Welcome to the archived messages from In The 00s. This archive stretches back to 1998 in some instances, and contains a nearly complete record of all the messages posted to inthe00s.com. You will also find an archive of the messages from inthe70s.com, inthe80s.com, inthe90s.com and amiright.com before they were combined to form the inthe00s.com messageboard.
If you are looking for the active messages, please click here. Otherwise, use the links below or on the right hand side of the page to navigate the archives.
Subject: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
Madonna's 1986 hit "Papa Don't Preach" sounds like it's an anti-abortion message when you just listen to the song. But if you watch the video, the "baby" is not a literal baby but instead this hunky mechanic guy that she fell in love with. That's the baby she's telling her daddy she is going to keep.
So which is it? And what have you always believed that song was about? Just listening to the song, it's so damn misleading.
Subject: Re: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
As far as I can see... I'd like to guess that the "daddy" refers to the name that she actually gives her father. I think she's referring to a teenage pregnancy. View the use of the words "Papa" and "daddy", how these are the names the young give their father. I also heard from somewhere it was about a hated boyfriend. I don't think this is the same, though.
Subject: Re: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
Quoting:
As far as I can see... I'd like to guess that the "daddy" refers to the name that she actually gives her father. I think she's referring to a teenage pregnancy. View the use of the words "Papa" and "daddy", how these are the names the young give their father. I also heard from somewhere it was about a hated boyfriend. I don't think this is the same, though.
End Quote
I must admit, this was they way I always interpreted it too...
But I was too busy looking at her thinking this was the only clip where I thought she was attractive.... :P :-[
Subject: Re: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
I think the key lyric to the song is "We're in an awful mess, and I don't mean maybe". The song is about teen pregnancy and her desire to stay with her man, who has promised to marry her. Note one of the other lines in the song is:
"My friends keep telling me to give it up/I'm way too young/I should live it up".
This would more than likely NOT apply to a boyfriend!
Subject: Re: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
There is also the line
"He says he wants to marry me/and we could raise a little family"
It is about a pregnant teen telling her dad what she is going to do about it.
Subject: Re: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
Quoting:
I think the key lyric to the song is "We're in an awful mess, and I don't mean maybe". The song is about teen pregnancy and her desire to stay with her man, who has promised to marry her. Note one of the other lines in the song is:
"My friends keep telling me to give it up/I'm way too young/I should live it up".
This would more than likely NOT apply to a boyfriend!
End Quote
Great point. I didn't put the two together. So it was about teen pregnancy afterall.
Subject: Re: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
Maybe both! Pregnant to a guy her dad doesn't like.
Subject: It was about her keeping her baby :)
it says it in the lyrics ;D
Subject: Re: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
I've always been confused by this song myself, and these points here don't convince me. Maybe it is both like the other poster said. ???
Subject: Re: What was "Papa Don't Preach" really about?
The most popular theory was that "Papa Don't Preach" was about a teen mother who decides to keep her baby rather than an abortion or giving it up for adoption. In fact, NOW (National Organization of Women, or as Rush Limbaugh calls it NOLW or NO Liberal W.), Planned Parenthood, and the abortion rights camp wanted Madonna to record an alternate version where she has the baby aborted. I, personally, am glad she didn't do it.