# Anybody want to play 20 questions? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 8, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757 "2009-05-08T16:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/161 "2009-05-12T03:05:03Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Does a Simon and Garfunkel song reference any of the lyrics? 1. I don’t think so, couldn’t find anything…but then I’m not a Simon and Garfunkel expert. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/162 "2009-05-12T03:12:12Z")
Is the composer well-known for things other than songwriting? ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/163 "2009-05-12T03:17:23Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is the composer well-known for things other than songwriting? 1. There is no known composer (it being “traditional”) so, no. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/164 "2009-05-12T03:59:44Z")
Is it a nationalistic song? ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/165 "2009-05-12T04:00:44Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Is it a nationalistic song? 1. No ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/166 "2009-05-12T04:14:33Z")
Is it a song that’s normally sung at or around a particular day, like a holiday or birthday and whatnot? ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/167 "2009-05-12T04:19:54Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Is it a song that’s normally sung at or around a particular day, like a holiday or birthday and whatnot? 1. No ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/168 "2009-05-12T04:31:55Z")
A song that’s: 1. Most likely British 2. Not classical 3. Written around 1400, maybe even earlier 4. Has lyrics 5. Not religious 6. Not a children’s song 7. Has been recorded by several artists 8. Traditional with no known composer 9. Not nationalistic 10. Not sung in connection with any particular day ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/169 "2009-05-12T04:39:47Z")
Yes, pretty much. Hints: it’s known as a British (English) folk song, and has been performed and recorded by well-known British, Irish and American acts. The lyrics mention clay. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/170 "2009-05-12T12:14:43Z")
Is it a song sung by British soldiers? ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/171 "2009-05-12T12:45:01Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is it a song sung by British soldiers? 14: I’ve never heard of it being associated with the military, or of soldiers singing it while marching so…no. Hint: It is NOT upbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/172 "2009-05-12T12:54:05Z")
Hint: it’s a love song, but one that would be called pervy and wrong nowadays. Come on, it’s too freakin’ easy now! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/173 "2009-05-12T13:01:48Z")
Huh. So far, I’m baffled. Is it a comic song? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/174 "2009-05-12T15:28:23Z")
_I Like Little Gilrs_ by Oingo Boingo 😉 No … they don’t sing about clay. I wonder if it’s more or less obvious than Alben Barkley. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/175 "2009-05-12T15:34:20Z")
I figured it was a love song because there’s pretty much no categories left that would be sung by currently well known artists. However, I can think of no songs by current artists that go back to the 15th C, except Christmas carols, religious songs, and perhaps national anthem type songs. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/176 "2009-05-12T15:36:12Z")
I’ll guess Greensleeves ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/177 "2009-05-12T16:17:40Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > I’ll guess Greensleeves I think it is too, it was actually the point of my Simon and Garfunkle question. (scarborough fair) as I thought that “Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme” was an allusion to Greensleeves. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/178 "2009-05-12T16:25:37Z")
I was thinking of “Greensleeves” with my question about the composer being well-known for things other than songwriting; King Henry VIII is sometimes credited with writing it. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/179 "2009-05-12T16:31:14Z")
Feel free to start a new one. If Greensleeves is wrong, we’ll play both. ETA: I was thinking Greenleeves early on, but I gathered from Wiki, perhaps erroneously, that it was written later than 1400, and I, perhaps erroneously again, associated that song with Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/180 "2009-05-12T16:44:02Z")
Greensleeves melody is the same as “What child is This?” xmas carol. Amber appears to be out of pocket, With you permission i’ll start another one. I’ll be online most of the day. I am thinking of **a person:** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757.md?page=10)