Stupid Song Lyrics: Salute to bad grammar and made-up words

On the second Wednesday of each month, the Quackenblog will feature a segment called “Stupid Song Lyrics.” I will begin today with some of my favorite instances of bad grammar and made-up words in popular music. And let me tell you, there is so much from which to choose (I almost said “there is so much to choose from,” but we all know that sentences should not end in prepositions). Anyway, enjoy.

1. Paul McCartney, “Live and Let Die.” Lyrics: “But if this ever-changing world in which we live in, makes you give in and cry . . . live and let die.”

From where did these lyrics come from?

2. From another classic rock song:
"You know that it would be untrue,
You know that I would be a liar,
If I was to say to you,
‘Girl we couldn’t get much higher,’
Come on baby, light my fire."

The “if” in the third line introduces the subjunctive tense, which, conjugated properly, is “if I were to say to you.” Hey, Jim Morrison, was you absent in English class that day?

3. “’Cause I speak of the pompitous of love.” From Steve Miller Band, “The Joker.”

One thing that I’ve learned in life is this. Some people speak of the pompitous of love. Others speak of the pompitous of hate. Still others speak of the pompitous of peace, healing, or even conflict. And the thing is, you can’t do anything about it. That’s just the world in which we live in.

4. The BoDeans, “Good Things” says:
"Oh no no, don’t pass me over,
Oh no no, don’t pass me by,
You see I can see, good things for you and I."

I always have to think about this one, but I believe it should be “good things for you and me,” not “for you and I.” In fact, me is certain of it.

5. From the Commodores funky 70s hit “Brick House”: “She’s the one, the only one, who’s built like an amakazon.”

I don’t know what an amakazon is, but I’m sure you could order one on amakazon.com.

6. Many of you may be unfamiliar with a country song from the 1960s by Roger Miller called “Dang Me.” It is a funny song, with the following line: “Now roses are red, and violets are purple. Sugar is sweet, and so is maple surple.”

I have always heard that nothing rhymes with purple, orange, or silver. But that didn’t stop Roger Miller. He has done the impossible. Let this be an inspiration to all of us.

7. Diana Ross, “Upside Down”: “Round and round you’re turning me, I say to thee, respectfully.”

Actually, there’s nothing grammatically wrong with this. I just like her unabashed use of the King James English. Gutsy move. Diana, from a long time Supremes fan, I say, thou possesseth moxie!

8. One word: Sussudio. As in, “There’s a girl that’s been on my mind, all the time, Sussudio.”

In 1985, Phil Collins gave us “Sussudio.” I don’t know what it means. I found conflicting explanations on the internet. One source says it was the name of Collins’ daughter’s pet horse. Another says it is the sound that a drowning person makes when splashing around frantically in deep water. Neither makes sense in the context of the song. I think “Sussudio” means something more like, “the final recording gets mixed next week and I haven’t finished my lyrics yet.”

I look forward to the November installment of “Stupid Song Lyrics,” when I will explore the nonsensical lyrics of one of the most famous singers of our day.