“Crazy Yellow People Walking Through My Head” and Other Profound Lyrics
“Crazy yellow people walking through my head…â€
Did he just fucking say that? Don’t know that song? You must not be as old as I am. It’s Seal’s “Crazy.†It’s a ’90s thing. It popped into my head today while trying to keep myself awake at work during a particularly tedious seminar. Suddenly, I found myself contemplating these words and realizing it’s a damn good thing the song is named “Crazy.â€
We’ve all played the game and laughed about mishearing music lyrics. Does anyone actually know what Jimi Hendrix says in “Purple Haze?†“Purple haze, you’re in my brain… the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plains.â€
Don’t even get started on Nirvana. “You’re in a laundry room?â€
We’ve all been there before, but what about all the songs we sing knowing full well the words we’re singing, but still have no idea what we’re singing? You know, songs like “Crazy†and “Rock-a-Bye, Baby.†What a horrible song, and yet generations of babies have been threatened with falling out of a tree because we didn’t actually pay attention to the words.
Maybe I’m the only man from the ’90s who never had “crazy yellow people walking through my head.†That’s it, isn’t it? I’m the only one not in on the joke. Bastards!
Another example — “Pink Cadillac.†Most of you know that as a Natalie Cole song, and it was a vanilla, tame-sounding song. It’s a song about cruising, a song about a car, right?
Not so much. It was actually written by Bruce Springsteen, and when you take a closer peek at the lyrics you start to realize we aren’t talking about four wheels and a seat:
They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple
But man I ain’t going for that
I know it was her pink Cadillac
Crushed velvet seats
Riding in the back
Oozing down the street
Now, maybe I’m wrong here, but I don’t remember anyone being shocked and outraged by this song. I think they played it at one of my middle school dances. Do you think somebody missed the point? I bet someone would like a do-over on that call. Natalie Cole’s slick version of the song effectively de-fanged it- either that, or she changed some lyrics.
A more famous example that is less sexually charged but perhaps more disturbing is “Every Breath You Take†by The Police. It’s about a fucking stalker, and people played it at their weddings! Talk about missing the point. It’s still a great song and it big time holds up on an ear candy level. It’s one of the most played song in radio history, and for a nice change it’s pretty well deserved. It’s not the best song in pop history, but at least it’s good. That’s an improvement.
The funniest part of this thread is the likely staggering number of songs that fit into this category and I still don’t know it. Now come on, fess up. Name some songs you’ve misunderstood.
Filed under: Tags: Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, Musical Musings and Random Ramblings, The Police
What’s scary to me is seeing young girls — pre-teens and “tweens” — singing along to songs about things they *really* shouldn’t even know. I take some small comfort in thinking that they don’t really know what they’re saying. Sometimes it’s even true.
Phillip, you just hit on one of the many reasons I’ve taken a big opt out on parenthood. I’m seeing it with my nieces and… wow.
Of course, listening to some of the trash I did I was one of those kids. Some of the jokes I got, some of it went well above my head.
i saw a girl, about 9 years old, with headphones on at borders singing “My Humps”. her friend was trying to shush her up, but it wasn’t working.
can’t help it, i laughed.
Songs like “Pink Cadillac” are in the tradition of all those sexually charged double-entendre blues songs going back to Bessie Smith and before. They’ve been such a part of our musical tradition that prudish people don’t freak out about them the way one might expect. I think they just fly under the radar, or over the rainbow, or something… “My Handy Man”, anyone?
Well back when I was a kid I would play my 8 Track of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and one of my favorite songs was “All the Young Girls Love Alice”:
—
Raised to be a lady by the golden rule
Alice was the spawn of a public school
With a double barrel name in the back of her brain
And a simple case of Mummy-doesn’t-love-me blues
Reality it seems was just a dream
She couldn’t get it on with the boys on the scene
But what do you expect from a chick who’s just sixteen
And hey, hey, hey, you know what I mean
All the young girls love Alice
Tender young Alice they say
Come over and see me
Come over and please me
Alice it’s my turn today
All the young girls love Alice
Tender young Alice they say
If I give you my number
Will you promise to call me
Wait till my husband’s away
Poor little darling with a chip out of her heart
It’s like acting in a movie when you got the wrong part
Getting your kicks in another girl’s bed
And it was only last Tuesday they found you in the subway dead
And who could you call your friends down in Soho
One or two middle-aged dykes in a Go-Go
And what do you expect from a sixteen year old yo-yo
And hey, hey, hey, oh don’t you know
—
Great Song.. very catchy tune.. but the lyrics I wouldn’t want to have to explain to my preteen daughter.
My kids hear all sorts of songs they probably shouldn’t. And the ones I don’t even think about what they mean? They’re probably worse.
pwinn, your kids probably hear songs that YOU shouldn’t hear!
That’s a great point, Jon, double-entendre goes back eons. Robert Johnson’s “squeeze my lemon til the juice runs down my leg.” There are billions of them and it’s been done forever. Sometimes, you know instantly that’s what the artist is doing. Sometimes, the metaphor slips by you until years later. It’s the feeling of having walked around with disconnected pieces in my head and suddenly they come together and what a strange and funny sensation that is.
I guess I should also say that I’m not opposed to these songs. I don’t want them censored or restricted or anything like that… at least not on any type of governmental level. My parents handled censorship for me.
Great example, Tracey.
Mark… I don’t think “Humps” has the requisite subtlety, but a funny observation nonetheless.
And then you have the lyrics of Sublime’s “Caress me Down” — not alot of mystery there, what with the mushroom tip and the like.
Here’s the funniest thing Alanis paradoy video of “My Humps” on YouTube.com
“Caress Me Down” definitely not subtle- great album, though.
I’ve worn holes in Sublime. Absolutely
If you love R&B and think Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “Reasons” is a love song, think again. He’s saying that he only wants her until he’s made love to her and then he can’t even think of a reason to be together.
“Now I’m craving your body, is this real?
My temperature is rising. I don’t want to feel
I’m in the wrong place to be real.
And I’m longing to love you just for a night,
Kissing and hugging and holding you tight.
Please let me love you with all of my might.
And after the love games have been played
We find our illusions were just a parade.
And all the reasons start to fade.
And in the morning when I rise
No longer feeling hypnotized
I find our reasons have no pride.
I agree
Men are such pigs!
Another fine example, Liz, even for the non-R&B lovers out there.