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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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9
sadaboutmycat · 28/09/2023 22:28

MrsMoastyToasty · 28/09/2023 18:02

I'm afraid of the dark
'Specially when I'm in a park
And there's no one else around
Ooh, I get the shivers
I don't want to see a ghost
It's a sight that I fear most
I'd rather have a piece of toast
And watch the evening news

From "Life" by Desree.

It's the ghost/most/toast rhyme that bugs me, closely by going into a park after dark. Doesn't she know anything about personal safety?

I came here to say exactly this!!

CaveMum · 28/09/2023 22:28

The bloody Pina Colada Song - yes let’s have a laugh about the fact we were both trying to shag strangers behind each others backs!

sadaboutmycat · 28/09/2023 22:31

Mysterian · 28/09/2023 18:18

"Are we human or are we dancer". And it is "dancer" singular.

Can dancer(s) be human too? I think so.

It's Brandon Flowers take on another quote that talks about dancers being too afraid to step out of line- it's a metaphor, not literal.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Music
cardibach · 28/09/2023 22:31

TheDogsMother · 28/09/2023 18:33

I'm never gonna not dance again by Pink. Drives me nuts !

Used to drive me nuts too until I listened properly. She’s saying she used to not do things to please others/a man. Now she’s going to do as she pleases, so eg if we’re to not dance because he told her not to, she’s now not going to be told what to do - she’s never going to not dance again. Shes going to dance if she wants to.
I don’t think I’m explaining it well but it does make perfect sense.

sadaboutmycat · 28/09/2023 22:37

ohsoso · 28/09/2023 19:38

That one that goes ‘shut up and dance with me’
I just think how bloody rude, no thanks 😂

Oh I love that song!

Hobbes8 · 28/09/2023 22:40

The whole premise of wonderful tonight. Eric Clapton goes out, gets shitfaced, can’t drive home, his partner has to take him home and put him to be and he slurs “you look wonderful tonight” before slumping into a drunken fucking coma and we’re supposed to believe it’s romantic?

If that was an AIBU thread he’d be eviscerated.

sadaboutmycat · 28/09/2023 22:41

Blossomandbee · 28/09/2023 19:42

Most of Ed Sheerans lyrics grate me for some reason. All the twee nonsense in Castle on the Hill, and his overuse of 'follow my lead' in more than one song.

Also Scrubs by TLC. 'A scrub is a guy who can't get no love from me'
That phrase really didn't catch on.

It's been used to decry people for about 500 years so I think maybe it had already caught on...

RicherThanYews · 28/09/2023 22:44

I think with Eminems lyric you need to know that historically he has been discussed even in Congress for being a negative influence on youngsters and is the much hated "King of the obscene" so it's more a reference to that than a literal meaning.

sadaboutmycat · 28/09/2023 22:47

"I drove all night, crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep to make love to you
Is that all right?"

I have never heard this as non consensual... the question is more saying "did it please you that I drive all night to be with you?" To me.

NeverTrustASmilingCat · 28/09/2023 22:47

Alstroemeria123 · 28/09/2023 18:57

In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry is basically a checklist of pretty much antisocial / illegal behaviour yet everyone thinks it’s such a happy song!

Have a drink, have a drive
Go out and see what you can find
If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal
If her daddy's poor, just do what you feel
Speed along the lane, do a ton or a ton and twenty-five
When the sun goes down
You can make it, make it good in a lay-by

No, it was used for a drink-driving ad, so it always makes me think of that when I hear it.

SVFXHMX42 · 28/09/2023 22:50

"Tell me baby do you recognise me? Well, it's been a year it doesn't surprise me." I recognise people I met while walking the dog a year later, let alone someone I was supposedly madly in love with!

"She smiled at me on the subway
She was with another man
But I won't lose no sleep on that
'cause I've got a plan" WHAT'S THE PLAN?! The very next verse he says "but I don't know what to do, cause I'll never be with you." Some plan James.

cardibach · 28/09/2023 22:53

WessexPrincess · 28/09/2023 22:12

'The female of the species is more deadlier than the male'

'All your perfect imperfections'

I think ‘perfect I perfections’ is fine. He’s saying she’s not totally perfect in every way, but he loves all her faults. It’s nice.

‘And I miss you like the deserts miss the rain’ annoys me. They don’t. They are adapted not to have rain.
And ‘sometimes the sun goes round the moon’. No. No it doesn’t Vanessa love.

sadaboutmycat · 28/09/2023 22:53

Hobbes8 · 28/09/2023 22:40

The whole premise of wonderful tonight. Eric Clapton goes out, gets shitfaced, can’t drive home, his partner has to take him home and put him to be and he slurs “you look wonderful tonight” before slumping into a drunken fucking coma and we’re supposed to believe it’s romantic?

If that was an AIBU thread he’d be eviscerated.

A misogynist as well as a racist then. And people thinks it's so romantic!!

WhatapityWapiti · 28/09/2023 22:55

BillStickersWillBeProsocuted · 28/09/2023 22:02

"don't want clever conversation
Don't want to work that hard, no love
I just want some, someone to talk to
I want you just the way you are"

Fuck you Barry, I can do clever conversation!

Barry? Barry Joel?!

Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 28/09/2023 22:55

S0upertrooper · 28/09/2023 22:13

@WhatapityWapiti Lady Godiva was also a character who drove a racing car in Whacky Races, so it could be "I'm a racing car like Lady Godiva"

You saw a different Wacky Races to me. The only female character in the Wacky Races I remember was Penelope Pitstop.

WhatapityWapiti · 28/09/2023 22:59

WessexPrincess · 28/09/2023 22:12

'The female of the species is more deadlier than the male'

'All your perfect imperfections'

It’s just “more deadly than” not “more deadlier”.

Butteredtoast55 · 28/09/2023 23:00

@Greebosmum I shout that at the radio every time I hear Up The Junction (even though I love Squeeze ❤️)

WhatapityWapiti · 28/09/2023 23:02

Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 28/09/2023 22:55

You saw a different Wacky Races to me. The only female character in the Wacky Races I remember was Penelope Pitstop.

Show quote history

Yes, just checked here and no Lady G l’m afraid. Wacky Wiki

Loved Penelope P though “Heyalp heyalp, it’s the Hooded Claw!”

Characters

https://wackyraces.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Characters

WhatapityWapiti · 28/09/2023 23:06

cardibach · 28/09/2023 22:53

I think ‘perfect I perfections’ is fine. He’s saying she’s not totally perfect in every way, but he loves all her faults. It’s nice.

‘And I miss you like the deserts miss the rain’ annoys me. They don’t. They are adapted not to have rain.
And ‘sometimes the sun goes round the moon’. No. No it doesn’t Vanessa love.

Show quote history

Re sun/moon/snow/June what she is saying is that something she thought was impossible has happened, it’s about a lover coming back to her when she thought all hope was gone.

Derbyderby · 28/09/2023 23:12

Michael Jackson Got to be starting something
Only just found out that the lyrics are
to high to get over
to low to get under
you’re stuck in the middle
and the pain is thunder

I always thought it was
you’re stuck in the middle
nowhere to go

which I personally think makes more sense!!!

what do I know?!!!!

notacooldad · 28/09/2023 23:19

I'm not sure if it's already been mentioned but Real Gone Kid by Deacon Blue bugs
"I'll do what I should have did
'Cause you're a real gone kid"
Also, I think it's by All Saints. ' A few questions I need to know...."

xmaswiththeinlaws · 28/09/2023 23:36

"This girl is on fire" I always think for goodness sake someone get a bucket of water and put the flames out!

Most of the lyrics of "Do they know it's Christmas" wind me up. There won't be snow in Africa this Christmas- what about Mt Kilimanjaro?

Do they know it's Christmas time at all? - if they're not Christian, why would they? I'm not familiar with all the dates of other faiths festivals.
I know it as probably written in a hurry and I appreciate the good intentions but after 30 years, it's getting on my nerves.

junbean · 28/09/2023 23:41

Ed Sheeran "Nothing happens after 2 It's true". WTF the saying is nothing good happens after midnight or 2... Nothing happens makes no sense

MrsHughesPinny · 28/09/2023 23:44

WellThisIsFun1 · 28/09/2023 19:53

Sheeran: 'dancing in the dark, with you between my arms...' Always gives me an image of him with his arms stuck straight out in front of him like a zombie with a confused woman gently swaying in the middle of them.

All Saints Never Ever: 'a few questions that I need to know...' No, you ask questions.... or you need to know answers

Not to mention “…need to know what I done wrong” 🤢

BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop · 28/09/2023 23:51

WellThisIsFun1 · 28/09/2023 19:53

Sheeran: 'dancing in the dark, with you between my arms...' Always gives me an image of him with his arms stuck straight out in front of him like a zombie with a confused woman gently swaying in the middle of them.

All Saints Never Ever: 'a few questions that I need to know...' No, you ask questions.... or you need to know answers

Coming here to say almost exactly this about the Sheeran song, except it made me think of an enormous “Lost In Space” type robot.