I'm helping out a friend who is working on a lesson for teenagers about AIDS, in which she looks at the topic from different angles. She just asked me if I knew any songs about AIDS. I could only think of 'Sign of the times', in which there it is only mentioned. Any other ideas?

"I've Got Aids" by Salt N Pepa (1993)

it's actually a skit,not really a song,but there's a strong message here.Last track on their 'Very Necessary' CD.

Terence Trent D'Arby/Sananda: Billy Don't Fall

Billy was a young boy
Who's fate did decree
That he would like only other boys
So being with a boy came to him naturally
Billy was a green boy
His thoughts so naive
He wondered why he was so victimised
And his fear brought him close to me suddenly

But

Billy my friend
Don't fall in love with me
I'm not that kind of guy
But I'll stand by your side
If you need me to be

But

Billy my friend
Don't fall in love with me
Though it can't be wrong to be
To be what you are

Billy was a sick boy
His life fading to grey
He tried to grab for straws of family
But his loved ones turned young Billy away
Billy died a young man
His face to the wind
And of the things I regret the most
Was seeing how hate and fear killed a friend

But

Billy my friend
Don't fall in love with me
I'm not that kind of guy
But I'll stand by your side
If you need me to be

But

Billy my friend
Don't fall in love with me
Though it can't be wrong to be
To be what you are

Communards- For a Friend

This is such a sad, heartbreaking, beautiful song. Its about the loss of a loved one and I'm 99% sure that its about AIDS. I dont remmember what album its from, but it was released aound '88.

"In This Life" by Madonna (1992)

from her 'Erotica' album.It's a song about a close friend who passed away from AIDS.

'It couldn't happen here' pet shop boys , from 1987 cd 'actually'
and of course a segment from 'Sign o the Times' ..''in france as skinny man died from a big disease with a little name''

The Spice Girls' '2 Become 1' contains a brief safe-sex mesage...

Be a little bit wiser, baby, put it on, put it on
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one.

Justin1972UK said:

Cyndi Lauper has a song about a friend who died of AIDS (the name of the song currently escapes me (sorry).)

Reba McEntire (sp?) has one, too (again, can't recall its name.)

There’s a verse in TLC’s “Waterfalls” about HIV/AIDS (“three letters took him to his final resting place”)

“Streets Of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen

for all the conspiracy realist the last line of Sepultura's Biotech Is Godzilla

Biotech Is A.I.D.S.?

also there's the song "when a man loves a woman" by jody watley.

"when a man loves a woman he knows the reality of AIDS.
he won't bring it home to you by some other love he's made"

from the "intimacy" c.d.

"Il Adore" by Boy George is my favorite; an amazingly beautiful and sad song.

"Hold On" - Sarah McLachlan

"The Last Song" - Elton John

Several Pet Shop Boys songs, including "Dreaming of the Queen", "Being Boring" and "It Couldn't Happen Here."

"Tomorrow, Wendy" - Concrete Blonde

"You Have Been Loved" - George Michael

"Boy Blue" - Cyndi Lauper

"Hush, Hush" - Paula Cole and Peter Gabriel... absolutely beautiful and chilling song. Annie Lennox also covered it with Herbie Hancock on his recent "Possibilities" CD.

"Not the Red Baron" - Tori Amos has been interpreted as having to deal with AIDS, and I always take it that way, but I don't know if that was Tori's original intent.

those are a few that come to mind first....

MarieLouise said:

Not that sure... but I always thought "Jana" from Killing Joke to be based on it.

SOTT repeat edit
[Edited 4/3/06 8:24am]

Serious said:

I've never heard this song, but reading the lyrics just brought tears to my eyes.

What album is it from?

Not about AIDS per se, but "Together Again" by Janet is dedicated to all her friends who have passed away from AIDS/HIV. It makes me think of my godfather who had cerebral palsy every time I hear it. He's definitely my guardian angel.

There are times when I look above and beyond
There are times when I feel your love around me baby
I’ll never forget my baby

When I feel that I don’t belong
Draw my strength
From the words when you said
Hey it’s about you baby
Look deeper inside you baby

Dream about us together again
What I want is together again baby
I know we’ll be together again cuz

Everywhere I go
Every smile I see
I know you are there
Smilin back at me
Dancin in moonlight
I know you are free
Cuz I can see your star
Shinin down on me

(together again, ooh)
Good times we’ll share again
(together again, ooh)
Makes me wanna dance
(together again, ooh)
Say it loud and proud
(together again, ooh)
All my love’s for you

Always been a true angel to me
Now above
I can’t wait for you to wrap your wings around me baby
Oooh wrap them around me baby {this part always gives me chills}
Sometimes hear you whisperin
No more pain
No worries will you ever see now baby
I’m so happy for my baby

Bridge

Chorus

(together again, ooh)
Good times we’ll share again
(together again, ooh)
Ooh it makes me wanna dance
(together again, ooh)
Say it loud and proud
(together again, ooh)
All my love’s for you

There are times when I look above and beyond
There are times when I feel you smile upon me baby
I’ll never forget my baby

What I’d give just to hold you close
As on earth
In heaven we will be together baby
Together again my baby


[Edited 4/3/06 8:29am]

"I got you under my skin" Neneh Cherry

DavidEye said:

it's about Christpoher Flynn and Martin Burgoyne

Everyone has AIDS! from Team America: World Police

Ellie said:

"if it's Positive" Foley




Never thought I feel this way
I know I'm not the only one
We all feel the same inside
And I know it's just a matter of time
Yeah, it'll be alright, my friend
But it's just the way I feel!

Well, if it's positive, what a blow
I really don't think I want to know!!
Well, if it's positive, what a blow
I don't want to know!!

Got down on my knees and prayed
I'm gonna take it day by day
Still, I don't know why I did, what I did
But, still I gotta live my life
Yea, it'll be alright my friend
But it's just the way I feel!

Guess I'll live in fear, let it rule my life
But, I don't konw what else to do
Some they fight this war alone (baby)
Till they find a cure we're wasting away y¥all
I'll spend the rest of my days in fear!!

I know sometimes ya¥ll feel like u can't
DO NO WRONG
Still we're left here to DIE ALL ALONE

I know sometimes ya¥ll feel like u can't
DO NO WRONG
Still we're left here to DIE ALL ALONE

I know sometimes ya¥ll feel like u can't
DO NO WRONG
Still we're left here to DIE ALL ALONE


SPEECH :
I gotta shakey stomach
Butterflies inside
I don't know why, I don't know why
I try to live my life alright, alright
And it sho nuff felt alright last night
I admit I feel much closer to you sister
Yet I feel like I might have made a bad move
The last thing our people or the struggle needs
Is another conscious African dead of HIV
[Edited 4/3/06 10:59am]

FunkMistress said:

It is from his 1989 album "Neither Fish Nor Flesh" and was also releadsed as a single. There was a very touching video for that song as well

jillybean said:

Reba has songs about AIDS? Interesting topic for a country artist.

VinnyM27 said:

Yep, it's called 'She Thinks His Name Was John' and it's a heart wrenching story about a one night stand.

It was from her 1994 album, READ MY MIND which (if you like her/or contemporary country) is considered by many to be among her strongest albums.

This song did get a alot of attention , both positive and negative and many country radio stations would not play it. Reba in her own quiet way, managed to blaze a trail for women to sing about sensitive topics in the early to mid 90's. She had a huge hit called 'Fancy' about a girl whose mother sold her to a man to become a hooker so that she'd have more opportunity in life. It was previously sung by Bobbie Gentry back in the early 70's.

so well written:

George Michael - Spinning the wheel

Five o'clock in the morning
You ain't home
I can't help thinking that's strange
Baby, I just want you to know
I won't go through it again
Those clouds are closing in

And I will not accept this as a part of my life
I will not live in fear
Of what may be
(and the lessons I have learned)
I would rather be alone
Than watch you spinning
Spinning that wheel for me

You've got a thing about danger
Ain't you getting what you want from me?
You've got a thing about strangers
Baby, that's what we used to be
You've got a thing about danger, baby
I guess the hungry just can't see
One of these days
You're gonna bring some home to me

Six o'clock in the morning
You ain't home
I can't help thinking that's strange
Baby, it seems like everybody takes their chances
These days
Oh yeah, we're standing in the rain

And I will not accept this as a part of my life
I will not live in fear
Of what may be
(and the lessons I have learned)
I would rather be alone
Than watch you spinning
Spinning that wheel for me

How can you love me
When you are playing with my life
You say, give me time and I'll do better, I swear
Give me time, and I'll lead you
Back into despair

And I don't want to go back there

Ween - The HIV Song

Lyrics?

AIDS, AIDS, HIV, AIDS, HIV
AIDS
HIV, AIDS, HIV, AIDS, AIDS
HIV x a whole lotta times

surely not what you are searching for, Sir, but I post it anyway, here we go:

Promiscuous by Frank Zappa, Broadway The Hardway
(it's only... a little bit dated right now:)


Here we go!

The Surgeon General, Doctor Koop
S'posed to give you all the poop
But when he's with P.M.R.C.
The poop he's scoopin'
Amazes me

C-Span showed him, all dressed up
In his phoney Doctor God get-up
He looked in the camera and fixed his specs
'N gave a fascinating lecture
'Bout anal sex
ANAL SEX
ANAL SEX
ANAL SEX
ANAL SEX

He says it is not good for us
We just can't be promiscuous
He's just a doctor -- he should know
It's the work of the Devil, so
Girls, don't blow!
DON'T BLOW
DON'T BLOW

Don't blow Jimmy, don't blow Bobby
Get yourself another hobby
(If Jesus practiced medicine
I'm sure he'd do it
Just like him)

Is Doctor Koop a man to trust?
It seems at least that Reagan must
(And Ron's a trusting sort of guy --
He trusts Ed Meese
I wonder why?)
I WONDER WHY
WONDER WHY

The A.M.A. has just got caught
For doin' stuff they shouldn't ought
All they do is lie and lie
Where's Doctor Koop?
He's standin' by

Surgeon General? What's the deal?
Is your epidemic real?
Are we leaving something out?
Something we can't talk about?
A little green monkey over there
Kills a million people?
That's not fair!
Did it really go that way?
Did you ask the C.I.A.?
Would they take you serious,
Or have THEY been
Promiscuous
Have THEY been Promiscuous
Have THEY been Promiscuous
Have THEY been Promiscuous


falloff

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

I remember "Fancy" being used in an ad for chips or something. It was until recently that I heard the song and it's lyrics....crazy!

I'm surprised that Davideye didn't point out two Donna Summer songs that I have heard could have been about AIDs.

Both are from her 1987 flop, although it was a nice well rounded lite R&B pop album, titled "All Systems Go". The first song is the silly but prehaps preachy "Love Shock", a guilty pleasure piece of over producded eighties pop which talks seems to be about how falling in love is like a shock to the system but there are hints that the song is about AIDs. Another possiblty is the emotional power ballad "Voices Crying Out", which seems to be a song that speaks for those that are dying and calling out in the night.... Davideye, am I way off?

"Waterfalls" by TLC? Or was that just the video. I don't think I ever payed atrtention to the lyrics.

Also "We Don't Have to Take our Clothes Off" by Jermaine Stewert was in response to AIDS. I laughed when I read that and thought."I guess he didn't follow his own advice". Why me say that? Because he had AIDS when he died. That is all.

Tomorrow Wendy - Concrete Blonde/Andy Prieboy