In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Here's something to think about
Where would we be now without
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Makes me want to scream and shout
Life would be so dull without
Nasty habits, nasty habits
All those naughty little things
That we don't discuss publicly
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Tell me your secrets, tell me your name
Tell me your secrets
Does it please you to employ
Little girls or little boys
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Do you like to romp and play
By yourself when they're away
Nasty affair what do I care
Do you peek at magazines
Filled with doggies and leather queens
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Tell me your secrets that no one should hear
Whisper them softly into my ear
I won't tell, I won't tell
People act so proper when they're going 'bout their business
Cup of coffee, friendly conversation
'Til they get home
'Til they get home
Turn the phone off, lock the door and shut the curtains
Make sure that the neighbors are without suspicion
No one will know
No one will know
Nasty habits I must condone
No one knows what I do when I'm all alone
Nasty habits I'm so ashamed
Nasty habits here to stay
Now they'll never go away
Try and stop you'll have to pay
Nasty habits are here to stay
People act so proper when they're going 'bout their business
Cup of coffee, friendly conversation
'Til they get home
'Til they get home
Take the phone off, lock the door and shut the curtains
Make sure that the neighbors are without suspicion
No one will know
No one will know
Nasty habits I must condone
No one knows what I do when I'm all alone
Nasty habits I'm so ashamed
But we must not let that stop our little game
Nasty habits are so much fun
Nasty habits here to stay
Now they'll never go away
Try and stop you'll have to pay
Nasty habits are here to stay
Where would we be now without
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Makes me want to scream and shout
Life would be so dull without
Nasty habits, nasty habits
All those naughty little things
That we don't discuss publicly
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Tell me your secrets, tell me your name
Tell me your secrets
Does it please you to employ
Little girls or little boys
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Do you like to romp and play
By yourself when they're away
Nasty affair what do I care
Do you peek at magazines
Filled with doggies and leather queens
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Tell me your secrets that no one should hear
Whisper them softly into my ear
I won't tell, I won't tell
People act so proper when they're going 'bout their business
Cup of coffee, friendly conversation
'Til they get home
'Til they get home
Turn the phone off, lock the door and shut the curtains
Make sure that the neighbors are without suspicion
No one will know
No one will know
Nasty habits I must condone
No one knows what I do when I'm all alone
Nasty habits I'm so ashamed
Nasty habits here to stay
Now they'll never go away
Try and stop you'll have to pay
Nasty habits are here to stay
People act so proper when they're going 'bout their business
Cup of coffee, friendly conversation
'Til they get home
'Til they get home
Take the phone off, lock the door and shut the curtains
Make sure that the neighbors are without suspicion
No one will know
No one will know
Nasty habits I must condone
No one knows what I do when I'm all alone
Nasty habits I'm so ashamed
But we must not let that stop our little game
Nasty habits are so much fun
Nasty habits here to stay
Now they'll never go away
Try and stop you'll have to pay
Nasty habits are here to stay
Lyrics submitted by r0cketbabyd0ll
Nasty Habits Lyrics as written by Danny Elfman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think he's talking about general sexual kinks, solo or otherwise. ("Does it please you to employ little girls or little boys?") Specifically, he talks about people who perform them and then never mention it again outside their homes or even bedrooms.
I have to agree with MrsO426, the song seems to me that he's making fun of society's taboo about certain things. I think Danny Elfman thinks its silly how people have to go well out of their way to keep their "nasty habit" a secret, so that no one will know or get any pre-conceived notions of what kind of person they are because of their kinks and fetishes.
I also always thought it celebrated nasty habits, how people shouldn't be ashamed of what turns them on because of what society "thinks" is appropriate.
Jerkin' it.
I think he is mocking society and how it makes everything taboo (particularly our "nasty habits"). People shouldn't have to keep everything a secret. Everyone has their own kinks and habits.
"Nasty habits I must condone No one knows what I do when I'm all alone Nasty habits I'm so ashamed But we must not let that stop our little game Nasty habits are so much fun"
hell yeah
The bits about little boys and girls wouldn't pass the FBI or CIA today, it tells you things like that were going on in 1980 and now you get to prison for many of these nasty habits. I think we are returning to some form of the 1950s. Can't wait for the 80s revival, not happened yet.
That song could have been made by Zappa.
eww......oingo boingo always confuses me. i love and admire most of their work but then they have stuff like this. i cant tell what he's trying to get across here. is he just proudly announcing he masterbates and other people do too or is he downtalking "nasty habits"? i hope he's not just announcing what he does alone. i think masturbation is disturbing and dishonorable. at least when porn is involved.
yay now i'm gonna get flamed