# Songs Where the "Clean" Version Is Better Than The Unedited One **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2012, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557 "2012-07-27T12:42:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/21 "2012-07-27T18:01:09Z")
In Tom Petty’s _You Don’t Know How It Feels_, the line “Let’s roll another joint” is changed to “Let’s hit another joint” for the radio version. I kind of like it because it could \*still \*be a reference to smoking pot, even after being “cleaned up” to seem like it’s about going to a bar. Two meanings for the price of one! I also can identify with it more because I’m a drinker but not a smoker. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/22 "2012-07-27T19:20:57Z")
Let’s get it started is way better than let’s get retarded. So there’s one already mentioned. I like both Fuck You and Forget You, but probably give a slight edge to Fuck You. I agree that 3 syllables actually sounds better than two, but I like the emotions more from Fuck You than from Forget You. Tonight I’m lovin’ you is a terrible cleaned up version of tonight I’m fuckin you, because it completely contradicts the line right before it “Please excuse me I don’t mean to be rude…” Why would “tonight I’m loving you” be rude? It’s not. Tonight I’m fucking you is DEFINITELY rude, but he just can’t help himself. Dumb song either way, really. Nay, the most epic, legendarily improved song from getting a clean radio edit, is the seminal Superman by Eminem. In one of the cleaned up versions the line “bitches they come they go” became “chickens they come they go” and turned a stupid vulgar song into an amazing allegory on the american chicken farmer. Another one I remember is an Avril Lavigne song where she said “I’ll have to kick your ass and make you never forget” and the cleaned up version was “I’ll have to kick your arm and make you never forget.” Think about how hard that would be to kick someone in the arm! Makes her even more of a badass if she can pull that off. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/23 "2012-07-27T19:31:25Z")
How about one that’s not a song but an album cover? The US version of _Electric Ladyland_, with its dynamic image of a red and yellow-lit Jimi Hendrix looking like he was sculpted out of flames, is miles better than that murky and curiously un-sexy shot of a bunch of women who look like the only reason they’re nude is that they need a good bath. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/24 "2012-07-27T19:48:44Z")
The Dr. Demento Show used to play a censored version of George Carlin’s “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television” with unique sound effects in place of each curse word. I always felt the sound effects made the censored version sound more hilarious than the original. As an aside, it’s funny how the radio edit of Green Day’s “Longview” will bleep out _“you’re fuckin’ lonely”_ while leaving the word “masturbation” intact. ---
**Author:** ![Rattlehead02](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rattlehead02/32/3944_2.png) [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/25 "2012-07-27T19:55:14Z")
I’m going to have to go with **The Bloodhound Gang’s [Fire Water Burn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adgx9wt63NY)**. The donkey sound makes a comedic song that much better, I think. Slightly off topic, but the silliest edit I can think of was for **Diamonds and Guns** by **The Transplants**. On MTV they cut the word “guns.” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/26 "2012-07-28T00:09:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > “Break On Through” has two versions. They are both the same length. The original radio edit just cuts the vocals a bit to “She gets…” rather than “She gets high.” The additional word ruins the rhythm. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Wait, where does he swear in “Break on Through”? I’m not talking about some live version, I mean if there is swearing on the album version, I don’t hear it, and radio the same. > > On the other hand, if the Doors just started, MTV and/or the radio would probably censor “she gets high.” I wish that were a joke. No joke, we’re talking about a drug reference, which was as taboo back in the 60’s as it was to Tom Petty in the 90’s. “Break on Through” was censored by Elektra _at its inception_; there never was a “radio edit” really, because the song as played on the radio _was_ the song on the album. The original album version as released (and subsequently made familiar to classic rock fans for decades thereafter) did not contain the full line “She get high,” substituting instead “She get” (I believe Hopkins and Sugerman wrote about this in _No One Here Gets Out Alive_). It was only when the remastered releases came out that the original line was restored to the studio album track. Live versions of course feature Morrison’s full preferred lyrics, most notably on _Absolutely Live_, where he sings the album-version “She get” followed by an extended vamp of “She get high” joined by either Manzarek or Krieger on additional vocals. [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_One_Here_Gets_Out_Alive) has a good piece on it. I too prefer the original version (sans “high”), but I’m not sure if it’s more to do with the meter or just the decades-old familiarity of it. To the topic at hand, I have to say I prefer Cee-Lo’s original “Fuck You” for reasons previously stated - I’d posted the YouTube video to my Facebook page at the time pointing out the disparity between the tune and the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/27 "2012-07-28T00:39:39Z")
What does Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” count as? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/28 "2012-07-28T01:16:15Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > I have to disagree, but not because of the meaning of the words. I feel that in that song 3 syllables (“for-get you”) sounds much better to my ears than 2 (“fuck you”). I have to disagree right back. [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc0mxOXbWIU&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fresults%3Fsearch_query%3Dfuck%2Byou%26oq%3Dfuck%2Byou%26gs_l%3Dyoutube.3...3067.6591.0.7120.8.8.0.0.0.0.438.841.7j4-1.8.0...0.0...1ac.-3f4tMaCrFw&has_verified=1)works better than [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKxodgpyGec). And “ain’t that some shit” works better than “shhh” or “stuff”. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/29 "2012-07-28T01:36:28Z")
Not sure if there actually is a non-clean version of Kid Rock’s “Cowboy”, but I always got a kick out of the line: “Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mick, My only words of wisdom are just, “Radio edit”” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/30 "2012-07-28T01:46:15Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > What does Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” count as? It was recorded the same way for the album and for radio, so it doesn’t. If Reznor had recorded it that way for radio it would, but as I recall his radio version just said “I wear this crown of (silence)”. Speaking on NIN, I do like the radio version of “Closer” which replaces the f-word with a synthetic whip-cracking sound. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/31 "2012-07-28T01:51:39Z")
I like Adam Sandler’s “Ode To My Car” better censored, mostly because they used car noises where he swore in the original. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/32 "2012-07-28T07:46:58Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Yeah, the first time I heard the “Forget You” version was the Glee version. Me too. I found it hilarious though that they actually managed to take a song almost entirely made of curse words and turn it into a passable clean one. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/33 "2012-07-30T04:54:52Z")
The movie _Blazing Saddles_ has had to suffer numerous edits for TV, including one of the “Rock Ridge” song, sung by the townspeople: _…Should we stay or up and quit? It’s nearing time for a decision Our town is turning into_ [loud MOOOOOO! from outside] I later saw saw the original with the last word intact. It wasn’t as funny. I suppose a casually dropped “shit” in a church song may have seemed delightfully risqué to the original theatrical audience, but to my jaded ears the moo-interruption actually works better. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/34 "2012-07-30T10:56:01Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Me too. I found it hilarious though that they actually managed to take a song almost entirely made of curse words and turn it into a passable clean one. [This version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLdYI8zk4QQ) is even more cleaned up. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/35 "2012-07-30T11:42:43Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I like Adam Sandler’s “Ode To My Car” better censored, mostly because they used car noises where he swore in the original. I was going to mention that one myself. The song gets funnier and funnier as more and more honks and other noises pile up in the song. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/36 "2012-07-30T12:08:37Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Not sure if there actually is a non-clean version of Kid Rock’s “Cowboy”, but I always got a kick out of the line: “Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mick, My only words of wisdom are just, “Radio edit”” I was trying to think of this one too. This was the first time I preferred a radio edit (no pun intended.) According to Wikipedia > [@](#): > > Kid Rock wrote the term “radio edit” into two of his songs, both of which are the same on radio and album versions. but not having the album I can’t verify this. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/37 "2012-07-30T13:57:46Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > The song “Officer Krupke” from WEST SIDE STORY: > > I personally think the cleaned up version is better in the first two lines, but then they’re stuck with the rhyme of “Commie” > I dunno, I think the first is slightly more pertinent (“schmuck” rather than “slob”) but “get a job” seems more realistic than “earn a buck.”) Lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s book “Finishing the Hat” is a fascinating read on the changes to the WSS lyrics. Originally Officer Krupkie was going to end “Gee Officer Krupkie…FUCK YOU.” Sondheim and composer Leonard Bernstein were looking forward to being the first team to use “the F word” in a Broadway show. Unfortunately, it was discovered that, in those innocent times, putting that word on the cast LP would make it unsellable and obscene. Sondheim was ranting about not being able to find a word to subsistute for Fuck when Bernstein sang out “Gee Officer Krupie…KRUP YOU.” And Sondheim agreed it was perfect. Ans both of them were amazed that “schmuck” got censored for the movie. “Schmuck” is a Yiddish word that orginally meant “jewels” then became a euphanism for “penis” (i.e. family jewels) and now means a nasty person. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/38 "2012-07-30T14:44:11Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > In Tom Petty’s _You Don’t Know How It Feels_, the line “Let’s roll another joint” is changed to “Let’s hit another joint” for the radio version. The only cleaned version I’ve heard has him saying something like “Let’s roll another down”. I’m willing to acknowledge that there’s other “clean” edits or I’ve just been hearing it way wrong though. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/39 "2012-07-30T14:52:02Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I like both Fuck You and Forget You, but probably give a slight edge to Fuck You. I agree that 3 syllables actually sounds better than two, but I like the emotions more from Fuck You than from Forget You. I agree, although I’m thinking of the Green versions of both rather than anything from Glee. > [@Antigen](#): > > [This version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLdYI8zk4QQ) is even more cleaned up. Which of course everyone immediately translates to “Cluck You”. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557/40 "2012-07-30T16:43:42Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I was trying to think of this one too. This was the first time I preferred a radio edit (no pun intended.) According to Wikipedia but not having the album I can’t verify this. I’ve got the album. It says “radio edit.” The unedited version probably only gets sung at concerts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-clean-version-is-better-than-the-unedited-one/629557.md?page=3)