Songs about truly pissed-off people

Subject: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Abby Sale
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 08:41 AM

Couple of weeks ago I sang "Sam Hall" - the 'God damn your eyes' variant, not the wimped-out 'Damn your eyes' one. One feller really perked up and said he'd never come across a folk song with the word 'shit' in it and did I know any more? I allowed there were many, many but I only sang two or three such.

But it got me to thinking that the very strong chorus in this song is quite appropriate considering just how pissed-off Sam Hall really is. I mean, he's unrepentant and about to be hanged so it's understandable, even if not very polite.

So, in one of those "what songs can you think of things," what songs can you think of about truly annoyed people. I'm sure I'm blanking as I can only think of one, "THE UNRECONSTRUCTED REBEL." Plus the Ranter, James McPherson, who was clearly annoyed if not quite spitting fire.

I'm sure there are many more. Any ideas?

[Many song titles in this thread have been converted to links by a Mudelf.]

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 08:49 AM

If i get my html right try DAVY LOWSTON

I think our Davy has every right to be truly pissed off as well!!!

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 09:14 AM

How about "IF I HAD A ROCKET LAUNCHER" by Bruce Cockburn? He sounds pretty annoyed to me.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: ermintrudeclaire
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 09:25 AM

lord whoverver you sing him as (arnold in fairports version) seemed fairly cheesed off with matty groves.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: gnomad
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 10:20 AM

How about Keith Marsden's Knocking at the Door, he sounds pretty bitter. {=IDLERS AND SKIVERS}

Subject: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 10:35 AM

Stan Rogers wrote a few, THE MARY ELLEN CARTER and BARRETT'S PRIVATEERS come to mind. Songs of the Pi**ed off seems to be a very small genre and pretty much confined to folk and punk music.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: heric
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 11:25 AM

Since someone has now mentioned non-folk, I have recently taken inspiration from a song about a man beguiled and then betrayed by the feminine wiles of a dark-haired beauty. It's AC/DC's (Now You're Messing with a) Son of a Bitch. With uncharacteristic subtlety, there's no plan of action stated. But truly pissed? Oh, yes indeed.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 11:50 AM

Some of our singer/songwriters can write some angry songs. Michael Jerling had one called (I think) "Never Met You." [=STUPID] Sample verses: "Will Rogers said he never met a man he didn't like but I'm willing to bet he never met you." Or Richard Shindell's Halloween song (I don't know the title). [=ARE YOU HAPPY NOW] Can't put together and verses, but it is basically a song about "you jilted me, so bugger off."

John Gorka wrote a nice song about his car being stolen in New York. [=STRANGER IN MY DRIVER'S SEAT] Tom Paxton wrote a spritely tune to an angry song called "THANK YOU REPUBLIC AIRLINES (for breaking the neck on my guitar)" There is an old blues song with the line "I feel like snappin' a pistol, Baby in your face. / You know that graveyard will be your restin' place." I think the list will be very long. Since I grew up in a family where anger was seldom expressed, I find myself attracted to "angry songs."

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Homeless
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 12:16 PM

Dan - that's not AC/DC, it's Nazareth, and the name of the song is "Hair of the Dog" off the album of the same name.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: robomatic
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 12:17 PM

There are not many good 'angry' songs at least compared to the vast quantity of Moon in June stuff. I keep my ears way wide for 'em too. I submit:

'MAGGIE MAY' yea it's pop, so what?

'Hurricane'

Warren Zevon can do an angry song:

'Play it All Night Long' might qualify

And of course, the master, Richard Thompson, always sharp-eyed and hard-edged:

'The New Me', 'GOD LOVES A DRUNK', 'Mother Knows Best'

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 12:21 PM

I once knew a punk band who had a song called "I Hate Your F***ing Guts"! I'm trying to think of some really pissed-off folk songs.....yes, Lord Arlen/Donald/Arnold/Daniel was indeed pretty bent of shape with both MATTY GROVES and "his own dear wife", especially when he "struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall"!

Hmmmm....what others?

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST,Midchuck in Bozeman
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 12:50 PM

Tom Russell: "THE SKY ABOVE, THE MUD BELOW."

You horsehair-braiding sons of bitches
Stole my claim to earthly riches.
Someone go and dig a ditch!
There may well be a hangin'.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 01:01 PM

I searched "Angry folk songs", and I came across this hilarious web-site:

http://www.theworstoftheworst.com/wotw_folk.html

Below is the commentary about one song in particular; you have to click on the link so you can play it & listen to the lyrics in their entirety---I'm going to be laughing all day! But this was by no means alone in its astonishing badness.....I'm reminded of Dan Ackroyd as Leonard Pinth Garnell on the old SNL: "Yes, this really bites the big one"!!!

"Mother Rage" by Kathy Fire Angry Lesbian Folk

Buy Lesbian Folk Music Liner Notes Torture Factor = 8 Nothing can start your day off better then a big fat helping of angry lesbian folk music. Kathy Fire's call to arms is a war cry to virulent lesbians everywhere. This is a very ireful woman who warns men that our "day of castration" is near. No "suit wearing puppet man" will be safe when Kathy and her NOW card carrying, mullet cut army of womym in comfortable shoes bring a hornet's nest about the ears of all humans who happen to possess a penis. Beware men, there is no opportunity to repent. Just a long slow death at the hands of rabid split tail lovers.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 01:24 PM

I once heard a busker sing a song that had the refrain, "Won't you die, you yuppie scum." And he had the nerve to sing that in downtown Minneapolis, right outside City Center, downtown's biggest shopping center.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 01:29 PM

Since we've jumped over into non-folk, THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN' Which brings to mind this true story.

A dance instructor, fine talented man, Eddie Carrier, who attempted to teach my two left feet (then in their third and fourth years of stumbling instruction), was newly moved into the same apartment complex with Sonny and Cher. One afternoon, he was late to the studio to teach our small class. His explanation was that a horrific, screaming, bashing, crashing argument had broken out. He called the police. An hour later, there was a terrible pounding on his door and Cher proceeded to "rip him a new-one" about his interfering with their domestic-noise, demanding that he "Never, ever, call the police again," explaining that "this was how they made love!"

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Abby Sale
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 01:48 PM

Hmmm. Getting some good ones here. "Barrett's" is certainly one.

Midchuck, that verse reminds me of stagecoach robber, Black Bart Bolton's actual verse her left in the strong boxes (after emptying them, of course)

Too long, in vain, I've toiled for bread,
For honor, fame, and riches,
But on my toes too long you've tread,
You fine-haired sons of bitches.

Black Bart, the Po8

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 01:53 PM

CHRISTMAS NIGHT IN THE WORKHOUSE. And, in a narrative vein, there's the classic story of the revenge of the mason who was stiffed out of his fee, BO LAMKIN.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Abby Sale
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 02:31 PM

Oh, I just thought of "BUFFALO SKINNERS." They seemed pretty irritated.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: 53
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 02:35 PM

hank jr. has a song called A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE, talking about spitting beech nut in some dude's eye and shooting him with his forty-five, after he heard of a friend of his getting killed in N Y for 44 dollars, its a damn good song. BOB

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FBI BARBECUE (Patrick Sky)
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 03:09 PM

Anger comes in all forms and all ways...I think that if "Revenge is sweetest when supped at leisure" (or words to that effect), Woody's EAST TEXAS RED fits this genre...about my favorite "Don't get mad, Get even" song.

Or sometimes when the songwriter is outraged, sarcasm can be far angrier and nastier than anything else. Try this for instance:

The F.B.I. Barbeque
...Patrick Sky

It'll be a hot time tonight
In Old Waco Texas
At the FBI barbecue
All our people are saying what a terrible loss
So just roll back those tanks and pass me the sauce
Yes we'll light up the sky
In Old Waco Texas
The cooks will know just what to do
Delta force or Branch Davidian
You can all read from your Gideon
At the FBI barbecue

Yes its a beautiful sight
Here in Old Waco Texas
With the Army and the NRA
Let's bang some more Davidsons what is all this fuss
They're Americans to you but they're the enemy to us
So lets all sing and shout
Here in old Waco Texas
We'll stop to have a prayer or two
We can drown out the cries
As we practice telling lies
At the FBI barbecue

We'll enjoy ourselves
In Old Waco Texas
At the FBI barbecue
We'll all toss our grenades at the beautiful fire
And watch the agents dance around the funeral pyre
So ya'll come on down to Old Waco Texas
And we can crack a beer or two
So if you want to have some fun
We can all shout "Well Done!"
At the FBI barbecue
Exploit the media-- at the FBI Barbecue
Invite the president-- to the FBI Barbecue
Let's make a movie at-- the FBI Barbecue
But don't tell Janet Reno -- the FBI Barbecue

You can listen to that one Here--FBI Barbeque

Spaw

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Joe_F
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 03:29 PM

First time she shot him, he staggered.
Next time she shot him, he fell.
Third time she shot her Johnny,
There was a new man's face in hell.
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Frankie was clearly pissed off but had no need to use strong language. [FRANKIE AND ALBERT]

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Metchosin
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 04:58 PM

Lou Reed's DIRTY BLVD and Dylan's MASTERS OF WAR.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Amos
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 05:55 PM

Not to mention the classic THE RODEO SONG chorus:

Well it's allemande left, allemande right
C'mon ya fuckin' dummy get the damn thing right
An' get off the stage, ya goddamn dude,
Ya knoooooow.....
You piss me off!
Fockin' jerk!
Get on mah nerves!

The verses don't even bear repeating!

A

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: 53
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 06:15 PM

david allan coe had a lot of songs about pissed off people, mainly him. BOB

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Gareth
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 06:53 PM

Mmmm! There's that Classic Rugby Song "The Good Ship Venus last line of Chorus!

Or that Colliers Song "Lord Faringdon" [=COAL OWNER AND PITMAN'S WIFE] It's in the archives under a different title, but having just celebrated my birthday well, but unwisely, I ain't sober enough to find it.

Need I mention Bogles "AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA"

Gareth

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 07:21 PM

Oh, thanks, Amos!

"Oh it's 40 below & I don't give a f**k Got a heater in my truck & it's off to the rodeo...."

LOL---I love that one!

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 08:08 PM

SHUT UP AND DRINK YOUR BEER

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 08:31 PM

And I guess this lady must have been pretty unhappy if SHE BURNT THE LITTLE ROADSIDE TAVERN DOWN.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 09:04 PM

Getting back to "Trad" a moment here, if we may;

"THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY"

Getting his "True Love" shot dead in the midst of their last fond embrace can certainly get a man's dander up, don't ye know. "..'twas blood for blood without remorse I took out o'er them freely..."

Strangely enough, I don't see a lot of this emotion being expressed in the music of the American Civil War, where Lord knows there was more than enough furious, enraged ferocity to go around for four years or so. Residuals of that toxic flood may still be encountered in some places to this day. Why more songs were not written in the vein of "Good Ol' Rebel" formerly mentioned, I can hardly speculate. Perhaps they considered themselves "above" that sort of thing back then.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 09:12 PM

Good call Joe_F

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY, she's one pissed off woman.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 10:18 PM

There was a decent "Songs of vengeance" thread a while ago that'd fit right in here. Then I mentioned Woody Guthrie's "EAST TEXAS RED"

Also a country hit of sorts, "BLACKJACK COUNTY CHAIN".

Right now I realize that Woody's "TOM JOAD" would fit here admirably. Both Jim Casey and Tom get pissed as hell and take matters into their own hands.

What about "LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLENDER" ???
Also "DOBE BILL" (called "THE KILLER" by John Lomax in his book COWBOY SONGS --1910).
Cisco Houston recorded it. So did I on my first Folk Legacy LP--That's The Ticket----Come to think of it, "EAST TEXAS RED" was on that old album o' mine too. I'd bet that Sandy still has it for sale (no pun intended Abby) as one of his custom cassettes.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 11:05 PM

Duncan, Duncan was tendin' the bar,
And in walked Brady with a shinin' star,
And Brady said "Duncan, you's under arrest,"
And Duncan shot a hole in Brady's breast.

[DUNCAN AND BRADY]

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: ddw
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 11:34 PM

Two of my favorites are Johnny Paycheck's "TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT" or John Lee Hooker's "I'M MAD"? Big Bill Broonzy's "WHEN WILL I GET TO BE CALLED A MAN?", "GET BACK" [=BLACK BROWN AND WHITE] and "PLOW HAND BLUES" would certainly qualify. "STRANGE FRUIT" is about as pissed off as you can get.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Metchosin
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 11:39 PM

BLACKLEG MINER

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: heric
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 11:55 PM

Homeless dang you right, which explains why I couldn't find it in the stores; but it was all over napster under "AC/DC." Now I have a whole new genre of inspirational music to explore. (Searching for AC/DC the closest I could come was "And I fell in love with the dirty little bitch." Gotta smile. . . . )

As to Waco, there's also a great rip roaring banjo and fiddle tune about that kooky well armed tax evading family in Idaho that the Feds stormed. It used to be stuck in my head all the time, but the best I can come up with now is "They shot my baby, and my good dog too." He was pissed.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: BK Lick
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 07:51 AM

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: BK Lick
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 07:52 AM

Two that Dodi Kallick used to sing come to mind: MY CHILDREN ARE LAUGHING, and EVERYDAY DIRT. Neither of 'em is on My Mother's Voice, Kathy's newly released tribute to Dodi, but BANKS OF THE OHIO is and I guess it might qualify.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: guinnesschik
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 10:36 AM

Steve Earle sang "Ben McCulloch" on TRAIN A-COMIN', which is a great pissed off Civil War Song.

Goddamn you Ben Mcculloch/ I hate you more than any other man alive/And when you die/You'll be a foot soldier just like me/In the Devil's infantry.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 01:17 PM

I could probably mention a dozen really good Garnet Rogers, Stepen Fearing, Ian Tamblyn, Don Ross, Willie P Bennett, Doug Mcarthur, "angry" songs... but these names tend to get ignored around here...

;-)

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 03:20 PM

Some 1980's CW song about the Gatlin Brother Bullies

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 09:44 PM

I'd say "Smackwater Jack" was pretty pissed.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: leprechaun
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 10:47 PM

I forget the name of the band who did this one. It's called O'REILLY AT THE BAR, I think.

Wasn't that beer there one of mine?
Stealin' my beer is a sin.
You stealin' my drink
Has caused me to think.
Think about the rat that you are.
Whoever you are,
You pushed me too far.
Now I'm gonna smash your face.

Chorus: O'Reilly was smashin' his face.
Those drunks they laughed so loud.
O'Reilly was pleasin' the crowd.
O'Reilly was singin'
O'Reilly was swingin'
Says I'm gonna smash your face.

I suppose it beats the hell out of songs in praise of baby rapin', child murdering pervert degenerate cultists.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Nancy King
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 10:47 PM

And then there's Maybelle Carter's "YOU'RE GONNA BE SORRY YOU LET ME DOWN."

Cheers, Nancy

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: khandu
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 10:57 PM

Stephen Stills- WORD GAME - Great piece of work

Paul Brady- NOTHING BUT THE SAME OLD STORY

Dylan- Idiot Wind

khandu- Damned Old Spaw

khandu

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Bert
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 11:06 PM

Look at the Mudcat song challenge about Patrick Wright. There's plenty of pissed off songs there.

BUT, like my friend RiB, I was raised in a family where it was not allowed to show anger. So the song I wrote on the subject will not be published.

Hey Garg, I loved your story. I was married to a dancer for too many years and got to be reasonably good at it. I don't dance now though.

There's so many other subjects to write about that I don't write many angry songs, Could though.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Joe_F
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 12:49 AM

I've been married forty years,
Shared my hopes and shared my fears.
All I earned, spent every bit:
Man, this love's a crock of shit.

I come home most every night,
Me 'n' my wife, we have a fight.
My wife always was a wit.
Man, this love's a crock of shit.

I sent all my kids to school.
Now they think that I'm a fool.
They don't like me 'cause I spit.
Man, this love's a crock of shit.

Young man, if you've never wed,
Listen close to what I've said.
You've got freedom in your mitt.
Man, this love's a crock of shit.

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Amergin
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 01:08 AM

wonder if there is one for those who provide tech support....like this moron i just had who thought he had windows 95 on his imac....and that he was using ie when he was actually using nitscrape....

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Terry K
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 02:33 AM

for me, nobody ever sounded so pissed-off as Dylan in "SHE'S YOUR LOVER NOW". Come to think, I'm pretty pissed off that he never did a finished version.

Cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: Don Firth
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 03:17 AM

Sam Hall and his parting oration has gone down in history, at least in song form. But he might have swung unremembered had it not for the large crowd that had gathered to see hanged, not Sam Hall, but a handsome, dashing highwayman whose exploits had made him something of a popular hero.

Sam, a chimney-sweep by trade before he ran a-foul of the law, cowered in the corner of the cart that was hauling him and the highwayman to the gallows. As the crowd lining the streets cheered the highwayman on to his doom, the highwayman stood tall and proud, acknowledging the cheers and blowing kisses to the ladies. At one point, a wheel of the cart hit a loose cobblestone and the cart lurched, throwing Sam against the highwayman. The highwayman shoved him back into the corner and, ostentatiously brushing the soot off the sleeve of his doublet, he said, "Stand off, varlet, stand off!"

Sam crouched in the corner and snarled, "Stand off yerself! I've as much right to be here as you 'ave!"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Songs about truly pissed-off people
From: GUEST,Nerd
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 03:29 AM

"I WANT TO KILL EVERYBODY" by Ed Haynes;

in various versions of "In Fair Worcester City" (aka Scarborough Fair Town, William Glenn, SIR WILLIAM GOWER, Fair Was the City, etc), the murdered woman's ghost rips her murderer into three pieces--now she's pissed off!

Jack Orion/Glasgerion is pretty pissed off when he hangs Tom--or lops off his head, depending on the version.

And, in the end of some Gypsy Laddie versions:

He's sent for a hangman frae Fife and anither frae oot kircaudy, o he's hanged the gypsies yin by yin for the stealin of his lady, o.

On the punk side, The jam used to have a song called Mr. Clean which had the lines:

If you see me in the street, look away coz I don't ever want to catch you lookin' at me, Mr. Clean Coz I hate you and your wife and if I get the chance I'll fuck up your life, Mr. Clean.

And I always thought...why does he hate the dude's wife?