Naive and unsure of the words
This story is dedicated to all my fellow aging rockers, former disco studs and divas, and radio top 40 fans! Most people are familiar with the Eagles “Hotel California” and that well-known opening line “On a dark desert highway, Cool Whip in my hair!” Okay, I didn’t come up with that. I once heard a comedian say that when she and her friends were teens, they would crank that song up very loud, and sing at the top of their lungs. She really thought it said “Cool Whip” for a long time! If we told the truth, most of us have and still do, sing the unknown lyrics parts of our favorite songs anyway. We sing what we think we hear, or even the occasional “bah deee dooo aaahh!”
I think many people feel as I do, that music has been and still is a big part of our lives, and has brought joy, tears, understanding and fun memories, even though we didn’t actually know all the lyrics or even their meanings at times.
For several years I’ve been listening to my favorite oldies radio station, and particularly enjoyed the “70’s Saturday” show. Even though I recognized most of the songs, I started noticing words that I hadn’t truly heard before! I had a few “AH-HA!” moments, regarding the meaning of many lyrics. Those that my teenage self did not fully understand back in the day! Yes, realizations that left me just a bit embarrassed.
The theme of so much music back then was free love and drug experimentation. Then later, the battle cry of rockers: “Sex, drugs, rock and roll!”
I was aware of that, but was still quite naïve and inexperienced. Now, when I hear some of those songs again, I have to say “Oh…sex?!” or “Oh my gosh, that’s all about drugs?” or, “Now I know why the Village People had so much fun at the YMCA” Okay, please excuse a little crudeness, but when I was a high school Junior, I had an 8-track of Rick James, a soul/rapper/disco artist. I would run around the house dancing and singing with him “I want to shoot you with my love gun”… I didn’t have a CLUE! My sister still teases me about that to this day! But hey, I didn’t know what a “Super Freak” was either.
I believe that the music that we grew up with has influenced us in significant ways. Our values, social lives, personal relationships, so many memories! And yes, it’s even provided a few laughable moments.
Who will confess that they thought (as I did), that Manfred Mann’s 1976 hit “Blinded by the Light”, said “…wrapped up like a douche, another roamer in the night.” ?? Come on now,’fess up! Epic FAIL for most of us. Look up the lyrics. We turned it up loud and sang at the top of our lungs anyway, didn’t we?
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I kknow what you mean Kay, the 70’s was my era too, although the late 60’s were just as good. I recently bought a triple c.d box set of 60’s songs, and found I’ve been singing the wrong words here and there too. I don’t sing good, but, like you and your friends, I certainly sing loud! I’m a trucker, so I get away with it, lol. 🙂 x
Hi Steve,
Thanks for reading and your reply. One day recently, while driving alone, I was singing loudly with a favorite CD, when my voice cracked. I immediately got embarrassed. Then I was embarrassed for getting embarrassed, since there was no else to hear it but me. 🙂 Did that ever happen to you??
Today the words and innuendos are right in your face. Back then everything had to be slipped past the censors. Often they slipped past the audience as well. But that was what made it fun! My teen years were during the 60s and I will only admit to flubbing a “few” songs. lol
Well I didn’t do the dance thing but I must admit I missed a lot of the hidden messages. I am with you Kay on the “just getting” some of the lyrics now. With modern digitizing of music you can hear the lyrics better too. I think now we also pay more attention to the words where back then we were more about the beat. I think back in the 70s the artists had more of a theme verses today is just in your face with music attached. Yup I’m guilty of the duh-huh of the day lol
Great post Kay…”J”
Nah, we understand now J, because we are so old and wise. Haha Thanks for taking time to read and comment!
loved this post though the 60’s were my era…great post hun 🙂
Thank you Pollie!
Very enjoyable post to read, and reminisce. So many wonderful memories attached to those songs, and that era of music.
Somewhat along the same lines, I recently heard a story that sounds plausible. Back in 1967, the group “Iron Butterfly,” came out with “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” However, that wasn’t the original title of the song. The story goes that the member who wrote it, had had a little too much to drink, and after he played some of it for the other members, they asked him the name. He slurred his words, and instead of hearing “In The Garden of Eden,” they thought he said “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vita,” and that was what they called it!
Thanks for enjoying my post, and for the great story Cfort! 🙂
So funny…. I missed many of the lyrics because I was singing what I thought they said back then. lol Loved In a Gadda Da Vita…so now I know the rest fo the story! Now I want to go back and listen to them all again.
Yup, I sang and I danced – neither very good, but enjoyed it none the less… as I have had a hearing problem since I was a kid – you can imagine what I did to the lyrics of a lot of songs.!!!!.. didn’t stop me, or worry me – now I occasionally cringe when I hear the correct words..oops!!! hearing aids are not such an advantage sometimes…..lol thoroughly enjoyed a bop down memory lane – thanks for the blog…. xxxxxx
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Lina! 🙂
The 70’s was my era too… how naive i was then. and unfortunately I am still naive… makes it hard sometimes… i still dance to music.. i teach line dancing… i absolutely still LOVE to dance as i did back then!!!
I teach dancing too lacey – Middle Eastern Dancing (and I use a lot of the songs I used to dance/sing to as well – who said we had to be serious…lol) xx
I also teach a beginners line dancing class, my oldest pupil is 87 years young, myself, i line dance at least 3 times per week and I love music, I dance away in my kitchen to whatever is on the radio it keeps me fit and active.
That’s awesome. You GO Dinny!
Thanks to all for taking time to read! (It’s a bit longer than my preferred length for a blog). I appreciate your comments and support too. 🙂
‘ Just wanna dance the night away, with senoritas who can sway!….hope I got the words right…but have to tell you, when I was singing this in the kitchen this morning,,,a voice came from the living room saying ‘hey you’ve got a good voice’ and I thought ughhhhh….omg he’s tone deaf too!!!!!!! lol
Loved your blog, Kay!! Gosh it really brings back the memories.. I am not sure if I would want to go back to that fashion though hahahahahah 😉
Thank Passaggio, so glad you enjoyed it.