Friday, December 8, 2023

The Birth of a Stalker: The 414th Greatest Song of All Time

 

Most music lovers "of a certain age" know the Coasters by their big hits:

  • Yakety Yak  -  "Take out the papers and the trash...Don't talk back!"
  • Charlie Brown  -  "Why's everybody always pickin' on me?"
  • Along Came Jones  -  "Slow-walkin' Jones; slow-talkin' Jones; along came long, lean, lanky Jones"

The connecting thread between these songs is a big, healthy dose of humor in each one. And according to Rolling Stone magazine, their first hit, ranked as the 414th greatest song of all time, was the "hilarious jailbait ditty 'Young Blood' that got these jokers into the Top Ten."

Those Merry Marauders

I was willing to accept that characterization of the song until I read the lyrics:

I saw her standin' on the corner
A yellow ribbon in her hair
I couldn't keep myself from shoutin'
Look a-there Look a-there
Look a-there Look a-there

Young blood, young blood, young blood
I can't get you out of my mind

I took one look and I was fractured
I tried to walk but I was lame
I tried to talk but I just stuttered
What's your name What's your name
What's your name What's your name

Young blood, young blood, young blood
I can't get you out of my mind

What crazy stuff She looked so tough
I had to follow her all the way home
Then things went bad; I met her dad
He said, "You'd better leave my daughter alone"

I couldn't sleep a wink for tryin'
I saw the rising of the sun
And all night my heart was cryin'
You're the one, you're the one
You're the one, you're the one

Young blood, young blood, young blood
I can't get you out of my mind

So let me get this straight...

Some juvenile delinquent with impulse control issues catcalls a young girl, follows her home, is warned off by the girl's father, and stays up all night fixating on her as the only object of his affection.

That's not hilarious...that's the opening scene of an episode of Criminal Minds or Law and Order!


2 comments:

Auto Parts said...

This blog post by [Blogger Name] is a fascinating insight into the origins of one of my all-time favorite songs, "The Birth of a Stalker" by [Artist Name]. The post takes us on a journey through the creative process of the artist, revealing the inspiration behind the lyrics and the evolution of the song. I particularly enjoyed learning about the significance of the title and how it ties into the overall theme of the song. This post is a must-read for any fan of [Artist Name] or anyone interested in the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into creating a great song. Kudos to [Blogger Name] for such an engaging and informative piece!

Dewey said...

So...an auto parts website posted an A.I.-generated comment but failed to plug in the appropriate blogger name, etc.

As Arte Johnson used to say on "Laugh-In", Veeeeery Interesting...