Classic Rock’s Most Politically Incorrect Songs

From Disgusting to Horrifying

At a time when politically incorrect statements are frowned upon, these songs probably wouldn’t have seen the light of day. From singing about pursuing underage girls to glorifying domestic abuse, there are so many things wrong with the words used or how the statements were constructed.

Some of them went down in history as classics but are cringe-worthy on so many levels. There were DJs with enough sense to refuse to play the songs while for those who did, they became recipients of public outcry and were flooded with calls from angry listeners. That’s totally understandable because these tracks already border on the unforgivable.

11. The Crystals – “He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)”

Carole King may be a symbol of female empowerment but she also co-wrote this song which screams “abuse” from the get-go. It was also produced by Phil Spector who was later convicted of murder. King regretted it though and said, “I kind of wish I hadn’t written any part of that song…”

10. Jimi Hendrix – “Hey Joe”

Don’t be fooled by Hendrix’s stellar guitar work because during the guitar solo, the narrator says “Shoot her one more time, baby.”

9. Chuck Berry – “Sweet Little Sixteen”

Chuck Berry singing about “tight dresses and lipstick” in sixteen-year old girls while he was already in his early 30s? Unacceptable. And The Beatles covered it too!

8. The Rolling Stones – “Under My Thumb”

https://youtu.be/w_1-Iww8WS4

Nowadays, good lucking saying “It’s down to me, yes it is / The way she does just what she’s told / Down to me, the change has come / She’s under my thumb” without any repercussions.

7. The Beatles – “I Saw Her Standing There”

https://youtu.be/2xbig-xfCIQ

This may be one of the greatest songs of all time according to Rolling Stone but we still can’t get past the first two lines, “Well, she was just seventeen / You know what I mean…”

6. KISS – “Goin’ Blind”

“You’re so young and so much different than I / I’m ninety-three, you’re sixteen” – yeah, if that isn’t creepy at all.

5. Jethro Tull – “Aqualung”

https://youtu.be/UCMS-NJ7VxU

“Eyeing little girls with bad intent” is the only part you need to hear if you want to know why this is included in the list.

4. Bruce Springsteen – “Fire”

“You just say no / You say you don’t like it / But girl I know you’re a liar..” – nah, Bruce, NO is NO. You’d have to be a special kind of stupid to not understand that.

3. Genesis – “Illegal Alien”

The title alone would be enough to cause an uproar.

2. Guns ‘n Roses – “One in a Million”

https://youtu.be/xPYe15s6sE8

He took the Genesis song and raised it to another level by taking shots at homosexuals, immigrants and African Americans.

1. Steely Dan – “Everyone’s Gone to the Movies”

Because of the melody and catchy tune, it’s fairly easy to think this is an innocent song about going to the movies. On the contrary, it’s about a man named Mr. LaPage who shows porno movies to teens in his house.