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Song lyrics

(94 Posts)
vampirequeen Thu 15-Apr-21 07:41:53

Have you ever been surprised/shocked by song lyrics when you actually find out what they're saying?

I've just seen and English translation of the Macarana. This song that we've all danced to at weddings, parties and even children's events.

Basically the story is about a girl who's boyfriend has gone into the army. Not only does she tell us that her boyfriend is rubbish in bed but that she intends to have sex with two of his friends and anyone else who catches her eye. The chorus that we all do the dancey bit to tells her to move and enjoy her body.

I'll never listen to this song in the same way again grin

3nanny6 Thu 15-Apr-21 13:00:46

The Candy Shop by 50 Cents a song about oral sex.

Listening to the words and lyrics of songs is great and you can always get what they are singing about but then a lot of music
is written that way.

marionk Thu 15-Apr-21 12:58:38

Lola by The Kinks, about transvestites and innocent young boys.

Janetashbolt Thu 15-Apr-21 12:50:56

Re the zina zina song. I lived in Indonesia and that "zina" means whore/women of loose morals, oops, my daughter in called Zena. The odd looks I'd get in shops when I called to her!!

Loislovesstewie Thu 15-Apr-21 12:49:40

I must be one of the few people who listens to lyrics and actually understands them then! Or do I just have a dirty mind?

Mazz21 Thu 15-Apr-21 12:49:03

Chain Reaction by Diana Ross was on the radio the other day and it suddenly struck me that it wasn’t as innocent as I’d ever thought.

Alegrias1 Thu 15-Apr-21 12:46:41

Loch Lomond. It is being sung by a Jacobite in Carlisle jail awaiting execution and the "low road" is the way back to Scotland through the land of the faeries, which is how he'll be returning home after he dies, while the person he is singing to will go the normal way on the High Road. sad

Chestnut Thu 15-Apr-21 12:42:35

So we've happily been listening to suggestive songs about young girls, drugs and sex for several decades without batting an eyelid because we never actually listened to the words. ?

I think the overall sound of the song is what captures us. If it sounds beautiful or has that certain 'something' then we don't bother with the detail.

gulligranny Thu 15-Apr-21 12:41:44

What about Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye - right out there!

3nanny6 Thu 15-Apr-21 12:35:48

Honky Tonk Women by Mick Jagger.

The line She Blew my Nose, and then she Blew my Mind.

It is about when he was drunk and too tired for sex.
She blew my nose refers to snorting cocaine up the nose to wake him up.
She blew my Mind refers to the good sex that followed.
How very naughty Mick Jagger I call him Mr. Snake hips.

BladeAnnie Thu 15-Apr-21 12:34:39

Bryan Adams - Summer of 69 is NOT about the year 1969. However, I still love Bryan and all his music

Whatdayisit Thu 15-Apr-21 12:29:42

My husband, when we first got together said Stay With Me by The Faces.
He didn't 'hear' the words just Stay With Me. I wasn't very happy !!

Supernan Thu 15-Apr-21 12:29:09

Any Old Iron. Look it up.

Forestflame Thu 15-Apr-21 12:26:25

Lucy in the Sky with diamonds - about LSD.
I've got you under my skin - allegedly about cocaine.
Ebenezer Good - allegedly about Ecstasy (the drug).

Mamgujane Thu 15-Apr-21 12:18:07

I’m always horrified when I hear people sing enthusiastically along to “Because you’re gorgeous”. Just Google the lyrics!! It’s about a photographer who puts a girl into suggestive poses with the promise of fame as a model. Yuk!!

TanaMa Thu 15-Apr-21 12:14:57

Lucy in the sky with diamonds! refers, I was told, to drugs.

Beauregard Thu 15-Apr-21 12:11:39

I remember starting to sing "I'm so excited" by The Pointer Sisters at a karaoke night on holiday (chosen because I liked its catchy tune) when I realised the lyrics were all about a couple having sex! Never has a song gone on so long when I just wanted it to end so I could slope off back to my table, very red faced!

leeds22 Thu 15-Apr-21 12:11:00

Lou Reed's Walk on the Wildside. Not exactly shocked by it but I did once explain to a young woman on a craft stall, who had it playing on a continuous loop, what it was about. She'd no idea, thought it was about wild life.

Aepgirl Thu 15-Apr-21 12:06:03

I have trouble hearing the words, let alone understanding what they mean!

Pammie1 Thu 15-Apr-21 12:01:13

@schnackie. The BBC banned the song because of that one line, but used the instrumental from it for the intro to top of the pops !!

Chestnut Thu 15-Apr-21 11:57:54

Don't even get me started on The Who and 'Squeeze Box'.
Mama's got a squeeze box, daddy never sleeps at night.

Lulubelle500 Thu 15-Apr-21 11:54:24

Was really, really surprised to know that Billy Joel's You're such a Temptation was written about his baby daughter and not his wife!

Chestnut Thu 15-Apr-21 11:54:04

Jan51

Because there is one line that says 'wish I was at home for christmas' ?

Here are the details. It was marketed for Christmas by adding a quick tubular bell!
storyofsong.com/story/stop-the-cavalry/

schnackie Thu 15-Apr-21 11:48:58

I was so very naïve as a young woman, even up to my 30's I thought Led Zepplin's 'Whole Lotta Love' was just about a boy really loving his girl friend, I even didn't cotton on when they said 'every inch of my love' until my husband explained it to me. blush

Chestnut Thu 15-Apr-21 11:43:56

I love Itchycoo Park by the Small Faces. 'It's all too beautiful' just sounds so good! But he tells the girl to skip off school so she can get high with him in the park.

Pammie1 Thu 15-Apr-21 11:40:47

@cossybabe. The song Scarborough fair uses a traditional English melody dating from around 1670 and the words changed over the years but the original herbs were savoury, sage, rosemary and thyme. It was about an elfin knight who set impossible tasks for a prospective mate, mentioned over several verses in the song. Only when she had completed the tasks would he take her as his lover.