To those put off by misogynistic lyrics and sentiments in today’s music, how about “Run for Your Life” by the Beatles circa 1965:
“I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man.”
Not exactly PC stuff.
That would be the Buoys, who incidentally also made a real jewel with Give up your guns.
Not quite. They divorced in '82 or '83; The Stranger was released in 1977*. It was a factor in their breakup, however. He wrote it for her, with all sincerity and affection, actually a year or so before it was released.
Elizabeth was his manager for years, until they split, and one day the subject of royalties for JTWYA came up. Turned out she was under the impression that she owned the song. Billy reaction was along the lines of, “I write you a beautiful song saying things that most women would kill to hear from their men, and all you want is the money?!” He left off singing it for a while, but he had to give in to demand.
*The same year the Saturday Night Fever was released. If not for that, it probably would have been the #1 seller of the year.
Also, Degrance, a very early, perhaps the first, For Better or For Worse Sunday strip uses that song. Elly is vacuuming, in a robe and curlers. Her baggy eyes were probably caused by infant Lizzie, squalling away in her crib. The song comes on as she’s sweeping the detritus Michael has left everywhere: she glares, turns red and bashes the radio with the vacuum attachment, then calmly goes on sweeping.
The song that probably agitates me the most is “(If You’re Dreaming of Someone) You Can Dream About Me” (country song, I forget the artist)
Now what kind of conceited crap is that??? A guy telling a girl that he has someone to love and be committed to, but that he would send her flowers and call her if she wants to pretend he loves her?
I love that song! They really don’t write 'em like that anymore. Admittedly, though, it probably is something you’d want to play later in the reception, after the adult beverages are flowing and nobody’s scrutinizing the lyrics.
You’ll never guess the name of this Number 1 hit from Donna Summer.
She works hard for her money
She works hard for her money,
She works hard for her money
And you better treat her right.
She works hard for her money
She works hard for her money,
She works hard for her money
And you better treat her right.
She works hard for her money
She works hard for her money,
She works hard for her money
And you better treat her right.
She works hard for her money
She works hard for her money,
She works hard for her money
And you better treat her right.
She works hard for her money
She works hard for her money,
She works hard for her money
And you better treat her right.
She works hard for her money
She works hard for her money,
She works hard for her money
And you better treat her right.
and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on.
Boy George did the same thing to a song a few years later. Thank goodness I can’t remember his ramblings…
Good grief! If you’re gonna write a fuckin’ song, write a song. Don’t repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat
I still get mad just thinking about this shit. Reeks of both laziness and stupidity.
A couple of others featured here would qualify better…but as far as The Bloodhound Gang goes, “You’re Pretty When I’m Drunk” is, in my not particularly humble opinion, even LESS romantic. But funny as hell.
Yeah, MrWhite; she said it four hundred times, and you still didn’t catch that it was “she works hard for the money”!
I like Weird Al’s parody of “Got My Mind Set On You”:
This song’s just six words long
This song’s just six words long
This song’s just six words long
This song’s just six words long…
I once had to share a cubicle with someone who had her radio on “continuous soft hits” all day long. There’s this one song by I think Bread that goes:
I’m lost without your love
Life without you isn’t worth the trouble of…
The trouble of what? AFAIK, that preposition doesn’t modify anything! Guess what, pal: she left you so she wouldn’t have to listen to your incoherent ramblings!
Wings-“Live and Let Die”
“…and in this ever-changing world in which we live in…”
…yeah, Paul, we got it: in
Well, who can forget the Romantic date song, Excitable Boy by Warren Zevon:
Well he went down to dinner in his Sunday best,
Excitable boy, the all said.
And he rubbed the pot roast all over his chest,
Excitable boy, they all said
Well he’s just an exitable boy!
He took little Suzy to the Junior Prom,
Excitable boy, they all said.
And he raped her and killed her then he took her home,
Excitable boy, the all said.
Well he’s just an excitable boy!
After ten long years they let him out of the home,
Excitable boy, they all said.
And he dug up her grave and made a cage with her bones,
Exitable boy, they all said.
Well he’s just an exitable boy!
[hijack]
In “Live and Let Die” it’s, “In this ever-changing world in which we’re livin’.” Yeah, TWO 'in’s still, but at least an attempt at something resembling grammar…a feat WITH WHICH I wrestle and TO WHICH I generally lose.
[/hijack]
Belsen Was a Gas by the Sex Pistols has to qualify for this thread, the last words of the song (apart from some screaming sometimes) are:
“Be a man, KILL SOMEONE! Be a man, KILL YOURSELF!”
Now who would have thought a young wholesome man like Sid Vicious could have such distorted views? 
— G. Raven
I think Heart’s All I Want To Do Is Make Love To You is a top contender to most nauseating, morally bankrupt lyrics:
Two words: Axe murderer.
The most honest part of this song.
“Look, it’s like this. I’m in love with my SO, but he’s sterile. So, I picked you at random on the roadside, took you to a motel that I’ve used before in previous attempts, and boned your brains out. Luckily, I concieved! Thank you for “planting your seed” in my “garden”. Now, please go away, and don’t try to contact your child. Because, I LOVE my SO, and all.”
This has been pointed out before, but it still irks me:
“In the desert you can remember your name
For there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.”
Out, Bad Grammar Demons, Out!
I take refuge in the thought that I’m not alone. The Rolling Stone Album Guide says (from memory) “Every single one of America’s albums are lame.”
I believe two members of America admitted, years later, that they had jotted phrases down when they were stoned, and afterwards woven them into “lyrics”. They laughed all the way to the bank.
Rilchiam,
What can I say other than she burned my eardrums out…
I think my brain tried to block part of the crap out so it wouldn’t further damage my eardrums…Probably enough got through to do a little permanent damage anyway
A few songs I’m still scratching my head over:
It Must Have Been Love (Roxette) - “It must have been love, but it’s over now / It must have been good, but I lost it somehow” …etc. Rest of the song isn’t much help. So, as far as I can tell, she was in some relationship with someone she thinks she probably fell in love with, maybe, but they broke up, and she doesn’t even know how it happened. Geez, that must have been some party… 
You Can’t Hurry Love (The Supremes, Phil Collins) - Let me get this straight…the only way to find a loving relationship is to sit on your butt and wait for something to happen?? Um, guys, did it ever occur to you that your mamas may be wrong about some things?
'65 Love Affair (Paul Davis) - Bleah. He had a wonderful, simple, carefree, relationship, and wasn’t able to carry it to the next level because…because…cripes, did anyone figure this out?? I think the changes that happened to rock music might have had something to do with it, but I’d hate to think anyone would be that lame.
Steal My Sunshine (Len) - Okay…this is a massive drug trip, right? Please say it’s a massive drug trip. (Hey, at least Barenaked Ladies admitted that One Week was free association BS.)
Almost everything by Sarah MacLachlan - Listen, Loreena McKennitt is perfectly capable of creating evocative, melodic music without confusing the hell out of everyone. (I’d really, really hate to meet whoever the subject of Building a Mystery is.)
And a few I put under “questionable career moves”:
Convoy (C.W. McCall) - You know, this is the kind of song that parents sue over these days. I’m sorry, but I fail to see the appeal of a massive convoy of big rigs breaking laws all over the country. Actually, I fail to see the point, but never mind.
No Scrubs (TLC) - Oh goody, a paean to the one of the most reprehensible, disgusting aspects of womanhood. “You’ll pay for everything and like it!” Whoa, when did it become the 50’s again? I’d have been shocked if there wasn’t a backlash.
Barbie Girl (Aqua) -They’re a legitimate and very creative band. They have some really good songs. I’ve listened to them. So what did they choose for their big breakthrough single? A fluffy, sugary tribute to SEVERAL of the most reprehensible aspects of womanhood. Or maybe a literal Barbie doll. Which would be just silly. No-win situation, my friends…no-win situation.
We used to call this song “The Slut Song” when I was a young whippersnapper.
And BTW, did Don Henley write anything that wasn’t dead depressing? How bitter does one man need to be?