# Songs with Unusual Topics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2013, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080 "2013-03-05T09:26:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/81 "2013-03-08T21:52:39Z")
Manchasm by the band Future of the Left is about former Senator Mark Foley and his troubles and then morphs into a song about the Singer’s cat Colin. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/82 "2013-03-08T23:12:09Z")
In [Pink Thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyK2iHjnx8c) by XTC, I always assumed Andy Partridge was singing about his penis. ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/83 "2013-03-08T23:53:47Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > In [Pink Thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyK2iHjnx8c) by XTC, I always assumed Andy Partridge was singing about his penis. I have heard that it is either about his penis or his newborn child. But “My Best Friend” by Jellyfish is definitely an Ode to Wang. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/84 "2013-03-08T23:54:48Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > In [Pink Thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyK2iHjnx8c) by XTC, I always assumed Andy Partridge was singing about his penis. Well, it’s a double entendre song that is “really” about a baby. ETA: ninjaed! ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/85 "2013-03-09T01:36:41Z")
[Teargas Jazz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAiiTj9-vg4) by Freak Kitchen is about how the band was advised to keep a low profile in Dehli after the Danish cartoons came out depicting Muhammed, infuriating the local Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/86 "2013-03-09T03:31:35Z")
> [@dinahmoe](#): > > I have heard that it is either about his penis or his newborn child. But “My Best Friend” by Jellyfish is definitely an Ode to Wang. I’m pretty sure “Detachable Penis” by King Missle is about a penis that’s detachable. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mIUk08iYZKE/hqdefault.jpg "King Missile- Detachable Penis") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIUk08iYZKE) ---
**Author:** ![James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Otto_Sweet_Heart)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/87 "2013-03-09T03:33:04Z")
I guess that “Pontoon” from Little Big Town can be added to the list and it scored them their first CMA and Grammy award wins, not to mention their first #1 radio release. 🙂 🙂 🙂 God bless you and them always!!! Holly ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/88 "2013-03-09T03:42:44Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Naah, it’s a political song about repatriating native Australian lands back to the indigenous people. That would be all of Australia, then. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/89 "2013-03-09T04:05:03Z")
Until the End of the World, by U2–Jesus and Judas meet up today and have a chat about the last time they saw each other. Salome, by U2–Herod tries to get out of his deal to bring her John the Baptist’s head on a platter. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/90 "2013-03-09T18:47:19Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **The Mary Ellen Carter** – Stan Rogers’ folk song about the former crew of a ship salvaging it after it sank and was abandoned by the owners. A pretty upbeat and uplifting song that’s usually read as a metaphor for overcoming obstacles. I’ll say: _And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again._ He also has an unusual/fun one with **The Woodbridge Dog Disaster** where the trashman misunderstands the snooty middle class woman and kicks her dog in the balls: \* And its eyes misted over with pain, boys And its eyes misted over with pain.\* ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/91 "2013-03-09T19:08:35Z")
Any children of the 80s who remember the Dr. Demento radio show? [Dead Puppies](http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/d/drdemento6577/deadpuppies248767.html) are about having the lamest type of pet there is … a dead puppy. [Kinko the Kid Lovin’ Clow](http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/d/drdemento6577/kinkotheclown248772.html) is about…guess what. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/92 "2013-03-09T21:22:21Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Just about everything in Frank Zappa’s catalog. That’s what I was going to say. Case in point: _Stick It Out_ and _Cy Borg_ from _Joe’s Garage_, about a guy joining the First Church of Appliantology and falling in love with and having sex with some sort of bizarre household appliance. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/93 "2013-03-09T22:40:16Z")
“Magic Bus” by The Who: a guy tries to buy the bus in which he regularly goes to visit his girlfriend, in the implausible belief that this will work out cheaper than having to pay the fare. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/94 "2013-03-09T22:57:25Z")
Mark Knopfler seems to enjoy writing songs about history and pop culture. “Sailing to Philadelphia” is about Mason & Dixon, the guys who drew the Mason-Dixon line “Boom Like That” is about Ray Kroc and the origin of McDonald’s “Done With Bonaparte” is about Napolean’s defeat in Russia “Baloney Again” is about segregation in the 50s, from the POV of a traveling gospel choir “Song for Sunny Liston” - is about the life of the famous boxer “Back to Tupelo” - is about Elvis’s movie career ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/95 "2013-03-09T23:46:12Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Mark Knopfler seems to enjoy writing songs about history and pop culture. > “Sailing to Philadelphia” is about Mason & Dixon, the guys who drew the Mason-Dixon line > “Boom Like That” is about Ray Kroc and the origin of McDonald’s > “Done With Bonaparte” is about Napolean’s defeat in Russia > “Baloney Again” is about segregation in the 50s, from the POV of a traveling gospel choir > “Song for Sunny Liston” - is about the life of the famous boxer > “Back to Tupelo” - is about Elvis’s movie career Can I add to that list: “Telegraph Road” - Inspired by a bus trip taken by Knopfler, the lyrics narrate a tale of changing land development over a span of many decades along Telegraph Road in suburban Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/96 "2013-03-09T23:53:04Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Well, it’s a double entendre song that is “really” about a baby. > > ETA: ninjaed! In XTC Song Stories by XTC and Neville Farmer, Andy says “Harry was called Pink Thing when he was born but I love my dick and I’m not afraid to tell people. So it’s about both.” ---
**Author:** ![OneOfOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8797f3/32.png) [@OneOfOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneOfOne)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/97 "2013-03-10T03:29:57Z")
Tragically Hip have got to up there in terms of different topics Wheat Kings is about David Milgard, who was imprisoned for 17 years for a crime he didn’t commit Locked In The Trunk of a Car is about a serial killer Gus The Polar Bear from Central Park is about a world leaders unpopularity in the polls The Lonely End of The Rink is about Hockey But most Hip songs have some complexity to their lyrics and phrases that are not easy to understand. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/98 "2013-03-10T14:22:48Z")
[White Punks on Dope](http://www.thetubes.com/lyrics/wpod.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/99 "2013-03-10T15:21:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > [White Punks on Dope](http://www.thetubes.com/lyrics/wpod.htm) And so many others by The Tubes. My first thought: Don’t Touch Me There ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080/100 "2013-03-10T15:34:10Z")
And let’s not forget [Too Drunk to Fuck](http://www.lyricsmania.com/too_drunk_to_fuck_lyrics_nouvelle_vague.html), by the Dead Kennedys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-unusual-topics/652080.md?page=6)