3 Love Songs Whose Lyrics Take an Ugly Turn

1. "Ain't no Woman Like the One I Got" -- The 4 Tops


Sample lyrics:
Every day the sun comes up around her
She can make the birds sing harmony
Every drop of rain is glad it found her
Heaven must have made her just for me

Where it gets disturbing:
I would kiss the ground she walks on
'Cause it's my word, my word she'll obey!

Wait, what?
Did he just say that he expects her to obey his word? And that's what he loves about her?
Yep. That's what he said. And then goes right back to the lovey-dovey lyrics as if he hadn't just said something horrifying, like he's hoping she didn't notice.


2. "For Once in My Life" -- Stevie Wonder


Sample Lyrics:
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me
Someone I've needed so long. . .
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
That someone warm like you
Would make my dreams come true.

Where it Gets Disturbing:
For once I can say "this is mine, you can't take it"

Wait, what?
Did he really. . . not only does he claim this woman as his possession, he refers to her as "this" and "it?"



3. "I'll be Doggone" -- Marvin Gaye


Sample Lyrics:
Well, I'll be doggone if love ain't a man's best friend
And I'll be doggone if you ain't the lovin' end

Where it Gets Disturbing:
Well, every woman should try to be
Whatever her man wants her to be
And I don't want much, all I want from you
Is for you to be true to me


Wait, what?
Did Marvin really just say that all women should try to change themselves to suit the preferences of their male lovers? Does that even make any sense? Yes, he did and no, it doesn't.