Songs That Tell A Confusing Tale

[Documad]

I'd like to do a strange playlist of songs that tell confusing stories. Please contribute something that puzzled you.

One of mine is Vicki Lawrence's The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia. It was a hit when I was tiny and it was mighty catchy, but it freaked me out because my little brain couldn't sort out the story. what exactly went down? Did Vicki kill Andy? and why? It seems like if anyone was going to die it should be the guy currently sleeping with her brother's wife. I always thought the judge did it because he had blood on his hands, but I guess she didn't mean it literally. Why was the brother's trial so unfair? Did people dislike him? What was candletop? a jail?


The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia

He was on his way home from candletop
Been two weeks gone and he thought he’d stop
At web’s and have him a drink for he went home to her
Andy wo-lo said hello
He said hi what’s a doing
Wo said sit down I got some bad news that’s gonna hurt
Said I’m your best friend and you know that’s right
But your young bride ain’t home tonight
Since you been gone she’s been seeing that amos boy seth
He got mad and he saw red
Andy said boy don’t you lose your head
Cause to tell you the truth I’ve been with her myself

Chorus:
That’s the night the lights went out in georgia
That’s the night that they hung an innocent man
Don’t trust your soul to no back woods southern lawyer
Cause the judge in the town’s got bloodstains on his hand

Andy got scared and left the bar
Walking on home cause he didn’t live far you see
Andy didn’t have many friends and he just lost him one
Brother thought his wife must’ve left town
So he went home and finally found the only thing
Daddy had left him and that was a gun
He went off to andy’s house
Slipping through the back woods quiet as a mouse
Came upon some tracks too small for andy to make
He looked through the screen at the back porch door
He saw andy lying on the floor
In a puddle of blood and he started to shake

The georgia patrol was making their rounds
So he fired a shot just to flag em down
And a big bellied sheriff grabbed his gun and said
Why’d you do it?
The judge said guilty in a make believe trial
Slapped the sherrif on the back with a smile and said
Suppers waiting at home and I got to get to it

Chorus

They hung my brother before I could say
The tracks he saw while on his way
To andy’s house and back that night were mine
And his cheatin wife had never left town
And that’s one body that’ll be found
You see little sister don’t miss when she aims her gun

Chorus

[Medellia]

You know, I heard that song on K-Billy's today and I finally realised that the girl singing the song is the shot Andy.

[b-grrrlie]

This isn't a confusing tale, but I thought of it straight away when I read the lyrics to the aformentioned. Haven't heard that song for ages, have to dig it up. (Heh! That reminds me of another one, I'll put it in the end...)

This is sung by Billie Holiday

STRANGE FRUIT

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.




This thread is becoming quite morbid, but here goes

Hoodoo Gurus
Dig It Up

My girlfriend lives in the ground.
My friends ask why she´s not around,
She won´t come home.
I´m so alone (you´ll never know!).
You can´t bury love,
You´ve gotta dig it up.
Yeah, you´ve gotta live it up.

I take her flowers each day.
I place them over her grave.
I want her back
Because I look so bad, so bad in black
(Like a maniac)

You can´t bury love,
You´ve gotta dig it up,
Yeah, you´ve gotta live it up.

Please, darling, come home to me.
Well, I´ll make you so happy, you will see!
I´ll paint your room
In pink and blue
(I´ll even choose the colour scheme for you!).
You can´t take away my love
I´ll never give it up!
Yeah, I´m gonna dig it up.

(Don´t!)
(Don´t! I Don´t want to know!)

My girlfriend lives in the ground.
My friends, you ask me why she´s six feet down,
I can´t tell you why ´cos if I even try
I´d fall down flat on my face
And I´d cry, "You can´t take away my love!"
I´m gonna dig it up!
I´m gonna live it up, yeah,
I´m gonna dig it up, dig it up.
I´m never gonna stop
With that loving cup.
Gotta fill it up.

[Vladimir]

Blackalicious: 'Cliff Hanger' off of Nia

"Cliff Hanger"

"Whole house freeze!"

It was a Thursday I stepped to the club, there she was
Draped in a burgundy dress, silhouetted superbly
Curved indeed, she started staring in my direction
Luring and urging seductively, body language instructing me
I offered her a drink instead she took a cup of tea
And then I lied about my luxury lifestyle
I said "So who you be? You looking kind of tight, gal
I would love to see you in a nightgown"
She said "They call me the Dragon Queen and I come from Tibet
I'm calm in the face of pressure and you'll never see me sweat
I've come to your country in search of a lost Scroll
That contains directions to a hidden village comprised of gold"
I looked at her confused and said "But why have you told me this?"
She said the description that I fit
Was that of the Chosen One who'd go beyond
Then slipped a concoction in my drink
Immediately set my consciousness adrift:

Now I'm in that zone dwelling, I woke in a warehouse tied to a chair
With an abundance of flair surrounding me in a circular angle
Glared up at the Dragon Queen's lair, wasn't imagining a thing
Her steps on the stairs had a magic Gleam, glowed brightly
To prepare me for my journey a Sword was hovering towards me
Plus garlic from the Keepers of the Gate who bore all the secrets and take
Care of trespassers, but at last it's prophesied that I would gain
Access to a cultural dynasty buried and seize and capture the Scroll
Massive helicopters patrolled the rooftops, strapped in
Began travelling into the darkness, knew not of what awaited
Thought of a way to get out of it, just then the bottom gave way
I began falling and gave it ten seconds, pulled the cord on my parachute
Landed surrounded by a herd of wild barracudas, lions
The sounds of the wild kingdom piercing like a siren
Was I entering near the mere mortal life span's end?
Defiantly I stood boldly as they began closing in
And time seemed to be moving rapidly just then:

"Whole house freeze!"

Just then I pulled the Sword and somehow
It affected all the creatures as they stepped back and bowed
And the same Glow that I seen in the Sword I seen in the eyes of the Lion
Who began leading me in a specific direction as if trying to tell me something
Just over the horizon, the same creatures who had been described
Appeared in statue form but their eyes scoped
And as I approached the gate they began to break open and cried
"AFTER YEARS WE HAVE FINALLY BEEN AWAKENED!"
The assault was on, I got knocked to the ground by one
Shocked in an unorthodox form boxing
Throwing an abnormal proportion of body blows, karate chops
And drop kicks, plunged struggling deeper into the swamp
Then I grabbed my Sword, the garlic put it around my neck
Saw that it was draining all of their energy and then with a swing
Off with their heads!
The gates slowly and mysteriously opened
So curiously I moseyed in with intensity focusing on my objective
Spider webs the size of king-size beds
Fell into a secret passage not knowing to where it lead
Just then the same Light beamed brightly and in the distance
At that instance, lo and behold, the hidden Scroll!
And just as I thought my mission was over
I could feel the Dragon Queen breathing heavily over my shoulder

As she began to transform and metamorphosise
She took on an assortment of legs, arms, heads and eyes
And sprouted two horns and began to breathe fire
So once again I grabbed my trusty Sword but to my astonishment
She burned it to a crisp turned and grasped the Scroll
And exited much faster than secreted gas, I'm gasping
Clasp full of flames cast in my direction
I saw my whole life flash and the possibility of death
And a casket passed into the ground, pound for pound, astounding
How could I survive and last another round inside this madness?

"Whole house freeze!"

[Documad]

^^ Okay, that one reminds me that I've never understood what was going on at the Hotel California. :)


And I'm embarrassed to say that I heard Strange Fruit for years before listening to it. Now it gives me goosebumps.


Here's another one of mine:

HELEN REDDY - "Angie Baby"


You live your life in the songs you hear
On the rock and roll radio
And when a young girl doesn't have any friends
That's a really nice place to go
Folks hoping you'd turn out cool
But they had to take you outta school
You're a little touched you know, Angie Baby

Lovers appear in your room each night
And they whirl you across the floor
But they always seem to fade away
When your daddy taps on your door
Angie girl, are you all right
Tell the radio good-night
All alone once more, Angie Baby

Angie Baby, you're a special lady
Living in a world of make-believe
Well, maybe

Stopping at her house is a neighbor boy
With evil on his mind
'Cause he's been peeking in Angie's room
At night through her window blind
I see your folks have gone away
Would you dance with me today
I'll show you how to have a good time, Angie Baby

When he walks in her room,
He feels confused like he's walked into a play
And the music's so loud it spins him around
'Til his soul has lost its way
And as she turns the volume down
He's getting smaller with the sound
It seems to pull him off the ground
Toward the radio he's bound never to be found

The headlines read that a boy disappeared
and everyone thinks he died
'Cept a crazy girl with a secret lover
Who keeps her satisfied
It's so nice to be insane
No one asks you to explain
Radio by your side, Angie Baby

Angie Baby, you're a special lady
Living in a world of make-believe
Well, maybe
Well, maybe



SO WHAT IN THE HELL HAPPENED?

[yeahwho]

My favorite category! I love confusion and bizarre musical tales. One of my favorite songs and also one of the strangest tales is,

Lyrics for: Timothy (perhaps cannilbalism hit it's peak in rock when the Buoys hatched this hit in 1971)

Trapped in a mine that had caved in
And everyone knows the only ones left
Were Joe and me and Tim
When they broke through to pull us free
The only ones left to tell the tale
Were Joe and me

Timothy, Timothy, where on earth did you go?
Timothy, Timothy, God why don't I know?

Hungry as hell no food to eat
And Joe said that he would sell his soul
For just a piece of meat
Water enough to drink for two
And Joe said to me, "I'll have a swig
And then there's some for you."

Timothy, Timothy, Joe was looking at you
Timothy, Timothy, God what did we do?

I must have blacked out just around then
'Cause the very next thing that I could see
Was the light of the day again
My stomach was full as it could be
And nobody ever got around
To finding Timothy
Timothy...

[beastieangel01]

This isn't a confusing tale,....
This is sung by Billie Holiday

STRANGE FRUIT

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.


Yeah I was going to say... that isn't confusing. It's obvious (I think so anyway), then I caught what you said prior to the lyrics. Nice choice to share, miss.

[Documad]

Lyrics for: Timothy (perhaps cannilbalism hit it's peak in rock when the Buoys hatched this hit in 1971)
I remember hearing that there was a hit song about this, but I never thought it was true!!!

[Rancid_Beasties]

OMC - How Bizarre (ohh c'mon you know you love it :D)

Brother Pele's in the back
Sweet Zina's in the front
Cruising down the freeway
In the hot, hot sun

Suddenly red blue lights
Flash us from behind
Loud voice booming
"Please step out onto the line"

Pele breathes words of comfort
Zina just hides her eyes
Policeman taps his shades
Is that a Chevy 69?

How bizarre
How bizarre
How bizarre

Destination unknown
As we pull in for some gas
Freshly pasted poster
Reveals a smile from the pack

Elephants and acrobats,
Lions snakes monkey
Pele speaks righteous
Sister Zina says funky

How bizarre
How bizarre
How bizarre

Ooh baby, (ooh baby)
It's making me crazy, (it's making me crazy)
Everytime I look around
Look around
Everytime I look around
Everytime I look around
Everytime I look around
It's in my face

Ringmaster step out
Says the elephants left town
People jump and jive
But the clowns have stuck around

T.V. news and camera
There's choppers in the sky
Marines, police, reporters
Ask where, for and why

Pele yells "we're outta here"
Zina says "right on"
We're making moves and starting grooves
Before they knew we're gone

Jumped into the Chevy
Headed for big lights,
Want to know the rest
Hey, buy the rights,

How bizarre
How bizarre
How bizarre

Ooh baby, (ooh baby)
It's making me crazy, (it's making me crazy)
Everytime I look around
Look around
Everytime I look around
Everytime I look around
Everytime I look around
It's in my face
It's in my face

Ooh baby, (ooh baby)
It's making me crazy, (it's making me crazy)
Everytime I look around
Look around
Everytime I look around
Everytime I look around
Everytime I look around
It's in my face

Ooh baby, (ooh baby)
It's making me crazy, (it's making me crazy)
Everytime I look around
Look around
Everytime I look around
Look around
Everytime I look around
It's in my face

It truly is a story/song with absolutely no point whatsoever :)

[b-grrrlie]

^^^
A friend (http://www.ru.nl/cps/27/nb27d.html) of (http://cc.joensuu.fi/sights/jari.htm) mine (https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no36557.htm) lived there (Solomon Islands) twice for six months, and then some, studying the culture there (he's a doctor (http://www.intervention.dk/cat2/woodcarv/woodtxt.htm) of anthropology now, he knows more of their culture than most of the locals!) and he told that that guy (who sings that track) is one of the biggest gangsters and drug pushers on that archipelago. I'd say that song is verrry drug related ;)

My friend is a musician himself so he had bands with the locals even during those short periods, jamming all through the night sometime!

[Junker]

MOLOTOV - Más Vale Cholo

A fucking great music. Also very funny. Hope you can read Spanish :D

Paseaba en la troca con quemacococos,
parqueamos la wawa y le tocamos al loco que
siempre jala con sus compadres,
se jala temprano para hechar desmadre.
Salió de su casa. Saco de lana,
zapato blanco y pantalón
de pana.
Asê yo me visto si se me da la gana.
Mejor no te metas donde nadie
te llama.
Nos fuimos temprano hacia el reventón y nos encontramos a mi
hermano Ramón
que me invitaba de su cerveza, mientras me commentaba ¡Que buena
está la
fiesta! Ahê conocimos a unas muchachas, que no estaban buenas ni
tampoco
estaban gachas y las mandamos a hacer la fila para que nos sirvieran
vario
tequilas.
The party was plenty full of narcos was plenty full of
grass shit and
plenty full of guarros.
Todos en coches brindados,
totototodos tomados y todos bien armados.
loco bebió hasta perder el
control, se puso a rapear como el pendejo de
Caló y nos gritaron malditos
pochos, nos discriminaron por venir en bochos.
Le dije men ya estás muy
pasado, más vale cholo que mal acompañado.

No se "pelien" men, no se
"pelien", para poder "peliarse" hay que saber con
quien
men.(x2)

"Larrabalera" estaba hasta el recubeque querêa pagarle a la mafia con
un
cheque, nos presumêan de sus ropitas, mientras que el loco les bajaba a
sus
chiquitas.
Rolando harinazos me dijo algún idiota que se referêa a mi
amigo el trota,
el loco le dijo: Hey ten cuidado con Edmundo you better Keep
your mouth
shut o mato a todo el mundo.
Se armaron los plomazos y los
trancazos, pau pau que buenos catorrazos y
les gritaba a todos: pecho tierra,
mientras les comentaba: que buena está
la guerra. Tito me dijo ese güero
mariquete, me estaba amenazando con su
357.
Un enano bigotón, hijo de la
chingada, me estaba amenazando con lanzarme su
granada. Llegó el momento de
hacer la retirada, ahhhhhh , está
puerta está cerrada.
Tuvimos
que escapar por la puerta principal y le dije a mi chofer que me
dejara
manejar.
me dijo man ya estás muy pasado y yo le dijo: no problemo, este
bocho está
tocado.

nos se "balien" men, no se "balien"
para poder "valiarse"
hay que saber con quien men(x4)

[King of Rock II]

Birthday
Sugarcubes
Bjork

She lives in this house over there
Has her world outside it
Scrapples in the earth with her fingers and her mouth
She's five years old

Thread worms on a string
Keeps spiders in her pocket
Collects fly wings in a jar
Scrubs horse flies
And pinches them on a line
Ohhh...

She has one friend, he lives next door
They're listenening to the weather
He knows how many freckles she's got
She scratches his beard

She's painting huge books
And glues them together
They saw a big raven
It glided down the sky
She touched it
Ohh...

Today is a birthday
They're smoking cigars
He's got a chain of flowers
And sows a bird in her knickers
Ohhh...

They're smoking cigars
They lie in the bathtub
A chain of ... flowers

[Jodry]

Listen to any of Tenacious D's songs. The songs arent really confusing, but they got some great stories. ;)

[Lindsey_1535]

JODRY!!
OH that one monkey thing on the new gorillaz. Whats that ones name?

[like2_drink]

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...

Stacy, can I come over,
After school? (After School)
We can hang around,
By the pool. (Hang By The Pool)
Did your mom get back
From her business trip? (Business trip)
Is she there,
Or is she tryin' to give me the slip? (Give me the slip)

And I'm not the little boy, that I used to be!
I'm all grown up, and now baby can't you see?

Stacy's Mom has got it goin' on!
She's all that I want,
And I've waited for so long!
Stacy, can't you see?
You're just not the girl for me.
I know it might be wrong,
But I'm in love with Stacy's mom.

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...

Stacy, do you remember
When I mowed your lawn? (Mowed your lawn)

Your mom came out,
With just a towel on. (Towel on)
I could tell she liked me
By the way she stared. (way she stared)
And the way she said,
"You missed a spot over there." (Spot over there)

And I know that you think it's just a fantasy,
But since your dad walked out,
Your mom could use a guy like me!

Stacy's Mom has got it goin' on!
She's all that I want,
And I've waited for so long!
Stacy, can't you see?
You're just not the girl for me.
I know it might be wrong,
But I'm in love with Stacy's mom.

Stacy's mom, ooh! (I'm in love with)
Stacy's mom, ooh! (I'm in love with)

Stacy, can't you see,
You're just not the girl for me.
I know it might be wrong,
But I'm in love with Stacy's mom.

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on...
( Until fade out )

[ToucanSpam]

in the video Stacy is a little squig

[yeahwho]

You know I just remembered, Robyn Hitchcock (http://www.robynhitchcock.com/), spin a wheel and pick any song.

[like2_drink]

in the video Stacy is a little squig

such a dirty video

[Documad]

You know I just remembered, Robyn Hitchcock (http://www.robynhitchcock.com/), spin a wheel and pick any song.
Some Robyn Hitchcock came up on my ipod today and I thought of this thread. He's piss poor background music because I find myself listening hard to the lyrics. I've decided that I need more Robyn Hitchcock.

[ToucanSpam]

"Jesus Of Suburbia"

[Part 1]

I'm the son of rage and love
The Jesus of suburbia
From the bible of none of the above
On a steady diet of soda pop and Ritalin
No one ever died for my sins in hell
As far as I can tell
At least the ones I got away with

And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me

Get my television fix sitting on my crucifix
The living room or my private womb
While the moms and brads are away
To fall in love and fall in debt
To alcohol and cigarettes and Mary Jane
To keep me insane and doing someone else's cocaine

And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me

[Part 2: City Of The Damned]

At the center of the Earth
In the parking lot
Of the 7-11 were I was taught
The motto was just a lie
It says home is where your heart is
But what a shame
Cause everyone's heart
Doesn't beat the same
It's beating out of time

City of the dead
At the end of another lost highway
Signs misleading to nowhere
City of the damned
Lost children with dirty faces today
No one really seems to care

I read the graffiti
In the bathroom stall
Like the holy scriptures of a shopping mall
And so it seemed to confess
It didn't say much
But it only confirmed that
The center of the earth
Is the end of the world
And I could really care less

City of the dead
At the end of another lost highway
Signs misleading to nowhere
City of the damned
Lost children with dirty faces today
No one really seems to careeeeee

[Part 3: I don't care]

I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't
I don't care if you don't care
[x4]

I don't careeeeeeeeee

Everyone is so full of shit
Born and raised by hypocrites
Hearts recycled but never saved
From the cradle to the grave
We are the kids of war and peace
From Anaheim to the middle east
We are the stories and disciples
Of the Jesus of suburbia
Land of make believe
And it don't believe in me
Land of make believe
And I don't believe
And I don't care!
I don't care! [x4]

[Part 4: Dearly beloved]

Dearly beloved are you listening?
I can't remember a word that you were saying
Are we demented or am I disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure
Oh therapy, can you please fill the void?
Am I retarded or am I just overjoyed
Nobody's perfect and I stand accused
For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse

[Part 5: Tales of another broken home]

To live and not to breathe
Is to die In tragedy
To run, to run away
To find what you believe
And I leave behind
This hurricane of fucking lies
I lost my faith to this
This town that don't exist

So I run
I run away
To the light of masochist
And I leave behind
This hurricane of fucking lies
And I walked this line
A million and one fucking times
But not this time

I don't feel any shame
I won't apologize

When there ain't nowhere you can go
Running away from pain
When you've been victimized
Tales from another broken home

You're leaving...
You're leaving...
You're leaving...
Ah you're leaving home...

[yeahwho]

This is a fine thread, I heard Timothy played by the Squirrels (http://www.thesquirrels.com/newcd.htm) at a local Seafood Fest last week and I thought of this thread.

Turns out the writer of the song "Timothy" played by the Buoys was written by none other than Pina Colada fame, Rupert Holmes (http://www.songfacts.com/detail.lasso?id=2005).

Fegmania (http://www.geocities.com/mjareviews/rhitchcock.html)

[Documad]

Fegmania (http://www.geocities.com/mjareviews/rhitchcock.html)
The album that spawned My Wife and My Dead Wife (which I have) sounds like a must-have. :)

[Rancid_Beasties]

in the video Stacy is a little squig
I looked it up, shes Gianna Distenca, and shes 12 so umm... yuck (n)

[Documad]

Are you saying that the boy is lusting after his own hot mom? Because that's just sick and wrong.

[Rancid_Beasties]

Are you saying that the boy is lusting after his own hot mom? Because that's just sick and wrong.
Thats what I wrote before I edited. But then I realised that was a hoax. Official sites said it was another girl not rachel hunters daughter. And the boy is some other actor. It was all a hoax people. No need to get freaked out :)

[pshabi]

Confusing - a little, maybe
Haunting - like a motherfucker

It's hard to do justice by reading it. Gotta hear this man sing.

Haden - When This is Over

I wake up
Beside you, in mom's car
I try to get you out,
You're strapped to the backseat
I am too.

The car is rolling down to water.
Why are we
Strapped to our seats,
Trapped,
What did we do?
I cleaned my room just as she asked me to.

Filling up, dirty water,
My chin's up, going under.
You're still asleep, baby brother.
I'll wake you up when this is over.

The car is rolling down to water.
Why are we
Strapped to our seats,
Trapped,
What did we do?
I brushed my teeth just as she asked me to.

This is it, baby brother,
One more breath togther
We're almost underwater
Where is mom?
I miss her.

The car has rolled into the water.
Why are we dying in this way,
What did we do?
I was nice to him,
Her boyfriend, this is stupid
When people come to search the lake
We'll be found in our pajamas
They will see
A big mistake is all that this must be

[CrankItUp!]

Listen to any of Tenacious D's songs. The songs arent really confusing, but they got some great stories. ;)
(y)