Actually, to continue the thread creep, I have my own theory of raunchiness in old songs. If you read the words to the songs in Pills To Purge Melancholy you'll find that they are pretty raunchy without being nasty if you get my drift. Some of them could be sung in (our) polite society without causing a twitch. The chanties we sing have been "cleaned up" but I contend the originals probably weren't as bad as all that.

Remember that the society that engendered those songs were a little more polite than today. Look at the list of words used for cursing and insulting one another and you will get an idea of what I'm talking about. Try these on for size: Bilious, Arse-Kissin', Addle-Pate (Oaf), Blasted, Bat-Fowling, Baggage (Harlot), Bawdy, Belly-Bumping, Base-Son (Bastard), Cockered (Pampered), Bilge-Lickin', Belly-Piece (Mistress, Also Prostitute), Constuprated, Biscuit-Eatin', Belly-Bloat (Defiled), Craven, Boil-Brained, Bilge Rat, Cretinous, Bottom-Bonking, Bunter (Thieving Slut), Curst, Bum-Basted, Burble (Pimple), Errant, Bung Hole, Canker-Blossom, Fawning, Canker-Ridden, Catch-Fart, Fetid, Chum-Sucking, Clinchpoop (Dunce), Gorbellied, Crook-Pated, Cormorant (Glutton), Gouty (Diseased), Fly-Blown, Coxcomb (Fool), Keelhauled, Light-Fingered, Doxy (Harlot), Mammering (Stuttering), Lily-Livered, Fart-Licker, Mewling, Lop-Sided, Fantods (Diarrhea), Poxy, Maggot-Ridden, Golly-Wobbles (Queasy Stomach), Puling, Onion-Eyed, Gudgeon (Easy Victim), Puking, Pox-Ridden, Gutter-Snipe, Putrid, Rum-Fogged, Harlot, Rank, Scum-Spewing, Jackanapes (Idiot), Recreant (Cowardly), Sheep-Shagging, Lickspittle (Sycophant), Roguish, Squid-Sucking, Maggot-Meat, Ruttish (Horny), Wall-Eyed, Miscreant, Saucy, Whey-Face, Moldwarp (Spy), Scurrilous, Nancy Boy (Fop), Scurvy, Plague Rat, Slimy, Poltroon (Coward), Slovenly, Poof Or Poofter (Effeminate Man), Tarry, Pillock, Thieving, Puttock (Buzzard), Toadying., Sea-Cow, Tottering, Sea-Dog, Vile, Sea-Slug, Villainous, Sea-Snake, Vomitous, Slattern (Loose Woman), Weasely, Strumpet (Harlot), Weedy, Tosspot (Drunkard), Yeasty (Trifling), Varlot, Vassal (Subservient Person), Whore

See what I mean?