Some were released decades after they were first written
A mix of country and hip-hop, this song generated some controversy for its discussion of racism, and its message about Southern pride, which included the Confederate flag.
Looking back to when Ice-T went metal with this band, much like N.W.A.'s police-related track, 'Cop Killer' is considered to be a protest song against police brutality.
Back in the '70s, songs about birth control were not common. So when country star Loretta Lynn came out with this track, numerous radio stations refused to play it.
This track was one of the country trio's more attention-grabbing hits. It's a story about a woman who suffers domestic abuse at the hands of her husband and gets her revenge by poisoning him.
When released in 1939, social and racial justice was at the forefront of world issues. 'Strange Fruit' protested the lynching of black people, which was quite a shock for the racist, conservative society of the time.
Mick Jagger once complained that critics didn’t even understand the dirtiest line in this song. However, it was controversial enough to cause a commotion.
In the '60s, invoking the name of God in a pop song was regarded as blasphemy. This led to some radio stations banning this Beach Boys classic.
Both 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' and 'A Day In The Life' were banned by the BBC for what were perceived as hints of illicit drug use, which the band denied.
To truly separate herself from Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus moved on with a smash hit where she sings about "Molly" and "Trying to get a line in the bathroom."
The issue of writing credits for this song was a controversy in itself, but so were the lyrics that many felt were misogynistic and suggestive of intimate coercion.
Upon its release, 'Famous' was met with both critical acclaim and scrutiny for controversial lyrics and a reference to Taylor Swift, partially in relation to West's interruption of her 2009 VMA acceptance speech.
Written by band member Peter Yarrow, and taken from a poem by Leonard Lipton, the song has a barely hidden meaning involving substance use.
No strangers to controversy, this Guns N' Roses' 1988 track made waves for some homophobic, racial, and anti-police lyrics. Axl Rose defended the song, stating it was how he felt when he first came to Hollywood from Indiana.
Eminem recruited British songstress Dido in what became one of his biggest hits. The song is about an alleged obsessed fan of the rapper, who tied up his pregnant partner, put her in the trunk of his car, and drove into a river while drunk. Graphic indeed!
Bruce Springsteen received a lot of heat for his musical portrait of the fatal NYPD police shooting of Amadou Diallo. While the song was praised by fans, the NYPD was not happy.
The queen of pop has caused plenty of controversy throughout her career, and this song is no different. Singing about teen pregnancy was quite a big deal in the 1980s.
Considered the kings of thrash metal, Slayer delivered a whole song about Nazi doctor Josef Mengele's experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Many believed this was a pro-Nazi piece, which has been denied by the band.
The first single of the British rock band is still their most controversial. Inspired by the French novel 'The Stranger' (1942), the song was highly criticized as it describes the shooting of an Arab person on a beach.
As a true punk band, the S** Pistols were all about controversy. This track suggests that Queen Elizabeth II's monarchy was a fascist regime, which caused the BBC to prohibit the song from being played in the UK. However, it still got to number five in the UK charts!
Famous for their social-political views, one of the rock band's most notable songs, 'Killing in the Name,' attacks police brutality and systemic and institutional racism.
A radio hit when it came out in 1994, 'Closer' by Nine Inch Nails is one of the band's most popular songs that had to be edited. The chorus talks about intimacy and desire.
'Lola' saw some backlash for its lyrics, where the singer mentions being confused about the gender of his love interest. The song was banned by some radio stations in both the UK and Australia.
This track by British rockers XTC caused quite a stir back in the '80s. Anti-religion themes that promoted free-thinking touched a nerve among plenty of conservatives around the world. Vocalist Andy Partridge reportedly received death threats as a result.
Sources: (Yardbarker) (uDiscoverMusic)
See also: Who remembers these one-hit wonders?
The original title for this song was 'Brown Skinned Girl,' which detailed an interracial relationship. While Van Morrison changed the lyrics to ensure radio play, many still took issue with it.
From drug references to other explicit content and verbal assaults on the authorities, some songs set out to be controversial. Others accidentally stumble into that dangerous territory. Musicians occasionally make songs to challenge beliefs or express something that shocks listeners, which can even result in the loss of fans. Dubious lyrics have also caused artists to be banned or censored on radio and TV, bringing the controversy to a new level.
Want to discover the most controversial songs of all time? Then click through the gallery.
The most controversial songs of all time
These lyrics caused quite a stir!
MUSIC Records
From drug references to other explicit content and verbal assaults on the authorities, some songs set out to be controversial. Others accidentally stumble into that dangerous territory. Musicians occasionally make songs to challenge beliefs or express something that shocks listeners, which can even result in the loss of fans. Dubious lyrics have also caused artists to be banned or censored on radio and TV, bringing the controversy to a new level.
Want to discover the most controversial songs of all time? Then click through the gallery.