Truly great songs with AWFUL lyrics

[Moss]

Anything by RUSH.

 

No way. Some of their lyrics are great. Red Barchetta reads like a good science fiction story.

[Winston Legthigh]

AC/DC High Voltage:

 

(Well) You ask me 'bout the clothes I wear

And you ask me why I grow my hair

And you ask me why I'm in a band

I dig doin' one night stands

And You wanna see me do my thing

All you gotta do is plug me into high

I said high

High voltage rock 'n' roll

High voltage rock 'n' roll

High voltage, High voltage

High voltage rock 'n' roll

Rock 'n' roll

 

I love AC/DC for having so many rocking songs about... rocking!

[stagerug]

Red Barchetta reads like a good science fiction story.

 

I think Rush is a very good band. But lyrically they may be too Dungeony and Dragony for me. Tom Sawyer... great song... bad lyrics.

[Dude]

I love AC/DC for having so many rocking songs about... rocking!

 

Some really awful sexual pun songs that Spinal Tap would be proud of, too.

 

She take you down easy

Going down to her knees

Going down to the devil

Down down at ninety degrees

She blowing me crazy

'til my ammunition is dry

She's using her head again

She's using her head

She's using her head again

I'm justa giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

 

She's no Mona Lisa

No she's no playboy star

But she'll send you to heaven

Then explode you to Mars

She's using her head again

She's using her head

She's using her head again

I'm justa giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

 

She's got the power of union

She only hits when it's hot

And if she likes what you're doing

She'll give you the lot give it everything I got

Just giving the dog a bone

 

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

 

I'm justa giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

I'm justa giving the dog a bone

[stooka]

lenny kravitz comes up with some great guitar riffs, tones, musical arrangements and sounds, and horrible, horrible lyrics.

 

He also manages to pack in more "OOOOOO Yeeeeeeaaahhhs" in a song than anyone else in music history!

[ElBirdos]

A song with "AWFUL" lyrics can't be great in my opinion.

 

Here's a song by Dave Matthews - Shake Me Like A Monkey -- Yeah the name gives away the shitty lyrics. But I think the music is awesome. Great horn section, nice driving guitar riffing, and excellent tight drumming.

 

But man do those lyrics SUCK

 

[mjpuczko]

omg. that dave song is horrible. i forget which song it was off the new one but i liked it musically until i heard the lyrics. (funny the way it is, maybe?). it's like a 5th grader penned the lyrics.

[imsjry]

America-A Horse with No Name is always #1 for me in the cool song, bad lyrics catagory.

[froggie]

Thirteen, from Big Star

[Wild Frank]

One song I have always love but couldn't stand the lyrics is 'Watcher of the Sky' by Genesis. The music is so powerful by the lyrics are a bit arkward and you can hear Peter Gabriel almost speeding up to try and fit them in.

 

I agree with the comments on 'Sound of Lies'. It is far and away my favourite Jayhawks album but the lyrics are a bit dodgy!

 

Also...what about 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. "Mama, just killed a man, put a gun against his head, pulled the trigger now he's dead". "Scaramush, Scaramush, will you do the fandango", "Thunderbolts and Lightning, very very frightning". What is Freddie (RIP) talking about!!Very very poor! However, he does redeem himself with the classic: "Fat-bottomed girls you make the rockin' world go 'round"!! Infact dodgy Queen lyrics almost deserves their own thread. "No time for losers 'cos we are the champions".

[Wild Frank]

Not great songs, but how about shocking lyrics to shocking songs by the most respected lyricist of our times (Bob Dylan). For starters:

 

'Wiggle Wiggle'

'Under The Red Sky'

'Joleene'

'Silvio'

'All the Tired Horses'

'Mozambique'

'Lay Lady Lay'

'Rainy Day Women'

 

However, anyone who can write 'Desolation Row' and 'Visions of Johanna' is automatically forgiven for any future discrepancies!!. "Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're trying to be so quiet" is my favourite opening line ever. Needless to say "Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle like a gypsy queen" is not.

[Guest Runaway Jim]

"Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're trying to be so quiet" is my favourite opening line ever.

 

That definitely ranks up there for me too. That song truly is perfect.

[Winston Legthigh]

Not great songs, but how about shocking lyrics to shocking songs by the most respected lyricist of our times (Bob Dylan). For starters:

 

'Wiggle Wiggle'

'Under The Red Sky'

'Joleene'

'Silvio'

'All the Tired Horses'

'Mozambique'

'Lay Lady Lay'

'Rainy Day Women'

 

However, anyone who can write 'Desolation Row' and 'Visions of Johanna' is automatically forgiven for any future discrepancies!!. "Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're trying to be so quiet" is my favourite opening line ever. Needless to say "Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle like a gypsy queen" is not.

 

Please explain how Silvio is a shocking song with shocking lyrics?

[uncool2pillow]

Thirteen, from Big Star

 

They certainly stir a certain sense of nostalgia for me.

[mjpuczko]

thriteen? really? i love those lyrics.

[Guest Speed Racer]

I think Thirteen has great lyrics. They're juvenile, yes, but so are thirteen year-olds.

 

I had to laugh at Crazy Train. I had a roommate in college who would blast that through headphones at 3am when she was at the end of her rope with a paper. I'm a light sleeper, and she would BLAST it through the headphones. I'd hear the opening riff, wake up, and join in for "AY AY AY AY AY!" and go back to sleep.

[anthony]

This was tough because you had to like the song but hate the lyrics. Foreigner, for example, has awful music AND lyrics. Here is one I finally came up with:

Led Zep's "Candy Store Rock". Love the whole vibe of Presence, and especially Page's groove on this one. But the lyrics make me want to barf.

 

Well... Oh baby baby. Don't you want a man like me?

Oh baby baby, I'm just as sweet as anybody could be

Oh baby baby, I want to look to your eyes, of blue

Oh baby baby, It's more than anybody else could do

 

Well... Oh baby baby. You know when I see you walkin down the street

Oh baby baby, Well you lookin good enough to eat

Oh baby baby, I dont believe I've tasted this before

Oh baby baby, I want it now

And every mouthfull more of you.

 

Talk about you, Yeah.

 

Oh baby baby, You know that I wanted it more

Oh baby baby, I'm about to kiss goodbye to this store

Oh baby baby, It ain't the wrapping that sells the goods

Oh baby baby, I got a sweet tooth when my mouth is full of you.

 

Ooh baby oh baby its alright, its alright

Ohh baby its alright...its alright

 

Well, oh baby, baby, oh you sting like a bee

Oh baby, baby, I like your honey and it sure likes me

Oh baby, baby, I got my spoon inside your jar

Oh baby, baby, don't give me too much, don't make me starve

 

Oh baby, baby, sugar sister on a silver plate

Oh baby, baby, I need a mouthful and I just can't wait

Oh baby, baby, see the shaking in my hand

Oh baby, baby, don't mean to fumble but it tastes so grand

Tastes so grand, tastes so grand, baby it's alright

 

Oh baby it's alright, oh it's alright

It's alright... (repeat)

[Dude]

You're like a moon that's full

Across a sea of foam

I'm the sky you've been burning

 

I don't think you even understand

I thought I held you by the hand

I thought I held you

 

I'm like a songwriter

You're the reason I've run out

Run out of metaphors

 

I don't think you even understand

I thought I held you by the hand

I thought I held you

I thought I held you

 

[ih8music]

hmm...

 

truly great song? absolutely.

AWFUL lyrics? not quite awful, but the song certainly doesn't read well.

 

Unsatisfied

Look me in the eye

Then, tell me that I'm satisfied

Was you satisfied?

Look me in the eye

Then, tell me that I'm satisfied

Hey, are you satisfied?

 

And it goes so slowly on

Everything I've ever wanted

Tell me what's wrong

 

Look me in the eye

And tell me that I'm satisfied

Were you satisfied?

Look me in the eye

Then, tell me I'm satisfied

And now are you satisfied?

 

Everything goes

Well, anything goes all of the time

Everything you dream of

Is right in front of you

And liberty is a lie

 

Look me in the eye

And tell me that I'm satisfied

Look me in the eye

Unsatisfied

I'm so, I'm so unsatisfied

I'm so dissatisfied

I'm so, I'm so unsatisfied

I'm so unsatisfied

Well, I'm-a

I'm so, I'm so unsatisfied

I'm so dissatis,dissattis...

I'm so

[Moss]

^ That belongs in the musical blasphemy thread!

[stooka]

"Peanut Butter Pudding Surprise"

[Dude]

"Peanut Butter Pudding Surprise"

Yeah, but the accompanying song is pretty awful too. Here's another one:

 

Walk across the courtyard,

Towards the library.

I can hear the insects buzz on the leaves, 'neath my feet.

 

Ramble up the stairwell,

To the hall of books.

Since we got the interweb these hardly get used.

 

Duck into the men's room,

Combing through my hair.

When God gave us mirrors he had no idea.

 

Looking for a lesson

In the periodicals,

There I spy you listening to the AM radio.

 

Karen of the Carpenters,

Singing in the rain.

Another lovely victim of the mirror's evil way.

 

It's not like you're not trying,

With a pencil in your hair,

To defy the beauty the good Lord put in there

 

Simple little bookworm,

Buried underneath

Is the sexiest librarian.

Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me.

 

So I watch you through the bookcase,

Imagining a scene.

You and I had dinner,

Spending time when you sleep.

And what can I say to you,

Lying there in bed.

These words were the kiss I would play in your head.

 

What is it inside our heads

That makes us do the opposite,

Makes us do the opposite

Of what's right for us.

'Cause everything be great,

And everything be good,

And everybody gave,

Like everybody could.

 

Sweetest little bookworm,

Hidden underneath

Is the sexiest librarian.

Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me.

Take off those glasses, and let down your hair for me.

 

Simple little beauty,

Heaven in your breath.

Simplest of pleasures

The world at its best.

 

[Wild Frank]

Yeah, but the accompanying song is pretty awful too. Here's another one:

 

Walk across the courtyard,

Towards the library.

I can hear the insects buzz on the leaves, 'neath my feet.

 

Ramble up the stairwell,

To the hall of books.

Since we got the interweb these hardly get used.

 

Duck into the men's room,

Combing through my hair.

When God gave us mirrors he had no idea.

 

Looking for a lesson

In the periodicals,

There I spy you listening to the AM radio.

 

Karen of the Carpenters,

Singing in the rain.

Another lovely victim of the mirror's evil way.

 

It's not like you're not trying,

With a pencil in your hair,

To defy the beauty the good Lord put in there

 

Simple little bookworm,

Buried underneath

Is the sexiest librarian.

Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me.

 

So I watch you through the bookcase,

Imagining a scene.

You and I had dinner,

Spending time when you sleep.

And what can I say to you,

Lying there in bed.

These words were the kiss I would play in your head.

 

What is it inside our heads

That makes us do the opposite,

Makes us do the opposite

Of what's right for us.

'Cause everything be great,

And everything be good,

And everybody gave,

Like everybody could.

 

Sweetest little bookworm,

Hidden underneath

Is the sexiest librarian.

Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me.

Take off those glasses, and let down your hair for me.

 

Simple little beauty,

Heaven in your breath.

Simplest of pleasures

The world at its best.

 

 

I love MMJ but they are some seriously poor lyrics. With MMJ usually the music compensates for the lyrics but, in this instance, the whole thing is horible. That whole album is weak and has many other examples of shocking wordplay.

[froggie]

thriteen? really? i love those lyrics.

 

dont get me wrong - i love the song!. the lyrics seem lame to me

[PopTodd]

dont get me wrong - i love the song!. the lyrics seem lame to me

 

I like the lyrics, insomuch as that they sound like things that a 13-year-old would say, or at least what they would be thinking. Brilliant in that way.