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12 Apr 06 - 03:24 AM (#1715903) Subject: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Shambles Fot some strange reason this morning I found myself singing the words of 70s pop song called Afternoon Delight. This incuded the following - Sky rockects in sight Afternoon delight As this was a favourite BBC Radio 2 song - I wonder why the fairly obviously sexual implications of these words seem to have escaped attention from those who would protect us from hearing such things? There are - I am sure there are other examples of things that have escaped like this? |
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12 Apr 06 - 03:25 AM (#1715905) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Shambles No I have that wrong - it was Sky Rocket's in flight |
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12 Apr 06 - 03:32 AM (#1715908) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Purple Foxx The phrase "Finger pie" in "Penny Lane" is a Scouseism for (female) masturbation. Also there was a Blondie song (Picture this?)which contained the line "I'll give you some head.And a shoulder to cry on" That song got enormous amounts of air play. |
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12 Apr 06 - 03:43 AM (#1715914) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Les in Chorlton Ken Dodd sang about Happiness, which some people clearly heard otherwise. Did the Beatles sing Happiness is a warm gun? |
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12 Apr 06 - 03:45 AM (#1715916) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Kweku it seems like the authorities on censorship leave those who are able to phrase their lyrics in such a way that children donot understand it. it is like well if you want to say "shoot him" and you put it this way,"send him away forever" then you will not be censored. in Ghana we have similar problems and the most disturbing is the fact that profane english songs have no problem with censors.it is like if it can't be easily understood then its o.k. |
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12 Apr 06 - 04:03 AM (#1715929) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Purple Foxx It is said that when Mohammed Anwar Al Sadat was President of Egypt if anything was published that he was particularly keen that people should read,he would make great show of banning it. An official ban would always arouse the curiosity of people who probably wouldn't be interested otherwise. Dubious ethics but a perceptive take on group behaviour. |
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12 Apr 06 - 04:14 AM (#1715933) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Les in Chorlton I seem to remember an intro. on a Dubliners record which suggested that instead of banning books with explicit content, what ever that is, they should be published in Irish "to encourage Irish people to learn their own language". A bit the same then? |
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12 Apr 06 - 04:22 AM (#1715938) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Shambles Was it not Fish and Finger Pie? |
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12 Apr 06 - 04:38 AM (#1715944) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Scrump From: Purple Foxx - PM Also there was a Blondie song (Picture this?)which contained the line "I'll give you some head.And a shoulder to cry on" That song got enormous amounts of air play. -------------- It wasn't Picture This, but (IIRC) You look good in blue. The words were "I'll give you some head and shoulders to cry on" and it's rumoured they were paid to sing this by a well-known brand of shampoo ;-) Sorry this is non-folk, but just responding to the point above. Cheers Scrump |
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12 Apr 06 - 04:40 AM (#1715945) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Scrump From: The Shambles - PM Was it not Fish and Finger Pie? ------------------------------ "Four of fish and finger pie" are the lyrics. Cheers Scrump |
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12 Apr 06 - 04:52 AM (#1715950) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,DG Also, John Lennon shouts the F-word about 3 minutes into Hey Jude, apparently because he messed up the chords. For some reason it was never picked up and if you listen closely to the song you can hear it... I read that the Beatles knew it was there all along. I've just looked on wikipedia and it happens at 2.58 - have a listen! |
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12 Apr 06 - 06:19 AM (#1715982) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Purple Foxx Yes shambles "four of fish & finger pie" ie Fish & chips 4 times & a frig. There's a Chip shop in Penny lane where the staff got tire of having this quoted at them a long time ago. What you said Scrump. Q) How do they know the girl in "Jaws had dandruff? A)She left her Head & Shoulders on the Beach. Guest DG You are mainly correct but the Foul mouthed Fab was actually Paul.John uses this splendid Anglo-Saxon verb in Revolution 9. BTW The reason the drums are silent during the 1st verse of "Hey Jude" is because Ringo wass taking a toilet break at the time. Pure serendipity. |
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12 Apr 06 - 06:20 AM (#1715983) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,Micca One of the proposed British entries for the Eurovision song contest (that was sung in full on Sunday afternoon teatime television on BBC1) which caused me to fall of the sofa laughing (was, and I kid you not) "Yodelling in the Canyon of Love" a phrase that was repeated frequently through the song, It should have won. |
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12 Apr 06 - 09:53 AM (#1716099) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,me How 'bout "Sixty Minute Man" from 'way back in the 'fifties? |
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12 Apr 06 - 11:59 AM (#1716208) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Bert In Wanted Man, Johnny Cash sang "Went the wrong way in Juarez with Juanita on my lap" It was live (well one minute delay for the censors) on British Television and the censors completely missed it. |
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12 Apr 06 - 12:16 PM (#1716225) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Windsinger Purple, Not familiar with the Blondie reference, but this had to be almost a decade earlier: How about (more or less) the entire Lou Reed song "Walk on the Wild Side"? :P Got extensive radio play in '72, despite overt referances to oral sex, transsexuality and drugs. Woohoo. Slán, ~Fionn www.geocities.com/children_of_lir |
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12 Apr 06 - 12:45 PM (#1716251) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Kaleea What about "Makin Whoopee" by Gus Kahn & Walter Donaldson? One of my all time favorite songs because of the comic affectations of Eddie Cantor. (although, if I had been the wife who was wronged, he would have been incapable of makin whoopee after I found out about it!) You'd better keep her You'll find it cheaper than Makin' Whoopee. The Musical was written maybe in '28, I think Eddie Cantor recorded it in '29. The movie ('30?) was in color(!), the big production numbers had the Goldwyn Girls wearing something sheer resembling a dress, shoes, & not much else. The lyrics as well as the costumes would seem to be rather racy for the times. Were there even censors back then? Maybe not. |
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12 Apr 06 - 01:31 PM (#1716295) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: mandoleer On the other hand, there are songs that fall foul of censors even though (because?) they are incomprehensible (and actually innocent). Like Louie Louie and Woolly Bully. But reverting to the topic, how did Cab Calloway get away with the continual drug references in his songs? And I've got a pre 1920 78 of Casey Jones, in which Casey's widow tells the kids 'now don't you pine, You got another pappy on the Cunard Line' (the whole song is performed in a particularly joyous style). References to adultery and illegitimacy were not common in 'pop' songs of the time. And then again, there was Marie Lloyd somehow getting away with changing 'She sits among the cabbages and peas' to 'She sits among the cabbages and leeks' after an objection... |
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12 Apr 06 - 01:48 PM (#1716310) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,saulgoldie One of my alltime faves is from PPM's "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" "And if I really say it, The radio won't play it, Unless I lay it Between the lines."! Not exactly what I think is being asked for, but a nice "got one over on 'em" methinks. Wonder how many DJs figured it out. I am not sure if it has seen airplay, but the song "Steggie" is pretty right out there: "He put in his steggie so plump and fat (wooo), Then he pulled it out like a half-drowned rat (And you know very well what I mean-o" Indeed we do. |
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12 Apr 06 - 02:04 PM (#1716329) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Shambles The words of Walking The Dog are more than a little problematic but it was a big hit record and played a lot on the BBC. |
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12 Apr 06 - 05:20 PM (#1716546) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: McGrath of Harlow As Sigmund Freud is supposed to have said "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." |
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12 Apr 06 - 05:59 PM (#1716597) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,Jack Campin "Yummy yummy yummy, I've got love in my tummy"? |
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12 Apr 06 - 06:37 PM (#1716646) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Fooles Troupe "Kaleea Were there even censors back then?" Do some research on "The Hayes Office" for movie censorship in USA. BTW, there was a 30's movies about the evils of Maryjane that had totaly frontal female nudity. |
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12 Apr 06 - 10:57 PM (#1716933) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: frogprince "Way down deep inside you, I'm gonna give you my love..." |
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12 Apr 06 - 11:54 PM (#1716983) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Fooles Troupe "The Lemon Song" Nobody's gonna squeeze MY lemon - ouch! |
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13 Apr 06 - 10:06 PM (#1717756) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Genie Going way back to around 1910, Chauncey Alcott got away with "Someday for my sake, she may let me take the bloom from my Wild Irish Rose." Amazingly risqué for the Victorian era, eh? |
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13 Apr 06 - 11:13 PM (#1717806) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: iamjohnne What about Mississippi John Hurt? He got a stick of candy 9 inch long Sells if fast as a hog can chew corn Candy man, Candy man. His stick of candy don't melt away Just gets better so the ladies say. |
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14 Apr 06 - 07:50 AM (#1717994) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Shambles And there are also artists names which escape. Jelly Roll Morton? |
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14 Apr 06 - 05:53 PM (#1718346) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Uncle_DaveO Back in the 40s a whole lot of prominent songs had titles or lines which could be interpreted baudily: For example: To spend one night with you In our old rendezvous, And reminisce with you, That's my desire! or We ought to do this more often Just what we're doin' tonight. Being then a totally naive teenager, I completely missed both of those me by, by the way. Dave Oesterreich |
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14 Apr 06 - 05:59 PM (#1718349) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Jim McLean Les in Chorleton, I remeber Ronnie Drew saying that if The Ginger Bread Man had been published in Irish there'd be a rush to learn the language. I was their (The Dubliners) roadie at the time. |
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14 Apr 06 - 06:15 PM (#1718362) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: McGrath of Harlow "It's all in the mind" Yes we have no Bananas I've got a loverly bunch of coconuts Blowing in the Wind My country tis of thee Come all ye tramps and hawkers Trere's no end to it when you tune your attention that way... |
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14 Apr 06 - 09:12 PM (#1718451) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Fooles Troupe Is there any other way McGrath? |
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14 Apr 06 - 10:17 PM (#1718484) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Barry Finn Jackson Browne's Rosie As the drummer walks off with a grouppie that the sound man was making a play for, he's laments to himself; But Rosie you're all right -- you wear my ring When you hold me tight -- Rosie that's my thing When you turn out the light -- I've got to hand it to me Looks like it's me and you again tonight Rosie Rosie is but one of the 5 sisters. Barry |
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15 Apr 06 - 06:47 AM (#1718602) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Teribus MGOH, I'd forgotten that one: Come aw ye Tramps and Hawker lads and gaitherers o blaw The way Luke Kelly sang it it sounded hellishly like Come aw ye Tramps and Hawker lads and gie yer arse a blaw |
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15 Apr 06 - 10:57 AM (#1718734) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Franz S. As Tom Lehrer said back in 1965 or thereabouts, "When correctly viewed, Everything is lewd." |
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16 Apr 06 - 12:29 AM (#1719373) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Fooles Troupe "wanna see elbows and backs, wanna see everybody from behind! ooo, I'm workin' for da ma-a-an" |
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16 Apr 06 - 06:33 PM (#1719710) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Tootler There's a line in the Beatles song "Day Tripper" which goes "She's a big teaser, she took me halfway there" We thought back then that they actually sang "She's a prick teaser ..." One of my friends always used to put it on juke box to see if they did and we could never make up our minds. :-) |
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16 Apr 06 - 07:40 PM (#1719759) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: melodeonboy Almost anything by Hartman's Heartbreakers (Western Swing, 1930s/40s, I think). |
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16 Apr 06 - 09:37 PM (#1719824) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,Sonja How about any of the songs about a guy being someone's "salty dog?" |
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16 Apr 06 - 09:47 PM (#1719835) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Fooles Troupe Sorry, but that cultural reference passes right over my head. |
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16 Apr 06 - 10:23 PM (#1719873) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,Sonja Foolestroupe, I could swear I just posted a reply to your Q but I can't figure out where that post ended up! ???? |
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17 Apr 06 - 06:18 AM (#1720054) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Nigel Parsons Kaleea: Is it true that "Making Whoopee" is Ted Danson's favourite song? Nigel |
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17 Apr 06 - 01:15 PM (#1720329) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Stringsinger Please don't forget Cole Porter's "Let's Do It". It's a classic. Also, Cole's "Let's Misbehave" and "Love For Sale". Burl Ive's version of the "Foggy Foggy Dew". "Black Snake Moan" done by various blues artists. Frank Hamilton |
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18 Apr 06 - 01:46 AM (#1720831) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,Sandy Andina What about "My Ding-a-Ling" by Chuck Berry? Or Paul McCartney & Wings' "High, High, High" where he sings "get you ready for my body gun." Sheesh, those songs were on AM radio! |
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18 Apr 06 - 06:53 PM (#1721396) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Uncle_DaveO McGrath of H. cited the following: My country tis of thee I don't git it! Please explain how this song could be interpreted as even arguably censorable. Dave Oesterreich |
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13 May 06 - 09:10 AM (#1739762) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Nigel Parsons Uncle DaveO: Presumably MGoH is mishearing the second word as a reference to the female pudenda. Like the young man at the golf club who met one of his ex-teachers, with the following conversation: Young Man: "I didn't know you played here" Teacher: "Yes, I'm a 'country member'" Young man: "I do!" CHEERS Nigel |
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13 May 06 - 09:40 AM (#1739778) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: jaze Didn't Leonard Cohen have a line in a song that said "giving me head on the unmade bed"-but I don't think it was ever played on AM radio. |
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13 May 06 - 10:28 AM (#1739796) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Cool Beans Desmond Decker and the Aces' "Israelites," a radio hit in the 60s, contained the line "My wife and my kids, they fuck off and leave me." Because of Desmond's Jamaican(?) accent it came out "My wife and my kids, they fahkafanda leave me" and nobody in radioland semeed to know what he was singing. (I'm not sure I spelled Desmond's last name correctly.) |
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13 May 06 - 09:24 PM (#1740269) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: The Fooles Troupe Yes I think the censors should fahkafanda leave things alone! |
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23 Jul 09 - 09:40 AM (#2685962) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: GUEST,Huey Wanders "Fahkafanda!" Love it! Cat Stevens' "Mona Bone Jakon" (also the title of the album) is about his penis: I've got a mona bone jakon And it won't be lonely for long |
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23 Jul 09 - 09:48 AM (#2685973) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: DMcG One of my favourites is a song from the war years, called "The Deepest Shelter in Town". The woman concerned starts with an intro that is almost spoken: Don't run away, mister, Oh, stay and play, mister. Don't worry if you hear the sirens sound Though I'm not a lady of the highest virtue I wouldn't dream of letting anything hurt you. And so before you go I think you ought to know: (Sung) I've got a cosy flat, There's a space for your hat, I'll wear a pink chiffon negligee gown And do I know my stuff But if that's not enough I've got the deepest shelter in town. --- And so on. |
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23 Jul 09 - 01:42 PM (#2686125) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: dick greenhaus Not a song, but apropos: Fred Allen, in one of his sketches had a character exclaim: "Oh, feg your dill." The station wouldn't let him use it. So he changed it to "Oh, dill your feg". Which was accepted. You figure. |
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23 Jul 09 - 03:48 PM (#2686255) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Micca One of the contenders for the British entry for the Eurovision song contest a few years ago, and therefor broadcast on National (BBC)TV at tea time on a Sunday was ( I kid you not) ( I am not sure if it was the Title or just contained the line)...... " Yodelling in the Canyon of Love" |
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23 Jul 09 - 04:04 PM (#2686270) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Micca Maby the BBc or their censor wasnt as up to date with his euphemisms as he should be? here is a clicky to the song Canyon |
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23 Jul 09 - 08:39 PM (#2686461) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Joe_F I heard The man who comes to our house on the radio as early as 1960. It leaves little to the imagination. |
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24 Jul 09 - 01:23 AM (#2686560) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: Gibb Sahib Desmond Decker and the Aces' "Israelites," a radio hit in the 60s, contained the line "My wife and my kids, they fuck off and leave me." Because of Desmond's Jamaican(?) accent it came out "My wife and my kids, they fahkafanda leave me" and nobody in radioland semeed to know what he was singing. (I'm not sure I spelled Desmond's last name correctly.) Nah, it's "pack up and leave me". Besides, that would make no sense because Jamaicans for sure would understand it -- DD wouldn't have sang curse words back in those days. On the other hand, there are LOADS of new Jamaican songs today that get American public broadcast despite very very slack lyrics. On another note, I found myself in Shimla once (in the Himalayas, in India) in a very "modern" coffeeshop. The music being played was some rap that kept chanting "s*ck my d*ck" over and over. No one seemed to mind (understand), but I was having trouble enjoying my coffee. I finally asked the barista, "Do you know what they're saying? " Blank look. So I translated it for him! The exact same thing happened to me in a Chinese restaurant in another Indian city. I literally could not eat because they were piping in an obscene rap. For some reason, Chinese (but Indian-run) restaurants in India make it a point to play only Western pop music, never Indian music and never (gasp) Chinese music. A valuable lesson: don't blast songs in languages you don't understand, no matter how exotic and touchy-feely-multicultural the sound may make you feel. Basically it's the same rule that applies to tattoos :-0 |
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24 Jul 09 - 07:18 AM (#2686685) Subject: RE: Songs that escape the censors? From: banjoman I have an LP recorded years ago by Debbie McClatchy and the song I like most is entitled "You were only fucking while I was making love" Its actually a good song with a thought provoking message about peoples attitudes to sex. I sang it a few times until the prudes in our local folk club gave me an ultimatum - either tthat song oes or you go - I chose the former Pete |