The Latest “Worst Lyrics” List
You’ve seen this list in some way, shape or form before. Every so often, someone publishes a new list of the worst lyrics. Here’s MusicRadar.com’s latest list:
The Ten Worst Lyrics of All Time
- “I’m serious as cancer, when I say rhythm is a dancer” — “Rhythm Is A Dancer” by Snap!
- “I don’t want to see a ghost, it’s a sight that I fear the most, I’d rather have a piece of toast, watch the evening news” — “Life” by Des’ree
- “Is that yo ass, or yo mama half reindeer?” — “Shake Ya Tailfeather” by Nelly, P Diddy and Murphy Lee
- “He was a boy, she was a girl. Can I make it any more obvious?” — “Sk8er Boi” by Avril Lavigne
- “I love you like a fat kid love cake” — “21 Questions” by 50 Cent
- “Time is like a clock in my heart” — “Time (Clock Of The Heart)” by Culture Club
- “You got a Prada bag with a lotta stuff in it” — “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” by Will Smith
- “Lucky that my breasts are small and humble, so you don’t confuse them with mountains” — “Whenever, Wherever” by Shakira
- “She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck” — “Thong Song” by Sisqo
- “Only time will tell if we stand the test of time” — “Why Can’t This Be Love” by Van Halen
I have to agree with Shakira making the list. I remember hearing that lyric for the first time and thinking maybe she didn’t know what she was singing since English isn’t her mother tongue, but then I heard the Spanish version and yep, it’s the same thing. Would it be bad to have your chest confused with mountains? How stupid do the guys you date have to be?
I don’t agree with the Van Halen example. Only time does tell if something stands the test of time. It’s maybe obvious, but not deserving of the worst lyric list.
One lyric that didn’t make this list, but should have, is from Bon Jovi’s “Bed of Roses”. I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is. Puh-lease! Cryptic religious references in a song about “laying in a bed of roses” are just wrong.
Do you agree with the list? What would you add? Have your say by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below. Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is WORSTLYRICS. It’s good until July 12th.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
The lyrics in Alanis Morrisette’s, Isn’t It Ironic…most of them weren’t anything to do with irony, just bad luck or timing. “a black fly in your chardonnay” is a summer happenstance in Canada, not ironical.
Shania Twain’s “so your Brad Pitt? That don’t impress me much” (WHAT?)…no wonder Mutt Lange couldn’t go the distance, if Brad Pitt doesn’t impress her, what chance did he have? Perhaps that’s why he went lookin’ for love in all the wrong places…
Carly’s Note: Thanks for the laugh, Lee Ann! Isn’t it ironic that a woman blames the wife when the husband strays? Actually, maybe not.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Hopefully Jeff won’t be taking a peek at your blog to get ideas of song lyrics for his blog!
Carly’s Note: You know him so well!
July 10th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
keep these lists coming! there is always something to enjoy!
thanks
kath
Carly’s Note: Glad you enjoy it, Kath! It’s certainly food for thought, isn’t it?
July 10th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Lots of music have weird lyrics, but I don’t know if I’d call them bad. I either like a song as a whole or not like it. I was never really one of those people who didn’t like a song because the words didn’t agree with them. I just like a good beat and a good hook.
Carly’s Note: It’s the music that grabs you initially, but when you actually listen to the lyrics, it can change your opinion of the song. I like lyrics that are simple, but not simplistic.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Hi Carly
I gotta agree with that list. The lyrics don’t make a lotta sense.
I am sure there are a lot of lyrics like that in songs.
I gotta say though, I never pick up on these lyrics when the artist is singing them.
Most times I don’t understand the words they are singing but the rythm is good.
Am I just tone deaf or tuned out??
Hope to see you on Sunday at the rib fest in Richmond Hill.
Have a great day and a nice weekend.
Gary
Carly’s Note: Usually the lyrics are secondary, but not always. The Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye Earl” wouldn’t have been half as popular if it weren’t for the story behind the music. Ditto for Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville”.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Yup, there are some pretty bad lyrics here.
Reminds me of William McGonagall, otherwise known as the English Language’s worst poet. He lived and died over 100 years ago, but his poems live on! Do a google search and check out some of his stuff, it’s quite funny.
Cheers!
-S.B.
Carly’s Note: Thanks for the tip, Sean. I know what I’ll be doing this weekend.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Hi Carly,
As much as I loved the rock group Queen and their song Bohemian Rhapsody the lyrics are very weird eh? Ich me lah no i will not let you go!
Oh mama mia mama mia let him go!
Have a great weekend.
Carly’s Note: Yeah, those lyrics are a bit on the weird side. Queen’s way of poking fun at German and Italian opera, I think. Hope you enjoy your weekend as well.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:56 am
As Louie says, there are a lot of weird lyrics–f’rinstance, Paul McCartney (and the Beatles naturally) had scores of scores of non sequiters and tangents that fuelled millions of imaginations.
The difference is that this list of bad lyrics is spawned by morons; ‘cept Van Halen of course, which has depth and nuances of esoteric meaning, trancending …um, whatever…Van Halen Rocks!!
Carly’s Note: Agreed.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am
We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks!
WTF!!!
Carly’s Note: It means our world is about to explode, no? Either way, I appreciate the Total Exclipse of the Heart reference.