Take a minute today and let your kids listen to Randy Newman’s, “Short People”. Their reaction is hilarious.

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Dragnkat@reddit

I have Ray Stevens Ahab the Arab on my playlist. I had the Ktel Looney Tunes album and ... I love it (for me it struck more Aladin vibes lol). Sucks for being PC now a'days tho lol.

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GenX50PlusF@reddit

Hi, I’m short, so I have no reason to live according to Randy Newman. I hope no one took that literally. How tall was Randy Newman? Would he be OK with me being in his presence at 5’7”?

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tangcameo@reddit

One of my local tv stations used to play that song as a space filler PSA. It would play over a montage of kids in a playground and my nine year old self never understood it.

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Andurhil1986@reddit

Listen to his song ‘Sail Away’, which is basically a slave trader trying to entice Africans to get on the boat. Seriously demented and cynical.

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So that’s why it was so uncomfortable when that Styx song came on while I (white, now 55F) had a black guy in my car in the early 90s. If I was alone I would jam, not having the insight I’ve just now come across. But with this dude in the car and that piano power ballad plus knowing his musical taste, there I was urgently changing the station for something more relatable for the both of us as I drove him I don’t remember where—probably home—because this was more than 30 years ago.

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Uranus_Hz@reddit

Then play them Fish Heads

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johnwalkr@reddit

My favorite mad TV sketch of all time is Randy Newman making songs for Star Wars.

https://youtu.be/DqNG_SrSa4o

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bankrobbery@reddit

Thank you for reminding this exists!

“Space, is the place, for Star Wars!”

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AntheaBrainhooke@reddit

"Short People" is satire that went over a lot of people's heads.

... I'll see myself out

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radioOCTAVE@reddit

Let's try to be big about this...

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ForeignRabbit1894@reddit

I look back on some of the songs from my childhood and think WTF! Muskrat Love, The Streak, Kung Fu Fighting, Disco Duck, My Ding A Ling - I could go on. What a crazy era for music!

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bubblingsoul@reddit

How about Boogie in your Butt - Eddie Murphy 🤣

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TickingTheMoments@reddit

Kung fu fighting is a great song.

I loved it when I was seven years old. My seven-year-old now loves it.

I’ve gone over the lyrics and the only thing I can figure that is racially in sensitive is the beginning of the song talking about funky China men in funky Chinatown.

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ForeignRabbit1894@reddit

My son used to love that song when he was little. He’d ask for “fighting fighting”!

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LittleMsLibrarian@reddit

I sing Kung Fu fighting at least once a week, and I have no idea why. There are so many better songs, but that one just keeps roaring back.

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TickingTheMoments@reddit

It’s because you can’t get the very beginning song out of your mind.

Oh ho ho hooooooooooo

Oh ho ho hooooooooooo………

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Nagadavida@reddit

Telephone Man! LOL My mom loved that song

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gregpurcott@reddit

Might I recommend “Rednecks” also by Randy Newman ;)

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Textiles_on_Main_St@reddit

That song is Still true. I’ve lived in Louisiana.

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Cowboy_Buddha@reddit

The 1970s saw a boatload of weird songs come out.

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Odd-Adhesiveness-656@reddit

Went to Catholic School for high school. At one dance to save money the student council allowed seniors to DJ

They played Aerosmith's Big 12" Record, AC/DC Big Balls and "Let's Do the Timewarp Again from RHPSand last but hardly least, "Up Against the Wall you Redneck Mothers" by Jerry Jeff Walker...let's say no other dance was ever DJ'ed by students ever again.

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EuphoricReplacement1@reddit

Our music teacher played us "Sixty Minute Man" to let us know, there have always been "dirty" songs with a lot of innuendo.

https://youtu.be/cO-zHg3Q_Pc?si=5h9HGqomAyPh5l2H

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Steerider@reddit

Big Ten Inch dates back to at least the 1950s. Maybe back to the 30s. Aerosmith just did a cover.

Not sure how old Walk Right In, Walk Right Out is, but that plays with naughty language quite a bit — kind of a big swing version of "Miss Sally Had a Steamboat"

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LittleMsLibrarian@reddit

Also a Catholic school grad. We weren't allowed to play "Nasty" because some kids sang it (jokingly) about one of our science teachers.

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TypePuzzleheaded6228@reddit

lol prepare them before you play Lou Reed "Take a Walk on the Wild Side"

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Mr_Tort_Feasor@reddit

"Political Science" is another good one in these days and times.

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bughunter_@reddit

When I point out to my gen Z coworkers that Queen’s “Fat Bottom Girls” is a song about child sexual abuse they nearly short circuit.

Heck, half of my Gen X friends and coworkers never fully processed that first verse.

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Electric-Sheepskin@reddit

The young lad fixated on the "naughty nanny." It's quite a leap to assume that she took liberties or molested him. I certainly never got that impression from the lyrics.

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YinzerChick70@reddit

It's not a leap.

"I knew life before I left my nursery" and

"Hey big woman, you made a bad boy out of me"

Lead one to the only logical conclusion.

I used to have it on my legs day playlist and had to cut it.

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Reader47b@reddit

I never interpreted it that way. If a male has a sexual awakening looking at a woman, it does not necessarily follow that she abused him or encouraged him. To say "you made a bad boy out of me" is simply a an age old way of shifting accountability for male sexual desire to women.

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mjh8212@reddit

I never knew this. My friends said this was my song since i had s butt. Now i never want to hear it again.

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Oldebookworm@reddit

I don’t think I did, either. Now I have to go look it up. Damnit, I hope it’s not as bad as I’m thinking

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ShelbyDriver@reddit

What?! How?

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MikeyMad01@reddit

“I was just a skinny lad Never knew no good From bad But I knew life before I left the nursery Left alone with big fat fanny, She was such a naughty Nanny, Hey big woman You made a bad boy out of me”

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YinzerChick70@reddit

I didn't see your comment before I replied. It's pretty obvious.

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Thedustyfurcollector@reddit

Wait. What?! I've never been good with ANY songs' lyrics, but what?!

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teachthisdognewtrick@reddit

Don’t forget “Animal” by Wasp, and Metallica’s cover of “So What”

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

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GenX-ModTeam@reddit

No Politics - Political posts or comments of any sort are not permitted. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.

Breaking this rule may result in bans, either temporary or permanent.

Before you make the claim: No, providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on your rights.

Also, this politics ban was put before the sub over a year ago, and members have spoken.

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Reader47b@reddit

I did that a few years ago. My son asked, "Is this satirical?" Yes, son, yes it is. I'm just under 5 feet and I love that song. It pops into my head every time I can't reach something.

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Ok-Teach-9735@reddit

We sang this as a class in 3rd grade along with Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.

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Oldebookworm@reddit

I loved that song. It was the only time we could curse, if it was a part of the song

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Ok-Teach-9735@reddit

Exactly. Thought we were hot shit getting to say/sing the word “damn”.

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ottis1guy@reddit

Insufferable. Never cared for him.

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AntheaBrainhooke@reddit

Okay

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Comfortably_FlyGuy@reddit

He's an American treasure.

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ottis1guy@reddit

I would rather listen to Gilbert Gottfried and Fran Dresher drunken hate fucking, than his milquetoast musical blather.

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Comfortably_FlyGuy@reddit

Hahahahaha!!!!!!

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OggyDoggys@reddit

It’s a satirical song. Like, I Love LA has been appropriated by the Los Angeles chamber of commerce but the lyrics are far from a glowing endorsement.

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Unusual_Memory3133@reddit

When I lived in LA in the early 90’s, as we were riding through the seedier parts of the city, we used to snarkily shout out, « WE LOVE IT!! »

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MaximumJones@reddit

Just a heads up, do not quote the lyrics of any of the songs here as they can get picked up as harassment by Reddit filters.

Just like drinking alcohol, please comment responsibly. 😀

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Mysterious_Day1968@reddit

Wow really? Legit did not know that was the thing. Sorry for the error and thanks for the warning. Mod of the year.

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Odd-Adhesiveness-656@reddit

Even worse, try Randy Newman's " Political Science "

https://youtu.be/R5mAuPg1ZZw?si=KaxrAFY6Gx6EGJrY

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Ok_Flatworm_1716@reddit

OOH - my most favorite Randy Newman song!!!

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flowerqu@reddit

They're not going to be able to handle Pants either.

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govnah06@reddit

“Rednecks” is definitely out.

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Designer_End5408@reddit

I had a nasty short bald neigbor who we sing that song about.

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Ecthelion510@reddit

Don’t love this song, but Randy Newman in general is brilliant at both satire and generally great songwriting.

Protip: check out his absolutely haunting little ditty “In Germany Before The War” for a song about p*dophile serial killer Peter Kürten.

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therelybare5@reddit

I grew up on Randy Newman and Mason Williams’ “Them Poems”!

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punkshoe8@reddit

I hate this song. Everyone in my family is short and my little brother was very sensitive about it. He heard this song on TV when he was around 6 and it made him cry.

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Legitimate-Let-8500@reddit

“Make an ugly girl your wife you’ll be happy for the rest of your life” is a classic. Goes on to warn about pretty women.

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gameraturtle@reddit

I love that song!

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Remmy555@reddit

omg in junior high I was in chorus and that was one of the songs we performed for a show, except they made us add a final verse written by the music director that said 'All people got good reason to live' etc etc.

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No_Recording1467@reddit

This is so GenX haha! We sang “Every Breath You Take” in high school choir!

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BlackLakeBlueFish@reddit

My daughter has that on her Halloween mix.

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Ornery-Vehicle-2458@reddit

Try "Rednecks". That'll be a real winner.

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Roofofcar@reddit

Then follow it up with Stephen Lynch’s Tennessee

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Odd-Adhesiveness-656@reddit

Or Birmingham

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kmerian@reddit

Next do "Fish Heads"

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Odd-Adhesiveness-656@reddit

And "Dead Puppies"

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Fuzzy_Put_6384@reddit

Eat them up! Yum!

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-Granby-@reddit

While we are at it throw on some Frank Zappa.

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FlyingV2112@reddit

We don’t want this child to have to be institutionalized, do we?

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Possible_Shoulder_50@reddit

Imagine explaining Dinah-Moe Humm. 🤣🤣🤣

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-Granby-@reddit

That and so many others . HA

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Winstonoil@reddit

And The Fugs, Wide,Wide River.

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DjinnaG@reddit

I never heard of this song until maybe a year or two ago (so, mid 2000s-2010s, in reality), but I grew up in Maryland. The ban never actually went through, but I’m sure it helped curtail airplay in the area. Don’t remember other kids using it to torment the short kids (since bullies aren’t known for appreciating satire), but how well we remember the bullying that we weren’t personally subjected to is always in doubt

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DT114_469@reddit

I grew up in Maryland, decades earlier, 70s and 80s, this song was definitely played on the radio. Its an old song though

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WinterMedical@reddit

You really want to blow their minds, hit them with Detachable Penis.

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KatJen76@reddit

That's a great song. I like King Missile. "Take Stuff From Work" is also classic.

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Odd-Adhesiveness-656@reddit

Or Political Science

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SaltyDogBill@reddit (OP)

In case you forgot the lyrics

Short people got no reason Short people got no reason To live They got little hands And little eyes And they walk around Tellin' great big lies They got little noses And tiny little teeth They wear platform shoes On their nasty little feet Well, I don't want no short people Don't want no short people Don't want no short people 'Round here Short people are just the same As you and I (A fool such as I) All men are brothers Until the day they die (It's a wonderful world) Short people got nobody Short people got nobody Short people got nobody To love They got little baby legs And they stand so low You got to pick 'em up Just to say hello They got little cars That got beep, beep, beep They got little voices Goin' peep, peep, peep They got grubby little fingers And dirty little minds They're gonna get you every time Well, I don't want no short people Don't want no short people Don't want no short people 'Round here

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flowerqu@reddit

I see no problem. Describes me to a T.

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Coconut-bird@reddit

Every so often the lyrics - "Oh, I don't want her, you can have her. She's too fat for me" will just pop into my head with no warning. I have no idea where they came from.

I just looked it up and it's the Too Fat Polka. From the 40s but with a remake in 1960. No idea where I ever would have heard it, but apparently I am destined to remember it forever.

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solohazel@reddit

I grew up in a town with a considerably large Polish population. This was a classic Polka dance song on Saturday night, lol.

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flowerqu@reddit

"she's just right for me ..."

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WinterMedical@reddit

My dad loved “Huggin and a chalkin’” about a girl so big and fat you need to leave a chalk mark to hug her all the way. It’s very celebratory of the full figured gal. https://youtu.be/KTPW-BPdWmQ?si=ZiEIkFmuVR-ENXpX

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Eloquent-Trash@reddit

Ha! I had a friend in college who used to sing that.

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VH5150OU812@reddit

Follow it up with AC/DC’s Big Balls.

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ChronoMonkeyX@reddit

My 5th grade teacher laughed his ass off when they played Big Balls at our school dance.

It was a catholic school, he was a brother.

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sarcasticorange@reddit

Give Freaker's Ball by Dr Hook a try.

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Dependent_Try_53@reddit

Now now big balls is just about dance halls and parties.

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lovemesomezombie@reddit

And Aerosmith's 12 Inch

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Fuzzy_Put_6384@reddit

My kid laughed so hard at big balls lolol Balls to the wall also got a big laugh!

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Demostecles@reddit

Core memory from high school unlocked.

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LilBitofSunshine99@reddit

Are the younger generations going to cancel humor because they don't understand it?

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Persificus@reddit

Not sure it’s restricted to the younger generation.

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anothercynic2112@reddit

Yeah because I wasn't tormented enough by it elementary -high school by the so clever guys who probably figured they were the first ones who thought about mocking me with it

Well at least I'm not bitter.

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no-thanks-thot@reddit

So I was the shortest kid in class in like third grade , and the music teacher decided to play this for everyone. The whole class was laughing, and he just smirked.

I seem to recall it being played multiple times and us learning the lyrics, but maybe I blocked it out.

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foreskinfive@reddit

My kids are absolutely flabbergasted by it. I told them that when I was a kid the most awesome thing would be if you could hear short people and bad bad Leroy Brown in one go on the radio.

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AquaGB@reddit

Don't forget Cheeseburger in Paradise! They were like the holy Trinity of songs loved by kids.

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foreskinfive@reddit

yeah, ...Jimmy Buffett was never my cup of tea

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ChronoMonkeyX@reddit

We didn't know the song, but it came up in a trivia game, and the question was like "According to Randy Newman,what do short people not have," and I said a reason to live, which was a jab at my short friend whose height we often teased. Everyone was utterly shocked when that was the actual answer.

This was over 25 years ago, we weren't that young, just no big fans of Randy Newman around.

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Realistic_Young9008@reddit

I am very short. When I was young, father used to play this on repeat - it was vinyl so he had to manually cue up each play - and pointedly sing it to me until I broke out into tears.

That song will forever be an anthem of his constant bullying.

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ExquisitePreamble@reddit

I’m a sensitive soul. I love Randy Newman, but from the first time I heard this song my thought was “People are going to sing it to people in a mean way”, so I didn’t like it

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ziggy029@reddit

Same. I’m on the shorter side of average, so I hated it.

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Comedywriter1@reddit

I’m so sorry. That’s terrible!

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Kitchen-Apricot-4987@reddit

Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman) by Joe Tex.

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BeebsMuhQueen@reddit

My husband has played this for me; I thought he was insulting me. I’ve also heard the “redheads have no soul” throughout my life 😒🤣

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One-Pepper-2654@reddit

I have a long history of dating redheads, and my wife of 32 years is the smokingest , sexiest redhead of all!

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thagrrrl79@reddit

We have souls! Every freckle is a soul we've taken!

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Wabi-Sabi_Umami@reddit

I feel personally attacked by this song. 😂

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Mysterious_Day1968@reddit

The kids don't understand satire anymore.
https://americansongwriter.com/the-story-behind-randy-newmans-misinterpreted-first-hit-satirizing-the-vertically-challenged/

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mitkase@reddit

It’s pretty obvious when you look at the lyrics, but I guess ain’t nobody got time for that anymore.

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Orangeboi_22@reddit

I played it several years ago for my kids when they were teenagers. They were shocked at first, then howled in laughter. I was just like, hey, it was the 70s, ain't nobody give a shit about your feelings.

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crashin70@reddit

Even better, let them listen to TooShort or AC/DCs' Big Balls ...

LMAO not really, they'll be singing it at school just like we did!

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Fritzo2162@reddit

In 7th grade we were allowed to bring our boomboxes to art class as a "treat." I brought my new Fisher 25W portable stereo with detachable speakers and 5 band EQ...we BLASTED Big Balls and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall PT 2".

And that was the end of that perk...

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tkingsbu@reddit

I got in SO much trouble getting caught listening to Big Balls when I was a kid… lol…

‘The boy is running around listening to a grown man singing he has the biggest balls in town!’

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silveronetwo@reddit

Little kid me didn't get the satire, but loved it by the 80s with "Its Money that Matters".

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dave_stolte@reddit

Try “Rednecks” next.

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therocketn00b@reddit

Oof... They won't like that one.

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ancientastronaut2@reddit

Haha I went to see him like twenty years ago because my friend got tickets and that's the first time I heard that song.

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Opening-Natural-3468@reddit

Try Naked Man:

"They found out about my sister, kicked me out of the Navy, they would have strung me up if they could. I tried to explain that we were both of us lazy and were doing the best we could"

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Charliesmum97@reddit

I remember being annoyed as a child because I could see the point of the song is that prejudice is just hating people for ridiculous reasons, and a very stupid thing to do, but people didn't bother to really pay attention to the whole song, and thought it was seriously saying it was against short people. I did a report on it and everything. Clearly people misunderstanding things and bitching about it predated the internet.

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