Song lyrics that just sound wrong...

[brmstn69]

I'm not talking about songs with lyrics that over time have become politically-incorrect, or songs deliberately provocative. No, I'm talking about songs that ended up sending a completely different message than intended. Songs that make you say "What the fuck were they thinking?"
On my way home from work this evening just such a song came on the radio...

Vehicle by The Ides of March...

Hey well
I'm a friendly stranger in the black Sedan
Won't you hop inside my car?
I got pictures, got candy
I'm a lovable man
And I can take you to the nearest star
I'm your vehicle, baby
I'll take you anywhere you want to go
I'm your vehicle, woman
By now I'm sure you know
That I love ya (love ya)
I need ya (need ya)
I want ya
Got to have you, child
Great God in heaven you know I love you
Well, if you want to be a movie star
I'll get a ticket to Hollywood
But if you want to stay just like you are
You know I think you really should
I'm your vehicle, baby
I'll take you anywhere you want to go
I'm your vehicle, woman
By now I'm sure you know
That I love ya (love ya)
I need ya (need ya)
I want ya
Got to have you, child
Great God in heaven you know I love you
Oh, you…

 

[garth33]

Stadium crowds and now AGAIN on TV (car commercial) there is great love for....(wait for it)

Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

Nothing really wrong with the lyrics per se but the songwriter later admitted he wrote it about a (then) underage Caroline Kennedy. Despite the pedo-angle it continues to show up and be shouted by drunk sports fans all over the US.

peace,
g

https://anonym.to/?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vhFnTjia_I

 

[brmstn69]

Stadium crowds and now AGAIN on TV (car commercial) there is great love for....(wait for it)

Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

Nothing really wrong with the lyrics per se but the songwriter later admitted he wrote it about a (then) underage Caroline Kennedy. Despite the pedo-angle it continues to show up and be shouted by drunk sports fans all over the US.

peace,
g

https://anonym.to/?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vhFnTjia_I

 

[topdog]

I am not sure what is ambiguous about "Vehicle". The meaning seems crystal clear to me: Horny guy wants young girl to get into car and have sex. That's what I always thought it meant.

If you want oddball, how about this Backstreet Boys mega-hit written by Max Martin.

​

Yeah-eh-heah
You are my fire
The one desire
Believe when I say
I want it that way

But we are two worlds apart
Can't reach to your heart
When you say
That I want it that way

Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never want to hear you say
I want it that way

Am I your fire?
Your one desire
Yes I know it's too late
But I want it that way

Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never want to hear you say
I want it that way

Now I can see that we've fallen apart
From the way that it used to be Yeah
No matter the distance
I want you to know
That deep down inside of me

You are my fire
The one desire
You are (you are you are you are)

Don't want to hear you say
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
(Don't want to hear you say)
I never want to hear you say
I want it that way

Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never want to hear you say
I want it that way

Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never want to hear you say
(Never want to hear you say it)
I want it that way

'Cause I want it that way

What the hell is that about?

This is a problem with a lot of early Max Martin lyrics. He is Swedish (like Abba) and English is not his first language. He often wrote lyrics just by the sounds of the words rather than strictly what they meant.

Don't get me started on Paul Simon lyrics.

 

[Whisper]

I am not sure what is ambiguous about "Vehicle". The meaning seems crystal clear to me: Horny guy wants young girl to get into car and have sex. That's what I always thought it meant.

To me it sounds more creepier than just horny guy:
"Got to have you, child"

And all that got to have you-stuff, to me it sounds like a rapist hunting his victims...

 

[haiducii]

Kate Bush - The Man With the Child In His Eyes

("He's here! He's here!
He's here! He's here!")

I hear him, before I go to sleep
And focus on the day that's been.
I realise he's there,
When I turn the light off and turn over.

Nobody knows about my man.
They think he's lost on some horizon.
And suddenly I find myself
Listening to a man I've never known before,

Telling me about the sea,
All his love, 'til eternity.

Ooh, he's here again,
The man with the child in his eyes.
Ooh, he's here again,
The man with the child in his eyes.

He's very understanding,
And he's so aware of all my situations.
And when I stay up late,
He's always waiting, but I feel him hesitate.

Oh, I'm so worried about my love.
They say, "No, no, it won't last forever."
And here I am again, my girl,
Wondering what on Earth I'm doing here.
Maybe he doesn't love me.
I just took a trip on my love for him.

Ooh, he's here again,
The man with the child in his eyes.
Ooh, he's here again,
The man with the child in his eyes.

Great song, but I can't help thinking of how perverse the lyrics could be in a certain context....

 

[Whisper]

Great song, but I can't help thinking of how perverse the lyrics could be in a certain context....

Yep, I agree :thinking: