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Original poster

Song lyrics that bug you!

509 replies

BillStickersWillBeProsocuted · 28/09/2023 17:38

I was listening to Objects in the rear view mirror by Meatloaf the other day and it contains the line:

"If life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car"

That line always bugged me - for a start that's a pretty big "if" but apart from that surely in that analogy the body is the car and the soul is the driver?!

Another one is maybe a bit more Niche but Tim Minchin has a song called "Grew on me" where he likeness his love for his wife with various illnesses (it's actually much more sweet than that makes it sound!) which contains the line:

"The successful removal of you would probably kill me too"

Surely if it kills the patient you can't call it a successful removal?! What really bothers me is “the attempted removal of you” would fit the song just as well and make more sense!

Anyway I'm bored at work so thought I'd see if anyone else has any pedantic lyrical bugbears?!

OP posts:
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FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 02/10/2023 00:12

I always interpreted “must be funny, in a rich man’s world” as money is a joke to a rich man. Maybe I am overthinking ABBA.

Same here. If you think about the fun that children have making sand angels on the beach - I imagine having (effectively) unlimited money must be quite similar.

"feel the beat" means feel it with your body i.e. a heavy bass sound which a tambourine doesn't make.

I'm not sure I completely agree - although it might be the more usual understanding, I don't see why you can't 'feel' any kind of rhythm without a big bass boom coursing through your whole body.

As has already been said, considering that the only Swedish words I personally know are smorgasbord and ombudsman - which don't sound like the makings of a particularly exciting song - I'm never going to criticise Benny and Bjorn's writing of so many amazing songs in English!

The writer could not decide if army is singular or plural. Drives me nuts!

I hear you there; although that's not the usual part of that song that tends to be controversial...

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 02/10/2023 00:15

It’s a lovely song but some of the lyrics of Your Song are fairly duff. “If I were a sculptor - but then again, no” and the whole verse about sitting on the roof and kicking off the moss…

Agreed. It's kind of a self-propelling joke that he's written a song without bothering to compose any great lyrics... and then is nevertheless still selling it as an amazing song!

Inkypot · 02/10/2023 00:15

So many but I'll keep it brief as about to go to bed... but I might come back on here tomorrow 😄

"She thinks with her chin up"- Robert Palmer's She Makes My Day

Pretty much all the lyrics of "She's Always A Woman" by Billy Joel

"Throwing far too much emotions at me"- Spice Girls Say You'll Be There.
Too many emotions, or too much emotion... but too much emotions?? No Spice Girls, no.

Definitely have many more but too tired to remember just now. Loving this thread!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Music
FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 02/10/2023 00:18

It's one of the most beautiful, perfect songs ever composed and performed, so I really hesitate to pick fault with it, but every time I listen to Lady Of A Certain Age by Divine Comedy...

So that you might be kept in the style to which
You had all of your life been accustomed to

I know it scans better, but pick one or the other 'to' - you don't need both!!

recyclemeagain · 02/10/2023 00:21

You don't sweat much for a fat lass

The fact that people glossed right over most of the lyrics of Rudebox by Robbie Williams astounds me 🤣
Such a crap song but also so catchy. Dammit Robbie.

Original poster
BillStickersWillBeProsocuted · 02/10/2023 08:16

Respectfully I say to thee
I'm aware that you're cheating
When no one makes me feel like you do

I know the whole song is about her conflicted feelings, but why she' so worried about respectful when he clearly doesn't give a shit?!

OP posts:
Brefugee · 02/10/2023 08:17

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 01/10/2023 19:39

Bryan Adams was only 9 years old for most of the year of 1969, so much of the song wouldn't have made sense in relating to a child. Even buying the guitar - his parents would likely have bought it for him.

The song was definitely about 'the other' understanding of 69. I think he actually admitted it once, didn't he?

I know people say that but I've never seen such an "admission". IMO it's just a story like, say, Jack & Diane or The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

ZebraDanios · 02/10/2023 08:53

I will happily accept that Bryan Adams intended it that way and it’s all a true story but
a) it’s interesting that we assume it’s actually him talking and not a character - after all no-one thinks Tom Jones actually murdered a woman called Delilah
b) presumably he put the apostrophe in front of the ‘69 because he wanted us to think it was the year?

ZebraDanios · 02/10/2023 08:55

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 02/10/2023 00:18

It's one of the most beautiful, perfect songs ever composed and performed, so I really hesitate to pick fault with it, but every time I listen to Lady Of A Certain Age by Divine Comedy...

So that you might be kept in the style to which
You had all of your life been accustomed to

I know it scans better, but pick one or the other 'to' - you don't need both!!

OMG it really is perfect and beautiful isn’t it. And because Neil Hannon is such an amazingly accomplished lyricist you can only assume that bit irked him too and he just couldn’t find a way of avoiding it.

“Your husband’s hollow heart gave out one Christmas Day -
He left the villa to his mistress in Marseille”

more than makes up for it I reckon!

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 02/10/2023 10:20

ZebraDanios

Very good points, actually. That makes me think of Father Dougal excitedly telling Ted about the scandal of what 'Clint Eastwood' has done, until he realises that "Ah, no, wait - it's just a film!"

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 02/10/2023 10:34

“Your husband’s hollow heart gave out one Christmas Day-
He left the villa to his mistress in Marseille”

Yes, Neil is a truly unique wordsmith, isn't he?

When you hear him performing it, I love the slight subtle nuance in the verses of "No, you couldn't be!" as the ages that she claims to be decrease!

Brefugee · 02/10/2023 11:47

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 02/10/2023 10:30

This is quite a detailed write-up about Summer of 69 - and (allegedly) gives Bryan's own take on it.

https://www.loudersound.com/features/bryan-adams-the-surprisingly-sexual-story-of-summer-of-69

Meh - sounds like retrofitting to me.

Clawdy · 02/10/2023 12:29

Aw, I love the lyrics of Your Song, that line "How wonderful life is, while you're in the world."
When my daughter's much longed-for baby arrived, I put that line in the baby card, but changed it to "How wonderful life is, now you're in the world. "

BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop · 02/10/2023 12:52

The most nonsensical thing about “Summer Of 69” is being chuffed that it was the Summer of “the other 69” because as we all know, the other 69 is rubbish (so I’ve been told 😳)

ZebraDanios · 02/10/2023 12:54

That’s just it @Clawdy - that one line expresses so much so beautifully, but the verses… not so much!

toadasoda · 02/10/2023 13:00

BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop · 01/10/2023 18:25

I always interpreted “must be funny, in a rich man’s world” as money is a joke to a rich man. Maybe I am overthinking ABBA.

I always thought it meant funny in the funny/strange context. Which makes perfect sense grammatically.

toadasoda · 02/10/2023 13:03

Clawdy · 02/10/2023 12:29

Aw, I love the lyrics of Your Song, that line "How wonderful life is, while you're in the world."
When my daughter's much longed-for baby arrived, I put that line in the baby card, but changed it to "How wonderful life is, now you're in the world. "

Yes, beautiful. My other favourite one is "I don't have much money but if I did, I'd buy a big house where we both could live'. So simple and romantic

Tellerium · 02/10/2023 13:38

RobinGet · 29/09/2023 23:43

I’m fairly sure the 16 refers to dress size, not age. But yeah, I hate the ‘anorexic chicks’ line. The Beautiful South also did a song years ago called 36D which was pretty much putting the blame on women (in particular page 3-type models) for men’s actions.

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I always thought that one was more of a cautionary tale. Like don’t listen to the compliments of those who want to sell photos of you naked because you’re more than a pair of good knockers.

JoanThursday1972 · 02/10/2023 13:43

BillStickersWillBeProsocuted · 02/10/2023 08:16

Respectfully I say to thee
I'm aware that you're cheating
When no one makes me feel like you do

I know the whole song is about her conflicted feelings, but why she' so worried about respectful when he clearly doesn't give a shit?!

This is another one that drives me mad, a woman excusing terrible male behaviour because "but I love him!!!!"

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 02/10/2023 13:46

“Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on”

It was on in the car once. Dh suddenly said it says hotdog to dd. Now all I can bloody hear is hotdog.

“Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the hotdog goes on”

Brefugee · 02/10/2023 13:49

toadasoda · 02/10/2023 13:00

I always thought it meant funny in the funny/strange context. Which makes perfect sense grammatically.

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That hadn't occurred to me. Thanks, I'll take it!

JoanThursday1972 · 02/10/2023 14:00

Brefugee · 01/10/2023 18:26

The Day Before You Came is a perfect storytelling pop song. Up there with Up the Junction.

Also, agree wrt John Taylor. I forgive the Durannies a lot because of JT

What's it all about? How life was pointless without a bloke in it?

And yes @Tarquina complete controlling lyrics!

Tellerium · 02/10/2023 14:04

Oh and Chris de Burgh, if that’s how you want to pronounce “dance” that’s fine, but then it doesn’t rhyme with “romance”, ok duck?

Crap song anyway

RobinGet · 02/10/2023 14:06

Tellerium · 02/10/2023 13:38

I always thought that one was more of a cautionary tale. Like don’t listen to the compliments of those who want to sell photos of you naked because you’re more than a pair of good knockers.

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The song does take a swipe at the people who run the businesses that sell porn, but the lyrics include ‘I hear you’ve turned our young men into dribbling clowns’ and ‘you cheapen and you nasty every woman in this land’. I believe one of the reasons the original singer, Brianna Corrigan, left the band was because she disagreed strongly with their lyrics.

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