It took me lo 20 years or so (yes I can be slow on the uptake on some things), but REM’s “Man on the Moon” apparently implies that a faked moon landing would be more “cool” than the real one (which was indeed the coolest event of my lifetime). Now perhaps I am taking the lyrics too literally (this is Michael Stipe we’re talking about, after all), but I can no longer listen to it without it seriously bugging me.
Me too, probably my favorite song mentioned in this thread. I remember buying it on 45 the week it came out in 1969 (:eek:), and I still have it somewhere.
Pretty funny that it was written and recorded by a Jewish dude.
mmm
How do you possibly miss the lyrics to that? What did you think it was about?
He also makes some uncited claims about Mott the Hoople playing the board game Life. Seriously, it’s a mistake to read his lyrics that literally and he definitely does not say a faked moon landing would be cooler than the real one.
Brown Sugar. Ugh. And ditto on Under my Thumb.
My entry is The Seed 2.0 by the Roots. Love the beat but what is up with the lyrics?
I only wanna fertilize another behind my lover’s back
I sit and watch it grow standin’ where I’m at
Fertilize another behind my lover’s back
And I’m keepin’ my secrets mine
Box Tops Sweet Cream Ladies Forward March.
Did ANYONE look at the lyrics before giving it so much airplay in the innocent 1960’s? They are not implying or infering anything. This song is about prostitutes.
That’s pretty much why it got the airplay it did.
The funny thing is using that song years later to sell cream pies.
Same here. I used to like the song until I started paying attention to the lyrics. It’s pretty obvious the song is an ode to communism. 
Happy Boy by the Beat Farmers.
A local radio station always plays just the first verse and my 5 year-old son liked it:
I was walkin’ down the street on a sunny day
hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba
Feelin’ in my bones that I’ll have my way
hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba
Chorus:
Well, I’m a happy boy (happy boy)
So I downloaded the full version. The rest of the song is about how the guys dog got hit by a car, he put the dead dog in a drawer, forgot about it for a month, then when he found it again laughed about it.
I was a big Bowie fan as a young teen, then I grew up a little and realized that many of his songs I loved (Velvet Goldmine, Queen Bitch, etc.) were essentially about gay sex. It squicked me out to listen to them. Then I grew up a little more and wasn’t bothered by it anymore, and I started listening again.
I’m glad John Lennon got a mention. I loved his solo work as a teen as well. Then I started to really listen to his lyrics and it slowly dawned on me that he was just a shallow, hubristic, narcissistic prick who could write good melodies. I can’t listen to any of his stuff anymore without being repulsed.
A month and a half.
That makes a difference.
“Follow Me” by Uncle Kraker.
Nice catchy song, good hook. But then I really listened to the second verse. Killed it for me.
Well, you can’t be too shocked at Greenbaum getting his evangelical theology wrong - IIRC, he’s Jewish.
shrug
Still a dang catchy tune, though I find myself wanting to yell at the radio occasionally that he’s got it wrong.
Oh, and I see that Khadaji called out Uncle Kracker before I did. 
That’s just a weird song all around - I remember when it first came out.
I have to add **Possum Kingdom by the Toadies **- cool, rocking song until you realize it is about a serial killer luring a victim to their death.
It’s interesting you say that, just about everyone else goes on about his artistic vision. I always thought that he had one hell of a toxic personality, which makes Paul McCartney kind of a genius to just be able to work with him. He seems to have mellowed a bit as he got older, though. Hell, didn’t he give David Chapman an autograph?
I was going to disagree with you, but then I put in my contacts and carefully read the lyrics. +1
One more song I won’t be singing in the shower.
I will pile on In The Summertime. It obviously states the rich daughter of the rich family is going to be taken out for a meal. If the other girl is poor, she (who would appreciate/could probably use a meal), will be subjected to whatever the man singer feels like doing. I thought this the first time I heard it eons ago, and I think this today. Unfair. Unfair to the poor girl. Why doesn’t SHE get taken out to a restaurant? It’s unfair, and cruel. Miss Bigbucks is a spoiled rich bitch who could very well pay for the male singer and her meal ten times over. Miss Poorgirl lives on food stamps. Which one deserves a date involving eating in a restaurant most?
I agree with your interpretation Lynn. The song also says it’s OK to drink-and-drive. 
Just keep a firm grip on the soap and you’ll be fine.