Inappropriate Songs

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: Ernest
Date: 18 Sep 17 - 02:36 AM

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: BobL
Date: 18 Sep 17 - 03:13 AM

Tourist: "What's the quickest way to the hospital from here?"
Glaswegian: "Go into yon pub and start singing Danny Boy!"

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Sep 17 - 03:43 AM

Mucky Kid (Liverpool Lullaby) by Cilla:

"When he hears the things that you did,
You'll get a belt from your dad."

Subject: My Beautiful Muff
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 23 - 02:17 PM

My Beautiful Muff
- Maggie Graham 2023 @ 'Tuesdays at The Tap'; St John's Hotel, Hull

https://youtu.be/KlJiiNMWhAA



more/ref
GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 17 - 06:18 PM

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: Felipa
Date: 11 Apr 23 - 03:24 PM

a presenter of a "magazine" programme on BBC Radio Foyle circa 1980 read out a wedding anniversary greeting to a local couple and then played Cliff Richard singing "We don't talk anymore"

I've also seen a newly wedded couple take the floor for the first dance of the wedding, and heard the band play "The Tennessee Waltz" but it was the tune only and whose to say that different words couldn't be sung to it rather than "while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me ... ... I lost my little darlin' the night they were playin' That beautiful Tennessee Waltz"

Subject: ADD: The Beautiful Muff
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Apr 23 - 07:15 PM

It's nice to have lists of songs, but since Mudcat is a lyrics site, it's even nicer to have lyrics for songs we don't have. Here's "The Beautiful Muff:

THE BEAUTIFUL MUFF

A bucksome young damsel on a cold winter's bight.
Abroad from her dwelling did go on her flight.
She was muffled up warm in a boa rather ruff,
And the front she did play a most beautiful muff.
This muff was the finest that ever you saw.
For it all the young men‘s attention did draw,
It was lined with red silk, though the outside was rough
As warm as a toast was this beautiful muff.
    Chorus:
    It's mine and I'll wear it,
    You must not come near it,
    To damn it, or tear it,
    My beautiful muff,

Oh, it happened to be as she walked through the street
A dashing young spark she happened to meet—
He ogled her slily exclaimed sure enough
"Dearest Mary, you’ve got a moat beautiful muff"
"Oh my muff is my own sir, its nothing to you
With me or my muff ynu have nothing to do;
It [a] gift from my mother made of excellent stuff
So keep your hands off my beautiful muff."

"Oh Mary," he said, "I am chilled with the cold,
[If] you lend me your muff one moment to hold
It will warm me all over." "Oh, be off with your stuff
For no man shall handle my beautiful muff."
"It's twenty bright pounds I will give unto thee,
Dearest Mary, if your muff you will lend unto me."
"Neither twenty nor forty," she said rather ruff.
"For no man shall purchase my beautiful muff."

The night being cold, she did much incline
To go to a house to take biscuit and wine—
The wine being strong, she went to sleep fast enough,
Then he played roodk-tum-roo with her beautiful muff.
He turned it about to examine its make.
He thought it was dirty, he gave it a shake.
He played it about till quite tired enough
He was obliged to leave off from her beautiful muff.

When she awoke she stared with surprise!
"My muff you have damaged for ever," she cries,
"You have played at rare tricks I can see sure enough
For quite out of shape is my beautiful muff!
How angry my daddy and mammey will be,
My muff's so disordered and damaged you see
They'll take me for a vixen, I know shure enough,
For not taking more care of my beautiful muff.

Source: http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/static/images/sheets/15000/13073.gif


Performance by Maggie Graham:

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: meself
Date: 11 Apr 23 - 08:25 PM

Fielding used the same metaphor in Tom Jones, btw.

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 12 Apr 23 - 11:52 AM

At school a trad. standard in our music lessons in the 70's, was the 'Wee cooper of Fife'.. A bright and breezy song with a tongue twisting chorus.
However a definite wokery no-no for its cheerful wife beating encouragement implication (well he beats a sheepskin, rather than her directly) -after the said wife refused to do her domestic duties, as a reasonable one should. I bet they don't sing that one at school anymore.

Subject: ADD Version: Wee Cooper of Fife
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Apr 23 - 12:51 PM

It depends how the songs like "wee cooper" are presented, it couldbe used in school to discuss the subject of wife beating.
is it better to discuss the song than pretend it never happened and not sing it.
there is more to this song than just violence, it can be discussed as how two people should not behave in a relationship, it is all about how the song is used and how its presented, it can then be pointed out that the message is wrong, that violence does not sort out laziness

WEE COOPER OF FIFE

There was a wee Cooper wha lived in Fife,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
And he has gotten a gentle wife,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

She wadna bake, nor she wadna brew,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
For the spoiling o' her comely hue,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

She wadna card, nor she wadna spin,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
For the shamin' o' her gentle kin,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

She wadna wash, nor she wadna wring,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
For the spoiling o' her gowden ring,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

The Cooper has gane to his woo' pack,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
And he's laid a sheep's skin on his wife's ba'ck,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

It's I'll no thrash ye for your gentle kin,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
But I will thrash my ain sheep's skin,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

Oh I will bake, and I will brew,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
And nae mair think o' my comely hue,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

Oh I will card, and I will spin,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
And nae main think o' my gentle kin,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

Oh I will wash, and I will wring,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
and nae mair think o' my gowden ring,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue.

A! ye wha ha'e gotten a gentle wife,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
Just you send for the wee Cooper o' Fife,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hoo John Dougal,
A lane, quo'Rushity, roue, roue, roue

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 12 Apr 23 - 01:20 PM

Why did she not want to do these jobs that somebody had to do?
was she able to do the coopering?if he did the house work
the song can be presented to school children to get them to think of relationships and people working together etc , she thought she was of too gentle kin to do anything and yet they could not afford servants, the answer is not to beat her.... yet why did they get married etc use it as a thought provoker

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Apr 23 - 02:21 PM

Wee Cooper is a variant of Child 277 The Wife Wrapt in Wether Skin and there are 100s of versions. Compared with most other Child Ballads it's quite tame. First of all it's a joke, not a real situation. Secondly rightly or wrongly it passes as a piece of history from at least 300 years ago. (The story is much older, The Wife Wrapt in Morrel Skin.) If you start editing out pieces like this there'll hardly be any folksongs left. With any historical song you have to be careful where you sing it and hopefully be able to give an intro validating your performance of it. Singing about something does not mean you condone it. Whaling/hunting/murder and a host of other unPC subjects.

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 12 Apr 23 - 02:46 PM

Good Post Steve.
in my opinion this song is an appropriate song to be sung to children if it presented thoughtfully and in a though provoking way,

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 12 Apr 23 - 02:48 PM

It also shows how some tradtional songs are still very relevant today

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: Neil D
Date: 14 Apr 23 - 03:53 PM

At the old country church, the pastor went on an anti-drinking tirade. He said "If I could I would take all the beer in this town and throw it in the river. I would take all the wine and throw it in the river. I would throw all the whisky in that river too."
After the sermon the song leader asked the congregation to turn their songbooks to hymn #42, "Shall We Gather at the River."

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: Mark Ross
Date: 15 Apr 23 - 01:56 PM

Let us not forget Patrick Sky's magnificent record, a tribute to bad taste; SONGS THAT MADE AMERICA FAMOUS, subtitled Something to Offend Everybody. It took him 2 years before he could find a record company whose lawyers would let them release it!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST,James Phillips
Date: 16 Apr 23 - 10:49 AM

I think you have to cater to your audience as required. It's called "diplomacy." For instance, I wouldn't necessarily sing an old English folk song which referenced "lily white skin" as a standard of beauty to a diverse American audience. I might alter the lyric. Of course lily white skin back in the days of the song was less about racial superiority than it was about the fact that pale skin was considered symbolic of not having to work outside in the sun, but good luck explaining that to an audience today.

Another example: the following lyric from "The Collier Laddie":

"And would she marry ane that's black
Wi me sae braw and gaudy"

"Black" of course referring to the soot-covered complexion of a miner. But will an audience today understand that? Some might, some might not. Potential for unnecessary controversy, would probably use one of the many versions of the lyric that doesn't use that line.

What about this from "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye"?

"Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
You'll have to be left with a bowl to beg"

Some might find offensive today?

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 23 - 07:40 PM

A few classic "fox paws" mentioned above. My worst audience reaction was to my rendition of the traditional (?) song "The Female Drummer" at a folk festival, which upset a group of young feminists who walked out shouting abuse and giving me various hand signals as they left. I never found out just what particular words/lines/subject matter they found so objectionable, but it led me to re-examine my repertoire to the extent that I axed 90% if my (mainly traditional} material, and in fact stopped singing for several years, reverting to performing only instrumentals. One has to be so careful, and, as some one earlier mentioned, there is always somebody who will find something objectionable in any song if you look hard enough....

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 16 Apr 23 - 07:56 PM

"I lost her to a student chap with skin as black as coal" in today's PC world..from the otherwise innocuous 'Dublin in the rare auld times', is probably an inappropriate line. Many Irish rebel or sectarian songs are inappropriate depending on the context. My brother fell foul of inappropriateness. He is a cheesy Scottish act, with the usual tartan and MOR fare, who performs in hotels to tourist parties from all over the world.   This night a Spanish coach party was in. He sang and played the equally cheesy song of celebration 'Y Viva Espana'.   How was he to know there were Catalonian separatists amongst them? They stormed out in protest, with a few parting comments on the way!

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 23 - 12:49 AM

I've been a Catholic all my life. I spent 8 years in the seminary until I discovered the opposite sex, and I've taught as a catechist for over 50 years. But I don't like to wear my religion on my sleeve. When I'm singing in an ordinary song circle, I don't sing songs that are religiously significant to me.

But I often see a guy at song circles who is a fanatical Catholic, and he almost always sings religious songs. And that's embarrassing to me.

Last week at the Mudcat Worldwide Singaround, I sang Woody Guthrie's "Jesus Christ," which is based on "Jesse James." I sang it because I thought it was an interesting song, Woody's near-secular view of Jesus. But it didn't seem to go over. Don't know why. Maybe I offended religious people. I'm sure my ultra-Catholic acquaintance wouldn't like it.

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: BobL
Date: 17 Apr 23 - 03:09 AM

I have been known to apologize in advance to anyone who has had the misfortune to experience the situation described in a song.
Usually before "Dog in the microwave."

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 17 Apr 23 - 08:06 AM

> I sang [Woody Guthrie's "Jesus Christ"] because I thought it was an
> interesting song, Woody's near-secular view of Jesus. But it didn't
> seem to go over.

For the record: it went down well enough with me, but then I'd sung "Father Forgive Them" the week before.

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Apr 23 - 03:37 PM

With regret, I have given up singing “It’s Sister Jenny’s Turn To Throw The Bomb”.

Urban terrorism isn’t funny. Who knew?

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 25 Apr 23 - 03:51 AM

"Horst-Wessel-Lied

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 25 Apr 23 - 03:55 AM

Happiness is a warm gun, not when its put in a microwave

Subject: RE: Inappropriate Songs
From: reggie miles
Date: 27 Apr 23 - 12:04 AM

I think songs can be inappropriate when offered in the wrong company. I glanced to my side to see a bearded young woman sitting nearby and took a chance to offer a vintage novelty love song called The Bearded Lady. Afterward, her and her companion left without a word. Sometimes you just have to take the chance that the spirit of the moment will overcome any awkwardness involved. In that case, I think the awkwardness won.