Bawdy Song: Difference between revisions

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A song or poem which includes ribaldry for purposes of bonding and general letting-off-steam. May also be called a Barrack-room Ballad, a Rugby Song or a Hash Hymn. The level of ribaldry may range from mere [[Double Entendre]] to the kind of explicit lyrics that send [[Moral Guardians]] into conniptions.
A song or poem which includes ribaldry for purposes of bonding and general letting-off-steam. May also be called a Barrack-room Ballad, a Rugby Song or a Hash Hymn. The level of ribaldry may range from mere [[Double Entendre]] to the kind of explicit lyrics that send [[Moral Guardians]] into conniptions.


Such songs are sometimes used as a nod towards [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]], a character will be singing a well-known bawdy song and cut off a [[Last Second Word Swap|split-second]] [[Orphaned Punchline|before actually singing anything obscene]]. Including snatches of bawdy songs in a scene indicates that characters are becoming relaxed and uninhibited (at the very least). If the song happens to be something as explicit as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Ship_Venus The Good Ship Venus]" or "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnacle_Bill_%28song%29 Barnacle Bill the Sailor]," they are probably way past just "relaxed".
Such songs are sometimes used as a nod towards [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]], a character will be singing a well-known bawdy song and cut off a [[Last-Second Word Swap|split-second]] [[Orphaned Punchline|before actually singing anything obscene]]. Including snatches of bawdy songs in a scene indicates that characters are becoming relaxed and uninhibited (at the very least). If the song happens to be something as explicit as "[[wikipedia:Good Ship Venus|The Good Ship Venus]]" or "[[wikipedia:Barnacle Bill chr(28)songchr(29)|Barnacle Bill the Sailor]]," they are probably way past just "relaxed".


An unseen incident of the singing of a bawdy song may be used to indicate that someone was drunk and disorderly or otherwise "out of order", especially if children, nuns or [[The Vicar]] happened to be present. Allusion to the vicar knowing such a song is a deliberate example of incongruity. Rick the Vic from ''[[Hellblazer (Comic Book)|Hellblazer]]'' probably knows them all.
An unseen incident of the singing of a bawdy song may be used to indicate that someone was drunk and disorderly or otherwise "out of order", especially if children, nuns or [[The Vicar]] happened to be present. Allusion to the vicar knowing such a song is a deliberate example of incongruity. Rick the Vic from ''[[Hellblazer (Comic Book)|Hellblazer]]'' probably knows them all.
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In order to indicate that an older character is a "bad influence" on children, a child may sing a bawdy song after visiting him/her. In such cases the chosen song is usually one of the less explicit examples, "Roll Me Over in the Clover," for example.
In order to indicate that an older character is a "bad influence" on children, a child may sing a bawdy song after visiting him/her. In such cases the chosen song is usually one of the less explicit examples, "Roll Me Over in the Clover," for example.


Many bawdy songs are themselves trope-laden, being replete with stereotyped characters, "wardrobe malfunctions", slapstick and cliches. Many are also examples of [[Satire Parody Pastiche|pastiche and parody]] or possibly [[Fanfic]], being set to the tune of "real" folk songs, pop songs etc.: for example, "Irian Jaya" to the tune of "Mull of Kintyre," "Masturbation" to "Alouette," "Incest is Best" and "Bestiality's Best" both to the tune of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport." Sometimes even national anthems ("Life Presents a Dismal Picture" to "Deutschland Über Alles" and "Ou Est La Papier" to "La Marseillaise"). Prisoners at Colditz Castle in [[WW 2]] had a lot of creative fun re-writing the German national anthem; the mildest version they came up with was Deutschland, Deutschland Ünter Alles''
Many bawdy songs are themselves trope-laden, being replete with stereotyped characters, "wardrobe malfunctions", slapstick and cliches. Many are also examples of [[Satire, Parody, Pastiche|pastiche and parody]] or possibly [[Fanfic]], being set to the tune of "real" folk songs, pop songs etc.: for example, "Irian Jaya" to the tune of "Mull of Kintyre," "Masturbation" to "Alouette," "Incest is Best" and "Bestiality's Best" both to the tune of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport." Sometimes even national anthems ("Life Presents a Dismal Picture" to "Deutschland Über Alles" and "Ou Est La Papier" to "La Marseillaise"). Prisoners at Colditz Castle in [[WW 2]] had a lot of creative fun re-writing the German national anthem; the mildest version they came up with was Deutschland, Deutschland Ünter Alles''


: These are often... in fact, almost always... [[Drunken Song|sung when the character doing the singing is totally plastered]].
: These are often... in fact, almost always... [[Drunken Song|sung when the character doing the singing is totally plastered]].
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== [[Fanfic]] ==
== [[Fanfic]] ==
* There's a ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' [[Fanfic]] in which the Doctor's asked what the rudest song he knows is -- apparently, it's "a toss-up between 'The Lonely Little Academy Girl' and 'Och Aye! 'Tis Rassilon's Mighty Firm Rod" (the latter of which apparently runs to about fifty-four verses).
* There's a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' [[Fanfic]] in which the Doctor's asked what the rudest song he knows is -- apparently, it's "a toss-up between 'The Lonely Little Academy Girl' and 'Och Aye! 'Tis Rassilon's Mighty Firm Rod" (the latter of which apparently runs to about fifty-four verses).
* Athena Prime's [[Knights of the Old Republic]] epic fanfic mentions a bawdy song called "The Starship Venus." Allronix, in her KOTOR fic, [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2344822/1/Destinys_Pawn_Leviathan provides some of the lyrics].
* Athena Prime's [[Knights of the Old Republic]] epic fanfic mentions a bawdy song called "The Starship Venus." Allronix, in her KOTOR fic, [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2344822/1/Destinys_Pawn_Leviathan provides some of the lyrics].
* In Rising Star (an adaption of [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]), [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2726841/10/Rising_Star Sonic suggests Tails should sing something during their trip through Casino Night Zone.] As it's revealed, Tails spent too much time hanging out behind the local bar...
* In Rising Star (an adaption of [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]), [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2726841/10/Rising_Star Sonic suggests Tails should sing something during their trip through Casino Night Zone.] As it's revealed, Tails spent too much time hanging out behind the local bar...
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== [[Film]] ==
== [[Film]] ==
* A film parodying [[Awful British Sex Comedy|British sex comedies of the 1970s]] is titled ''[[Eskimo Nell]]'' after [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Eskimo_Nell the most notorious bawdy song of them all].
* A film parodying [[Awful British Sex Comedy|British sex comedies of the 1970s]] is titled ''[[Eskimo Nell]]'' after [[wikipedia:The Ballad of Eskimo Nell|the most notorious bawdy song of them all]].
* The 2007 film version of ''[[Beowulf (Film)|Beowulf]]'' has the Geats singing songs of this sort.
* The 2007 film version of ''[[Beowulf (Film)|Beowulf]]'' has the Geats singing songs of this sort.
* The famous whistling scene in ''[[The Bridge On the River Kwai]]'' is an attempt to get "Hitler Has Only Got One Ball" [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|past the radar]].
* The famous whistling scene in ''[[The Bridge On the River Kwai]]'' is an attempt to get "Hitler Has Only Got One Ball" [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|past the radar]].
** The song is called the "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Bogey_March Colonel Bogey March]," and has been a favorite for adding smutty lyrics to since 1914. It was supposedly inspired by an officer who whistled the first two notes instead of shouting "fore" on the golf course, so the song was insulting even when given its original title.
** The song is called the "[[wikipedia:Colonel Bogey March|Colonel Bogey March]]," and has been a favorite for adding smutty lyrics to since 1914. It was supposedly inspired by an officer who whistled the first two notes instead of shouting "fore" on the golf course, so the song was insulting even when given its original title.
*** Or not, considering that a "bogey" then, was what we today call a "par". Being called a scratch-player is probably NOT an insult anywhere.
*** Or not, considering that a "bogey" then, was what we today call a "par". Being called a scratch-player is probably NOT an insult anywhere.
** "Colonel Bogey March" inspired a [[Call Back]] of sorts about a decade after ''Bridge On The River Kwai'' was released when the Smothers Brothers did a comedic performance of the South African marching tune "Marching to Pretoria" in which they briefly stopped the song to discuss their favorite marching songs. They briefly reference "Colonel Bogey" (which they mistakenly call "March of the River Kwai") and note that you could never sing it because it was all whistling...then surmise that the song's lyrics must have been dirty, which is why they had to be whistled instead. Then, when they start singing again, one of them shifts to whistling just as their improvised lyrics are getting ''really'' naughty, prompting the audience to laugh.
** "Colonel Bogey March" inspired a [[Call Back]] of sorts about a decade after ''Bridge On The River Kwai'' was released when the Smothers Brothers did a comedic performance of the South African marching tune "Marching to Pretoria" in which they briefly stopped the song to discuss their favorite marching songs. They briefly reference "Colonel Bogey" (which they mistakenly call "March of the River Kwai") and note that you could never sing it because it was all whistling...then surmise that the song's lyrics must have been dirty, which is why they had to be whistled instead. Then, when they start singing again, one of them shifts to whistling just as their improvised lyrics are getting ''really'' naughty, prompting the audience to laugh.
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* In the Castings Trilogy there's one that details the relative merits of girls from different cities. Ash, the son of a pair of folk singers, notes that he learned the song as a child and it [[Late to The Punchline|took him years to realize]] just what it was that "the fellows all agree" about girls from Turvite.
* In the Castings Trilogy there's one that details the relative merits of girls from different cities. Ash, the son of a pair of folk singers, notes that he learned the song as a child and it [[Late to The Punchline|took him years to realize]] just what it was that "the fellows all agree" about girls from Turvite.
* [[Thomas Pynchon]]'s books are ''full'' of these. It's one of his most notable stylistic tendencies. ''Gravity's Rainbow'' actually contains a bawdy song entitled "Bawdy Song".
* [[Thomas Pynchon]]'s books are ''full'' of these. It's one of his most notable stylistic tendencies. ''Gravity's Rainbow'' actually contains a bawdy song entitled "Bawdy Song".
* In ''[[Harold Shea|The Mathematics of Magic]]'' by L. Sprague deCamp and Fletcher Pratt, [[Harold Shea]] and his companions are captured by The Blatant Beast, and it demands that they recite an epic poem that it hasn't heard before as their ransom for release. The only problem is that the only lengthy poem any of them knows by heart, that the Beast hasn't already heard, is ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Eskimo_Nell The Ballad of Eskimo Nell]''.
* In ''[[Harold Shea|The Mathematics of Magic]]'' by L. Sprague deCamp and Fletcher Pratt, [[Harold Shea]] and his companions are captured by The Blatant Beast, and it demands that they recite an epic poem that it hasn't heard before as their ransom for release. The only problem is that the only lengthy poem any of them knows by heart, that the Beast hasn't already heard, is ''[[wikipedia:The Ballad of Eskimo Nell|The Ballad of Eskimo Nell]]''.
* The [[Doctor Who Expanded Universe]] has Venusian expert Benny Summerfield reveal that the "Venusian lullaby" the Doctor sings to Aggedor in the Peladon stories is actually "one of the most bawdy rhymes in the known universe". The Doctor replies "Venusian is a language as dead as dead can be. If I say it's a lullaby, it's a lullaby".
* The [[Doctor Who Expanded Universe]] has Venusian expert Benny Summerfield reveal that the "Venusian lullaby" the Doctor sings to Aggedor in the Peladon stories is actually "one of the most bawdy rhymes in the known universe". The Doctor replies "Venusian is a language as dead as dead can be. If I say it's a lullaby, it's a lullaby".
* In both of the first two ''Dream Park'' novels, Gamers keep each others' spirits up while trekking around the Gaming areas with hearty renditions of the likes of "Cats on the Rooftops", the dirtiest verses of "That Real Old Time Religion", and (of course!) "The Ballad of Eskimo Nell". In ''The Barsoom Project'', a modest Gamer bribes another '''not''' to finish singing the latter in mixed company; the bribe-ee promptly starts singing "Kafoozalem" instead.
* In both of the first two ''Dream Park'' novels, Gamers keep each others' spirits up while trekking around the Gaming areas with hearty renditions of the likes of "Cats on the Rooftops", the dirtiest verses of "That Real Old Time Religion", and (of course!) "The Ballad of Eskimo Nell". In ''The Barsoom Project'', a modest Gamer bribes another '''not''' to finish singing the latter in mixed company; the bribe-ee promptly starts singing "Kafoozalem" instead.
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== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* In an episode of ''[[Hi De Hi]]'', there is panic at the news that Old Partridge, the Punch-and-Judy man who hates children, is singing ''Eskimo Nell'' in front of the dear ickle kiddiwinks.
* In an episode of ''[[Hi De Hi]]'', there is panic at the news that Old Partridge, the Punch-and-Judy man who hates children, is singing ''Eskimo Nell'' in front of the dear ickle kiddiwinks.
* In an episode of ''[[Dads Army (TV)|Dad's Army]]'', there is reference to Godfrey singing a song about a monk while in the pub.
* In an episode of ''[[Dad's Army (TV)|Dad's Army]]'', there is reference to Godfrey singing a song about a monk while in the pub.
{{quote| '''Captain Mainwaring''': Well, at least it was a religious song.<br />
{{quote| '''Captain Mainwaring''': Well, at least it was a religious song.<br />
'''Private Frazer''': (rolls eyes meaningfully) It wuznai' rrreligious! }}
'''Private Frazer''': (rolls eyes meaningfully) It wuznai' rrreligious! }}
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'Cause they get all the knowledge<br />
'Cause they get all the knowledge<br />
And we get all the...umpta, umpta, umpta... }}
And we get all the...umpta, umpta, umpta... }}
* In ''[[Bottom]]'', Richie sings this version of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sailor%27s_Hornpipe The Sailor's Hornpipe]:
* In ''[[Bottom]]'', Richie sings this version of [[wikipedia:The Sailorchr(27)s Hornpipe|The Sailor's Hornpipe]]:
{{quote| Do your balls hang low?<br />
{{quote| Do your balls hang low?<br />
Can you swing 'em to and fro?<br />
Can you swing 'em to and fro?<br />
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Its my belief that my big balls<br />
Its my belief that my big balls<br />
Should be held every night. }}
Should be held every night. }}
** [[Anti Christmas Song|"Mistress for Christmas"]].
** [[Anti-Christmas Song|"Mistress for Christmas"]].
* The ending of [[The Decemberists]]' "{{spoiler|Chimbley Sweep}}" made listeners do a bit of a double take, as it took at least five listens to figure out this was a bawdy song.
* The ending of [[The Decemberists]]' "{{spoiler|Chimbley Sweep}}" made listeners do a bit of a double take, as it took at least five listens to figure out this was a bawdy song.
** Let's not forget "[[Your Mom|A Cautionary]] Song" either...
** Let's not forget "[[Your Mom|A Cautionary]] Song" either...
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** "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DYrlt3CyaE Sexy Data Tango]"
** "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DYrlt3CyaE Sexy Data Tango]"
* There is a famous bawdy parody of Cole Porter's "You're the Top," including such lines as, "You're the burning heat of a bridal suite in use."
* There is a famous bawdy parody of Cole Porter's "You're the Top," including such lines as, "You're the burning heat of a bridal suite in use."
* Then there is (are?) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wit_and_Mirth,_or_Pills_to_Purge_Melancholy "Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy"] by Thomas D'Urfey in six volumes, first published between 1698 and 1720. This is a collection of songs, a rather large proportion of which are quite bawdy. Ed McCurdy mined them for much of the contents of his records (LPs) for bawdy songs on the Electra label, starting with "When Dalliance Was In Flower (and Maidens Lost Their Heads)", in three volumes, followed by "Son of Dalliance", and others. The books have been reprinted at least twice, once in 1876 and again in 1959 (in a limited edition). They now seem to be available as print-on-demand books.
* Then there is (are?) [[wikipedia:Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melancholy|"Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Purge Melancholy"]] by Thomas D'Urfey in six volumes, first published between 1698 and 1720. This is a collection of songs, a rather large proportion of which are quite bawdy. Ed McCurdy mined them for much of the contents of his records (LPs) for bawdy songs on the Electra label, starting with "When Dalliance Was In Flower (and Maidens Lost Their Heads)", in three volumes, followed by "Son of Dalliance", and others. The books have been reprinted at least twice, once in 1876 and again in 1959 (in a limited edition). They now seem to be available as print-on-demand books.
* The [[Sex Pistols]]' "Friggin' In The Riggin'" which is perhaps the best-known version of the old song "The Good Ship Venus."
* The [[Sex Pistols]]' "Friggin' In The Riggin'" which is perhaps the best-known version of the old song "The Good Ship Venus."
* There are ''loads'' of bawdy songs from older times; many were "catches" - rounds which, when all the parts were added in, had [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|dirty lyrics start to pop out of otherwise clean verses]]. Others were just blatantly filthy; still others were "clean"-ish when explained, such as [http://www.theweebsite.com/ragnar/songs/my_man_john.html My Man John].
* There are ''loads'' of bawdy songs from older times; many were "catches" - rounds which, when all the parts were added in, had [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|dirty lyrics start to pop out of otherwise clean verses]]. Others were just blatantly filthy; still others were "clean"-ish when explained, such as [http://www.theweebsite.com/ragnar/songs/my_man_john.html My Man John].
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* In ''[[Hamlet]]'', after Ophelia goes insane, she starts singing these to Hamlet (who broke her heart).
* In ''[[Hamlet]]'', after Ophelia goes insane, she starts singing these to Hamlet (who broke her heart).
* Speaking of Shakespeare, the Elizabethan bawdy song "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svdvMz7RJNg Watkin's Ale]" {{spoiler|(That's just the tune, you pervs)}} became so popular that "a tale of Watkin's ale" was used to denote the entire genre.
* Speaking of Shakespeare, the Elizabethan bawdy song "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svdvMz7RJNg Watkin's Ale]" {{spoiler|(That's just the tune, you pervs)}} became so popular that "a tale of Watkin's ale" was used to denote the entire genre.
* In a sort of meta-example, the song 'Oom Pah-Pah' from the musical ''[[Oliver (Theatre)|Oliver]]'' both refers to this kind of song and is a very mild example itself.
* In a sort of meta-example, the song 'Oom Pah-Pah' from the musical ''[[Oliver! (Theatre)|Oliver]]'' both refers to this kind of song and is a very mild example itself.
* [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] of all people manage to slip one of these in to ''[[Princess Ida]]'' as Cyril (plastered and in drag while infiltrating a womens university) sings to an audience of startled students and teachers. Surprisingly this isn't the incident that actually gets him found out either.
* [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] of all people manage to slip one of these in to ''[[Princess Ida]]'' as Cyril (plastered and in drag while infiltrating a womens university) sings to an audience of startled students and teachers. Surprisingly this isn't the incident that actually gets him found out either.
* And then there's the infamous Earl of Rochester and his 1673 ode to a [http://ethnicity.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Texts/dildo.html Signior Dildo].
* And then there's the infamous Earl of Rochester and his 1673 ode to a [http://ethnicity.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Texts/dildo.html Signior Dildo].
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[[Category:Music Tropes]]
[[Category:Music Tropes]]
[[Category:Bawdy Song]]
[[Category:Bawdy Song]]
[[Category:Trope]]
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Bawdy_Song"