# 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:** 3
**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, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/41 "2004-04-08T15:34:48Z")
Meta-Gumble, the first song is “Don’t Fence Me In.” The lyric says “…on my cayuse,” etc. Cayuse is a type of horse. Don’t know about the second song. ---
**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, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/42 "2004-04-08T15:37:48Z")
Ha! It’s by George Harrison. The title is “Hong Kong Blues.” ---
**Author:** ![Sat\_on\_Cookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@Sat\_on\_Cookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sat_on_Cookie)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/43 "2004-04-08T15:59:33Z")
\*mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm memmorieessssss, light the corner of my mind misty water colored memories of the way we weeeeeeeerrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeee painted pictures of the smiles we left behind misty watered colored memories of the way we were can it be that it was all so simple then that time has rewritten every line? if we had the chance to do it all again would we could we memmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmooooooooooooooories may be beautiful and yet what’s too painful to rememer we simply choose to foORORGETTTT so it’s the laughter we will remember because whenever we remember the way we were \* ---
**Author:** ![Sat\_on\_Cookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@Sat\_on\_Cookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sat_on_Cookie)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/44 "2004-04-08T16:02:23Z")
Oops; I think one bucket too many of misty water colored memories jumped on that bus ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/45 "2004-04-08T16:09:22Z")
Well I am never embarassed by any song that I know the lyrics to, because, well, I’m obsessed with em. But songs that friends seem to think I should be embarrassed about: I, too, thought of Ice, Ice Baby immediately. Followed immediately by MC Hammer’s Can’t Touch This [My, my, music hits me so hard, makes me say Oh My Lord, Thank you for blessing me with a mind to rhyme and a too-hype beat…] and any Milli Vanilli song. But I do usually redeem myself when I offer up a flawless (tempo- and lyrically-speaking) rendition of We Didn’t Start the Fire. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/46 "2004-04-08T16:39:23Z")
(ahem) If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow… Several verses of gobbledygook (uncle C says so). At least I’ve forgotten all the sub-Tolkein crap ::shudders:: ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/47 "2004-04-08T16:43:49Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Ha! It’s by George Harrison. The title is “Hong Kong Blues.” Actually it’s not. George Harrison may have covered it, but since it’s featured in a bar scene in the Bogart/Bacall movie To Have and Have Not I’d say it predates him by a few decades. ---
**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, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/48 "2004-04-08T16:47:15Z")
> [@BurnMeUp](#): > > Actually it’s not. George Harrison may have covered it, but since it’s featured in a bar scene in the Bogart/Bacall movie To Have and Have Not I’d say it predates him by a few decades. As Johnny Carson used to say: “I did not know that!” Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Aholibah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Aholibah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aholibah)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/49 "2004-04-08T17:04:49Z")
_I cried a tear, you wiped it dry I was confused, you cleared my mind I sold my soul, you bought it back for me And held me up, and gave me dignity Somehow you needed me . . ._ I feel dirty. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/50 "2004-04-08T17:16:26Z")
whenever there is a guilty-pleasure-song type of thread, I must contribute There’s a port - on a western bay and it serves a hundred ships a day Lonely sailors pass the time away Talking about their homes Now there’s a girl in this harbor town and she works, layin’ whiskey down the sailors say “Brandy - fetch another round” She serves them whiskey and wine Don’t tempt me - I can keep going… Oh - and the obvious toughie: I know all the lyrics to **“Bye, bye Miss American Pie”** and can play it on guitar. Did it often enough that it is kinda burned in my brain. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/51 "2004-04-08T18:15:53Z")
_More More More How d’ya like it How d’ya like it More More More How d’ya like it How d’ya like my LOOOOOOOOVE_ Actually, I know way too many disco songs for a responsible adult. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/52 "2004-04-08T18:57:33Z")
Come listen to my story ‘bout a man named Jed. Poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed, Until one day he was shootin’ at some food, And up from the ground came a bubblin’ crude. _Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea_ Now first thing you know ol’ Jed’s a millionaire. kinfolk said “Jed, move away from there,” They said “Californy is the place you oughta be.” So he loaded up his truck and he moved to Beverly _Hills that is, swimming pools, movies stars._ I have no idea why I remember that. I don’t think I watched that show more than half a dozen times. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/53 "2004-04-08T19:50:31Z")
Well, since everyone and there muth-a has mentioned Vanilla Ice I’ll just add my favorite lyric from Ice-Ice Baby: _Rollin’ in my 5 point 0, Got the rag-top down So my hair can blow…_ I toss that out everytime my wife and I are driving around and see some mullet-wearing goof-ball driving a Mustang GT. (Not to say all Mustang owners are mullet-wearing goof-balls). So, other ones I am embarrassed by… _Tag-Team back again, Check it, Direct it, Let’s begin!_ …and to go in the exact opposite direction… _Oh a-way down yonder on the Chattahoochie, It gets hotter than a hoochie-coochie!_ **Wordman** - Growing up, that was one of my mom’s favorite songs. She’d listen to it over and over again as she owned it on a 45. I learned the lyrics to that song then and thankfully had forgetten all about it since then. I now must go mix Ajax and water in my ear canals - are you happy now? 😉 MeanJoe ---
**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, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/54 "2004-04-08T20:08:37Z")
Damn Joe, you just reminded me of “Chatanooga Choo-Choo” by Glen Miller, my Mum used to play it a lot… \*Pardon me boy is that the Chatanooga Choo-Choo? Track 29 And you can give me a dime Can you afford to board the Chatanooga Choo-Choo? Yeah i’ve got my fare, and just a trifle to spare You leave the Pennsylvania station at a-quarter to four read a magazine and then you’re in Baltimore dinner in the diner, nothin’ could be finer than to have your ham and eggs in Carolina… [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/55 "2004-04-08T22:13:29Z")
Hey, lady/You, lady Cursin’ at your life You’re a discontented mother and a regimented wife… ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/56 "2004-04-08T22:22:20Z")
I still remember most of the libretto to _Starlight Express,_ which was my favorite musical when I was about twelve (I’ve long since grown out of that). Indeed, now I have the title song stuck in my head. Thanks a lot, thread! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/57 "2004-04-08T22:47:58Z")
At work I only listen to classical music because I can’t concentrate to anything with lyrics that I can sing along with. As a result the people who work around me have always given me a hard time when they discovered that I do, in fact, listen to non-classical stuff. The fact that I knew the words to _The Time Warp_ utterly stunned a former co-worker. For two weeks afterward he would try to get me to sing it. I’ve had five years of operatic voice training but I get very bashful when put on the spot like that. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/58 "2004-04-08T22:49:11Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > _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…_ Ditto. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/59 "2004-04-08T23:04:23Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > The words to the **Bonanza** theme music (not actually sung on the show, but sung by Lorne Greene on an old 8 track tape) Oh… We got a right to pick a little fight Bo nan zaaaaa… Would you like to hear the theme from **Star Trek** now? ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Milburn\_Drysdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs\_Milburn\_Drysdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Milburn_Drysdale)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824/60 "2004-04-09T00:15:36Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > As Johnny Carson used to say: “I did not know that!” Thanks. That’s a Hoagy Carmichael tune - what album did Harrison cover it on?! I think I only know embarrassing song lyrics. “Yummy Yummy” by the 1910 Fruitgum Company is a good example. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-are-embarassed-to-admit-you-know-the-lyrics-to/238824.md?page=4)