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9:30 Coffee Break: Bad (Poor?) Grammar and Bad Spelling

Posted at 8:48 AM on June 2, 2011 by Jill Riley (51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

This morning for our Random Vinyl pick, Jill brought it a record from The Mugwumps called "An Historic Recording." The title of the record started a big grammar discussion and debate on whether it's actually "An Historic Recording" or "A Historic Recording." We've concluded (from listener feedback) that both versions are acceptable. But, the debate continues on...

So, your job is to come up with a set of music with poor grammar or misspelled words in the title. Grammar and spelling in rock music? This is soooo public radio!

Songs played:
Bob Dylan "Lay Lady Lay"
Iron and Wine "Me and Lazarus"
Slade "Mama Weer All Crazee Now"
The Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
Dinah Washington "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Rae and Christian Remix)"
Sly and the Family Stone "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin"

Comments (51)

Wilco - Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again)

Posted by dc | June 2, 2011 9:03 AM

Cum On Feel the Noize — Slade

Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby — Dinah Washington | BB King

I Ain’t Got You — the Yardbirds

A slew of Prince songs with U in the title

Something by An Horse!

Posted by lou | June 2, 2011 9:04 AM

Iron and Wine - Me and Lazarus
(should be Lazarus and I!)

Posted by Calla | June 2, 2011 9:04 AM

Sophie B Hawkins..."Damn, Wish I Was Your Lover." So many musicians guilty of this one; my mom drilled in me that you say I wish I WERE, not WAS

Posted by Katrina Hase | June 2, 2011 9:05 AM

Van Halen - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love

Beck - Where It's At

Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Posted by Oj | June 2, 2011 9:06 AM

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones

"Ain't Got No Home" - Clarence "Frogman" Henry

Special bonus debate...somethine by the band "!!!" - I just don't think Chk Chk Chk is right!!!

Posted by Andrew S. | June 2, 2011 9:06 AM

inna gadda davida-Iron Butterfly
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones

Posted by ken | June 2, 2011 9:07 AM

Magick- Ryan Adams and the Cardinals (and to honor Steve, we could play the live in studio version...hats off to Steve for getting through that crazy business)

Posted by Kari | June 2, 2011 9:08 AM

Prince - You Got The Look

Radiohead - Bullet Proof I wish I Was

Atmosphere - Shoulda Known

Posted by Breanne | June 2, 2011 9:10 AM

Baby I'm-A Want You - BREAD

Posted by ken | June 2, 2011 9:10 AM

Rock and Roll All Nite - KISS
Ol' Skool Company - Prince
Doncha Bother Me - Rolling Stones
Mr. Xcitement - They Might Be Giants

Posted by tmpletz | June 2, 2011 9:10 AM

I second "Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby."

Posted by Cat | June 2, 2011 9:10 AM

Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

Posted by Derek | June 2, 2011 9:11 AM

You be illin -Run DMC

Posted by Christine | June 2, 2011 9:11 AM

Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby - Verve Remix of Dinah Washington

Posted by cait | June 2, 2011 9:11 AM

Spoon - Got Nuffin
BlakRoc - Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)

Posted by Jason | June 2, 2011 9:11 AM

"Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" - Robert Randolf and the Family band.

I once listened to someone rant about the grammar in this song making it the reason for the "destruction of american youth!"

Posted by Camille | June 2, 2011 9:11 AM

You Be Illin' - Run DMC

Maybe not in the title, but FULL of bad grammar
Day-O - Harry Beloafonte
"Come Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana. Daylight come and me want to go home"

Posted by loran | June 2, 2011 9:11 AM

Got My Mojo Workin' - Muddy Waters

Posted by wa6ic | June 2, 2011 9:11 AM

Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul

Posted by Christian | June 2, 2011 9:12 AM

OnedayI'mgonnabesomebody - The Time
Anotherloverholenyohead - Prince & the Revolution

Posted by tmpletz | June 2, 2011 9:12 AM

"Everybody Ona Move" - Michael Franti and Spearhead

Posted by Rob | June 2, 2011 9:12 AM

Wayne's Pet Yungin' - Ween

Posted by w | June 2, 2011 9:13 AM

Lay Lady Lady - Bob Dylan
Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton

Lay vs Lie is a whole other discussion.

It would be "A" historic event because the sound in historic is not a vowel. This site discusses the A vs An rule :

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/a-versus-an.aspx

P.S. The grammar site covers Lay vs Lie also.

Posted by Jennifer | June 2, 2011 9:13 AM

Hank Williams "Nobody's Lonesome For Me" contains a line with a rare quadruple negative: "Ain't nobody never gonna love me nohow."

In "Rebel Music" Bob Marley mispronounces "birth certificate" as something like "birf surfer ticket."

Of course there is always Alanis Morrisett'e execrable "Ironic," which describes a number of bad luck scenarios, none of which represent an example of irony.

Perhaps the most famous neologism in rock 'n roll resides in Steve Miller's "The Joker": "Pompatus" -- as in, "I speak for the pompatus of love."

Posted by Craig Kepler | June 2, 2011 9:13 AM

"Ain't Gone 'N' Give Up On Love" -- Stevie Ray Vaughan (Soul to Soul)
"Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" -- Van Halen
"Ain't Got You" -- Bruce Springsteen (Tunnel of Love)

Posted by (JL) | June 2, 2011 9:13 AM

Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers

Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got) - The Four Tops

Don't Ask Me No Questions - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton

Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight - Spinal Tap

Posted by Chris | June 2, 2011 9:14 AM

Breakin' Up-Rilo Kiley ("Is there trouble between you and I?")

Anything by She & Him

Posted by Mel | June 2, 2011 9:15 AM

Ain't Got No -cover by Nina Simone
I Ain't got No Home- Woody Guthrie

Posted by robin | June 2, 2011 9:15 AM