# Truely Bad Song Lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462 "2001-03-02T04:26:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/141 "2001-03-09T15:10:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kyla \* > \*\*Mmm…someone has to. Hometownboy and BigStar303, one of the Five Americans is an esteemed poster on the SDMB. Posting the lyrics to Western Union was just a jibe at him, since he wrote them. > \*\* Thanks for the tip, and after reviewing my previous posts on the subject, I don’t \*\* think\*\* they were offensive, though I did rather make light of their other Top 40 songs. That was more a comment on my fading memory than any attempt to put them down. I hope it was not construed as such, because there are plenty of other acts out there who truly deserve our disdain. If it was so construed, I offer apologies, and a link to their page at [All Music Guide](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll) which is a highly recommended resource. ---
**Author:** ![BigStar303](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@BigStar303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigStar303)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2001, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/142 "2001-03-09T20:05:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hometownboy \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Kyla \* > > \*\*Mmm…someone has to. Hometownboy and BigStar303, one of the Five Americans is an esteemed poster on the SDMB. Posting the lyrics to Western Union was just a jibe at him, since he wrote them. > > \*\* > > Thanks for the tip, and after reviewing my previous posts on the subject, I don’t \*\* think\*\* they were offensive, though I did rather make light of their other Top 40 songs. That was more a comment on my fading memory than any attempt to put them down. I hope it was not construed as such, because there are plenty of other acts out there who truly deserve our disdain. If it was so construed, I offer apologies, and a link to their page at [All Music Guide](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll) which is a highly recommended resource.\*\* Ditto. I LIKE “Western Union,” actually (though I like “Evol-Not Love” even more!). Certainly no offense was intended by either of us. Assuming it is Mike who is the SDMB poster in question (and I relaized after my last post that many of their songs had dual composer credits, so I can’t be sure this is so), I have nothing but admiration for him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/143 "2001-03-09T23:22:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigStar303 \* > [ > The first “for” is used in the sense of “because.” And “for to…” is an old folkie idiom, used by no less than Bob Dylan in “Mr. Tambourine Man”: > > I’m ready to go anywhere > I’m ready for to fade > Into my own parade… > > \*\* Alright there Mr Gettintoobigformypants Star303 :). Dissin Bob is fightin words. While I’ll admit “for to fade” is kinda obtuse, I can overlook that in light of the rest of the song’s lyrics. To wit: “And we’ll dance beneath the diamond skies with one hand waving free Sillohuetted by the trees,Circled by the circus sands With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves Let us forget about today until tommorow.” Sheer poetry celebrating the exuberance of youth. If you can’t feel it, I can’t explain it to you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Worshiping at the Church of Bob™ most nights and every weekend. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/144 "2001-03-10T00:06:18Z")
I’m not afraid to say his name, I’ll even say it thrice. Aha-Aha-Aha is the singer of Western Union (THE WORLD’S GREATEST BAND)I’m not ashamed of this blatant ass-kissing for a very wise man once told me.“Do it well for there is no shame” or something like that. 😃 ---
**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:** [March 10, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/145 "2001-03-10T02:57:00Z")
I love Earth Wind and Fire, but their psuedo-meta-new agey lyrics were sometimes downright stupid. After The Love Is Gone \* For awhile to love each other with all we would ever need Love was strong for so long never knew that what was wrong oh baby wasn’t right We tried to find what we had till sadness was all we shared We were scared this affair would lead our love into Somethin’ happened along the way yesterday was all we had Somethin’ happened along the way what used to be happy is sad\* I know what they were trying to say, but trying to parse this into meaningful sentences gives me a headache. Serpentine Fire \*oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah, oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah I need to see your face like the morning sun ignite my energy The cause and effect of you has brought new meaning in my life to me The moments I find when I’m inclined to do my best Negative wins when I give in and then I lose the test (not many times) Gonna tell a story morning glory all about the serpentine fire Surely as life begun, you will as one battle with the serpentine fire \* Again, I think I know what he means, but the words don’t add up. That’s The Way of The World \*Hearts of fire creates love desire Take you high and higher to the world you belong Hearts of fire creates love desire High and higher to your place on the throne We’ve come together on this special day To sing our message loud and clear Looking back we’ve touched on sorrowful days Future pass, they disappear You will find peace of mind If you look way down in your heart and soul Don’t hesitate ‘cause the world seems cold Stay young at heart ‘cause you’re never (never, never, …) old at heart That’s the way of the world Plant your flower and you grow a pearl A child is born with a heart of gold The way of the world makes his heart grow cold \* Future pass, they disappear? What does it all mean? P.S. A chimney on her refers to a black eye? I guess I have to brush up on my street lingo. P.P.S. What happened to aha? I haven’t seen a post from him in quite some time. ---
**Author:** ![BigStar303](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@BigStar303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigStar303)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/146 "2001-03-10T05:08:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Mermaid \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by BigStar303 \* > > [ > > The first “for” is used in the sense of “because.” And “for to…” is an old folkie idiom, used by no less than Bob Dylan in “Mr. Tambourine Man”: > > > > I’m ready to go anywhere > > I’m ready for to fade > > Into my own parade… > > > > \*\* > > Alright there Mr Gettintoobigformypants Star303 :). Dissin Bob is fightin words. While I’ll admit “for to fade” is kinda obtuse, I can overlook that in light of the rest of the song’s lyrics. To wit: > > “And we’ll dance beneath the diamond skies with one hand waving free > Sillohuetted by the trees,Circled by the circus sands > With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves > Let us forget about today until tommorow.” > > Sheer poetry celebrating the exuberance of youth. If you can’t feel it, I can’t explain it to you. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Worshiping at the Church of Bob™ most nights and every weekend.\*\* No dissing of Bob intended in any way…I merely quoted “Mr. Tambourine Man” as a (relatively) newer example of the use of the old folk idiom “for to.” And I did this to explain why “for there ain’t no one for to give you no pain” in “Horse with No Name” – while most certainly bad – was not really redundant, as had been charged. For the record, I don’t often listen to Dylan, because – with the exception of the “Highway 61” and “Blonde on Blonde” period – I just don’t find him very _musically_ interesting. But having said that, I have tremendous respect for him and what he has meant to rock ‘n’ roll in the last four decades of the 20th century. Dylan is really pretty single-handedly responsible for showing that rock lyrics can be about more than moon and spoon in June (not that there’s anything wrong with that) – that they can address deeper matters, and do so literately and creatively. That counts for a great deal. ---
**Author:** ![dodge\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@dodge\_this](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dodge_this)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/147 "2001-03-10T17:19:18Z")
‘In the Year 2525’ always gets to me. I never know whether to laugh or cry or run screaming out of the room. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/148 "2001-03-10T17:30:07Z")
**One is the lonliest number that you’ll ever do Two can be as bad as one It’s the lonliest number since the number one** ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/149 "2001-03-10T20:28:42Z")
Seconded ‘Life’ (the ghost and bungee jumping song). It’s by _Des’Ree_. It was probably a bigger hit in the UK than over the pond. But can’t believe no-one’s come up with a song from the same year that I think might’ve won a Grammy. Don’t ask me why: _Sunny Came Home_ - Shawn Colvin “Sunny came home to her favourite room Sunny sat down in the kitchen She opened her book and a box of tools Sunny came home with a mission” and later in the song: “Get their kids and bring their sweater **Dry is good and wind is better** Count the years you always knew it Strike a match go run to it” OTOH, in defence of _Alanis Morissette_, she did write songs with far better lyrics than ‘Ironic’. Don’t ask me why she wrote that. but maybe some of you doubters could have a listen to ‘ **Forgiven** ’ or ‘ **Perfect** ’ off Jagged Little Pill and see if you still feel the same about her. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/150 "2001-03-10T21:46:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigStar303 \* > And I did this to explain why “for there ain’t no one for to give you no pain” in “Horse with No Name” – while most certainly bad – was not really redundant, as had been charged. But it is, however, a double negative. I can deal with the Department of Redudancy Department, but double negatives are just stupid. ---
**Author:** ![BigStar303](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@BigStar303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigStar303)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/151 "2001-03-10T23:19:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by BigStar303 \* > > And I did this to explain why “for there ain’t no one for to give you no pain” in “Horse with No Name” – while most certainly bad – was not really redundant, as had been charged. > > But it is, however, a double negative. I can deal with the Department of Redudancy Department, but double negatives are just stupid. \*\* Actually, as I pointed out in my original post, it’s a _triple_ negative (ain’t, no one, no). I also said at the time that one can usually grant songwriters at least some leeway when it comes to grammar violations. But this triple negative does stretch that tolerance. ---
**Author:** ![BigStar303](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@BigStar303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigStar303)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2001, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/152 "2001-03-10T23:26:00Z")
Boy, I heard a dandy on the radio today that hadn’t occurred to me before and that no one has mentioned so far. It’s “truly bad” in two respects. From “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner: _You don’t have to read my mind To know what I have in mind_ Huh? You may pick up visual cues that enable you to guess what a person “has in mind.” But unless he or she _tells_ you outright, “reading his/her mind” is exactly what you’re doing. Not only is this couplet really stupid, it’s extremely lame to rhyme a word with itself. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@Jonathan43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan43)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/153 "2001-03-11T18:50:44Z")
Don’t think anyone has mentioned one of my favourites - “If”, a number one record for Telly Savalas in the UK back in the mid '70s One line in particular has never made sense to me : “If a man could be in two places at one time Then I’d be with you Tomorrow and Today…” Eh? Since when were Tomorrow and Today PLACES? What Telly really means is he wants to be in two times at one place… And you thought Back to the Future was complicated… ---
**Author:** ![rayniday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecc23a/32.png) [@rayniday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayniday)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/154 "2001-03-12T00:52:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MissMisery \* > \*\*I’m lazy and didn’t take the time to read all of the responses, so I am not sure if anyone has posted this one yet, but I am sure that anyone that has been subjected to American pop( I think that is the category… feel free to yell at me if I am wrong) has heard the painful song “It Wasn’t Me”(Until a few seconds ago when I called upon the help of my younger sister, I referred it as the “‘banging on the bathroom floor’ song” if that helps clear it up) by the artist Shaggy. I believe it deserves all of the titles for worst lyrics… \*\* yes! that song’s one of my guilty pleasures. It goes against everything I believe in, musically and morally, yet I find it hysterical! Another song by same artist-“Angel” Closer than my peeps you are to me She was there through my incarceration, I wanna show the nation, my appreciation. _goes into epileptic fits_ ---
**Author:** ![BigStar303](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@BigStar303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigStar303)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/155 "2001-03-12T00:52:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan43 \* > \*\*Don’t think anyone has mentioned one of my favourites - “If”, a number one record for Telly Savalas in the UK back in the mid '70s. \*\* My God! I know this is off-topic, but I didn’t believe the above statement could possibly be true. I checked it out, and sure enough, “If” by Telly Savalas really DID make #1 in the UK in 1975. Here in the states, it was a hit for the guy who composed it, David Gates and his band Bread. But Telly’s version never even made the Hot 100. So much for Great Britain being the land of culture and taste! ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/156 "2001-03-12T04:33:42Z")
> [@](#): > > I can deal with the Department of Redundancy Department, but double negatives are just stupid. Who the hell let Pat Boone in here? Though you get props for the redundancy gag, Pat. I just wanted to second “In the Year 2525.” Wow, what a silly song. Here you go: > [@](#): > > Zager And Evans > Album : (Exordium And Terminus) > > In The Year 2525 > In the year 2525, > If man is still alive, > If woman can survive, > They may find- > > In the year 3535 > Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, > Tell no lies. > Everything you think, do, and say > Is in the pill you took today. > > In the year 4545 > Ain’t gonna need your teeth, > Won’t need your eyes. > You won’t find a thing to chew, > Nobody’s gonna look at you. > > In the year 5555 > Your arms are hanging limp at your side, > You legs got nothing to do, > Some machine’s doing that for you. > > In the year 6565 > Ain’t gonna need no husband, > Won’t need no wife. > You’ll pick your sons, pick your daughters too > From the bottom of a long glass tube. > Whoa-oh-oh. > > In the year 7510 > If God’s a-coming > He ought to make it by then. > Maybe he’ll look around himself and say, > “Guess it’s time for the Judgement Day.” > > In the year 8510 > God is gonna shake his mighty head. > He’ll either say, “I’m pleased where man has been” > Or tear it down and start again. > Whoa-oh-oh > > In the year 9595 > I’m kinda wondering > If man is gonna be alive; > He’s taken everything this old Earth can give > And he ain’t put back nothing. > > Now it’s been ten thousand years, > Man has cried a billion tears > For what he never knew. > Now man’s reign is through. > But throught eternal night, > The twinkling of starlight, > So very far away, > Maybe it’s only yesterday… > > In the year 2525 (etc…) I first heard this song last year here in Tokyo, where the radio sometimes plays all sorts of weird (what I think are) obscure English songs. I was certain this one was a joke, but it sounded too old…but then, I thought the same thing about Queen’s “Bicycle” the first time I heard that one too. But you get the feeling that Freddie Mercury is in on the joke. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/157 "2001-03-12T06:07:06Z")
I didn’t see this one, but its late and I have to go to bed ‘Guilty feet have got no rhythm’ HUH? And this is a song I really like for no real reason, but the meaning of the song is lost on me “Black Betty bam a lam oh black betty bam a lam down in Birmingham bam a lam way down in Alabam bam a lam” Civil rights or speed? ---
**Author:** ![dr\_hermes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@dr\_hermes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_hermes)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/158 "2001-03-12T07:25:22Z")
In Foreignor’s “Hot Blooded”… ``` "You don't have to read my mind "To Know what I have in mind" I believe he is saying that he is visibly aroused and wants her to notice.It's a stiffy alert. And does any else think the Eagles "One of These Nights" sounds vaguely threatening? I could easily imagine it played in a movie as a stalker is tracking someone down. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/159 "2001-03-12T15:11:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dr hermes \* > [BAnd does any else think the Eagles “One of These Nights” sounds vaguely threatening? I could easily imagine it played in a movie as a stalker is tracking someone down. > \*\* Totally off-topic, but yeah, I’ve thought of it that way. The opening bass licks kinda set the tone, I think, and then “coming right behind you, swear I’m gonna find you, getcha baby one of these nights”…is pretty creepy. Good song though. ---
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462/160 "2001-03-14T19:04:18Z")
I’m not even going to post the lyrics here… you can search for them yourself (if you can’t remember them). Let’s eschew the bland lyrics that make up the song over the poppy-bouncy-chees-flavoured-bubblegum backbeat… “Saturday night and the air is getting hot” “I’ll make you mine you know I’ll take you to the top” But the all-time worst lyrics are from Whigfield’s “Saturday Night”, where EVERY FREAKING LINE ENDS WITH “…Baby” …like you baby …pretty baby …come on baby The writer couldn’t even be bothered to find a rhyme to “Baby”. Like, what? Is this a HARD thing? :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truely-bad-song-lyrics/56462.md?page=9)