Having just written a batch of new material the band got to talking about the use of swear words in songs. Is there a problem with publishing? Is there a problem with radio plays? Is there a 9.00 oclock threshold or similar. Anyone know?

I'm not talking about excessive use on a sort of pornographic level such as Hollywood Undead (you know about them, right?), more everyday street language that's used.

It's not clever and it's not big.

Swearing is very seldom necessary, and can actually restrict your fan base. You can still have "street cred" without it.

not sure of the implications re- publishing, would imaging there are none, but can't confirm.

I would say that if you don't want those anoying dubs and skips in your songs to cover the swears for radio (a la Eminem), I would just stear clear of swearing in it's entirity.

Although I do love a good swear myself. Nothing clears your head more than an hysterical swearing fit infront of assorted family.

...they appear to about to swear but don`t.
If the next generation after us lot, wants to shock with lyrics, they will have to invent new swear words.
My favourite lyric of the year, has to be Morrisey, singing ," there is no point saying this again", three time times in a row.
Far wittier than an "f" word.

None of our songs have swear words in them even though we swear in every day life. It's funny how we had managed to write without using swear words and yet we use them habitually. Mind you we wrote about drugs without ever taking anything.
But bands like Hollywood Undead have enormous street cred and I guess they would never be played on mainstream radio because more than half the lyrics are either swearing or are explicit about the describing sex act so there would be a lot of bleeping out making it unplayable. Their tunes are really good but there's no chance Terry Wogan would mistakenly play them because he misunderstood the lyrics!
It's strange that these days we are exposed to swearing on TV (before and after the watershed) and yet more than likely if there was swear words in a song it would be covered up or not played.