Where The Sun Don't Shine

Album: Don't Laugh Now (1982)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Where the title phrase for this song originated is arguable, but in 1976 it was popularized by the character of Engelberg, the overweight catcher in the movie The Bad News Bears, who hurled the idle threat, "How'd you like me to stick this bat where the sun never shines?" at a rival player.

    Songwriter Randy Sharp doesn't remember where he heard it first, but says it was co-writer Joe Nixon's idea to use it in a song. "That phrase was going around, and he brought it to us, and everyone was feeling goofy that day, and it's like, 'If we don't write this somebody else is going to.' So it was one of those days, we were just hanging out and laughing, and you look up and the day is gone, and you look down and you've got a whole song written. So we demoed it and sent it around, and that's really the whole story to that one. It was just about being silly, and figuring out ways to use that phrase that were entertaining."
  • Ray Stevens has made a name for himself as a genius goofball entertainer, owning the music charts with hits like "The Streak" and "Gitarzan." The Ray Stevens that Randy Sharp knows is actually just a regular guy, though; he saves the wild persona for his stage performances. Randy remembers how he and Stevens wound up teaming up for several projects: "I was in California then, as I am now, and he would come out and visit his friend Doug Gilmore. This was in the '70s. Doug had an operation set up in his guesthouse where I was working, and that's where I first met Ray. And I would play him a bunch of songs. And he would then take tapes of those songs, and he wound up cutting five or six of my things over the years. So, once beyond the exchange of just becoming friends and me playing things for him, it was pretty much in his hands as far as production and all that." (Read more in our interview with Randy Sharp.)
  • Another possible inspiration for the title could be the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Flo (Diane Ladd) and her boss, Mel (Vic Tayback), get into an argument, and she uses this expression to tell him off, "You can kiss me where the sun don't shine!" >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - Delmont, PA

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.