the woman I love is standing there Underneath the cardboard sign That says… Fifty cents a hug at the kissing booth, To buy a little love at the kissing booth. Loan me fifty cents for the kissing booth. Pretty senorita, Don’t even know my name, When I tell her how much I love her, The answer will be the same. She’s sayin’… Fifty cents a hug at the kissing booth, To buy a little love at the kissing booth. Loan me fifty cents for the kissing booth. – Bill LaBounty ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/34 "2017-01-26T18:25:48Z")
Another obscure song from the 1970’s, [Whambo Bambo:](http://www.doorbell.net/sounds/whambo.mp3) We made him sit there in the back of the bus, We didn’t want him sitting up there with us, Like yesterday into the bank where I went, Who do you think was the President? Damn me, Mammy, look at our Sammy, The kid from next door. Whambo bambo, little black sambo, Ain’t so little no more, Ain’t so little no more! – Barry Mann ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/35 "2017-01-26T18:34:24Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > i thought the point of the song was the character singing was supposed to be perceived as a loudmouth lout; the song being an indictment of that kind of thinking. Not everybody gets it, though. Some people hear the word “faggot” but not the context. And some people do get it, but just find the use of the word itself offensive. I get why a station wouldn’t want to play the album version. Why risk backlash from people who can boycott your advertisers? The rock station I listen to plays the edited version. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/36 "2017-01-26T18:35:50Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Chantilly Lace The Big Bopper song? What am I missing? It doesn’t sound like anything that wouldn’t be played today, I don’t think. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/37 "2017-01-26T18:58:26Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Illegal Alien” by Genesis. Why? Its sympathetic to, you know, illegal aliens. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/38 "2017-01-26T19:10:01Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > “Young Girl” by Gary Puckett and Union Gap is problematic. On the one hand the singer is clearly aware that having a relationship with an underaged girl is very, very wrong. On the other hand, the song suggests that the relationship has already been going on for an unspecified time and that while they haven’t had sex yet he might still be tempted. Actually, the hits of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap tell a coherent story. “Young Girl” – he’s attracted, but she’s too young. “Lady Willpower” – We’re going to do it. “This Girl is a Woman Now” – We did it. “Woman, Woman” – “Have you got cheating on your mind?” The relationship is dying. “Over You” – It’s dead, Gary. Of course there are dozens of songs from 1950 and earlier that couldn’t even begin to fly today, with their casual racism and sexism. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/39 "2017-01-26T19:26:41Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Why? Its sympathetic to, you know, illegal aliens. Let me preface by saying \*I \*think it’s a great song but perhaps **buddha\_david** is alluding to Mr. Collins’ not so great attempt at a Hispanic accent. Also, the lyrics do refer to his bottle of tequila and his “seester” who will do anything to help him get to the outside. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227/40 "2017-01-26T20:03:30Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Sweet Little Rock and Roller is about a child. It’s your mind that is making it dirty. My mind doesn’t think any of the songs I listed are “dirty.” Just by way of clarification. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-wouldnt-fly-today/778227.md?page=3)