Old Songs That Illustrate Changes in Society

Shapeless- I never heard the Ani DiFranco version....only Nancy Sinatra's. It is so strange. I used to "hear" songs, but I think that I never really listened to them. When you look just at the prose, without the melody, and the instrumental accompaniment, you get so much more out of the poetry of the piece.

I think that I am realizing the ramifications of the wordings of these songs, that I never even noticed before.

0 Replies

Phoenix32890 wrote:

When you look just at the prose, without the melody, and the instrumental accompaniment, you get so much more out of the poetry of the piece.

You bet. It is, simultaneously, the wonderful and terrible power of music: making ideas and messages more palatable.

0 Replies

"My Man" certainly fits the old-fashioned rational for wife beating.

Evidently my Carousel memories aren't in a song--just action and dialogue. Billy slaps Julie (when he finds out she's pregnant?) and then gets killed in a robbery.

Then he slaps Little Julie, his daughter, at commencement and she marvels that when you're hit by someone you love, "It doesn't hurt at all."

There must be hundreds of pop songs from the '50's advocating hanging onto that guy who makes you suffer, 'cause you're incomplete without him and he really means he loves you.

0 Replies

Quote:

"Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend"
from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953)
words by Jule Styne and music by Leo Robin

The French are glad to die for love.
They delight in fighting duels.
But I prefer a man who lives
And gives expensive jewels.
A kiss on the hand
May be quite continental,
But diamonds are a girl's best friend.

A kiss may be grand
But it won't pay the rental
On your humble flat
Or help you at the automat.

Men grow cold
As girls grow old,
And we all lose our charms in the end.

But square-cut or pear-shaped,
These rocks don't loose their shape.
Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Tiffany's!
Cartier!
Black Starr!
Frost Gorham!
Talk to me Harry Winston.
Tell me all about it!

There may come a time
When a lass needs a lawyer,
But diamonds are a girl's best friend.

There may come a time
When a hard-boiled employer
Thinks you're awful nice,
But get that ice or else no dice.

He's your guy
When stocks are high,
But beware when they start to descend.

It's then that those louses
Go back to their spouses.
Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

I've heard of affairs
That are strictly platonic,
But diamonds are a girl's best friend.

And I think affairs
That you must keep liaisonic
Are better bets
If little pets get big baguettes.

Time rolls on,
And youth is gone,
And you can't straighten up when you bend.

But stiff back
Or stiff knees,
You stand straight at Tiffany's.

Diamonds! Diamonds!
I don't mean rhinestones!
But diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Marilyn Monroe sang that song in the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" in 1953. In those years, one of the only ways for a woman to achieve weath, except for inheriting it, was to marry money. In those years, it was difficult, if not impossible, for a woman to make it "big" on her own. Females were relegated to support positions, like secretaries, in the big corporations. Educated women became teachers or social workers, which did not pay very much.

If a girl were poor but beautiful, she could set her sights on a millionaire (which is not that much today, but was a LOT of money in the 1950's)

Wealthy women often would collect fine jewelry, usually diamonds as much as an "insurance policy", as something to wear. If the marriage, or the relationship did not work out, she could always sell her jewelry.

Quote:

There may come a time
When a hard-boiled employer
Thinks you're awful nice,
But get that ice or else no dice.

Nowdays, what the song is referring to would be called "sexual harassment". In the old days, a savvy woman, with fewer choices, would use the harassment to her advantage.

0 Replies

Dolly Parton really lashed out with this one...it got nary a play on the radio...back in the 60's it didn't sit too well with the program directors...who of course were all male.

Just Because I'm A Woman

I can see you're disappointed
By the way you look at me
And I'm sorry that I'm not
The woman you thought I'd be
Yes, I've made my mistakes
But listen and understand
My mistakes are no worse than yours
Just because I'm a woman

So when you look at me
Don't feel sorry for yourself
Just think of all the shame
You might have brought somebody else

Just let me tell you this
Then we'll both know where we stand
My mistakes are no worse than yours
Just because I'm a woman

Now a man will take a good girl
And he'll ruin her reputation
But when he wants to marry
Well, that's a different situation

He'll just walk off and leave her
To do the best she can
While he looks for an angel
To wear his wedding band

Now I know that I'm no angel
If that's what you thought you'd found
I was just the victum of
A man that let me down

Yes, I've made my mistakes
But listen and understand
My mistakes are no worse than yours
Just because I'm a woman

No, my mistakes are no worse than yours
Just because I'm a woman

0 Replies

Yeah, Dolly was referring to the ubiquitous "double standard". In those years a man who had a lot of sexual "conquests" was "quite a ladies' man", (wink wink). A woman who had lots of affairs was a slut.

Most men in those years wanted to marry a virgin, although he himself might have had lots of sexual activity with other women. It was true though, that both men and women married much younger than they do now, in the '50s and 60's.

Quote:

A notorious type of double standard is the classic "studs vs. sluts" model, in which a man who has sex with many female partners is considered a "stud" or "player" (which are often considered compliments) while a woman who has sex with many male partners is considered a "slut" or "skank" (which are highly pejorative terms). This is related to the madonna-whore dichotomy (also called the virgin-whore dichotomy). Proponents of this double standard would say that it is justified by natural law (men naturally cannot help it but women can and are thus supposed to function as the "gatekeepers"), while opponents would say that such an assumption is sexist and based on outmoded views of sexuality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_standard

0 Replies

I actually like this song, but there is a disturbing line which I'll highlight:

"I'll Be Doggone" by Marvin Gaye -

Quote:

Well, I'll be doggone if I wouldn't work all day
And I'll be doggone if I wouldn't bring you my pay
But if I ever caught you running around
Blowing my money all over this town

Then I wouldn't be doggone
Hey, Hey! I'd be long gone
Then I wouldn't be doggone
I'd be long gone

Now hey, hey, hey!
I'll be doggone if you ain't a pretty thing
And I'll be doggone if you ain't warm as a breath of spring
And if we live to be a hundred years old
If you ever let that spring turn cold

Then I wouldn't be doggone
Hey! I'd be long gone
Oh I wouldn't be doggone
I'd be long gone

Now did you hear what I say ?
Well now what I say
Oh, believe me Well, every woman should try
To be what ever has man wants her to be
And I don't want much
All I want from you is for you to be true to me

Well, I'd be doggone if love ain't a man's best friend
Oh, baby, And I'll be doggone if you ain't the loving end
Though I know you make me feel like no baby could
If I ever found out that you're no good

Then I wouldn't be doggone
Hey, hey, hey, I'd be long gone
Well I wouldn't de doggone baby
I'd be long gone

0 Replies

Quote:

Well, every woman should try
To be what ever has man wants her to be

I remember the advice that you weren't supposed to let the guys know how smart your were. In those years, it was considered a turnoff if a woman flaunted her intelligence.

What you did have was the peculiar situation of the woman calling the shots, but in a very circumspect manner, so as not to (heaven forbid) emasculate her husband. It was a real "power behind the throne" sort of thing, and was practiced by many wives.

0 Replies

From Elvis:

(words & music by Arthur Gunter)

Now listen to me, baby
Try to understand.
I'd rather see you dead, little girl,
Than to be with another man.
Now baby,
Come back, baby, come.
Come back, baby, come.
Come back, baby, I wanna play house with you.

Oh, baby baby baby.
Baby baby baby b-b-b-b-b-b baby baby baby.
Baby baby baby.
Come back, baby, I wanna play house with you.

Carried on by the Beatles:

Well I'd rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or I won't know where I am

You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end'a little girl

Well you know that I'm a wicked guy
And I was born with a jealous mind
And I can't spend my whole life
Trying just to make you toe the line

You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end'a little girl

Let this be a sermon
I mean everything I've said
Baby, I'm determined
And I'd rather see you dead

You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end'a little girl

I'd rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or you won't know where I am

You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end'a little girl
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na, na

0 Replies

The song I hate the most in the whole, wide world, "Under my Thumb" by The Rolling Stones -

Quote:

Under my thumb
The girl who once had me down
Under my thumb
The girl who once pushed me around

It's down to me
The difference in the clothes she wears
Down to me, the change has come,
She's under my thumb

Ain't it the truth babe?

Under my thumb
The squirmin' dog who's just had her day
Under my thumb
A girl who has just changed her ways

It's down to me, yes it is
The way she does just what she's told
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Ah, ah, say it's alright

Under my thumb
A siamese cat of a girl
Under my thumb
She's the sweetest, hmmm, pet in the world

It's down to me
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
She's under my thumb
Ah, take it easy babe
Yeah

It's down to me, oh yeah
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
She's under my thumb
Yeah, it feels alright

Under my thumb
Her eyes are just kept to herself
Under my thumb, well I
I can still look at someone else

It's down to me, oh that's what I said
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
She's under my thumb
Say, it's alright.

Say it's all...
Say it's all...

Take it easy babe
Take it easy babe
Feels alright
Take it, take it easy babe.

0 Replies

Jes- I was not familiar with that song at all. Aw yuk!

0 Replies

Here's another cringe-inducing ditty, "Morning Train" by Sheena Easton -

Quote:

I wake up every mornin'
I stumble out of bed
Stretchin' and yawnin'
Another day ahead
It seems to last forever
And time goes slowly by
'Til babe and me's together
Then it starts to fly

'Cos the moment that he's with me
Time can take a flight
The moment that he's with me
Everything's alright
Night time is the right time
We make love
Then it's his and my time
We take off

My baby takes the morning train
He works from nine till five and then
He takes another home again
To find me waitin' for him

My baby takes the morning train
He works from nine till five and then
He takes another home again
To find me waitin' for him

He takes me to a movie
Or to a restaurant, to go
Slow dancing
Anything I want
Only when he's with me
I catch a light
Only when he gives me
Makes me feel alright

My baby takes the morning train
He works from nine till five and then
He takes another home again
To find me waitin' for him

All day I think of him
Dreamin' of him constantly
I'm crazy mad for him
And he's crazy mad for me
(Crazy mad for me)
When he steps off that train
I'm makin' a fool, a fight
Work all day to earn his pay
So we can play all night

My baby takes the morning train
He works from nine till five and then
He takes another home again
To find me waitin' for him

He's always on that morning train
(He works from nine till five and then)
He works so hard
(He takes another home again)
To find me waiting for him
(My baby takes the morning train)

Call me crazy, but I have other things to do with my time than spend it waiting on a man 24/7. But that's just me.

0 Replies

This song always gives me the creeps...yeah, of course you'll show her love like she's never seen...she's a freaking baby! **shiver**

Into the Night - Benny Mardones

Quote:

She's just sixteen years old
Leave her alone, they say
Separated by fools
Who don't know what love is yet
But I want you to know

If I could fly
I'd pick you up
I'd take you into the night
And show you a love
Like you've never seen, ever seen

It's like having a dream
Where nobody has a heart
It's like having it all
And watching it fall apart
And I would wait till the end
Of time for you
And do it again, it's true
I can't measure my love
There's nothing to compare it to
But I want you to know

If I could fly
I'd pick you up
I'd take you into the night
And show you a love
Oooooh, if I could fly
I'd pick you up
I'd take you into the night
And show you a love
Like you've never seen, ever seen
Yeah, Ooooooh....

0 Replies

And one that I love to pieces but it pretty violent.....

Mack the Knife

Quote:

Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear
And he shows 'em, pearly white
Just a jack knife has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it, keeps it way out of sight

When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows, they begin to spread
Fancy white gloves though has Macheath, dear
So there's rarely, never one trace of red

On the sidewalk, one Sunday mornin'
Lies a body oozin' life
Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
Could that someone, perhaps, perchance, be Mack the Knife?

From a tugboat on the river goin' slow
A cement bag, it is dropping down
Yeah, the cement is just for the weight, dear
You can make a large bet Macheath is back in town

My man Louie Miller, he split the scene, babe
After drawin' out all the bread from his stash
Now Macheath spends just like a pimp, babe
Do you suppose that our boy, he did something rash?

Ah, old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin
They did this song nice, Lady Ella too
They all sang it, with so much feeling
That Old Blue Eyes, he ain't gonna add nothing new

But with Quincy's big band, right behind me
Swinging hard, Jack, I know I can't lose
When I tell you, all about Mack the Knife babe
It's an offer, you can never refuse

We got George Benson, we got Newman & Foster
We got the Brecker Brothers, and Hampton's bringing up the
rear
All these bad cats, and more, are in the band now
They make the greatest sounds, you ever gonna hear

Hey Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
Oh the line forms, on the right dear
Now that Macheath, I mean that man Macheath
Yeah he's bad, mercy mercy
Yeah he's badder than old Leroy Brown
You better lock your door, and call the law
Because Macheath's, that bum,
He's back in town!

0 Replies

Boomer, Sting evidently felt bad about "Every Breath You Take" and wrote "If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free" as a response to it. ("Breath" is definitely creepy!)

0 Replies

this quaint Burt Bacharach song was a hit for the Drifter...,my, how times have changed Laughing

It's a sin for you to get a Mexican divorce

Down below El Paso lies Juarez
Mexico is different, like a travel folder says
Cross the Rio Grande and you will find
An old adobe house
Where you leave your past behind

One day married, next day free
Broken hearts for you and me
Takes no time, for you to get
A Mexican divorce

As I came into this lonely house last night
I looked at all my windows but I couldn't find one light
I found you on that road to Mexico
And now, my love, I beg
Please, oh, please, don't go

One day married, next day free
Broken hearts for you and me
It's a sin for you to get a Mexican divorce

Finding love takes so long
Walking out must be wrong
It's a sin for you to get a Mexican divorce

One day married, next day free
Broken hearts for you and me
It's a sin for you to get a Mexican divorce

0 Replies

There's that one line in Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean" that has never quite sat right with me. Please, someone tell me I'm misinterpreting...

Now I'm singin' all my songs
To the girl who won my heart;
She's only three years old
And that's a real fine way to start

0 Replies

bm

0 Replies

this one was way ahead of it's time, and was banned at the radio station where I worked:

Love For Sale

Love for sale
Advertising young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love - yes come get my love because it's right here for sale

Who will buy
Who would like to sample my supply
Who's prepared to pay the price
For a trip to paradise
Love for sale

Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
I've known every type of love better far than they
If you want the thrill of love,
I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love, every love but true

Love for sale
Advertising young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale

0 Replies

pretty risque letty, like Porter's "Let's Do It"

And that's why birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it,

let's fall in love

Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish do it
Let's do it,

let's fall in love

I've heard that lizards and frogs do it
Layin' on a rock
They say that roosters do it
With a doodle and cock Shocked

0 Replies

Old Songs That Illustrate Changes in Society

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know