From The Beatles to Led Led Zeppelin: 15 creepy songs with lyrics that have aged terribly

The defence of “it was of its time” is a common refrain, whether referring to the language spoken by Santino Corleone in The Godfather or certain works by Agatha Christie. However, just as some dialogue in The Godfather or murder mystery novels may feel dated, there are also pop songs that haven’t aged as gracefully as their creators intended them to be, despite aiming for timelessness.

Looking back at history with a contemporary lens is never easy; we’ve narrowed down the focus to just 15 songs, but there could easily be more contenders for the list. ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ could also be argued for inclusion, but its setting in the 1950s justifies the characters’ actions. As an Irishman, I’m also inclined to give Elvis Costello credit for ‘Oliver’s Army’, given that the lyrics mirror the words Cromwell used to describe the Irish population.

But it’s much harder to defend the following 15 songs, each of them grubby in their own way, and all of them complicated to make a case for. They range from a rollicking Led Zeppelin rocker to a more sedate Guns N’ Roses tune that uses a number of slurs that are unacceptable in Britain and Ireland.

The 15 tunes chosen have merit – the Megadeth song is brilliantly presented and produced – but there’s no saving the sentiment or the fact that none of them would make it onto the airwaves today. And if you do feel sick by the end, blame the songwriters, not Far Out.

15 songs that have aged terribly:
15. ‘Run for Your Life’ – The Beatles
Inspired by the Elvis Presley song ‘Baby, Let’s Play House’ in which the hip-swinging singer calls out, “I’d rather see you dead little girl than to be with another man,” John Lennon decided he would tell his own tale of dark domestic violence. Obviously, the dark side of life has its place in music, provided you illuminate it with a sense of morality pervading over the prose in some way. Sadly, that was lost somewhere along the line with this track, and it just sounds like a callous tale told by a man who had, indeed, his own brushes with abusive relationships to begin with.

Lennon eventually ended up hating the song when the irony seemed lost, as the hidden message was somewhat subverted, and the track was hoisted by its own poppy petard. This miscue has led to it being banned by radio stations for espousing a dangerous message of violence against women. In short, it’s perhaps The Beatles’ most regrettable song.

And with lyrics like, “Let this be a sermon / I mean everything I’ve said / Baby, I’m determined / And I’d rather see you dead,” it is easy to see why.