Delilah isn’t Appropriate for Kids to Sing

[Wenfy]

Tom Jones is apparently complaining about a kids’ choir being banned from singing it at the Rugby, but it’s a horrible, horrible song that glorifies female violence.

So the real question is why do people sing it at the Rugby in the first place!!

FFS, this is why the world is messed up. People get offended by everything now a days. People need to stop being snowflakes and worry about more important things than a song. You think someone is going to listen to it and think oh well I should go and stab a woman? Get over yourself love.

It was half written by a woman and is a 55-year-old absolute banger.

Have the powers that be at the rugby not had their Weetabix today?

There is a difference between inappropriate lyrics being available to listen to, if you choose to, and teaching them to a children's choir though.

I think that is the point.

So many kids have access to TikTok etc that the songs I'm referring to are more available than you think sadly 😔

Well I'll jump in with both feet;
A] I can't stand Tom Jones, I find him quite skanky.
B] I can't stand the song and never have, and I can remember it in 1968 and thought it was awful then.
I mean he lets the bloke she's been shagging leave and then knifes the woman. What an excuse for the promotion of dv.
Just walk away you idiot.

Love this!!!,

Get a grip. Have you listened to any of the more recent stuff some of these rappers come out with?
Makes Delilah sound like a Sunday school trip!!

I've seen and heard young children singing along to Bruno Mars encouraged by their parents, which is worse in my opinion -

Examples -

'Uh, I'm gonna kick my feet up then stare at the fan
Turn the TV on, throw my hand in my pants'

Tomorrow, I'll wake up, do some P90X
Meet a really nice girl, have some really nice sex
And she's gonna scream out, "This is great"

I agree with you. I don’t know the history behind the song but I’m surprised that it’s being sung by a children’s choir in a rugby match…. Why??

I think you need to separate fantasy from real life
many songs have unsavoury lyrics in them

Yes, i have heard rappers and their misogynistic rubbish. I wouldn't want to listen to that either if it was sung at a rugby match or by a kids choir. Or anywhere else for that matter.

I know. Quite extraordinary. If it's pre 1969 it obviously doesn't count.

Would it be ok to sing a song with racist lyrics? Have it at the rugby? Get children to join in?
It's only racism, don't get upset!

That certainly is the point.

I was in a murder mystery play last year where we were going to sing it at the end. I had never really thought of it as more than a cracking tune before but learning the lyrics, I was not completely ok with it. Then all the rugby stuff happened and we had to change it the week before the performance to a different Tom Jones song. I personally love to sing it but it is really not ok.

Side note: I've never understood why people at sports matches sing these kind of random songs. Why don't they sing nice things about the team they're supporting or the game they're watching?

I don't get sports. This may be obvious from this post.

It's a good tune, it wouldn't take much to change the lyrics.

This!

It is a good tune and Tom Jones' vocal delivery is fantastic. Unfortunately it is about a completely unacceptable subject. I always feel that the protagonist is upset he's been caught, rather than upset Delilah is dead.

Could someone share a link for all the make voice choirs teaching children to rap? Sounds great would love to listen!

OP YANBU. It’s very weird that people think it important children sing this song. There are plenty of other songs. I think I may have done Delilah at Karaoke before but I understand what you’ve said and if I reflect on it I can’t understand why anyone would get het up about dropping it.

*Welsh male voice choir teaching children to rap that should read. (Damn autocorrect). But really I do wish people would share all the inappropriate raps that children are performing at rugby games.

The lyrics of Delilah are pretty horrific, nobody can deny it.

But it's such a well known song and has been part of international days for years and years. I think the meaning and significance of certain things fade and I don't think it sets a bad example to the crowd, children included. We sing it on autopilot and enjoy the ha ha ha bit.

I don't think it means the Welsh crowd celebrates DV or that it has a deeper meaning than singing Bread of Heaven. Its just a song we sing.

Although if Wales ban Delilah, England should ban Swing Low. I think Maro Itoje refuses to sing it?

It might be appropriate in a murder mystery, I suppose. Though there's not much mystery about Delilah.

Although if Wales ban Delilah, England should ban Swing Low. I think Maro Itoje refuses to sing it?

Why? It's a well known gospel song. If it's about lack of respect and cultural appropriation- well, that's a whole other can of worms but not really comparable to the issues around 'Delilah'.

@LakeTiticaca "Get a grip. Have you listened to any of the more recent stuff some of these rappers come out with?
Makes Delilah sound like a Sunday school trip!!"

Ah-but are they being sung by children's choirs and massed fans at rugby matches? Context is all...