peggy Lee, “aren’t you kind of glad we did,”
from: the lost capitol masters, w/ dave barbour, 1946
“Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t
Naturally, you thought you couldn’t
And probably we shouldn’t
But aren’t you kind of glad we did?
Actually, it all was blameless.
Nevertheless, they’ll call it shameless
So the lady shall be nameless
But aren’t you kind of glad we did?
Socially, I’ll be an outcast
Obviously, we dined alone
On my good name there will be doubt cast
With never a sign of any chaperon
No matter how they may construe it
Whether or not we have to rue it
Whatever made us do it?
Say, aren’t you kind of glad we did?”
When did it become permissible to talk about having sex, in a song? I’m not talking about outliers like The Fugs, but in a song that could be played on the radio? Up until the 70s, writers had to use suggestion or metaphor to get the message across. Some Rhythm & Blues tracks crossed the line (“Sixty Minute Man” or “Work With Me Annie”) and got banned.
Then there are songs that took a more nudge nudge wink wink approach, like this Gershwin number. I love Peggy Lee’s 1940s work with her husband, guitarist Dave Barbour, and her voice and attitude are perfect for this. You can just see her sly grin, singing the title line.
-Charlie Blaum-