Were people ever this innocent?

I had heard that the lyrics to Smith's song were unobjectionable. Granting that there's nothing there about "lazy" or whatever denigrating thing you might name to make them really bad, on the other hand I don't see that there's anything redeeming.

On the other hand, I think this whole business of going back in history to pounce on people on stuff like this really sucks.

Lyrics to That's Why Darkies Were Born

Someone had to pick the cotton,
Someone had to pick the corn,
Someone had to slave and be able to sing,
That's why darkies were born;
Someone had to laugh at trouble,
Though he was tired and worn,
Had to be contented with any old thing,
That's why darkies were born;
Sing, sing, sing when you're weary and
Sing when you're blue,
Sing, sing, that's what you taught
All the white folks to do;
Someone had to fight the Devil,
Shout about Gabriel's Horn,
Someone had to stoke the train
That would bring God's children to green pastures,
That's why darkies were born.

Quote: Pacomartin

This one seems pretty mild.

Melanie, "Brand New Key (The Rollerskate Song)"

Pretty sad Melanie lost the rights to this song
She was managed by her husband. Unknown to her, he sold the rights
She did not find out till after he passed away
She was one of the original Woodstock performers

Quote: Pacomartin

Double entendre songs in English (although I don't think any of the performers claimed that they didn't know what the song meant)

The Grateful Dead use to cover the Muddy Waters Blues classic "The Same Thing"

"What makes you men go crazy when the woman wear her dress so tight
What makes you men go crazy when the woman wear her dress so tight
Must be the same old thing that makes the tomcats fight all night
Why do all these men try to run these big-legged women down
Why do all these men try to run these big-legged women down
Must be the same old thing that makes the bulldog pit the hound
Why that same thing
Why that same thing
Now tell me who's to blame
The whole world's fightin' 'bout the same thing
Why do we feel so good when our woman wear her evenin' gown
Why do I feel so good when my baby get her evening gown
Must be the same old thing that makes the preacher throw his bible down
Why that same thing
Why that same thing
Now tell me who's to blame
The whole world's fightin' 'bout the same thing
What makes you men go crazy when the woman wear her dress so tight
What makes you men go crazy when the woman wear her dress so tight
Must be the same old thing that makes the tomcats fight all night
Why that same thing
Why that same thing
Now tell me who's to blame
The whole world's fightin' 'bout the same thing
Why that same thing
Why that same thing
Now tell me who's to blame
The whole world's fightin' 'bout the same thing
The whole world fightin' 'bout the same thing"

I Want Candy Bow Wow female singer was like 15 when she sang it and as an adult, admitted she thought the song was about actual candy, not a sexual innuendo. Her older band members said "We told you that because we wanted to keep you innocent at that age."