I'm sitting here at work listening to a Jefferson Starship CD, and when "Miracles" came on, I was struck by the lyric "I had a taste of the real world/when I went down on you, girl..." I thought it might be fun to list some other examples of racy lyrics that snuck by the censors and got on AM radio. Let's confine it to the "innocent" days, pre-90s--after that, you could (and still can) get away with almost anything.

Lou Reed--"Walk on the Wild Side" ("but she never lost her head/even when she was giving head...")
Rod Stewart--"Tonight's the Night" ("spread your wings and let me come inside...")
Wings--"Hi Hi Hi" ("gonna do it to ya, gonna do ya, sweet banana, like you've never been done...")

Sir Paul slippin' somebody the banana!

Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar
"Ah brown sugar how come you taste so good
(a-ha) brown sugar, just like a black girl should
A-huh"

I don't think everyone could make out the lyrics.

"who the fuck are you"

Well, not any more.
Although it seemed that radio was getting comfortable with playing that, and the "funky shit" line in Jet Airliner, I noticed radio quickly reverted to the single versions post-Nipplegate.

I never understood how "I done told you once you sonofa gun" was all that more acceptable than "I done told you once you sonofa bitch", but both versions got played. I guess that wasn't all that subtle though.

The one I always remembered best was the "funky shit" line from "Jet Airliner". That one used to crack me up every time I heard it!

"So you heard I got laid and betrayed by a maid in a one night stand
And I'm caught in the middle of something I don't really understand"


dan fogelberg - someone's been telling you stories

a lot of FM play in the '70's

Starland Vocal Band--Afternoon Delight ("rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ignite/and the thought of rubbin' you is getting so exciting")

There was some debate about this on the Hoffman site, whether the lyric is "lovin' you," but I've always heard it as "rubbin'."

I still think "Little Willy" by the Sweet is at least ambiguous, but there's nothing overtly racy in the lyrics.

I love the Afternoon Delight episode of Arrested Development when family members notice how racy the song lyrics are when singing them together in public.

I've heard about four different explainations of what The Lovin' Spoonful's name refers to--none of them G-rated.

However, I think the grandaddy of them all must be "My Generation". I've heard the song about a trillion times and I still think Daltrey is about to say "Why dont you all ffffffffuck off" instead of "fffffffffade away".

I sure do miss the 80's, when songs like "She-Bop", "Relax" and "Like A Virgin" were considered to be pushing the envelope of what was suitable for airplay...on second thought, let me clarify that I don't exactly "miss" those particular songs...

When I first heard the song as a child, I thought it was about a little boy named Willie who just didn't want to go home.

How about Pink Floyd's "Money?" That counts... don't give me that good, good bullshit and tell me it doesn't!

10CC!!

they never really say what the name means on the radio, but the certainly do say the name.

steely dan!!

see "10CC" above.

For my money, one of the most overtly sexual/erotic songs ever to get frequent radio play was "Miracles" by Jefferson Starship. The album version was certainly much more cohesive and suggestive, but even the much shorter single version was oozing with sex. It wasn't naughty words slipping by as such, but it was pretty obvious if you listened, even though many probably didn't.

"So we're makin' love and you feel the power
And I feel the power"

"You ripple like a river when I touch you
When I pluck your body like a string"

and those are just from the single version!

The real kicker, from the long version, is when you get part where Marty Balin sings "I had a taste of the real world" and the other vocalists answer back "don't waste a drop of it", before Marty finishes with "when I went down on you girl." SMOKING!

You make a dead man cum -- Stones

D'Oh! How'd I forget that one?!?!

Even though it wasn't a big hit here (but Top 10 in the UK), Debbie Harry's "French Kissing in the USA" includes this double-entendre:

"Lips/close/then blossom like a rose...lips/wide/holding you inside..."

I've heard that this Beatles song was written about oral sex - and after reading the lyrics, well I don't disagree -

Last night I said these words to my girl
I know you never even try, girl
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Please, please me, wo yeah, like I please you

You don't need me to show the way, love
Why do I always gave to say, love
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Please, please me, wo yeah, like I please you

I don't want to sound complaining
but you know there's always rain in my heart
I do all the pleasing with you,
it's so hard to reason with you
wo yeah, why do you make me blue?

Last night I said these words to my girl
I know you never even try, girl
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Please, please me, wo yeah, like I please you
wo yeah, like I please you
wo yeah, like I please you

Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath
"And the all-time winner has got him by the balls"

Kinks-"Apeman"

" I look out the window but I can't see the skies
The air-pollution is a' fuckin' up my eyes"

Ray claims he sang "fogging up my eyes", but it sounds like
fuckin' to me.

Prison sex, hmmmm...

"Number forty-seven said to number three:
Youre the cutest jailbird I ever did see.
I sure would be delighted with your company,
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me."

"The warden said, hey, buddy, dont you be no square.
If you cant find a partner use a wooden chair."

For what? How?

"She blew my nose, and then she blew my mind" from the Stones' "Honky Tonk Women".

Another Stones one:

She's my little rock n roll
My tits and ass with soul, baby

(Sorry Jimbo)

"Day Tripper" in general, including the famous alternate lyrics for the "she's a big teaser" line that may or may not be sung by one or more of the Beatles. Also, the "tit, tit, tit" backing vocals from "Girl".