# Strange Lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894 "2000-08-27T03:41:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/1 "2000-08-27T03:41:30Z")
Yeah, this has probably been done before, but who want’s to search. Okay, song lyrics that you know what the words are, but still don’t make any sense. _“That girl is like a sunburn I would like to save.”_ What does that mean? A sunburn you want to save? What? _“I’ll keep you by my side with my superhuman. My ache, kryptonite.”_ Isn’t there a noun missing in that sentence. Superhuman what? Okay I know there’s a lot more but I don’t recall them right now. Help me out. (Let me know if this belongs in IMHO instead.) ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/2 "2000-08-27T03:52:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Irishman \* > \*\*_“I’ll keep you by my side with my superhuman. My ache, kryptonite.”_ > \*\* I think the song goes “I’ll keep you by my side with my superhuman might - kryptonite.” The one I never got was by the Stone Temple Pilots “Feeling, like a ham and mustard shake” WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/3 "2000-08-27T04:02:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Irishman \* > \*\* > _“That girl is like a sunburn I would like to save.”_ > > What does that mean? A sunburn you want to save? What? > > \*\* Third Eye Blind, Never Let You Go. H He’s saying, “That girl is like a sunburn. I would like to say she’s like a sunburn…” ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/4 "2000-08-27T04:03:24Z")
Superfluous H! Begone! ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/5 "2000-08-27T14:04:21Z")
“Teachers and critics all dance the poot.” ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/6 "2000-08-27T19:03:30Z")
Xizor - “Ham and mustard shake?” No, no. The real lyric is even more perplexing. It’s “Feeling like a hand in rusted shame.” I think Scott Weiland violated his parole with that one. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/7 "2000-08-27T21:34:35Z")
Are you sure this isn’t the Mondegreens thread? I’ve got a weird one “Stop a baby’s breath and a shoeful of rice, now…” ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/8 "2000-08-27T21:40:02Z")
Can anyone help me understand _any_ Yes lyrics? I’ll be the roundabout The words will make you out ’n’ out You change the day your way Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley ---
**Author:** ![Gomez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Gomez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gomez)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/9 "2000-08-27T21:49:39Z")
I’m not sure if I’ve got this right but - “The cat in the hat came back/ wreaked a lot of havoc along the way/ it always had a smile and a reason to pretend/their world has flat backgrounds and little need to sleep but to dream the sidewinder sleeps on it’s back” - This is from an R.E.M called “Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” song I’ve been listening to for years, I still have no idea what the hell it means, I’ve got the general gist of the song (I think) but this bit doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/10 "2000-08-27T22:14:10Z")
This is an oldie. And I’m not misquoting. The reasons that we are here. The reasons that we fear, we won’t dissapear. –Earth Wind and Fire’s Reasons. And what was that old Neil Diamond song? The one where he sings about the “big chair”? ---
**Author:** ![DeathLlama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DeathLlama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathLlama)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/11 "2000-08-27T22:49:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nocturne \* > \*\*“Stop a baby’s breath and a shoeful of rice, now…” \*\* Um…I think that one’s “A stalk of baby’s breath…” as in the the flower. Some sort of wedding thing, I’m guessing. I think that song had something about freshmen in the title, but don’t remember who performed it. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/12 "2000-08-27T23:07:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeathLlama \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Nocturne \* > > \*\*“Stop a baby’s breath and a shoeful of rice, now…” \*\* > > Um…I think that one’s “A stalk of baby’s breath…” as in the the flower. Some sort of wedding thing, I’m guessing. > I think that song had something about freshmen in the title, but don’t remember who performed it. > > \*\* It’s called “The Freshman” by …umm…argh! The Verve Pipe! Yeah! Nocturne has the lyrics right, though. ---
**Author:** ![DeathLlama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DeathLlama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathLlama)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/13 "2000-08-28T00:09:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AudreyK > > It’s called “The Freshman” by …umm…argh! The Verve Pipe! Yeah! Nocturne has the lyrics right, though. \*\* WHAT??? You’re telling me they’re singing about stopping a baby from breathing? What the heck is that song about? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/14 "2000-08-28T00:14:11Z")
The Freshman…isn’t it about some college guys who play games with some girl until she kills herself? THat’s what it said on pop up video anyway ---
**Author:** ![DeathLlama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DeathLlama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathLlama)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/15 "2000-08-28T00:24:17Z")
Well, frick. Just checking in with Lyrics World ([http://lyrics.natalnet.com.br/html/main\_index/by\_artist/by\_artist.asp?by=Artist&searchf=Vap&searcht=Vf](http://lyrics.natalnet.com.br/html/main_index/by_artist/by_artist.asp?by=Artist&searchf=Vap&searcht=Vf) and according to them you all are right…“stop a baby’s breath and a shoefull of rice” Well whaddya know? wrong, Brian ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/16 "2000-08-28T01:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeathLlama \* > \*\*Well, frick. Just checking in with Lyrics World ([http://lyrics.natalnet.com.br/html/main\_index/by\_artist/by\_artist.asp?by=Artist&searchf=Vap&searcht=Vf](http://lyrics.natalnet.com.br/html/main_index/by_artist/by_artist.asp?by=Artist&searchf=Vap&searcht=Vf) and according to them you all are right…“stop a baby’s breath and a shoefull of rice” > > Well whaddya know? > > wrong, > Brian \*\* I always thought it was saying “Stopping baby’s breath without a showful of rice,” and since the song is about people making decisions they regret, I assumed he was singing about a couple who had an abortion before they got married. I could be wrong. . . ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/17 "2000-08-28T03:04:21Z")
This man has to have some of the most bizarre lyrics out there. Sometimes they are very poetic and symbolic, and a certain amount of contextual analysis successfully reveals his meaning. Other times…well, I have no idea what the hell he’s talking about. > [@](#): > > From **All Around the World or The Myth of Fingerprints** : > > Well, the sun gets weary > And the sun goes down > Ever since the watermelon > And the lights come up > On a black pit town And I have to say, _You Can Call Me Al_ seems to be pointing in a certain direction of sense, and I understand his theme, but his word choice and curious patterns leave me _almost_ completely understanding what he’s saying, but not quite. What about this whole thing in the chorus: > [@](#): > > If you’ll be my bodyguard > I can be your long lost pal > I can call you Betty > And Betty when you call me > You can call me Al Betty? Bodyguard? Huh? > [@](#): > > From **The Obvious Child** > I’m accustomed to a smooth ride > Or maybe I’ma dog that’s lost its bite > I don’t expect to be treated like a fool no more > I don’t expect to sleep throught the night > Some people say a lie’s a lie’s a lie > But I say why > Why deny the obvious child? > > And in remembering a road sign > I am remembering a girl when I was young > And we said These songs are true > These days are outrs > These tears are free > And hey > The cross is in the ballpark > The cross is in the ballpark And it keeps going like that. It’s a _great_ song, though. :::pops CD in the 'puter::: ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/18 "2000-08-28T03:06:41Z")
I always figured the song was about wrong turns their relationships had taken early in life (i.e., when they were freshman). If you want an REM with some truly screwed-up lyrics, check out “E-Bow the Letter”. I’ve not figured that one out yet. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/19 "2000-08-28T07:29:10Z")
You’re trying to make SENSE of R.E.M. lyrics? How about “If I’m your oyster, where’s the war?” from "Binky the Doormat? I just sit back and enjoy the experience as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894/20 "2000-08-28T13:17:55Z")
Lady Godiva she came incognito, The driver had stolen her red hot (rent and?) magneto. With the bows, the pearls in her oysters, were tacky as hell. (To continue the seafood references.) Thanks, PG! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-lyrics/30894.md?page=2)