On the dangers of censorship

[anteros_lmc]

Yesterday esmerelda_t took some time out from sorting out Glasgow's zombie problem so we could go for a mooch around the second hand bookshops in the West End. I was very restrained and didn't buy any more naval history tomes but I couldn't resist this odd little book published in 1929 in New York which warns of the dangers of censorship. Allow me to present: Mother Goose Rhymes Censored. The book begins with the following dedication:

To THE CENSORS
who have taught us how
to read naughty meanings
into harmless words

Heaven forbid that anyone around here would read naughty meanings into harmless words!

There is also a lovely little rhyme on the back cover which reads:

Now if you would a censor be,
Strike out the word - leave fancy free.

And the book also provides the useful instruction "in reading aloud it is most convenient to pronounce the blanked our words u-m-m-m-h."




I particularly love the sarcastic little comments at the bottom of each rhyme :)

Comments

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Those are great.

I'm thinking of a couple of songs currently or lately on country radio. In one, the guys says something about having such great luck and finding a girl who likes to... fish.

In another from a couple years back he's singing about his mother-loving truck that's always lovin' breaking down. Don't think "loving" is the word that really fits there.
Dave

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Or the one that goes: "Shave and a haircut, two bits.I like girls with big feet."

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

ROFL! Definitely a couple of tracks for the censors there! ;)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I had to read that comment twice to find the typo! XD

Think I should kick off a Hornblower Censored Challenge? How about this from Hornblower and the Atropos?

“Life was a succession of xxxxx that had to be swallowed”

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Titter titter titter. We used to sing "Two little boys had two little "bleeps"..."

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

That definitely requires censoring ;)

See comment to volgivagant above. Hornblower Censored Challenge? Hmn? How about this from Mr Hether in The Duel?

"So whose pretty arse did you xxxx xxxx to find yourself among the fleet's forgotten?"

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Given your record with filthy limericks that doesn't surprise me in the slightest! XD

[essayel.livejournal.com]

My father used to sing that accompanying himself at appropriate moments with a bulb horn.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

One can have a lot of fun with a blue pencil and a book of nursery rhymes.

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I thought of one for Hornblower censored. In Mutiny: "Yes she loves a stiff xxxx"

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Wine -> keyboard!!!! Touché m'dear!

Right. That's it. I am definitely going to kick off a Hornblower Censored Challenge on following_sea tomorrow XD

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I hesitate to ask what a bulb horn is....

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

....and a filthy mind ;)

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Oh snort!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

One of these, as used by Harpo Marx.

:D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

LMAO!! Brilliant! I will launch the following_sea Hornblower Censored Challenge later in the week and will cross post your and eglantine_br's filthyfabulous examples for inspiration XD

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Your father was clearly a very accomplished gentleman!

[rum-inspector.livejournal.com]

OH Bobby and Charley...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I think Bobby and Charley are having quite a time! ;)