# Worst lyrics in rock/pop music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759 "2009-12-02T21:22:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/141 "2009-12-05T01:38:15Z")
I doubt it. So? Nonsense lyrics are not the same as bad lyrics. There’s both good and bad nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/142 "2009-12-05T02:06:37Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I doubt it. So? Nonsense lyrics are not the same as bad lyrics. There’s both good and bad nonsense. And what would you consider theirs to have been? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/143 "2009-12-05T02:21:34Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > And what would you consider theirs to have been? I’d say good. They worked with the music, and some of it really spoke to people. Although it might have helped that Kurt Cobain wasn’t exactly Henry Higgins. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/144 "2009-12-05T02:24:11Z")
You want weird? Look no further than 1970’s Yes songs. I love their songs, but “Heart of the Sunrise”, “Yours is no Disgrace”, “Roundabout”, and others don’t really make any sense. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/145 "2009-12-05T04:40:58Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > I guess the members of Toto were clergy because they were blessing the rains down in Africa. > > I wish I could take some time to do the things I never have. > > Despite this post, I actually like the song :o When I was ten, this was my favorite song - and I had the lyrics completely wrong. I always thought it was a song about seizing the day and living your dreams. After all, this guy was going to “catch some rays down in Africa - take some time to do the things [he] never had.” Obviously, he was going to take a trip to an African beach. I like my lyrics much better. “hurry boy, it’s waiting there for yoooouu…” ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/146 "2009-12-05T05:48:34Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > When I was ten, this was my favorite song - and I had the lyrics completely wrong. I always thought it was a song about seizing the day and living your dreams. After all, this guy was going to “catch some rays down in Africa - take some time to do the things [he] never had.” Obviously, he was going to take a trip to an African beach. > > I like my lyrics much better. > > “hurry boy, it’s waiting there for yoooouu…” I always thought he was singing “I guess it rains down in Africa” which, while still not making sense, sounds better to me than the actual lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/147 "2009-12-05T11:49:18Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Reading all the awful snippets of songs in this thread makes me wonder why people pick on Neil Peart, the man who wrote the lyrics to _The Analog Kid_ and _Different Strings_ and _Middletown Dreams_ and _Workin’ Them Angels_ and _The Way The Wind Blows_ and _Witch Hunt_ and _Time Stand Still_. You’ll have to admit, some of Rush’s early lyrics were a bit on the “Neil, put down the bong and back away from the lyrics…” Having said that, I love his writing, weird shit or not. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/148 "2009-12-05T12:34:28Z")
> [@](#): > > The Steve Miller Band, with this awful rhyme: > > Abra-abra-cadabra. > I wanna reach out and grab ya. > > Abra-abra-cadabra. > Abracadabra. Arguably topped by Sheryl Crow’s SOAK UP THE SUN: first she rhymes RV with TV, and then she runs through all the clichés, rhyming “you” and “do” and “too” before ending the song by rhyming “on” with – “on”. ---
**Author:** ![QuercusMax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8baadc/32.png) [@QuercusMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuercusMax)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/149 "2009-12-05T14:02:53Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > The Steve Miller Band, with this awful rhyme: > > Abra-abra-cadabra. > I wanna reach out and grab ya. > > Abra-abra-cadabra. > Abracadabra. > > I also nominate this song for worst riff in rock/pop music. “na na NA… NA na na”. I actually knew a girl named Abra (my brother dated her briefly), who was named after this song. I never had an urge to reach out and grab her, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/150 "2009-12-05T18:13:37Z")
> [@BaneSidhe](#): > > You’ll have to admit, some of Rush’s early lyrics were a bit on the “Neil, put down the bong and back away from the lyrics…” > > Having said that, I love his writing, weird shit or not. Their first album doesn’t count because Neil Peart wasn’t a member. But I’m not saying every line was golden, I’m just pointing out that it’s not fair to criticize Neil Peart as a bad lyricist when songs like ‘My Humps’ exist. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/151 "2009-12-05T18:23:55Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > Someone wrote about Rosecrans Boulevard??? I only know it from, oh, Compton to Buena Park, but pray tell what kind of inspiration is that street? Apparently, both it and Guildenstern Avenue are, eventually, dead ends. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/152 "2009-12-06T06:16:19Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Beauty! When I hear that song, I first begin to laugh, then fall silent in confusion. What strange confluence of events could possibly have resulted in that song being written and then shared with us? It truly boggles the mind. I haven’t heard this song in over 20 years, but I always thought it was (performed) by Michael Jackson. I’d never even heard of Rebbie Jackson until I looked her up on Wikipedia just now. Seems she’s Michael’s oldest sister and the song was written by Michael. As much as I’d like to make a “that explains it all” joke, I have to admit that none of the Michael Jackson music I’m familiar with has really bad lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/153 "2009-12-06T06:26:10Z")
One thing I hate and personally think is stupid are lyrics that are clearly their because the song writer needed a rhyme. “I’m a lucky mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn” “with fire in my hannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnds” I love the song, but that one part ::shudder:: ---
**Author:** ![MitzeKatze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MitzeKatze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MitzeKatze)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/154 "2009-12-06T06:37:31Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > I always thought he was singing “I guess it rains down in Africa” which, while still not making sense, sounds better to me than the actual lyrics. As long as we are on the subject (or were yesterday at least) I will just say that I heard that line the same way, but also misheard nearly the whole verse. This is what I was singing when I sang along to the radio playing Africa: “It’s gonna take a lot to take me away from you That’s nothing that a hundred men on Mars could ever do I guess it rains down in Africa…” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/155 "2009-12-06T10:33:51Z")
> [@BigBertha](#): > > Surely thre must be a submission from KISS, I would assume! Sure, from the loving ode “Hotter Than Hell” (the chorus is the worst): \*Come on She looked good She looked hotter than hell All dressed in satins and lace I looked at her and it was just too clear I had to get on the case I said “Lady, oh lady, can I take you home There’s just so much we could do I’ll take you all around the whole wide world Before the evening is through” Hot, hot, hotter than hell You know she’s gonna leave you well done Hot, hot, hotter than hell Burn you like the midday sun \* She’s “gonna leave you well-done”? Really? **sigh** ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/156 "2009-12-06T11:47:13Z")
Watching Roxxette’s “The Look” on VH1 Classic reminded me, although I love the song, some of the lyrics: “Walking like a man, hitting like a hammer She’s a juvenile scam, never was a quitter Tasty like a raindrop, she’s got the look” WFT? OK, actually, pretty much all the lyrics are WTF are they singing about lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Pulp\_Friction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@Pulp\_Friction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pulp_Friction)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/157 "2009-12-06T15:46:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Any song that rhymes two out of these three: school, cool, and fool. Dance, romance, take a chance. If I were a songwriter (but, then again, no 🙂 ) I would write something like: _C’mon, baby, c’mon and dance C’mon, baby, let’s make romance C’mon, baby, lookit your gay brother prance_ Just to throw a curveball. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/158 "2009-12-10T03:47:14Z")
Stacy’s Mom Has Got It Going On ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/159 "2009-12-10T03:53:23Z")
OK, I had to go back a couple of pages, but I just wanted to ask about > [@jasonh300](#): > > Songs she sang to me, > Songs she _ **brang** _ to me When you look at: Song she sang to me Song she brang to me Words that rang in me Rhyme that sprang from me brang rhymes with sang, rang, and sprang. Somehow, I think Song she sang to me Song she brought to me Words that rang in me Rhyme that sprang from me just wouldn’t sound quiet right. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759/160 "2009-12-10T04:44:51Z")
I’m with **unwashed brain**. I think **Bush** might own this thread. Once you got past the killer riffs and Rossdale’s imitation grunge voice… you realized that none of their lyrics even remotely made sense: There must be something we can eat Maybe find another lover Should I fly to Los Angeles Find my asshole brother Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow Dave’s on sale again We kissy kiss in the rear view We’re so bored You’re to blame -“Everything Zen” **New Order’s** Bernard Sumner writes some cringe-inducing stuff. So bad, in fact, it’s gone round the other way and become brilliant. Case in point: Every second counts When I am with you I think you are a pig You should be in a zoo I guess I should’ve known I’d end up on my own Every second counts when I am with you Every second counts -“Every Little Counts” This song is made even more brilliant by Barney cracking up after the pig in a zoo line. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyrics-in-rock-pop-music/519759.md?page=9)