Althouse: "23 songs that use fruit for sexual metaphor."

November 28, 2012

"23 songs that use fruit for sexual metaphor."

Before looking, guess which fruit wins:

112 comments:

DADvocate said...: Wins what? The most used? best song?; 11/28/12, 1:21 PM
sakredkow said...: Forbidden fruit. "I bit into the root of forbidden fruit, with the juice runnin' down my leg" - Dylan; 11/28/12, 1:24 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I guessed cherry...; 11/28/12, 1:26 PM
sakredkow said...: ...but what Josephine Baker could do with a bunch of bananas.; 11/28/12, 1:28 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: And I was wrong?; 11/28/12, 1:28 PM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: There's got to be a song out there about tossing a girl's fruit salad.; 11/28/12, 1:34 PM
McTriumph said...: Lemon Song, LZ. My high school girlfriend's mother didn't like that song, which I inadvertently introduced to her as I chauffeured her and the Doctor home from the airport in my dad's Lincoln. That wasn't the only reason she hated me.; 11/28/12, 1:39 PM
Graham Powell said...: Ha, I picked lemon in the poll specifically because of "The Lemon Song", and I see that's the first one on the list.; 11/28/12, 1:41 PM
Amartel said...: Cherry Bomb by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. Not on the list? What's wrong with these people? I don't get the list.; 11/28/12, 1:52 PM
Irene said...: I also guessed cherry. And that put Christine Aguilera's "Candyman" into my head.; 11/28/12, 2:00 PM
sakredkow said...: Fruit?? Call any vegetbable.; 11/28/12, 2:03 PM
McTriumph said...: phx said...
...but what Josephine Baker could do with a bunch of bananas.

I think Josephine went both ways, bananas and peaches.; 11/28/12, 2:05 PM
Mark said...: Really love your peaches want to shake your tree.; 11/28/12, 2:06 PM
traditionalguy said...: Georgia Peaches wins. It is believed here that Peachtree Road/Buckhead whores are the reason why the Falcons lose big games.

The Falcon's 1991 backup QB was not getting a full night's sleeps, so they sent him to Wisconsin where he did much better away from the Georgia peaches.

He was Bret Farve.; 11/28/12, 2:28 PM
traditionalguy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 2:29 PM
DADvocate said...: Mary Hill used to hang out in Cherry Hill Park.
All the guys got eager eyes watching Mary go round.; 11/28/12, 2:36 PM
Ann Althouse said...: The actual answer is a tie between lemon and peach.

But you people seem to prefer cherry!

Banana seems like the right answer until you realize it's a terrible answer. Who sings about bananas?!; 11/28/12, 2:49 PM
DADvocate said...: CHerry, Cherry - Neil Diamond

Cherry Pie - Warrant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjyZKfdwlng

Doesn't get much more blatant than that.; 11/28/12, 2:51 PM
McTriumph said...: Who sings about bananas?!

Harry Belafonte; 11/28/12, 2:54 PM
DADvocate said...: And I’m alone, and I realize that when I get home I wanna go through my red and my cherry Yes I’m alone, and I realize when I get home I wanna go through my red and my cherry

NAS - CHERRY WINE; 11/28/12, 2:56 PM
TML said...: AA said:

Banana seems like the right answer until you realize it's a terrible answer. Who sings about bananas?!

Didn't you have the post about that "Uncle Obama" song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2HSo3yywDU

All banana...; 11/28/12, 2:57 PM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Who sings about bananas?!

Harry Belafonte?

Not that there's anything wrong with that.; 11/28/12, 2:58 PM
TML said...: And all, AHEM...monkey. Now there's a metaphor/symbol for you; 11/28/12, 3:03 PM
TML said...: Damn, there's even a fisting reference (visual) in her song. Just really dawned on me.; 11/28/12, 3:03 PM
The Roller said...: I am guessing Cherry. And not on account of any old folks songs that might have contained the C word.

Lisa Shaw. Cherry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNDZK9hFK1M; 11/28/12, 3:13 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: What no onion rings! :); 11/28/12, 3:14 PM
DADvocate said...: What about watermelons?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW-1Pha0KoE&playnext=1&list=PL0967911801C23B54&feature=results_main

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OAgcsVNzE4&feature=related; 11/28/12, 3:16 PM
edutcher said...: Since I never heard of most of those songs (thankfully), I went with cherry, as in:

Hair of gold and
lips like cherries.

The good old days; 11/28/12, 3:21 PM
jimbino said...: It's probably not the orange, probably because it's the hardest to rhyme with, though Douglas Hofstadter showed how.

Could be the tomato, though most folks don't know that it's a fruit and can't spell it anyhow.

Life and love might go best of all with acerola.; 11/28/12, 3:21 PM
McTriumph said...: Peach was my second choice after lemon because of the Allman Brothers "Eat A Peach" album. But, there's no eat a peach song on the "Eat A Peach" album?; 11/28/12, 3:28 PM
Amartel said...: Here's another cherry:
Cherry Oh Baby by UB40 (Labour of Love album)
And a Peach:
Lyric, "dig you Georgia Peaches" on The Breeze by Lynrd Skynrd.; 11/28/12, 3:33 PM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: What, no option for Kumquat?; 11/28/12, 3:36 PM
Bob Ellison said...: I went peach. Now I've got Steve Miller singing in my head. Could be worse.; 11/28/12, 3:42 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: What about Fruit Salad by the Wiggles? Am I missing something there?; 11/28/12, 3:48 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: No limes or coconuts. Bummer.; 11/28/12, 3:49 PM
Michelle Dulak Thomson said...: Damn. There used to be a wonderful book of songs that were the equivalent of 70s "Blaxploitation" flicks, except that these were 20s and 30s 78s. The book was titled The Nasty Blues, and it was full of, shall we say, vegetable metaphor. Cabbage figures heavily.

So does housework (there's a song about, um, doing the washing, with a washboard: "Keep rubbin', rubbin' on the darned old thing") and cured meats ("Please Warm My Wiener." "'Cause he just don't feel right cold." No, really).

Anyway, it seems to be out of print now, if the extravagant prices on Amazon are any guide. Too bad.; 11/28/12, 3:52 PM
McTriumph said...: AprilApple said...
No limes or coconuts. Bummer.

Well there is the Pina Colada song, some recipes do require lime juice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJFVvmymlD8&feature=related; 11/28/12, 3:59 PM
Jennifer Whatnot said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 4:02 PM
Jennifer Whatnot said...: It has to be peaches. They forgot Def Leppard's 1980's stripper anthem "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

"You got the peaches/I got the cream
Sweet to taste/Saccharine."

(Corrected: StrippeR anthem. I originally put "stripped."); 11/28/12, 4:03 PM
jr565 said...: And dot forget the song Peaches by PUSA (not saying its a great song but it is a song about peaches); 11/28/12, 4:06 PM
Unknown said...: I thought it would have to be either peach or cherry. Lemon surprises me. I guess there is something missing from my musical education.; 11/28/12, 4:14 PM
sakredkow said...: Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat; 11/28/12, 4:43 PM
SteveR said...: Plantains are bigger and firmer than bananas, but completely nonmusical.; 11/28/12, 4:43 PM
Chip S. said...: Figs are the sexiest fruit, but they don't fit well into romantic rhyming schemes.; 11/28/12, 4:55 PM
Crunchy Frog said...: Other foods:

I got a gal
She lives on the hill
She won't do it
But her sister will
She likes to boogie
She do the tube steak boogie
Boogie little baby
Boogie woogie all night long; 11/28/12, 5:25 PM
FWBuff said...: "Raspberry Beret" by Prince is an incredibly sexy song.; 11/28/12, 5:27 PM
FWBuff said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 5:27 PM
Penny said...: I picked lemon!

What can I say? I'm a giver. ;); 11/28/12, 5:30 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I voted cherry

but I was thinking about that lemon tree song being very pretty and so sweet but the fruit impossible to eat and I thought no mention there of thorns, and that would be an important thing to know about lemon trees for an aspiring young lemon orchard operator inspired by song or a young lover grappling with romance analogies delivered by their dad.

The kid should say, "but what about thorns? Does love have thorns? Can love be made into a flavorfully tart custard? Can it flavor iced tea? Can love be zested to brighten other things, that is scrapped with a rasp and drizzled so that its bite adds zing to otherwise mundane dishes? Huh? Can love be squeezed until the seed pop out? What about squeezing out the seeds, Dad, what about that?"; 11/28/12, 5:44 PM
Chip S. said...: Prophylactic cheesecloth?; 11/28/12, 5:55 PM
jungatheart said...: I went with peach.

(wig, cig, big, rig, dig, gig, jig, mig, pig, vig); 11/28/12, 5:58 PM
chickelit said...: Revealing photo of my ripening fruit: link; 11/28/12, 6:08 PM
chickelit said...: Penny said...
I picked lemon!

I always pictured Penny as a Led Zeppelin fan/groupie back in the day.; 11/28/12, 6:10 PM
missred said...: "I really love your peaches want to shake your tree"; 11/28/12, 6:10 PM
Darrell said...: "James And The Giant Peach" was titled James And The Giant Cherry in the draft copies.; 11/28/12, 6:11 PM
chickelit said...: Chip S. said...
Figs are the sexiest fruit, but they don't fit well into romantic rhyming schemes.

"Fig" works in romance languages. Google Fica or Figa in Italian.

I used to know a cute saying. I'll go look for it.; 11/28/12, 6:13 PM
KCFleming said...: Shriveled raisins are unsexy, never used in songs.

Dolores Claiborne used it:
"Then how come you look like the devil just grabbed them little raisins you call balls?"; 11/28/12, 6:19 PM
chickelit said...: @Chip S:

Tira piu' un pelo di figa che un carro di buoi

translation

Note the idiomatic use of "figa" ;); 11/28/12, 6:20 PM
chickelit said...: I dedicate that Italian proverb I linked at 6:20 to Inga, if she still reads here.; 11/28/12, 6:22 PM
Penny said...: Ha ha

I can envision Chip Ahoy sitting down next to his dad with a copy of Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard".

"So, Dad? Did you spit, swallow or sell?"; 11/28/12, 6:27 PM
Penny said...: "I really love your peaches want to shake your tree"

If ONLY missred were a bad speller.

Or better yet! The Joker!

And a WILD joker at that.; 11/28/12, 6:41 PM
Chip S. said...: deborah's right. An entire snoop lyric could be made from her comment.

Oh pig,
take my rig,
(ain't no twig)
let me dig
in your fig.

swig it,
big it,
frig it
dig it.

I gotta have a fig like that. ©

Yeah, that works.; 11/28/12, 6:41 PM
chickelit said...: 8-Track cruisin' music: Go All The Way by The Raspberries.; 11/28/12, 6:42 PM
Chip S. said...: OK, chickelit, I suppose that's a little classier use of the term.; 11/28/12, 6:43 PM
Penny said...: "Yeah, that works."

Copyright that, Chip S. ;)

Course Marvin Gaye's whisperin' in my ear right now. He wants to know ... "What's goin' on?"; 11/28/12, 6:51 PM
Penny said...: Chickelit's a classy kinda guy.

Nice send out you gave to Inga, who I adore.

Have to ask though? Did I miss something here? Why wouldn't she be reading here?

Did someone scare her off?; 11/28/12, 6:59 PM
Chip S. said...: She just didn't give a fig about commenting anymore.; 11/28/12, 7:05 PM
chickelit said...: Have to ask though? Did I miss something here? Why wouldn't she be reading here?

She called us all dupes and fools last night and then scurried away.; 11/28/12, 7:05 PM
Lydia said...: I gotta have a fig like that.©

Roses are red
Violets are blue

Figs like that
Will swallow you; 11/28/12, 7:09 PM
chickelit said...: Chip S. said...
She just didn't give a fig about commenting anymore.

I think she came within un pelo rosso di figa from quitting.; 11/28/12, 7:11 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 7:14 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 7:16 PM
CWJ said...: I saw pineapple on the professor's list and thought Strobe Light (B52s) must have been one of the 23 songs. Obviously disappointed when I clicked the link.; 11/28/12, 7:19 PM
Chip S. said...: "Figs like that
Will swallow you"

No problema, se non ha denti.

(Everything sounds better in Italian.); 11/28/12, 7:21 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Penny, I adore you too. I'm not going anywhere, I think perhaps they wish I would go somewhere, probably to hell, ha!

I'm probably not going to comment much, I've pretty much said what I wanted, except maybe this: I know a lot of conservatives, I live amongst them and have them in my family, but I've never ever come across the type of conservative I've seen here on this blog comments section in real life. Perhaps it's the anonymity of the internets that allows the stuff that lurks deep down to surface.

I don't want to come away from here hating conservatives, because I have so many great ones in my life offline, I dont want this place to taint my real life relationships with conservatives I know and some of whom I love, so I'm gonna do a lot more lurking, than commenting.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays sweet Penny!; 11/28/12, 7:22 PM
McTriumph said...: Fruit songs are great, but if you want to get lucky get your hands on this album gentlemen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xrQY_FLM4; 11/28/12, 7:23 PM
McTriumph said...: Warning: if she dumps you DO NOT listen to this album!; 11/28/12, 7:27 PM
XRay said...: "...but I've never ever come across the type of conservative I've seen here on this blog comments section in real life."

That's because they are being polite, for your sake.; 11/28/12, 7:36 PM
Anonymous said...: No X Ray it's because there is a level of respect we have for one another, not merely politeness. Don't presume to know the caliber of my relationships with conservatives I have in my life offline. So MUCH presumptions among you folks here and as I said yesterday almost always uncannily wrong.; 11/28/12, 7:42 PM
Penny said...: "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays sweet Penny!"

Regretably, Inga, I'm more of a "Bah Humbug" holiday kinda gal.

BUT! I'll be keeping my eyes open for you tomorrow, and the next day...and the day after that.

So when we get to Xmas Eve and on through New Year's, if you could keep your eyes out for me? I'd be very appreciative.; 11/28/12, 7:45 PM
Anonymous said...: I sure will Penny, I'm off to finish two Christmas stockings, and my pinkie finger hurts now, bah humbug!; 11/28/12, 7:48 PM
Penny said...: XRay, we're ALL more polite than we wish we had to be.

Here, there, anywhere.

The CENTER needs to hold.; 11/28/12, 7:54 PM
Unknown said...: I suspect Inga is more polite in her offline interactions with conservatives as well.; 11/28/12, 8:04 PM
XRay said...: Don't presume to know my relationships with leftists, either. They make up 98% of my extended family. I've tried, a few times, at family gatherings, etc., gently and gradually, to speak my view to a few, only to be met by the most hateful disdain. So, now, we just talk about the weather, or kids, or anything but politics. Out of politeness, you know.

Just had the oddest thing happen in my study... the loud sound of electrical snapping, the smell of something electrical burning, but no visible evidence of anything amiss. I think I'll keep 911 on speed dial tonight.; 11/28/12, 8:05 PM
sakredkow said...: XRay if anything happens to you can I have your car?; 11/28/12, 8:08 PM
sakredkow said...: Which isn't to say I'm not tragically worried about your personal safety and well-being.; 11/28/12, 8:09 PM
XRay said...: "... we're ALL more polite than we wish we had to be."

A digression, but I remember things not always being that way. I remember just short of fistfights being the norm for deep conversation. Then, everyone waking on the morrow with 'respect' for each other, no matter their views. We understood that it was just words, and opinions, all as valid or not so as the rest. Or maybe, getting along in years, I'm just dreaming.; 11/28/12, 8:14 PM
XRay said...: It's a truck, phx, 02 model but low milage. I could leave it with you, but then you've have to argue with my wife about that.

I've no clue what prompted your 'if anything happens to you'... do you mean my extended family? One of them going off the rail... nah, they're all too wimpish for that kind of deal. They know I'd kick their ass.; 11/28/12, 8:19 PM
sakredkow said...: I remember things not always being that way. I remember just short of fistfights being the norm for deep conversation. Then, everyone waking on the morrow with 'respect' for each other, no matter their views.

That used to be the book (for some people) on the difference between how men and women argue.

Now the scorched-earth policy of arguing is becoming the norm it seems. That's another indication of a junk culture.

The center needs to hold? Maybe the center is not holding.; 11/28/12, 8:20 PM
sakredkow said...: but then you've have to argue with my wife about that.

It's gonna be worse than arguing with you, isn't it?; 11/28/12, 8:22 PM
sakredkow said...: I've no clue what prompted your 'if anything happens to you'.

Oh don't be dense XRay. You just told us about the sound and smell of bad electrical wiring in your study five minutes ago. I'm upset about it and everyone here is upset about it. But the sad fact is you aren't likely to make it through tonight without being turned into a human french fry and I'd like to have something in writing getting your truck.; 11/28/12, 8:26 PM
sakredkow said...: You owe me man.; 11/28/12, 8:27 PM
McTriumph said...: I can't imagine anyone being more right-wing than I or cruder, but I do get a little bothered by some of the personal name calling. It gets a little vicious. Don't get me wrong, I reserve the right to call any politician or cultural icons very despicable things, but I don't call others on this blog names. Call me old fashion, but it does bother me when it's done to a women.

I know I've only been commenting for a short time, but I have been reading this blog for a very long time.; 11/28/12, 8:28 PM
sakredkow said...: More than fruit however, honey is used as a sexual metaphor in song.; 11/28/12, 8:45 PM
Penny said...: To some people, it's fun hanging out with active and vibrant people who challenge your thinking. That's Inga.

To others, it's fun hanging out with people who think like you think.

If you're having "fun" here? Go spend an hour a day at HuffPo.

Spread your right wing, conservative "Joy".

Then, by all means, come back to Althouse to tell us how that went for you exactly.; 11/28/12, 9:14 PM
XRay said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 9:22 PM
Penny said...: "The center needs to hold? Maybe the center is not holding."

Oh for cripes sake. We got someone here who thinks they can keep their little finger in the dyke.; 11/28/12, 9:23 PM
McTriumph said...: Chocolate syrup too. For example, "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" by Mothers of Invention.

"What would you do if she were your daughter?"

"I'd cover that girl with chocolate syrup and boogie til the cows come home."

Versions vary though.

I like the part that goes:

"She bites his fat neck and it lights up his nose, she bite his fat neck and it curls his toes, she's only thirteen and she knows how to nasty".

I know it's sick, but I'm McTriumph.; 11/28/12, 9:24 PM
Mark said...: When I was a (not that much younger) man, if I wanted to push my luck and find out a number of things about my date, I would randomly ask "peach or plum?"

Getting it at all was a good sign, although getting the ship righted if the reaction was bad was a challenge. If the lady laughed it was a lovely thing.; 11/28/12, 9:29 PM
XRay said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 9:39 PM
XRay said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 9:42 PM
XRay said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 9:47 PM
XRay said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/28/12, 9:49 PM
kentuckyliz said...: My nephew grew melons and guords this year, and people loved the specialty canteloupes. French orange or some such thing.

So we were going to have his cousin Emma do a video.

The farm is in Paradise Valley.

Business name: Melons of Paradise.

Emma is stacked and blonde and cute.

"Melons of Paradise.

They're firm and juicy.

And oh so tasty.

Sometimes the juice runs down my chin"; 11/28/12, 10:00 PM
XRay said...: I got way off topic. Thus, the deletions.; 11/28/12, 10:02 PM
Largo said...: I thought cherry too. One of my favorite all time television commercials was for multi-flavor pack "Life-Savers". In thirty seconds it gave five or so little vignettes of a different life saver's dissolving. The narrative for the cherry was, in a female voice, something pretty close to "I remember that time in the cottage. I thought it would last all night."

(Damn, I wish more ads from the seventies/eighties were available on you tube. Does anybody remember the Juicy Fruit ad with the pedophile clown?); 11/29/12, 3:18 AM
Largo said...: I forgot to click the email follow-up thingy.; 11/29/12, 3:19 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Inga said...

...and my pinkie finger hurts now, bah humbug!

Penny said...

We got someone here who thinks they can keep their little finger in the dyke.

Talk about your sexual metaphors...; 11/29/12, 6:18 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Inga said...

I know a lot of conservatives, I live amongst them and have them in my family, but I've never ever come across the type of conservative I've seen here on this blog comments section in real life.

That's interesting. I know a lot of liberals, I live amongst them and have them in my family, and they're all like the liberals I've seen here on this blog comments section.; 11/29/12, 6:22 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/29/12, 6:22 AM
Craig said...: http://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=goblin%20market&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F174262&ei=9nq3UOPVJY6hiAe7m4HgAg&usg=AFQjCNGwWyfnzt47ouq6dR4LkkWuQvoSsg; 11/29/12, 9:14 AM
Unknown said...: Why do I have the feeling that the men are picking Cherry and the women are picking Peach?; 11/29/12, 4:17 PM