The top ten: Worst rhyming couplets in pop songs In the course of praising Spandau Ballet, Patrick Hennessy, the political editor of 'The Sunday Telegraph', mentioned the first couplet on this list as a "contender for the worst of all time." I thought that a little broad, not wanting to bring Shakespeare or, worse, Milton into it. So I decided to keep it to popular music after 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'. She used to be a diplomat/ But now she's down the Laundromat. Spandau Ballet, "Highly Strung." Generals gathered in their masses/ Just like witches at black masses. Black Sabbath, "War Pigs." As Martyn Jackson says, "Rightfully been the subject of ridicule over the years, even from die-hard rock fans." To buy a drink that is so much more reasonable/ I think I'll go there when it gets seasonable. New Order, "Sooner Than You Think." Thanks to Warren Peace. I smoked my first cigarette at 10/ And for girls, I had a bad yen. The Animals, "When I was Young." Thanks to Roger Stevenson. Never been a fake and I'm never phony/ I got more flavour than a packet of macaroni. Bomb the Bass, sampled by the Prodigy, nominated by Mark Lott and Christopher Parkman. With a Smith & Wesson 38/ John Lennon's life was no longer a debate. The Cranberries, "I Just Shot John Lennon," nominated by Michael Deacon. Sip a glass of cold champagne wine/ The rug that we lie on feels divine. Nominated by Simmy Richman, who says it is "made more irritating by being in a song I rather like": Omar's "There's Nothing Like This." We spent the night in 'Frisco/ At every kind of disco. The Jacksons, "Blame it on the Boogie." Thanks to Andy Derya. I guess I'm something of a ne'er-do-well/ Even though that's something I could never do well. The Decemberists, "Oceanside." Abra, abra-cadabra/ I want to reach out and grab ya. Steve Miller Band, "Abracadabra." Thanks to Leyla Sanai. Next week: Words that ought to be used more often. Coming soon: Unsung villains: historical figures who don't get nearly as bad a press as they should. Send suggestions (by Tuesday 30 July), and ideas for future Top 10s, to top10@independent.co.uk