Factual errors in songs.

[Pingu]

I bet he didn't get there by llama from Peru.

[Slave To The Viking]

Y'know what Vanessa? I'm with you on this: sometimes the snow does come down in June.

And sometimes the Sun goes round the...hang on...say what now? No. No no no. I've checked. My little sister is an astrophysicist - years of working on the radiotelescopes at Jodrell Bank, New Mexico and whatnot, got a PhD and everything - and she says the Sun doesn't do that.

I'd back off on that one if I were you.

[Legs]

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

My father-in-law has a PhD in plant physiology and agronomy, and will inform you that every rose actually has its prickle, although it won't rhyme or scan so well, and sounds considerably less badass.

[Mr Larrington]

As noted elsethread when, in 1982, Robyn Hitchcock sang “There’s fifty two stations on the Northern Line” he was, er, wrong.  FFWD forty years and thanks to the new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea this is no longer the case

[rogerzilla]

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

My father-in-law has a PhD in plant physiology and agronomy, and will inform you that every rose actually has its prickle, although it won't rhyme or scan so well, and sounds considerably less badass.

Also, the roses sold by florists are normally thornless.  Breeding them for shape and lack of thorns also means they rarely have any fragrance.

[Legs]

The massed tangle of roses I removed from the 8m length of thick hedge I pulled out yesterday certainly wasn't prickle-less!

[arabella]

As noted elsethread when, in 1982, Robyn Hitchcock sang “There’s fifty two stations on the Northern Line” he was, er, wrong.  FFWD forty years and thanks to the new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea this is no longer the case

otoh if you include the now unused South Kentish Town (closed as a result of a problem with Lots Rd power station) and City Road (dunno) there are now 54 stations.

[Mr Larrington]

As noted elsethread when, in 1982, Robyn Hitchcock sang “There’s fifty two stations on the Northern Line” he was, er, wrong.  FFWD forty years and thanks to the new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea this is no longer the case

otoh if you include the now unused South Kentish Town (closed as a result of a problem with Lots Rd power station) and City Road (dunno) there are now 54 stations.

Mr Google, he say:

• King William Street (closed 1900)
• City Road (closed 1922)
• South Kentish Town (closed 1924)
• North End Station (never opened; work stopped 1906)

Drayton Park and Essex Road stations are still open but the Northern Line Highbury Branch ceased to be in 1975 and they're now on the National Rail notwork.

[hellymedic]

The Gershwins' "Ain't Necessarily So" from Porgy and Bess, nicely covered by Bronski Beat:

Now Jonah he lived in a whale
Jonah he lived in a whale
He made his home in
A fish's abdomen

The Bible did call it 'a big fish' thobut…

[Peter]

Factual error in factual error

That/Dat fish's abdomen

[rogerzilla]

Factual error in factual error

That/Dat fish's abdomen

Racist!  That's you cancelled 

The turgid Deacon Blue came up with some right nonsense in "Dignity":

And I'll sail her up the west coast
Through villages and towns

How does one sail through a coastal village?

[Kim]

The turgid Deacon Blue came up with some right nonsense in "Dignity":

And I'll sail her up the west coast
Through villages and towns

How does one sail through a coastal village?

There'll be a canal.  Or an inlet.  Or a fjord.

[spesh]

The turgid Deacon Blue came up with some right nonsense in "Dignity":

And I'll sail her up the west coast
Through villages and towns

How does one sail through a coastal village?

Well, if the sea is sufficiently rough...

[rogerzilla]

Maybe there's a west coast version of Dunwich.

[spesh]

Maybe there's a west coast version of Dunwich.

Don't know about Scotland, but further south, there is the Welsh legend of Cantre'r Gwaelod, a mythical city situated in what is now Cardigan Bay.

[FifeingEejit]

The turgid Deacon Blue came up with some right nonsense in "Dignity":

And I'll sail her up the west coast
Through villages and towns

How does one sail through a coastal village?

There'll be a canal.  Or an inlet.  Or a fjord.

Canals: Crinan, Caledonian
Fjords and Inlets: Take your pick starting with the Firth of Clyde!

Dunnoh if it's standard weegie or west highland usage, but Ricky is a Lochweegian.

[Slave To The Viking]

The turgid Deacon Blue

*glove slap*

You. Outside. Now.

[rogerzilla]

I remember Furniture being described as what Deacon Blue would sound like, if Deacon Blue weren't crap 

[jsabine]

I remember Furniture being described as what Deacon Blue would sound like, if Deacon Blue weren't crap 

Until I googled Furniture, I was reading it as furniture with an accidental capitalisation, and reckoned it was harsh but fair.

[Mr Larrington]

I remember Furniture being described as what Deacon Blue would sound like, if Deacon Blue weren't crap 

Until I googled Furniture, I was reading it as furniture with an accidental capitalisation, and reckoned it was harsh but fair.

You and me both!

[Legs]

The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!

No, Sufjan, I don't think your friend was 'bit' (nor even 'bitten') on the shoulder.  Much more likely to be a wasp sting, given the context.

(Beautiful song, though.)

[Legs]

New Billy Joel song

Lay is a transitive verb.  Unless you’re a chicken, Billy, I doubt that you’re laying in the darkness…

[Mr Larrington]

Makes you wonder what His Bobness was after when he implored a female person of the opposite sex to Lay Lady Lay.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Makes you wonder what His Bobness was after when he implored a female person of the opposite sex to Lay Lady Lay.

He just wanted some salt and vinegar crisps.

[Legs]

The Ballad of Billy the Kid

All of it is factually incorrect - great song, though, with a wonderful piano part...