An occasional look at the filthiest lyrics in rock and roll.Today's filthmonger: Big Joe Turner
The song: "Shake, Rattle and Roll"
The year: 1954
The filth: After imploring his woman to get out of bed and make some noise with the pots and pans, then admonishing her for wearing dresses so sheer as to allow the sun to come shining through ("I can't believe all that mess belongs to you"), Big Joe imparts this . . . well, I guess it's a simile:
"Like a one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store / I can look at you till you ain't no child no more."
Ponder it. Gets dirtier and dirtier the more you think about it.
As you might expect, Bill Haley bowdlerized most of the lyrics when he recorded his own version – but he left the “one-eyed cat” line alone! Maybe he figured it would sail right over the heads of his listeners. Or maybe Bill didn’t catch on to it himself.
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