Swearing in tune

I’m going to come right out and say it – my 12 year old and I have the same taste in music. And sadly that’s not because his taste in music is very sophisticated. It’s rather that am just very young at heart.

I like my music contemporary (although that sounds like I’m 104), I like it loud and I like it on repeat. It just sounds better when there’s music playing in the house, feels more like home.

But lately there’s been a lot of swearing coming out of my speakers.

I’ve never been very good at curbing my tongue  and I will admit to throwing out the occasional swear word (where occasional means daily) in front of my son. It’s one of those parenting moments that you look forward to from about the age of 8 when your own parents say – “do as I say, not as I do”.

I swear, his dad swears but he doesn’t. Well not yet.

But the songs we like swear. They swear a lot and I am not quite sure what to make of that – because they don’t swear in the same maternal, jocular way that I do. They seem angrier than I do and somehow more striking.  But here’s the thing – some of these songs that swear are fucking brilliant. You’ll excuse me for that wont you?

For instance at the moment I am absolutely besotted with Macklemore. According to my 12 year old – he’s “beast” (which I think means very, very good) and his messages are “boss” (which I think means the best).  I love the fact that Little Pencil recognises his messages are that good because they are. The man raps poetry. Poetry with a lot of swearing. Listen to this one – no video just the music

And I love the fact that him and I can sing almost all the words of Same Love together. I love this song. Watch it but caution the video may break your heart

I hope that THIS is the message that my son absorbs about gay marriage and homosexuality in general. Really I am trying to sing it into him.

But should I be worrying about the lyrics that are deemed explicit . What do we do when we’re singing and you get to a verse like this

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I – I – I’m hunting, looking for a come-up
This is fucking awesome

Nah, Walk up to the club like, “What up, I got a big cock!”
I’m so pumped about some shit from the thrift shop
Ice on the fringe, it’s so damn frosty
That people like, “Damn! That’s a cold ass honkey.”
Rollin’ in, hella deep, headin’ to the mezzanine,
Dressed in all pink, ‘cept my gator shoes, those are green
Draped in a leopard mink, girls standin’ next to me
Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly’s sheets
(Piiisssssss)
But shit, it was ninety-nine cents! (Bag it)
Coppin’ it, washin’ it, ’bout to go and get some compliments
Passin’ up on those moccasins someone else’s been walkin’ in
But me and grungy fuckin it man
I am stuntin’ and flossin’ and
Savin’ my money and I’m hella happy that’s a bargain, bitch

When you see them like that they sound hideous and crass but listen to the song and hear what the words mean

It’s saving me a fortune in buying expensive labels for my son!

Macklemore is beast. I strongly suggest you listen closely to the words of every one of his songs. But not in front of your kids.