Short people got no reason to live / They got little hands / And little eyes / And they walk around. Randy Newman had no qualms about opening his 1977 song “Short People” with these declarations. And that was just the beginning of his story.

“Short People” goes on to describe more shortcomings of vertically challenged individuals singing They got little hands / And little eyes / And they walk around.

Taken at face value, the lyrics “Short People,” released on Newman’s fifth album Little Criminals,came off as prejudiced against people who are short in stature. The misinterpretation of Newman’s slightly camouflaged lyrics led some radio stations to ban the song, and got Newman dubbed a bigot, but “Short People” was a more figurative look at individuals who are small-minded: Tellin’ great big lies / They got little noses.

“I was surprised by the reaction,” said Newman in 2017 of the initial controversy around the song. “Because it was a hit, the song reached people who aren’t looking for irony. For them, the words mean exactly what they say. I can imagine being a short kid in junior high school. I thought about it before I let the record get out. But I thought, ‘What the hell?’ I know what I meant. The guy in that song is crazy. He was not to be believed.”