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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Matthew_S on February 16, 2010, 07:56:01 PM

Title: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Matthew_S on February 16, 2010, 07:56:01 PM

I am old enough (37) to remember a time when popular songs were often subtle or sly about their lascivious/sordid/unpopular/'controversial' content. 

And even when they were not subtle at all, still as a kid, you (or maybe just me) may not have realized what a song was actually about. 

I was reminded of this when I was playing Rock Band with my 2 youngest kids.  As my daughter sang along with "Pump It Up" and cheerily shouted, "I love this song,"  I was reminded of my childhood revelation concerning "Lola" by the Kinks.  I thought it was a catchy song, fun to sing along with.  And then a few years later, I actually listened to the lyrics.  "Wait, what?!" is a suitable expression of my confused mind at that moment.

I'm not alone in this, right? 
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: nec13 on February 16, 2010, 07:59:26 PM
No, you're not.

It took me years to realize that "I Touch Myself" was about the joy of self-stimulation.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: masterofsparks on February 16, 2010, 09:01:21 PM
I shocked when I found out what "Orgasm Addict" was really about.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Dan B on February 17, 2010, 01:13:02 AM
"Scars on my body/scabs on my d"
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: daveB from Oakland on February 17, 2010, 01:31:30 AM
she bop, she bop
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Christina on February 17, 2010, 02:05:55 AM
I still remember that pervert Louis Armstrong, singing about omlettes!

Revolting.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: DoodleJump! on February 17, 2010, 07:50:25 AM
When I was little I was a huge Heart fan, and I still remember the day I thought twice about the lyrics in Crazy on You. All of the sudden, the song meant more than having a big crush on somebody.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Chris L on February 17, 2010, 08:09:41 AM
"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" by the Jam is actually about a plum shortage that struck England in the late 19th century.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Martin on February 17, 2010, 08:36:37 AM
Early PE lyrics, especially on Fear of a Black Planet, took some decypherin' for this 13-year-old Swede. Burn Hollywood Burn and Fight the Power were literal enough, but Anti-Nigger Machine and Pollywannacracka were tougher.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Sarah on February 17, 2010, 09:08:39 AM
I remember the first time I listened to the lyrics of "Free Bird" after having heard it approximately five million times in an assortment of bars over the years.  Made me want to kick someone.  
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: yesno on February 17, 2010, 09:15:07 AM
I think that Volkswagen had the same reaction, after they used the song Roman P. by Psychic TV in a commercial.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on February 17, 2010, 09:46:43 AM
I get a chuckle out of "Submission" by the Sex Pistols because it is NOT about anything naughty.  It's about a submarine mission.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: gravy boat on February 17, 2010, 09:55:27 AM
One of many great moments from Arrested Development is when Michael Cera and his cousin realize the meaning behind the words in their duet "Skyrockets in Flight, Afternoon Delight"
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: daveB from Oakland on February 17, 2010, 10:09:28 AM
GG Allin's "Bite It You Scum" is about the day that he helped an old lady across the street, rescued a puppy, and volunteered at the local 4-H club.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Reeleyes on February 17, 2010, 10:10:23 AM
I get a chuckle out of "Submission" by the Sex Pistols because it is NOT about anything naughty.  It's about a submarine mission.

I believe "Captain Jack" by Billy Joel piloted that sub.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: JustNicole on February 17, 2010, 11:12:29 AM
My most recent big revelation was Margaritaville. I had no idea the woman could be to blame for stealing the shaker of salt. But I personally think it's his own darn fault.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: mackro on February 17, 2010, 11:53:16 AM
Back in 1984, one crossover R&B/Pop hit was Klymaxx's "The Men All Pause".  I dug it. And my mom loved most R&B/Funk at the time.  She's the one that told me about Prince and Rick James... and she took me to see Purple Rain in the theaters that year.  But she hated hated HATED "The Men All Pause."  It wasn't really her to be so aggro against a pretty breakdancey funky song like that.

So I shrugged it off and decided to save up my allowance + lawn mowing money to buy the "Men All Pause" 12" at a store. When I did, my mom saw the cover and went "OH!  'The Men ALL PAUSE'!  OK".  Confused, I told mom "yeah, you know the song you hate?".  Mom: "Well no, I liked the song, but I thought they were saying 'The MENOPAUSE', and I thought singing about menopause was awful!"  And then she explained to me what menopause was.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Matt on February 17, 2010, 11:58:27 AM
The Monkees' "She Hangs Out" is about the thinly-veiled threat of sexual violence. It's as edgy as anything the Velvet Underground ever recorded, if you ask me.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Kid Pain on February 17, 2010, 12:27:46 PM
When I was little I was a huge Heart fan, and I still remember the day I thought twice about the lyrics in Crazy on You. All of the sudden, the song meant more than having a big crush on somebody.

Let's be fair, there's only one verse about getting peed and/or skeeted upon.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: DoodleJump! on February 17, 2010, 06:12:30 PM
So I shrugged it off and decided to save up my allowance + lawn mowing money to buy the "Men All Pause" 12" at a store. When I did, my mom saw the cover and went "OH!  'The Men ALL PAUSE'!  OK".  Confused, I told mom "yeah, you know the song you hate?".  Mom: "Well no, I liked the song, but I thought they were saying 'The MENOPAUSE', and I thought singing about menopause was awful!"  And then she explained to me what menopause was.

That is so funny!
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: JustSheaNo on February 17, 2010, 07:15:25 PM
I remember "Into the Night" by Benny Mardones was a huge hit, and there's no way people didn't know what the song was a bout, because the lyrics were sung clear as a bell. It goes right up there with people who think "Every Breath You Take" is a love song.


Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Steeley Chris on February 17, 2010, 07:49:03 PM
"One on One" by Hall & Oates... not about basketball...
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: mostlymeat on February 18, 2010, 10:42:31 AM
When I was little I was a huge Heart fan, and I still remember the day I thought twice about the lyrics in Crazy on You. All of the sudden, the song meant more than having a big crush on somebody.

Let's be fair, there's only one verse about getting peed and/or skeeted upon.

Wait. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: nec13 on February 18, 2010, 12:26:24 PM
"One on One" by Hall & Oates... not about basketball...

"Adult Education," on the other hand, is actually a song about adult education.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: DoodleJump! on February 19, 2010, 12:26:14 AM

Let's be fair, there's only one verse about getting peed and/or skeeted upon.

Wait. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
[/quote]

I seem to remember a line about a "willow" and a "clear running stream."
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Harpsichord on February 19, 2010, 10:11:05 AM

Let's be fair, there's only one verse about getting peed and/or skeeted upon.

Wait. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
Quote
I seem to remember a line about a "willow" and a "clear running stream."

I was a willow last night in my dream
I bent down over a clear running stream
Sang you the song that I heard up above
And you kept me alive with your sweet flowing love

That's hardly even subtly sexual.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: JustNicole on April 03, 2010, 10:26:02 PM
The most recent song that I really misunderstood was Whatever You Like by T.I. I thought he was saying "snacks on me" not "stacks on deck." It provided many hours of amusement as to what the official definition of a "snack" was, and ended in us ultimately deciding that a snack could be escargot or onion rings. It just depends on what your mind set is. Then, we just got proved wrong.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: badgrammer on April 04, 2010, 12:00:43 AM
I remember hearing in my teens that the The La's "There She Goes" was about heroin (or rumored to be) and not a lady. I was shocked! ???
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: cavorting with nudists on April 05, 2010, 11:36:50 AM
I must have heard "Another Girl, Another Planet" at least one and a half times before I realized it was about heroin.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Sarah on April 05, 2010, 03:15:42 PM
Gilbert and Sullivan's "Three Little Maids"?  Yup.  About heroin.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: nec13 on April 06, 2010, 12:34:38 AM
The Doors' "Light My Fire"-the best song ever written about heartburn.
Title: Re: Wait, that song is about what ??
Post by: Tor_Hershman on April 06, 2010, 02:08:00 AM
the  bird   is   the    word

When moi realized that “Surfin’ Bird” was about a guy
havin' an orgasm in another dude’s mouth.