# Songs with internally contradictory lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408 "2011-08-04T02:10:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/21 "2011-08-04T16:30:09Z")
I assumed he was wondering about the stellar class. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/22 "2011-08-04T16:38:09Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > IIRC, the explanation she’s hinted at is that it’s a song about three different guys – the one who wore an apricot scarf isn’t the one who used the pick-up line about how “we’d make such a pretty pair”, and neither of 'em is the guy who bet on the right horse before flying out to see a total eclipse. > > So if you’re one of those three guys and think the song is about you, well, most of the time she’s singing about someone else… I thought she recently revealed that the song was about David Geffen. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/23 "2011-08-04T16:58:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I thought she recently revealed that the song was about David Geffen. From her website: > [@](#): > > While supporting her new cd “Never Been Gone” in the UK, one tabloid stated their belief that You’re So Vain was about David Geffen - in a headline that made it appear that Carly had announced this to them as fact. In reality, it was just their guess. > > There is a word being said on the new version of You’re So Vain, which they assumed was “David” and then jumped to the conclusion that it was David Geffen. In fact, Carly had never even met David Geffen before she wrote You’re So Vain. > > Regardless, the press and social media sites spread this original rumor & mistake as fact - all over the globe - in a matter of hours. Sheila Weller (writing for Vanity Fair) contacted Carly in London and got her response: > > I said “Ovid” [emphasis ours] both front- and backward together on the CD, and it came out sounding like “David’ to some, I guess. But I meant it as an allusion to metamorphosis, and that this group of songs was rechanneled into a different cockroach. Kafka? Coffee? Clouds? I know it’s boring, but that could be good! > > She also has made many other rebuttals to this rumor, including to this one to the Daily Mail: > > Simon says: What a riot! Nothing to do with David Geffen. [http://www.carlysimon.com/vain/vain.html](http://www.carlysimon.com/vain/vain.html) ---
**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:** [August 4, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/24 "2011-08-04T17:05:35Z")
Speaking of **You’re So Vain** : _Well, you’re where you should be all the time And when you’re not you’re with…_ What’s the definition of “all the time,” then? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/25 "2011-08-04T17:13:27Z")
They Might Be Giants, “Birdhouse In Your Soul” > [@](#): > > I’m your only friend/I’m not your only friend/But I’m a little glowing friend/but really I’m not actually your friend/but I am ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/26 "2011-08-04T17:18:32Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > From her website: > > [http://www.carlysimon.com/vain/vain.html](http://www.carlysimon.com/vain/vain.html) Interesting, thanks. The Geffen thing never really did ring true to me (especially the “wife of your best friend” part). I had always assumed the song was about Warren Beatty, and now I’ll go back to assuming it again. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/27 "2011-08-04T17:28:32Z")
In “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” by the Shangri-Las there’s a spoken interlude in which the main singer is asked questions about her guy and one is, “What color are his eyes?” to which the singer replies, “I don’t know, he’s always wearing shades.” But in the very next verse the main singer says the same guy wears “big bulky sweaters to match his eyes.” Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/28 "2011-08-04T18:48:25Z")
Not too sure if this fits within the OP, but _Your Song_ by Elton John has a line that doesn’t make sense given the overall context of the song: _You see I’ve forgotten If they’re green, or they’re blue. But anyway, the thing is, what I really mean: Yours are the sweetest eyes, I’ve ever seen._ If they’re so damned memorable, how come you’ve forgotten what color they were? I’m sure I can find more stuff like this in the Bernie Taupin years… ---
**Author:** ![jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jehan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/29 "2011-08-04T19:40:29Z")
Living on a Prayer “It doesn’t really matter if we make it or not” Then “Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear” If it doesn’t matter, then why even try? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/30 "2011-08-05T00:47:19Z")
Long before any of these, we have Oh Susanna > [@](#): > > It rained all night > The day I left > The weather it was dry > The sun so hot, > I froze to death > Susanna, don’t you cry ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/31 "2011-08-05T01:08:29Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Long before any of these, we have Oh Susanna See post #5. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/32 "2011-08-05T01:22:02Z")
From “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood and the Destroyers: \*I broke a thousand hearts Before I met you I’ll break a thousand more Before I am through I wanna be yours, pretty baby Yours and yours alone I’m here to tell ya’ honey That I’m bad to the bone\* Definite mixed messages there. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/33 "2011-08-05T01:37:19Z")
We’re not counting intentional irony, like “I miss you but I haven’t met you yet,” are we? Cause I think the Elton John song falls into that category… ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/34 "2011-08-05T01:50:03Z")
Seven Mary Three, _Cumbersome:_ No, yeah, no no no No no no, yeah No no no, no Yeah yeah Similar lyrics in _Under The Bridge_ by The Red hot Chili Peppers ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/35 "2011-08-05T01:51:30Z")
> [@punch\_line\_loser](#): > > We’re not counting intentional irony, like “I miss you but I haven’t met you yet,” are we? Cause I think the Elton John song falls into that category… Does it? Now I have to read the lyrics to see if I’ve misinterpreted them for 40+ years. :o ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/36 "2011-08-05T01:53:35Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Does it? Now I have to read the lyrics to see if I’ve misinterpreted them for 40+ years. :o Erp, I can’t tell if you’re being ironic now… anyway I don’t know the song so I might be taking the words out of context. I’m just saying, we all know the words to “Come As You Are” or “You’re So Vain,” but do songs like that go here too? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/37 "2011-08-05T02:11:19Z")
I love the song “[Inside of You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcSZ7deAHbw)” by Hoobastank, but it’s definitely a victim of logical inconsistency. Not to be forward, miss, **But I think I’ll kill myself If I never know…** What do I have to do To get inside of you? To get inside of you? Cuz **I love the way you move** , When I’m inside of you. When I’m inside of you… ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/38 "2011-08-05T02:22:39Z")
In Kesha’s “Fuck Him He’s a DJ,” she keeps on repeating the title, but the song is really about what a great DJ he is. “Fuck Him He’s a DJ All night long he’s got the beat Fuck Him He’s a DJ Keep playing that song, it works for me” Of course, it’s possible she has a different meaning of “fuck” in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/39 "2011-08-05T02:55:43Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Or the Stones: > > > [@](#): > > > > I’m so hot for her and she’s so cold He’s hot for her, she’s cold to him - not seeing the contradiction. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408/40 "2011-08-05T03:00:09Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > He’s hot for her, she’s cold to him - not seeing the contradiction. I think this fellow is of the mind that it would have been impossible to imagine a woman being “cold” for Mick Jagger at that stage of his career, and knowing that guy’s ego I wouldn’t be surprised if that was indeed the impetus behind the song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-internally-contradictory-lyrics/591408.md?page=3)