Comments: 10

• Donna Halper, Friendly Media Historian from Boston, MaWell, I never expected to do an analysis of "Sweet Cream Ladies," but since I was a college radio deejay back then and I probably played it, and since I'm a second-wave feminist, here goes: Yup, the song is about prostitution, but I didn't take the lyrics negatively. As I interpreted it, the singer was saying these women should be proud of who they are and what they do. They help the "lost and lonely people of the night" and they give the men some moments of joy. ("Sweet Cream Ladies" is not a slang name for prostitutes; rather, "sweet cream" is the euphemism here-- referring to the sweetness of the sexual experience, perhaps.) The lyrics say that these women are performing an important service-- they "satisfy the ego of the male" and even guys who can't perform can have a positive experience because the ladies "fabricate success for those who fail." The line about keeping a simple fellow out of jail-- it's not about rape, but rather, it reflected the common belief in that era that men who were sexually frustrated might be more likely to commit crimes, so if you keep the guy satisfied, he'll feel better and society will benefit. The song also points out the hypocrisy of that society: the men who are their customers and "seek direction in the night" (seek a good experience and sexual release) will then "refuse to recognize you in the light"-- few men, then or now, would admit to using a prostitute. It was still a culture where conventional sex (missionary position) was the norm and women were not supposed to enjoy it. And the singer is remarking on this, suggesting that those who want to demonize these women are missing the point ("tell the socialites to look the other way"), because the "sweet cream ladies" are actually doing a good thing and they should not be penalized for it (Why "should penalties pursue them"?). I certainly can see how the song was controversial in its time, and yes, it presupposes that men are incapable of controlling their sexual urges. But it was simply saying that prostitution was as old as time, so why be shocked about it? And why demean the women who are sex workers? Why not let them "forward march" and take some credit for what they do?
• Royce from ChicagoAgree with Fred in California. Implication is prostitutes keep guys who can’t control themselves from raping someone. Sheesh. I wonder if when this was originally sung, if women took a collective step backwards? This song is the worst. Completely oblivious to the plight of young women and men who often come from childhood abuse and who become the property of pimps who use them as commodities. Completely ignorant perspective on a social issue and adding the “forward march” implies a duty -to be used and dehumanized. Wow.
• Fred from CaliforniaAlthough the song is absolutely about prostitution, I don't think anyone in the real world has ever used the term “sweet cream ladies” as slang for hookers - at least not in the United States. The closest I've heard anyone come is the familiar term “ladies of the night”.
  
  And what is with the bizarre line “They might keep a simple fellow out of jail” ?
  Actually, soliciting a prostitute can get you two years in prison in states like Texas.
  The line sounds almost as if it's saying that if that “simple fellow” couldn't hire a hooker, he would rape a woman.
  
  The reality is that most “johns” are older, white, married men with high incomes whose main motivation for hiring a hooker isn't desperation, but is rather to have sex with a younger woman, and/or to experiment with a new kink.
• Bruce Hutchins from FloridaI remember this song from back in the day but had forgotten it - very catchy tune and melody. Alexa teed it up when i was listening to the Boxtops. Never knew the whole title, just Sweet Cream Ladies - the Forward March part just somehow tickles my fancy no end! now I cant get the song out of my head. Love the 1 - 2 - 4 - 5 progression! The Boxtops were great - everyone still does Give Me A Ticket..., and should do Expessway, imo.
• Xanax from BrisbaneAnyone else born in 2000s but still listen to this song?
• The David from Phoenix (tempe) AzNice insight. Always love to know the backstory and about the people (writers, produces)
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 22nd 1968, "Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March" by the Box Tops entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89; and eight weeks later on February 16th, 1969 it peaked at #28 {for 1 week} and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
  It reached #16 on the Canadian RPM Singles chart...
  Between 1967 and 1970 the Memphis area quintet had ten Top 100 records; with two reaching the Top 10, "The Letter" {#1 for 4 weeks on September 17th,1967} and "Cry Like a Baby" {#2* for 2 weeks on April 28th ,1968}...
  * The two weeks that "Cry Like a Baby" was at #2, the #1 record for both those weeks was "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro.
• Reg from Kemptville, OnI've never known what this song is about. But I've never thought about it before today when I saw the title. That gave me pause for thought.
  In 1968 I was only 10 and didn't give it any thought.
• Guy from Woodinville, WaI like this little song back in the day. Even at 14, I had a preetty good idea what it was about. Looked it up on iTunes and downloaded it 40 years later.
• Bob from Southfield, MiI remember when this song came out in 1968. The local AM radio stations pretty much banned it from airplay because of the topic.

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