Songs you never had a clue what they were on about, but wish youd known [Archive]

SG1973

11-11-2006, 13:35

Turning Japanese- what a corker of song, not very many people sing i like masterbating , oh like masterbating i really think so!!!!

:confused: :confused: :confused: Neither do The Vapors! I've never heard those lyrics in that song before. You must have a different, adult version than I've ever heard mate.

CARROLLKRC

11-11-2006, 17:10

:confused: :confused: :confused: Neither do The Vapors! I've never heard those lyrics in that song before. You must have a different, adult version than I've ever heard mate.

I was trying to point out the songs underlying message, thats what its about, they didnt need to say so.

SG1973

13-11-2006, 17:28

I was trying to point out the songs underlying message, thats what its about, they didnt need to say so.

:D :D LOL - Well I never knew that! I'm not gonna be able to listen to that again without giggling. Cheers for that mate:D :D

CARROLLKRC

13-11-2006, 21:42

thats ok.

Do you know any more like that, Ebenezer goode not included for being so tongue in cheek.

Buzz

14-11-2006, 20:55

I know it is slightly off topic, but I was shocked to learn how the Scissor Sisters got their name. Very rude!!!:eek:

Buzz

armchair_scouse

11-12-2006, 16:58

Hmm, there are lots of songs that you might either like the tune, or the singer, or both, but the words (if you can make them out) don't always reveal the true meaning. I can remember humming the tune to 'She Bop' by Cyndi Lauper, before finding out that it was a female variant of 'Turning Japanese'. Even Ian Dury & The Blockheads' 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' back in 1979 seemed innocent enough to a youngster like me. It was obviously innocent enough for the BBC, because they didn't ban it.

Ahh, the innocence of youth...

Oggy

06-02-2007, 17:02

I know it is slightly off topic, but I was shocked to learn how the Scissor Sisters got their name. Very rude!!!:eek:

Buzz

Well i don't know...........is it that bad? :o

Dark Helmet

07-02-2007, 10:08

David Bowie is a master of that lol, but alas all his hidden ones are about either drugs or doing yourself in rofl,

Oh you pretty things, Life on Mars...etc etc

pedro

07-02-2007, 13:06

Seemingly the Polis's Every Breath You Take is about a stalker not as commonly seen as a love song!

pedro

07-02-2007, 13:08

Golden Brown by the Stranglers is not about Tan in a Can....shock, and the scissor sisters is quite rood, do women actually carry on like this?

Buzz

12-02-2007, 20:11

Well i don't know...........is it that bad? :o

'Fraid so..

Cant go into too much detail....

Even though we are all over 18. !!!!!:D

Buzz

Buzz

12-02-2007, 20:13

do women actually carry on like this?

I believe so.:D

Lots of them only want men so the lawn gets mowed:eek:

Buzz

Oggy

17-02-2007, 10:38

Maybe i just lead a sheltered life, :o All these songs with like subliminal messages.........:eek:

Heather74

17-02-2007, 12:00

I'm so excited-pointer sisters, Hearing this for the first time to advertise the price is right,hearing it when I was older was a shock, she's not on a fairground ride excited high as I thought!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

Buzz

18-02-2007, 16:34

I only discovered a few weeks ago thatt "Close to me" by the Cure is about
Mmm....

...How can I put it.(!)

Oh well we are all grown up...

Lets just say solo sex (ahem)!!!!!:eek:

Buzz :D

nottrikk

20-02-2007, 11:02

The one that sticks in my mind is Centrefold by J Geils band

Images of my ex girlfriends mum singing along to it in the car will go with me to the grave.

^Anjel^

04-05-2007, 00:06

Oh dear...

...My Sharona springs to mind here.

I loved the song but,as any parent of a young child will attest,I only knew the chorus at the time.

At least knowing all the lyrics later on in life shed some light on why my mother would smirk whenever I hummed along.

SG1973

10-05-2007, 13:23

The Reflex by Duran Duran - never understood what it was about when it first came out and still don't now!!! It seems like it's just a random collection of words. :confused: :cry: :confused:

sixtyten

10-05-2007, 13:36

..I got news for you..It is!
I nominate two songs from the Mid 80's
Blow Monkeys..Digging your scene
Big Audio Dynamite..stone Thames

Both songs are about A.I.D.S:(

sixtyten

10-05-2007, 13:41

Oh..and Alison Moyet's Love Resurrection has some very dubious lyrics..
warm injections??:eek: I want you to grow in my hand??:eek:

:p

rugga

10-05-2007, 13:52

Boomtown Rats , i don't like mondays

Madness , house of fun

Lou Reed , take a walk on the wild side

Damned , jetboy jetgirl

Woffski

10-05-2007, 14:10

I Dont like Mondays was a song written about Brenda Spencer, a 16 year old who shot 10 or so people (killed 2 iirc) and when asked what she thought she was doing her reply was "I dont like Mondays".

Take a walk on the wild side, well does that really need any explaining ? Transexuals, drugs and oral sex...................sounds like a weekend out in Blackpool :-)

House of fun was inspired by a scene in the film Summer of 42 and is basically just about a bloke who has turned 16 and is trying to buy some condoms but the woman behind the counter doesnt recognise the euphamisms he is using to buy them I.E. Party Hats with the featherlite touch, Party poppers that pop in the night etc so she send him to the shop down the road seeing as she is a chemist not a jokers shop :-)

As for The Damned and Jetboy girl i dont know that one and by the sounds of it im glad i dont lol :-)

Woff

Moomin Dave...

04-06-2007, 15:29

Lou Reed , take a walk on the wild side

Yeah, amazing lyrics, basically inspired by Andy Warhol and his group of bizarre friends. Love the song even more having recently seen a documentary where he talks about this. Great story.

Star Attraction

04-10-2008, 10:19

"Hengaillaan" - sung by Kirka for Finland in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest. Quite a catchy song, but I didn't hear it after the contest until recently when I discovered it on You Tube. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SgBGyYhlytQ) At the time I was aware that the title meant "Come on let's boogie", but that was all.

When I recently saw the lyrics in at The Diggiloo Thrush (http://www.diggiloo.net/?1984fi), I realised what it was about - someone missing the last train of the day and hanging around the station overnight boogying until the first one next morning. Not a situation I'd particularly like to get into!

Flash Gordon

13-03-2009, 11:14

Turning Japanese- what a corker of song, not very many people sing i like masterbating , oh like masterbating i really think so!!!!

Thank you.
I'm the resident smart-**** in my community and I've been telling people this for years!:p:D

Flash Gordon

13-03-2009, 11:28

There have always been explicit meanings in songs since time began:)
We just assume they are OK because of familliarity:D

branny

13-03-2009, 22:52

I would love to know what anything by the Cocteau twins was about.:D

scotchmist

20-03-2009, 08:07

Turning Japanese- what a corker of song, not very many people sing i like masterbating , oh like masterbating i really think so!!!!

On the subject of ...ahem...."sorting oneself out"...."Teenage Kicks" by the Undertones was about the same unsavoury subject as the original lyric was "I wanna hold it, wanna hold it tight!"

"Le Freak" by Chic was inspired by a foul-mouthed doorman at a popular NY nightclub telling Nile Rogers to "**** off" hence the opening stanza " Ahhhhhh....**** off" but of course they changed it to "Freak Out" which was the sensible thing to do as it made Rogers & Edwards filthy rich!

Teejay

11-04-2009, 10:05

On the subject of ...ahem...."sorting oneself out"...."Teenage Kicks" by the Undertones was about the same unsavoury subject as the original lyric was "I wanna hold it, wanna hold it tight!"

"Le Freak" by Chic was inspired by a foul-mouthed doorman at a popular NY nightclub telling Nile Rogers to "**** off" hence the opening stanza " Ahhhhhh....**** off" but of course they changed it to "Freak Out" which was the sensible thing to do as it made Rogers & Edwards filthy rich!

Is that strictly true!! LOL! Aaaaaaah **** off!!!
:D

Daz_is_a_Lad

11-04-2009, 16:12

Well I new about The Vapours "Turning Japanese" But you have all opened my eyes with all the others mentioned here:eek:

stuckinthe80's

28-08-2009, 18:51

Peek a boo by Siouxsie and the Banshees is really quite rude!!!! I belive it's about a peep show dancer/lap dancer. The lyrics are very suggestive and the music is just mental! That accordion is fantastic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i41W-NIjMfs

chrisredditch

28-08-2009, 19:12

"Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo (Spelling??)
Extremely naughty.
It has an "Oral" quality about it ;)

zip55

31-08-2009, 03:20

'Bend it' by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

RiJoJo

31-08-2009, 14:24

I thought Hallelujah last year was a curious choice for a Christmas song. People obviously hear the word hallelujah and automatically think it has a religious slant.

Also "A Little Bit More" by Dr Hook is not as innocent as some people think.
YouTube - Dr Hook a little bit more (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkEpkUhYT_g)

most brazen of all is Afternoon Delight by The Starland Vocal band though :eek:
YouTube - Starland Vocal Band Afternoon Delight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A81fwLNklSM)

nessie

31-08-2009, 20:10

I only discovered a few weeks ago thatt "Close to me" by the Cure is about
Mmm....

...How can I put it.(!)

Oh well we are all grown up...

Lets just say solo sex (ahem)!!!!!:eek:

Buzz :D

well i never knew that. Well you learn something new every day! gonna carry on reading this topic cos im gonna get an education! :D

nessie

31-08-2009, 20:18

this topic reminds me of a conversation i had with a work mate last week.

She was horrified that her 6 year old had learnt all the words to lily allen its not fair!

She said she wanted to gorge her eyes and ears out whenever her little girl started singing it! awww. She will be on one of these websites when she is older moaning that she didnt have a clue!!! :D

chrisredditch

31-08-2009, 20:23

"Fall at Your Feet" by Crowded House is not at all innocent!:eek:

Etch-a-sketch

02-09-2009, 18:51

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison - is about his love of heroin. In the 70s the word "girl" in drug culture is used for drugs that work on the brains hypothalamus region. He uses brown because heroin is normally found as a brown powder (china brown).

Don't Stand So Close to Me by The Police - was inspired by Stings own early life as an english teacher in his 20s which was not much older than his students at the time. From what I read a student of his developed a crush on him which caused many problems. His background in literature is obvious in the line "That famous book by Nabakov". The famous book of course was "Lolita".

Every Breath you Take by the Police - not a love song at all. Saw an interview with Sting years ago and he said it was all about the idea of Big Brother and oppressive Uk government.

Deuce by Kiss - 'Deuce' was a popular name for oral sex in the 60s and 70s. Dunno if that's what the song was about though.

02-09-2009, 20:17

Every Breath you Take by the Police - not a love song at all. Saw an interview with Sting years ago and he said it was all about the idea of Big Brother and oppressive Uk government.

I understood it to be out obsession with a former lover, the lyrics seem to reflect this too, not about big brother. It certainly isn't a love song.

Police | Every Breath You Take lyrics (http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/police/every+breath+you+take_20110051.html)

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=548

Squeeze - Cool for Cats all about one night stands and diseases

sixtyten

02-09-2009, 20:21

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison - is about his love of heroin. In the 70s the word "girl" in drug culture is used for drugs that work on the brains hypothalamus region. He uses brown because heroin is normally found as a brown powder (china brown).

With all due respect, this is utter poo.

What part of these lyrics can be interpreted as drugs references?

Hey where did we go,
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow,
Playin' a new game,
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed girl,
You my brown eyed girl.

Whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow
Going down the old mine
With a transistor radio
Standing in the sunlight laughing,
Hiding behind a rainbow's wall,
Slipping and sliding
All along the water fall, with you
My brown eyed girl,
You my brown eyed girl.

Do you remember when we used to sing,
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da

So hard to find my way,
Now that I'm all on my own.
I saw you just the other day,
My how you have grown,
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometime I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you
My brown eyed girl
You my brown eyed girl

Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da.

Err..

NONE

sixtyten

02-09-2009, 20:31

Also..China brown???
What is that? it does not even exist.

02-09-2009, 20:41

Deuce by Kiss - 'Deuce' was a popular name for oral sex in the 60s and 70s. Dunno if that's what the song was about though.

Kiss seem to have been less than forthwright about the lyrics too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuce_(song)

Richard1978

02-09-2009, 22:12

A Deuce is also a nickname for a 1932 Ford V8, & have been popular with hot rodders because they were (originally) cheap to buy & could be tuned up easily.

The yellow car in American Graffitti is a good example/

They are mentioned in several songs, including The Beach Boys Little Deuce Coupe, & Bruce Springsteen's Blinded By The Light "revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night".

Etch-a-sketch

04-09-2009, 07:28

Also..China brown???
What is that? it does not even exist.

Was a common name for heroin in the 60s. I've heard it used in old docos about drug use many times. Heroin is brown before it's synthasised.

Etch-a-sketch

04-09-2009, 07:30

I understood it to be out obsession with a former lover, the lyrics seem to reflect this too, not about big brother. It certainly isn't a love song.

Well, I saw an interview where Sting said it himself...so go figure.

sixtyten

04-09-2009, 07:40

Was a common name for heroin in the 60s. I've heard it used in old docos about drug use many times. Heroin is brown before it's synthasised.I have heard of Brown as a slang term and China White, but not China Brown

Richard1978

04-09-2009, 13:02

I might have been mentioned before but Golden Brown is supposed to be a nickname fore heroin.

BlitzKid

12-09-2009, 16:36

Not So Manic Now by Dubstar... I always thought it was a purely innocent Indie tune until I saw the lyrics, which are about a woman being beaten up and raped in her flat by a stranger she answers the door to. It's like the music equivalent of the shower scene in Psycho... I just wonder how I'd have viewed the song if I'd known that all those years ago when it came out!

"I was making myself the usual cup of tea
When the doorbell strangely rang..."

That whole line seems so disturbing when you find out the true meaning! Knowing the subject matter has actually increased my love of the song, with its upbeat tune it seems on a deeper level to be about an individual's strength in coming to terms with a traumatic incident... definitely a very moving song.

tyrellcorp68

12-09-2009, 19:28

Lou Reed and the velvet underground is such a beautiful song and the BBc used it for the children in need appeal, but the song is about heoin use as is the straglers golden brown.:confused:

pantherpink

12-09-2009, 21:33

"I won't Let The Sun Go Down on Me" by Nik Kershaw is all about Nuclear War.... and "The Riddle" is about nothing at all!! i love NK, such a brilliant song writer :D

pantherpink

12-09-2009, 21:39

I think many of Duran Duran's songs are a teeny weeny bit rude! Hungry Like The Wolf springs to mind ;)

Elbmek

26-09-2009, 20:08

Itchycoo Park Small Faces

a song about taking a school girl to the park and 'making it' sexually and with drugs

Tracy

27-09-2009, 08:15

I might have been mentioned before but Golden Brown is supposed to be a nickname fore heroin.

:eek: Never knew that!

The song i never knew what she was singing about was:
Cornflake girl.... Tori Amos,:confused:

chrisredditch

27-09-2009, 08:35

According to Alan Partridge, "Sunday, Bloody, Sunday" is about having to wash your car on a Sunday morning! :D

Elbmek

27-09-2009, 12:36

:eek: Never knew that!

The song i never knew what she was singing about was:
Cornflake girl.... Tori Amos,:confused:

I am not convinced about Golden Brown, he refers very specifically to a lady in the song

cornflake girl was because she rustled under the covers! :p

Tracy

27-09-2009, 16:51

Lol :D

branny

02-10-2009, 23:50

I think many of Duran Duran's songs are a teeny weeny bit rude! Hungry Like The Wolf springs to mind ;)

I agree. Listen to the noises at the end of the 12" (Night) version. She sounds very happy.

stuckinthe80's

27-10-2009, 21:25

I have heard of Brown as a slang term and China White, but not China Brown

China White is mentioned in the song 'White Lines' By Grandmaster and Melle Mel as a ref to cocaine. Never heard of china brown though!!!

ann22

28-10-2009, 18:56

David Bowie's 'China Girl' is about some sort of drug isn't it? Cocaine or something. I remember knowing 'Relax' was all about gay love, that the video was banned 'cos there was a lot of nudiness in it. I didn't know exactly what they did though:o.

sixtyten

28-10-2009, 19:07

David Bowie's 'China Girl' is about some sort of drug isn't it? Cocaine or something.

Fraid not! Just about a China Girl :)

katieloo

01-11-2009, 19:55

Well I never! You folks are teaching me such a lot, somehow the image of my church minister sister humming to "the house of fun" :D cos she thinks its about a circus (umm, yep..a very sheltered life!) I cannot wait to tell her its meaning, oh! what a joy to behold....bet she wont be humming that one again! :p I remember all these songs & more but didnt know half of what they were really on about......I'm really starting to feel my age now! and the shock....well...Iam flabberghasted! :D

Katieloo

AFBulimia

25-11-2009, 23:31

Lou Reed and the velvet underground is such a beautiful song and the BBc used it for the children in need appeal, but the song is about heoin use as is the straglers golden brown.:confused:

Erm... Lou Reed was the singer in the Velvet Underground.

I am thinking you mean "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed from his solo album "Transformer" (also featuring "Walk on the Wild Side")

"Perfect Day" is absolutely nothing to do with Heroin whatsoever. The song is about a guy who has been dumped and is plotting revenge on his ex-lover... not that far off "Every breath you take" by the Police. Sources? Lou Reed himself said this.

I argued this point with someone once and they actually said "Well.. he's hardly going to be blatant and say 'oh yeah...its about Heroin!' is he?" *cough* I had to point out that this is THE Lou Reed..... the man who wrote the song "Heroin" :D

Lou himself puts it down to the songs appearance in the film "Train Spotting". It was only featured in that film because of the fact it is a) a bloody great song and b) A lot of heroin users seem to love our Lou. :D

Sorry but this has wound me up for ages..... :D

mazzer

26-11-2009, 13:04

Fraid not! Just about a China Girl :)

China Girl was originally an Iggy Pop song, David Bowie's was a cover version. It WAS apparently about cocaine (back on the china White theme) and the feelings of invincibility you experience on it, before the soothing come down.

"Visions of swastikas in my head, plans for everyone...."

"I'll give you television, I'll give you eyes of blue,
I'll give you a man who wants to rule the world
It's in the white of my eye....."

"And when I get excited, my little China Girl says 'oh baby, just you shut your mouth
She says SSSHHHHHH...."

So I've read elsewhere anyway!

My 9-year old son has recently discovered "Cool For Cats" by Squeeze, and simply adores the "nonsense" lyric that goes-

"I kiss her for the first time and then I take her home
I'm invited in for coffee and I give the dog a bone"

I simply CANNOT tell him what it really means!

sixtyten

26-11-2009, 13:30

This is a problem the Internet has thrown up.
Time was when the only way to really get the facts was to ask the artist.
Nowadays there are dedicated web site where Lyric meanings are discussed at length, and with each participant claiming they are correct, although each post contradicts the previous. We may never really know the truth unless the artist is willing to tell us

frame

26-11-2009, 16:50

Autobiographies are the answer.;)
Frame.

chrisredditch

25-09-2011, 11:12

China Girl is about capitalism and western decadance. It has nothing to do with drugs.

25-09-2011, 14:13

China Girl is about capitalism and western decadance. It has nothing to do with drugs.
What's your source for that? On lyric meaning sites there's claims it as you say but also claims it is to do with drugs and then there's sixty's claim that is simply about a chinese girl :)

Take your pick :)

chrisredditch

25-09-2011, 14:22

What's your source for that? On lyric meaning sites there's claims it as you say but also claims it is to do with drugs and then there's sixty's claim that is simply about a chinese girl :)

Take your pick :)

Source was "Thr Complete David Bowie" by Nicholas Pegg. It's simply about a clash of cultures.
Why does every song have to be about drugs? Even Puff the Magic Dragon was cited LOL :)