Letter: Confusion over two lyrical noses

Sir: Academic interpretation of pop is so obviously 'academic'. Graham Finch's letter (25 January) points to the Stevie Wonder hit 'Uptight', and black slang. The BBC may not have realised the meaning, but in the late Thirties/early Forties there was a hit song called 'Hold Tight'. The words went: 'Hold tight] Hold tight] Buriacky Saki. Want some seafood momma] Fish and rice they're very nice.'

In black slang, 'seafood' was sex. I believe the BBC eventually suspected something 'dirty' and banned it from the 'wireless', but nice old lady trios went on singing it in Cadena tearooms as if it was something to do with a taste for food.

Yours faithfully,

PETER G. HEWITT

Cambridge

25 January