Luny Toons

I have always loved music. As a small child, I grew up on the songs of the sixties, both rock and country and even classical. I would sing the popular songs on the radio, listen to albums, and dance to the funky beats when the seventies and eighties arrived. It never occurred to me until recently, when I was stuck on the freeway for hours in a traffic jam, that the words I had been singing are a little off the wall.

I was listening to the oldies but goodies station, singing aloud with my friend in the traffic jam and we both kept saying, "Can you believe the words in this song?" We thought, Wow, we've listened to these songs forever but we hadn't really given much thought as to what was being said, or sung. I knew that there were some crazy lyrics in the modern decade of rap but I now realize that crazy lyrics have been around for a long time. I'll just start with the 1960's and 70's, since that was my beginning and introduction to music.

Believe it or not, this was a hit song. I have sung it over a hundred times and never really stopped to think of what it was saying. "Joy to the World" was released in 1970 by the group, Three Dog Night.

Jeremiah was a bullfrog
Was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said
But I helped him a-drink his wine
And he always had some mighty fine wine
Singin'...

Joy to the world
All the boys and girls now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me

If I were the king of the world
Tell you what I'd do
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war
Make sweet love to you
Sing it now...

Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me

------ electric piano ------

You know I love the ladies
Love to have my fun
I'm a high life flyer and a rainbow rider
A straight shootin' son-of-a-gun
I said a straight shootin' son-of-a-gun

Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me

My analysis

A womanizer drinks wine with a bullfrog. I understand why he would want to throw away the cars if he were king. To avoid DUI's. Unless he and Jeremiah drink at home or under the sea, he might want to rethink throwing away those bars! Assuming he is talking about the ones that serve alcohol.

Honestly, I still have no real clue as to what this song's meaning is except for the obvious; Joy to everyone.

A song performed by Johnny Cash called "A Boy Named Sue". It was released in 1969 and was his biggest hit.

My daddy left home when I was three
And he didn't leave much to Ma and me
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me 'Sue.'

Well, he must o' thought that is was quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk,
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head,
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue.'

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
My fist got hard and my wits got keen,
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame.
But I made me a vow to the moon and stars
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
And kill that man that give me that awful name.

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
And I just hit town and my throat was dry,
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew.
At an old saloon on a street of mud,
There at a table, dealing stud,
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me 'Sue.'

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
>From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
He was big and bent and gray and old,
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' how do you do! Now you gonna die!"

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
And he went down but, to my surprise,
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.

I tell ya, I've fought tougher men
But I really can't remember when,
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.

And he said: "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
And I know I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said good-bye
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
And it's that name that helped to make you strong."

He said: 'Now you just fought one hell of a fight
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you 'Sue'.'

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
And I come away with a different point of view.
And I think about him, now and then,
Every time I try and every time I win,
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!

My analysis

In my opinion the opening lines tell the real truth. The father named him Sue in a drunken stupor. I don't think it had anything at all to do with making Sue grow up to be tough. Sue could have solved this problem very simply by spending the $125.00 for a name change. It is an easy process.

This is one of the funniest songs I've heard and I loved it as a kid. It's called "The Streak" written by Ray Stevens in 1974. He makes fun of the streaking fad of the 1970's.

(Reporter):
Hello, everyone, this is your action news reporter with all the news
that is news across the nation, on the scene at the supermarket. There
seems to have been some disturbance here. Pardon me, sir, did you see
what happened?

(Witness):
Yeah, I did. I's standin' overe there by the tomaters, and here he
come, running through the pole beans, through the fruits and vegetables,
nekkid as a jay bird. And I hollered over t' Ethel, I said, "Don't
look, Ethel!" But it's too late, she'd already been incensed.

(Chorus)
Here he comes, look at that, look at that
There he goes, look at that, look at that
And he ain't wearin' no clothes

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
Look at that, look at that
Fastest thing on two feet
Look at that, look at that
He's just as proud as he can be
Of his anatomy
He goin' give us a peek

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
Look at that, look at that
He likes to show off his physique
Look at that, look at that
If there's an audience to be found
He'll be streakin' around
Invitin' public critique

(Reporter):
This is your action news reporter once again, and we're here at the gas
station. Pardon me, sir, did you see what happened?

(Witness):
Yeah, I did. I's just in here gettin my car checked, he just appeared
out of the traffic. Come streakin' around the grease rack there, didn't
have nothin' on but a smile. I looked in there, and Ethel was gettin'
her a cold drink. I hollered, "Don't look, Ethel!" But it was too
late. She'd already been mooned. Flashed her right there in front of
the shock absorbers.

(Chorus)
He ain't crude, look at that, look at that
He ain't lewd, look at that, look at that
He's just in the mood to run in the nude

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
Look at that, look at that
He likes to turn the other cheek
Look at that, look at that
He's always makin' the news
Wearin' just his tennis shoes
Guess you could call him unique

(Reporter):
Once again, your action news reporter in the booth at the gym, covering
the disturbance at the basketball playoff. Pardon me, sir, did you see
what happened?

(Witness):
Yeah, I did. Half time, I's just goin' down thar to get Ethel a snow
cone. And here he come, right out of the cheap seats, dribbling, right
down the middle of the court. Didn't have on nothing but his PF's.
Made a hook shot and got out through the concessions stand. I hollered up
at Ethel, I said, "Don't look, Ethel!" But it was too late. She'd
already got a free shot. Grandstandin', right there in front of the
home team.

(Chorus) (Witness):
Oh, yes, they call him the Streak Here he comes again.
Look at that, look at that Who's that with him?
The fastest thing on two feet Ethel? Is that you, Ethel?
Look at that, look at that What do you think you're
He's just as proud as he can be doin'? You git your
Of his anatomy clothes on!
He's gonna give us a peek

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak Ethel! Where you goin'?
Look at that, look at that Ethel, you shameless
He likes to show off his physique hussy! Say it isn't so,
Look at that, look at that Ethel! Ethelllllll!
If there's an audience to be found
He'll be streakin' around
Invitin' public critique

A song released in 1974 by Paul Anka called "Having My Baby". It was his first number one hit song since 1959. Ms. Magazine "awarded" Anka their "Male Chauvinistic Pig of the Year" award because of the "Keep her in her place" undertone.

Having my baby
What a lovely way of sayin' how much you love me?
Having my baby
What a lovely way of sayin' what you're thinkin' of me?

I can see it
Face is glowin'
I can see in your eyes
I'm happy you know it

That you're having my baby
You're the woman I love and I love what it's doin' to ya
Having my baby
You're a woman in love and I love what's goin' through ya

The need inside you
I see it showin'
Whoa, the seed inside ya, baby, do you feel it growin'?
Are you happy you know it?

That you're having my baby
I'm a woman in love and I love what it's doin' to me
Having my baby
I'm a woman in love and I love what's goin' through me

Didn't have to keep it
Wouldn't put you through it
You could have swept it from you life
But you wouldn't do it, no, you wouldn't do it

And you're having my baby
I'm a woman in love and I love what it's doin' to me
Having my baby
I'm a woman in love and I love what's goin' through me

Having my baby
(Having my baby)
What a lovely way of sayin' how much you love me?
Having my baby
(Having my baby)
I'm a woman in love and I love what's goin' through me

My analysis

I love Paul Anka. When this song was written, abortion was a hot topic. Maybe he was thankful that his wife didn't have an abortion, or he thinks he discovered child birth as so many celebrities think they do. It might have been better if he worded the line "Having my baby" to "Having our baby". What an ego to think his wife would go through the process of being pregnant, give birth, and raise a child just to show how much she loved him.

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap released this song in 1968 and it reached #2 in America. It reached #1 in the UK.

Young girl get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl,
You're much too young, girl

With all the charms of a woman
You've kept the secret of your youth
You led me to believe
You're old enough
To give me Love
And now it hurts to know the truth, Oh,

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl,
You're much too young, girl

Beneath your perfume and make-up
You're just a baby in disguise
And though you know
That it is wrong to be
Alone with me
That come on look is in your eyes, Oh,

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl,
You're much too young, girl

So hurry home to your mama
I'm sure she wonders where you are
Get out of here
Before I have the time
To change my mind
'Cause I'm afraid we'll go too far, Oh,
Young girl

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Get along, girl,
You're much too young, girl

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl,
You're much too young, girl

My analysis

Yes, girl, you better run before this sicko gives in. Yuk! And tell your mother!

These are just a few of the luny tunes that I can think of on my favorite sing-a-long list. I have actually been paying attention to the words of some of these oldies but goodies songs. Now I know you all have a few old songs just blaring in your brain, that wont leave, and they are probably just as luny as the ones I mentioned. So please, share them with me in the comment section. This has been fun, so please play along. Thanks.