Neil Gaiman in conversatie met zijn dochter. Ik zie het met Zelie ook nog gebeuren:
Great conversations of our time, with Maddy age 8. Today — Swearing, in Songs.
She was wandering around singing the Future Bible Heroes “Vampire” song this evening. Then she stopped, mid-line and said, “You know, there’s swearing in that song. Is it okay for me to sing it?”
I blinked. “There’s swearing in it?”
“Yes. It goes… (whispers) ‘swear’, (sings) I am what I am what I am, and I am impossibly glam…”
“Er. ‘Swear’?”
“Yes….(half-whispers, confidentially) ‘Damn’.”
“Oh. Damn. Right. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“And it also has (half whispers) bitch in it too. (Raps)I am the bitch-goddess from beyond your grave.”
“Again, I wouldn’t worry about it, and I don’t think bitch in that context is swearing anyway. I mean the word means female dog.”
“Like the shitzu in ‘Fido your leash is too long’ which kind of sounds like ‘shit’?”
“Er. Right. Sort of like that. Anyway, it’s nice to hear you singing, and I’m absolutely not worried about the swearing in Stephin Merritt songs.”
“Oh good. Then I’m not either. (sings, lustily) How fucking romantic, all the stars are out…”