Songs which sound like quirky nonsense which have a serious meaning

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Sorry for Laughing by Josef K imagines a world flipped round where people with disabilities laugh at the able-bodied.

The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Harry McClintock (covered by a multitude of people, including Bing Crosby, Burl Ives & Harry Chapin) is a hobo dreaming of their idea of paradise, based on the medieval concept of Cockaigne. Yet the things dreamt about - cigarette trees, hens laying soft boiled eggs, cops with wooden legs so they can't catch him, &c, give it Lear-esque qualities so many people consider it a song for kids.

There *must* be other examples you know. I'd be interested to hear them.

Grandpont Genie, Sunday, 21 August 2022 11:10 (three years ago)

Have read that a lot of things that wind up as nursery rhymes were originally written as topical political satire.

Stevolende, Sunday, 21 August 2022 11:17 (three years ago)

Realised recently that a thread running through a lot of things (books/music/films/tv) I love is "wildly ambitious supposed comedy which I don't actually find that funny" - but think that's a slightly different thing?

link.exposing.politically (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Sunday, 21 August 2022 11:20 (three years ago)

Have read that a lot of things that wind up as nursery rhymes were originally written as topical political satire.

That is true in some cases and it other cases the evidence is flimsy at best. Check out the Wikipedia page for "Cock Robin".

Grandpont Genie, Sunday, 21 August 2022 11:22 (three years ago)

Sure this fits the bill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPfB3eRX130

Dan Worsley, Sunday, 21 August 2022 14:24 (three years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my8T7hB992k

seo layer (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 21 August 2022 14:40 (three years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPwljXHWZw4

thinkmanship (sleeve), Sunday, 21 August 2022 14:44 (three years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v2GDbEmjGE

your marshmallows may vary (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 21 August 2022 15:08 (three years ago)

"I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground"

thinkmanship (sleeve), Sunday, 21 August 2022 15:13 (three years ago)


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