Lyrics you wouldn't get away with nowadays...

[okgo]

Basically the entire Marshall Mathers LP - I mean the whole album is really very explicit. Columbine references, murdering his wife, choking prostitutes etc.

[P5BNij]

Beatles 'Girl' from Rubber Soul, where the backing vocals go ''tit, tit, tit, tit, tit, tit, tit, tit...''.

[silvagod]

There is of course, the opposite side of the coin:

Sex Pistols - God save The Queen. Banned at the time, completely, from the BBC, threats of arrest for treason.

Nowadays the records is freely played with no problem.

[anonymous-user]

Nexus Icon said:

I don't think Elvis Costello would get away with this part of Oliver's Army nowadays...

"Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white ni**er"

Everyone knows it should be "fewer," not "less."

That little runt Costello did have form on that front previously insulting the great Ray Charles. Insulting Ray Charles with racism should've instantly finished his career unfortunatly it didn't.

[768]

droopsnoot said:

Apparently there's a new version of "Baby it's cold outside" being released, with a really "right-on" line forcefully inserted somewhere. (oo-er).

The original said:

But maybe just a half a drink more (put some records on while I pour)
The neighbors might think (baby, it's bad out there)
Say what's in this drink? (no cabs to be had out there)

John Legend said:

What will my friends think (I think they should rejoice)
If I have one more drink? (It’s your body, and your choice)

[The Hypno-Toad]

I am sure there is a secret list at most radio stations and a lot of songs mentioned here would be on it. But I'll add;

Legs - ZZ Top.

Stay With Me - The Faces

Tonight's The Night - Rod Stewart

Does Your Mother Know You're Out? - Abba

I Love It When You Call Me Names - Joan Armatrading

Illegal Alien - Genesis (and lets be honest both that and its appalling video should be banned. What were they thinking of?)

Under My Thumb - Rolling Stones

[Spydaman]

Stranglers - I Feel Like Wog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsmAaI-FN-c

[droopsnoot]

Spydaman said:

Stranglers - I Feel Like Wog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsmAaI-FN-c

They've always said it's anti-racist if you actually listen to the lyrics, "but I was born here just like you, you and you." It still gets played live, sometimes people get on FB complaining about it because the title line take over. Jet Black talks about it here - http://stranglers-ratter.blogspot.com/2011/03/lyri...

From the same album, "Bring on the nubiles" would probably raise eyebrows. But from what I can gather from the Norman Collier effect on a lot of modern rap tracks when played on the radio, it's probably nothing compared to modern stuff.

jhiker said:

I give you Gary Glitter and 'Happy Birthday' from the album 'Touch me'.

...When you're old enough, ha, I do my stuff, till you beg for more
...

Unlike Mr Glitter to show such restraint.

CAPP0 said:

It amuses me somewhat that Seat are currently using Walk on the Wild Side in a TV commercial and specifically they play out the first verse where "Holly" transitions. Did anyone listen to that first?

Sitting in the waiting room at the dental surgery when the Halifax advert comes on is also interesting. They use "I believe in miracles" by Hot Chocolate, and always have the volume turned down and the subtitles on, so every ad break (or so it seems) the line "Making love to you is such a thrill" is on.

I imagine most of these suspect lyrics don't have any kind of deep hidden insight into the perverted minds and activities of the writers, it's just what sounded good when they were under pressure to get the album finished and into the shops. The current need for everything to be checked and double-checked by the lawyers in case anyone misinterprets a song doesn't seem to happen any more.

Edited by droopsnoot on Wednesday 30th October 18:57

[irocfan]

droopsnoot said:

Sitting in the waiting room at the dental surgery when the Halifax advert comes on is also interesting. They use "I believe in miracles" by Hot Chocolate, and always have the volume turned down and the subtitles on, so every ad break (or so it seems) the line "Making love to you is such a thrill" is on.

I imagine most of these suspect lyrics don't have any kind of deep hidden insight into the perverted minds and activities of the writers, it's just what sounded good when they were under pressure to get the album finished and into the shops. The current need for everything to be checked and double-checked by the lawyers in case anyone misinterprets a song doesn't seem to happen any more.

Edited by droopsnoot on Wednesday 30th October 18:57

Indeed - actually Obama makes a similar point about 'woke culture' and how it can/will cause issues

[bingybongy]

Peter Gabriel - Games without frontiers.
Whistling tunes etc.

[Wacky Racer]

Dr Murdoch said:

Beatles - "You were just 17, if you know what I mean..."

What's wrong with that?

I can understand if it said 15.

Well, she was just seventeen
You know what I mean
And the way she looked
Was way beyond compare
So how could I dance with another
Ooh, when I saw her standing there?
Well, she looked at me
And I, I could see
That before too long
I'd fall in love with her
She wouldn't dance with another
Ooh, when I saw her standing there
Well, my heart went "boom"
When I crossed that room
And I held her hand in mine
Oh we danced through the night
And we held each other tight
And before too long
I fell in love with her
Now I'll never dance with another
Ooh, since I saw her standing there
Well, my heart went, "Boom"
When I crossed that room
And I held her hand in mine
Oh, we danced through the night
And we held each other tight
And before too long
I fell in love with her
Now I'll never dance with another
Oh, since I saw her standing there
Oh, since I saw her standing there
Yeah, well since I saw her standing there

[Donbot]

okgo said:

Basically the entire Marshall Mathers LP - I mean the whole album is really very explicit. Columbine references, murdering his wife, choking prostitutes etc.

The Columbine references were censored on that album, but were uncensored on a much later album (Marshall Mathers LP2 iirc).

This thread works for things which probably wouldn't play on the radio any more, but for album releases I think artists can get away with more than ever.

[anonymous-user]

In today’s diversity obsessed world I’m not sure anyone would think about writing this lyric now:

“Beautiful faces, no cares in this world
Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a girl”

La Isla Bonita - Madonna.

[deeen]

Wacky Racer said:

Dr Murdoch said:

Beatles - "You were just 17, if you know what I mean..."

What's wrong with that?

Supposed to be 18, in many countries / states.

Also some of the early Stones? Brown Sugar?

[Johnny 89]

"Never a frown with golden brown" The Stranglers

[Higgs boson]

Nexus Icon said:

Everyone knows it should be "fewer," not "less."

Well played, sir. Well played.

[irocfan]

deeen said:

Wacky Racer said:

Dr Murdoch said:

Beatles - "You were just 17, if you know what I mean..."

What's wrong with that?

Supposed to be 18, in many countries / states.

Also some of the early Stones? Brown Sugar?

I think it's a fair chunk younger than 18 in most countries - obviously being as the US is the main target market though I can understand it

[popeyewhite]

I doubt if most of the lyrics on here were wriiten nowadays they'd even be noticed. You're showing your age - there's some filthy stuff out there, but also some more menacing stuff about drugs, guns, suicide etc. Time moves on... Anyway, Bloodhound Gang and The Ballad of Chasey Lain

Dear Chasey Lain
I wrote to explain
I'm your biggest fan
I just wanted to ask
Could I eat your ass?
Write back as soon as you can

You've had a lotta dick
Had a lotta dick
I've had a lotta time
Had a lotta time
You've had a lotta dick Chasey
But you ain't had mine

Dear Chasey Lain
I wrote to complain
Ya never wrote me back
How could I ever eat
Your ass when ya treat
Your biggest fan like that?

You've had a lotta dick
Had a lotta dick
I've had a lotta time
Had a lotta time
You've had a lotta dick Chasey
But you ain't had mine

etc etc


AC/DC Go Down (to the clueless - an homage to fellatio)

Ruby, Ruby, where you been so long
Done took to drinkin' whiskey
Baby since you been gone
Ain't no one I know do it as good as you
Lickin' on that lickin' stick the way you do
You got the lips to make a strong man weak
And a heathen pray
Tell you ain't just the way you speak
You know it's just the way you go down
Go down, go down, go down, go down
Go down, go down, go down, go down
Mary, Mary, you're the one for me
And the way you hum
Sting like a bumble bee
I'll be around to see you 'bout half past ten
Ain't felt this good
Since I don't know when
You got the touch that I need so much
In your finger tips
I got the honey that ya love to taste
On those lovely lips so go down
Go down, go down, go down, go down
Go down, go down, go down, go down

etc

[Gargamel]

I am not sure why people think lyrics about 17 year olds wouldn’t be acceptable nowadays.

How about - I don’t want no short dick man ? Gillette I think it was, though there were a few remixes

But the one that really grates these days is Thin Lizzy boys are back in town. He must say Chick about a dozen times, always annoys me.

[Higgs boson]

Slightly OT, but the Thin Lizzie song that irks me is Jailbreak ...

"Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in this town"

Somewhere in this town? What, like where the jail is? FFS.

I know. It's late, and I'm old and grumpy.