Why do so many songs have to have swearing in them?

Question

I was listening to a song, a really good song the other day, but it was spoilt by a swear word, what's so good about having swearing in the songs?

(I sound really old, sorry)

Answer 1

It's the songwriters lack of education showing. I heard Will smith say this about his rap songs and his grandmother told him that his swearing was lack of education. He stopped swearing after that.

I hate movies and songs where the F word is repeat like a million times. There are other words to convey your feelings

You don't sound old, you sound like you have some ethics

Have a good day

Answer 2

It varies.

REM? Endlessly perfect lyrics and I can't remember a swear word anywhere.

Ian Dury? As Suggs put it, "the most unroyal mouth you've ever heard". But a perfect street poet - one of the originals. Having said that, the best known songs don't have a lot of swearing in them.

The Streets? I gather you're a fan. Mike Skinner swears in character only. It works. Doesn't swear when it wouldn't be right.

Faithless? Perfect poetry, powerful and deep, but just the occasional slightly rude word. Doesn't need it, so uses very lightly.

Skunk Anansie? In some songs, Skin elevates swearing to heights normally only reached in cathedral. "Yes it's f***ing political!" - she uses the power of the word in a beautiful and perfect way.

And would there have been Public Enemy without a little rudeness?

Madonna? Never swears, and donchajust hate her?

Answer 3

Swearing in music is to attract attention when better lyrics would do a better job and although swearing has been around for a long time, the younger people use it as normal talking today and its also moved on to TV and award shows, for me it shows a lack of talent, a brutal way to get noticed which goes back to where it came from *American Ghetto,s along with clothe,s styles and body movement and its here to stay (sadly) *also why are footballers always spitting.

Answer 4

It is usually an expression of ones frustration with their subject matter and instead of eloquently resolving the matter, they resort to swearing. It usually works but used in excess the shock factor wears off and it can become tiresome, and even uneccesary. I can only think when i have ever heard swearing and it worked, in a WHITEHOUSE song. Their stuff is pretty extreme anyway the swearing was the icing on the cake in that instance. Hope this answers it for you!

Answer 5

It is about the level of education of the person singing the song. When reviewing lists of the best songs of all time, few, if any have swear words in them. Most, however, are written by people highly regarded as being eloquent speakers. Curse words are simply a way for people with few adjectives in their repertoire to express themselves.

Answer 6

If one is singing about something that requires a swear word then go for it. They are only words after all. It is a way of expressing what you want to convey. Listen to the song again and ask yourself if it was required.

Answer 7

For two reasons which others have explained so well ,either because its an attempt to make more emphasis on the tone of the song or as some may prefer its a complete lack of vocabulary on the part of the songwriter.

Answer 8

People stupidly put them in there to try to make the song sound more serious or cool or something. It depends. Either way it can ruin a good song, just like you said. It's sad, really.

Answer 9

Because we put up to it. If refused to listen to song's with cussing they would stop. But sadly that will never happen. But for right now I enjoy the music of to day even though some artist give todays music a bad name it ain't all bad.

Answer 10

Because swearing has become more common in everyday language.
People have a much smaller vocabulary, and therefore can not pick a more suitable and less offensive word