# Songs you are embarassed to admit you know the lyrics to. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824 "2004-04-07T21:13:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/21 "2004-04-08T02:06:51Z")
Madonna - “Don’t Stop” Tell me everything I’m not, But don’t ever tell me to stop… ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/22 "2004-04-08T02:15:53Z")
I saw “Shallow Hal” the other day on HBO, and when they played “Love Goes Where My Rosemary Goes” at the end I found myself singing out loud and not missing a word. I’m embarassed to admit it, but it’s a killer old-fashioned top 40 pop song, circa 1970. Now it’s going to be in my head for the rest of the night. “And nobody knows like me” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/23 "2004-04-08T02:24:48Z")
> [@headshok](#): > > I know the words to **Dancing Queen** by ABBA. > > I’m not embarrassed by that. No, really, I’m not. My friends are, though. > > _Dancing Queen, > Feel the beat from the tambourine, ohhh yeaahhh…_ > > OK maybe I’m a little embarrassed… Don’t feel bad. Wait, you don’t. Hell, I know the words to 99% of ABBA’s songs. ---
**Author:** ![Coulbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Coulbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coulbean)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/24 "2004-04-08T02:30:52Z")
I’m not embarrased by the fact that I know a good portion of the lyrics to Subterrianian Homesick Blues… (And enough of the rest of them to make it a good kareoke song) … But I may be embarrassed by the fact that I know the lyrics to a large number of Weird Al songs. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/25 "2004-04-08T03:32:44Z")
_ahem_ _Out in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl Nighttime would find me in Rosa’s cantina Music would play and Felina would whirl…_ ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/26 "2004-04-08T03:34:45Z")
Actually, I suppose that’s not as “embarassing” as it is just “goofy.” ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/27 "2004-04-08T03:45:13Z")
\*Just a small town girl Livin’ in a lonely world She took the idnight rain Goin’ anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere Singer in a smokey room Smell ‘a wine an’ cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and then Strangers, waitin’ Up and down the boulevard an’ Shadows searchin’ in the ni-i-iight Street light people Livin’ just to find emotion Hiding somewhere in the niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight! Don’t stop believin’ Hold on to the fee-ee-lih-in! Street light people Oh oh oooooh!\* I even taught myself how to play this on the piano. It’s, like, one of three songs I can play. Sad. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/28 "2004-04-08T03:56:02Z")
_At the Copa, Copacabana, The hottest spot north of Havana…_ ---
**Author:** ![jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jehan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/29 "2004-04-08T03:59:31Z")
Anyone else actually remember I think I love you- so what am I so afraid of? I’m afraid that I’m not sure of- a love there is no cure for. I think I could quote the whole thing, but I’ll stop there! (Partridge family circa 1970) ---
**Author:** ![AntaresJB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AntaresJB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntaresJB)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/30 "2004-04-08T04:01:50Z")
Just about any song I’ve heard more than twice I know a generous portion of the lyrics to. I’m a singer by nature, I guess, I just NEED to sing along. I guess the most embarrassing ones would include a large number of Spice Girls and Britney Spears singles. ---
**Author:** ![sciguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@sciguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciguy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/31 "2004-04-08T04:06:02Z")
> [@Coulbean](#): > > … But I may be embarrassed by the fact that I know the lyrics to a large number of Weird Al songs. Is it wrong when you know the Weird Al lyrics better than the originals? Grapefruit diet (Zoot Suit Riot), Couch Potato (parody of Eminem’s Lose Yourself), The Saga Begins (Star Wars version of American Pie), Jerry Springer (One Week), Ode to a Superhero (Spiderman version of Piano Man), Smells Like Nirvana (Teen Sprit), I love Rocky Road (Rock and Roll); they all come rolling out of my mouth whenever I hear the “correct” version. Pity me. ---
**Author:** ![PucksRaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecd19e/32.png) [@PucksRaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PucksRaven)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/32 "2004-04-08T04:50:34Z")
Wow, apparently I know the words to a LOT of embarassing songs. Including the Spice Girls, Copacabana, Vanilla Ice and several others mentioned. The only one I can think of that hasn’t been mentioned is. . . - Don’t tell my heart My Achy Breaky heart I just don’t think he’d understand And if you tell my heart My achy breaky heart He might blow up and kill this man\* And now that that’s stuck in everyone’s head I be going. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/33 "2004-04-08T05:16:46Z")
“P Control” – by Prince ---
**Author:** ![Tmagic77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Tmagic77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tmagic77)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/34 "2004-04-08T06:26:58Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > As soon as I saw the thread title I thought of **Ice Ice Baby**. Who can forget such classic lines as “killin’ your brain like a poisonous mushroom” and “deadly, when I’m playing my melody, anything less than the best is a felony”? > > Fun Vanilla Ice fact: a few weeks ago I was at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) for a high school competition. A friend of mine had the sublime experience of seeing Vanilla Ice perform at a frat house at the college. Unfortunately I missed the opportunity. Poor Ice. He’s fallen to playing at frat houses for his dinner, apparently. Vanilla Ice now frequents Lemont Illinois, my hometown. If you know where that is, or if you don’t know where it is my point’s been made. ---
**Author:** ![Coulbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Coulbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coulbean)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/35 "2004-04-08T06:48:38Z")
> [@sciguy](#): > > Is it wrong when you know the Weird Al lyrics better than the originals? > > Grapefruit diet (Zoot Suit Riot), Couch Potato (parody of Eminem’s Lose Yourself), The Saga Begins (Star Wars version of American Pie), Jerry Springer (One Week), Ode to a Superhero (Spiderman version of Piano Man), Smells Like Nirvana (Teen Sprit), I love Rocky Road (Rock and Roll); they all come rolling out of my mouth whenever I hear the “correct” version. > > Pity me. If it’s wrong, then we’re going to hell in a handbasket together. I think it’s even worse when you learn the parodies as a child _before_ you even know the originals exist. And worse than that is when Weird Al starts to parody your own life. (The E-bay song has a line which says “…A Pac-Man Fever lunch box…” The first time I heard it, I was seated on my futon looking straight up at my Pac-Man lunch box ordered on E-bay. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/36 "2004-04-08T07:03:06Z")
> [@Daizy](#): > > I’m ashamed to say…I know all the words to: > > **The Rodeo Song** :eek: > > Well it’s 40 below and I don’t give a fuck > Got a heater in my truck and I’m off to the rodeo > And it’s allemande left allemande right > Come on ya fuckin’ dummy get your right step right > Get off the stage ya god damn goof ya know > > Piss me off ya fuckin’ jerk get on my nerves… :eek: Wait a minute. _I_ know the lyrics to this song. _Why_ do I know the lyrics t this song? “…here comes Johnny with his pecker in his hand he’s a one ball man and he’s off to the rodeo…” ---
**Author:** ![mbacko1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mbacko1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbacko1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/37 "2004-04-08T12:35:32Z")
> [@Meta-Gumble](#): > > Vanilla Ice: Ice Ice Baby. I actually thought I wasn’t cool enough to listen to it when it first came out so I thought if I memorised the lyrics I could make up for my lack of cool. Thankfully i’ve forgotten most of it now, except:"… if rhyme was a drug, i’d sell it by the gram". And of course the chorus, which, even now, loops incessantly in my head. Fun. How about “Hello” by Lionel Richie. My mom listened to a lot of pop in the late 1970s and through the 1980s. And this is from a guy who listened to heavy metal exclusively while in college. Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/38 "2004-04-08T13:16:53Z")
_They rolled out west where the wild sun sets, And the coyote bays at the moon. Della and a dealer and a dog named Jake, And a cat named Kalamazoo._ Yep, I have a degree in music, and a weakness for Hoyt Axton. Oh, and I can sing along to every SINGLE Jimmy Buffett song. My parents are so proud. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/39 "2004-04-08T13:28:35Z")
Wow. And I thought I was the only one! I also immediately thought of “Ice Ice Baby” when I saw the thread title. And I still know _all_ the words. Hah, take this! _All right stop, collaborate and listen Ice is back with my brand new invention Something grabs a hold of me tightly Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly Will it ever stop? Yo, I don’t know. Turn off the lights, and I’ll glow. To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal, Light up a stage and wax a chump like a candle._ I’d do the whole song, but they don’t like us doing that here. I did almost do this song at karaoke one night when I was drunk. My husband advised against it. So what’s wrong with a nerdy white girl doing a Vanilla Ice song? Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/40 "2004-04-08T15:21:24Z")
koeeaddi, I know this one as well but I consider even it to have more cred than “Ice Ice Baby” 🙂 I don’t know the songs name, can anyone fill me in? > [@](#): > > “I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences > gaze at the moon till I lose my senses > I can’t look at hovels and I can’t stand fences > Don’t fence me in.” \*On my cayoot let me wander over yonder till i see the mountains rise… [croon]wooo ooo oo ooo[/croon] \* Oh and also: \*This the story of a very unfortunate coloured man who got 'rested down in old Hong Kong … he had many a privilidge taken away from hiim when he stole ol’ Buddha’s gong And now he’s pawnin’ his piano jus’ t pay the price of a ticket to the land of the free Cos he said he comes from 'frisco where they grow the rice but he’s really from Tenesee… Thats what they saaayyy… \* I’m still waiting for someone to post “Rhinestone Cowboy” but who would actually publicly admit it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824.md?page=3)