There’s quite a lot of songs that have a tempo or air that belies its content.
Interesting question, but I think not. It is quite famous, but the lyrics do not indicate the opposite of what they suggest. Also, the music conveys a sense of dread.*
As for tempo or air belying content, I suggest the “O Lucky Man” soundtrack by Alan Parsons (ex-Animals). It sounds all happy and jolly but the lyrics are dark. I particularly commend the song “Justice”. I did not include this in my original post because it was not a mainstream hit.
*I am assuming you are referring to “Mack the Knife” from Brecht’s Threepenny Opera. If there is another song “Mac the Knife” then the above is not relevant so in that case please provide more information.
surely you dont predate the jazz era Albert? Every jazz artist seems to have done a cover of Mack the Knife haha
subtext is that Im pretty sure Deckham is referring to the plethora of jazz covers of the song, which do not have a sense of dread about them and are quite jovial sounding- if you are focsing on lyrics, then i agree, lyrics dont indicate anything other than what they suggest, but the sound of the song is almost completely contradictory to those lyrics, which on first listen would give a wrong impression/ understanding
subtext is that Im pretty sure Deckham is referring to the plethora of jazz covers of the song, which do not have a sense of dread about them and are quite jovial sounding- if you are focsing on lyrics, then i agree, lyrics dont indicate anything other than what they suggest, but the sound of the song is almost completely contradictory to those lyrics, which on first listen would give a wrong impression/ understanding
Back on track, Randy Newman has a talent for pairing ironic and unsavoury lyrics with pretty tunes. I must have listened to this gorgeous melody a hundred times before I actually attended to the lyrics and had that WTF moment. I’d just assumed it was about the expression of a universal free spirit or maybe about a nice afternoon on a yacht or something, I hadn’t realised it was a slave trader’s spiel. Great song though, from a wonderful album.
In America you’ll get food to eat
Won’t have to run through the jungle
And scuff up your feet
You’ll just sing about Jesus and drink wine all day
It’s great to be an American
Ain’t no lions or tigers
Ain’t no mamba snake
Just the sweet watermelon and the buckwheat cake
Ev’rybody is as happy as a man can be
Climb aboard, little wog
Sail away with me
Sail away
Sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
Sail away
Sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
In America every man is free
To take care of his home and his family
You’ll be as happy as a monkey in a monkey tree
You’re all gonna be an American
Sail away
Sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
Sail away
Sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
Another one by Sting/ Police that seemingly gets overloooked as an incredibly creepy song is Dont Stand So Close to me
I think the chorus is pretty innocent sounding and people just zone out of the lyrics in the verses, which revolve around a teenage student lusting over her older teacher/ her older teacher battling his desires to root her
VERSE 1
Young teacher, the subject
Of schoolgirl fantasy
She wants him so badly
Knows what she wants to be
Inside her there’s longing
This girl’s an open page
Book marking, she’s so close now
This girl is half his age
VERSE 2
Her friends are so jealous
You know how bad girls get
Sometimes it’s not so easy
To be the teacher’s pet
Temptation, frustration
So bad it makes him cry
Wet bus stop, she’s waiting
His car is warm and dry
VERSE 3
Loose talk in the classroom
To hurt they try and try
Strong words in the staffroom
The accusations fly
It’s no use, he sees her
He starts to shake and cough
Just like the old man in
That book by Nabakov (refering to Lolita)
subtext is that Im pretty sure Deckham is referring to the plethora of jazz covers of the song, which do not have a sense of dread about them and are quite jovial sounding- if you are focsing on lyrics, then i agree, lyrics dont indicate anything other than what they suggest, but the sound of the song is almost completely contradictory to those lyrics, which on first listen would give a wrong impression/ understanding
Born in the USA turned me off Springsteen for about 25 years as I misinterpreted it as rampant patriotism.
In a similar vein, “London Calling” is also meant to be a negative song about the city IIRC.
Great song (and album), but I never interpreted it as a positive celebration. I guess The Clash were always clearly anti-establishment, where Springsteen’s message was far more subtle, if not ironic.