# Clever (and not so clever) rhymes in songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588 "2016-08-12T18:49:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/101 "2016-08-16T22:25:46Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > It’s hard to beat Dylan rhyming skull and capital in “Idiot Wind.” In “Hurricane” he rhymed two syllables in the same word. _“We want to put his ass in stir We want to pin this triple **MUR** **DUR** on him…”_ ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/102 "2016-08-17T01:13:16Z")
My vote for worst rhyme in a popular song goes to ELP’s “Still You Turn Me On,” which had the deathless line: _Every day a little sadder A little madder Someone get me a ladder_ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/103 "2016-08-17T01:24:58Z")
Anybody want a peanut? ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/104 "2016-08-21T16:08:27Z")
Just found this one, the P.T 109 song! Here’s the first verse. The rest isn’t any better. _In ‘43 they put to sea, thirteen men and Kennedy Aboard the P.T. 109, to fight the brazen enemy And off the isle of ol’ Lusana, in the strait beyond Nehru A Jap deatroyer in the night cut the '109 in two_ ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/105 "2016-08-21T17:54:22Z")
Louis Jordan’s 1940’s hit **Choo Choo Ch’Boogie** has about 20 lines, all of which rhyme with -ack. Track, mack, shack, knack, pack, back…worked out the rhyming dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/106 "2016-08-21T18:04:11Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Louis Jordan’s 1940’s hit **Choo Choo Ch’Boogie** has about 20 lines, all of which rhyme with -ack. > > Track, mack, shack, knack, pack, back…worked out the rhyming dictionary. I’ve always loved this song and it’s amazing the sense Smokey brings to all these rhyming couplets: Since I lost my baby. (Since I lost my baby.) Oh, since I lost my baby. (Oh, since I lost my baby.) Next time I’ll be kinder (Next time I’ll be kinder) Won’t you please help me find her (Won’t you please help me find her) Someone just remind her (Someone just remind her) Of this love she left behind her (Of this love she left behind her) Till I find her I’ll be trying ta (Till I find her I’ll be trying ta) Everyday I’m more inclined ta Find her Inclined ta Find her Inclined ta find my baby Been looking everywhere (ba–by) Baby, I really, really care! ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/107 "2016-08-21T23:03:47Z")
No mention of this yet? \*On the first part of the journey I was looking at all the life There were plants and birds and rocks and things There was sand and hills and rings … \* Inspiring, no? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/108 "2016-08-23T06:11:21Z")
How about the first 2 lines of the theme song of _The Nanny_? “She was working in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens When her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/109 "2016-08-23T13:29:06Z")
Tom Lehrer has been mentioned a few times, but I don’t see my favorite “clever” rhyme of his: > [@](#): > > So be sweet and kind to mother, > Now and then have a chat. > Buy her candy or some flowers or a brand new hat. > But maybe you had better let it go at that! > > Or you may find yourself with a quite complex complex, > And you may end up like Oedipus. > (I’d rather marry a duck-billed platypus), > Than end up like old Oedipus Rex. Hard to find a rhyme for “Oedipus”. He’s to be congratulated. On the “bad rhyme” side, there are the covers of Joni Mitchell’s 1970 song _Big Yellow Taxi_ (“Pave Paradise, put up a parking lot”). My beef is with the lines: > [@](#): > > They took all the trees > And put them in a tree museum > Then they charged the people > A dollar and a half just to see 'em Lots of people have changed the lines over the years, mostly to up the admission price on account of inflation. But a recent version\* changes the last line to “…just to see them”, which ruins the _museum/see 'em_ rhyme. Drives me nuts every time I hear it. \*(Counting Crows? I thought it was Kid Rock but I can’t find anything that says he recorded it) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/110 "2016-08-23T13:41:03Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Lots of people have changed the lines over the years, mostly to up the admission price on account of inflation. But a recent version\* changes the last line to “…just to see them”, which ruins the _museum/see 'em_ rhyme. Drives me nuts every time I hear it. Similarly, I’ve heard versions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” that change “do ya” to “do you”, which ruins the rhyme. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/111 "2016-08-23T14:31:13Z")
_shrug_ I actually like the softened rhyme versions of both. The “do ya?” always bugged the crap out of me in Hallelujah. I’m sure I’m in the vast minority on that one, but it always sounded corny and forced to me, instead of colloquial (which I assume is how it’s supposed to sound.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/112 "2016-08-23T16:40:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > _shrug_ I actually like the softened rhyme versions of both. The “do ya?” always bugged the crap out of me in Hallelujah. I’m sure I’m in the vast minority on that one, but it always sounded corny and forced to me, instead of colloquial (which I assume is how it’s supposed to sound.) Huh. Apparently even Leonard Cohen changed it from [“do ya” to “do you”](http://www.leonardcohenforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14339) at some point. ETA: [Audio example of Cohen performing it in 2009 with “yous” instead of “yas.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q). Much better. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/113 "2016-08-23T16:41:49Z")
I don’t know who wrote it. Barry McGuire sang it. The entire song is a tortured cringeworthy rhyming mess: Yeah, my blood’s so mad, feels like coagulatin’, I’m sittin’ here, just contemplatin’, I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation, handful of Senators don’t pass legislation, and marches alone can’t bring integration, when human respect is disintegratin’, this whole crazy world is just too frustratin’, and you tell me over and over and over again my friend, ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/114 "2016-08-24T03:37:41Z")
_My analyst told me that I was outta my head He said I need treatment, but I’m not that easily led He said I’m the type that was most inclined when out of his sight to be out of my mind He thought I was nuts No more if or ands or buts_ “Twisted,” which I first heard during the opening of **Deconstructing Harry** ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/115 "2016-08-25T13:29:30Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Under “not so clever”, we must, of course, mention Steve Miller’s “Take the Money and Run”: > > Billy Mack is a detective down in Texas > You know he knows just exactly what the facts is > He ain’t gonna let those two escape justice > He makes his livin’ off of the people’s taxes Mr. Miller really outdid himself later on in his career… Abra…abracadabra I wanna reach out and grab ya ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/116 "2016-08-25T13:47:37Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > I don’t know who wrote it. Barry McGuire sang it. The entire song is a tortured cringeworthy rhyming mess: Eve of Destruction by 1960’s songwriter P. F. Sloan. [The 2013 Tony Awards opening number](http://www.playbill.com/article/the-tony-awards-are-bigger-tom-kitt-and-lin-manuel-mirandas-opening-song-com-206404), written by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, won an Emmy. And has yet to be stopped by any awards show song ever. The fabulous Matildas awed And nearly killed us so they got a special Tony of their own, Which strikes at the achilles of the jaded former Billys. They win Tonys but get fired when they’re grown. Now here’s the kids from Christmas Story, Annie and her orphans So many child actors high on Red Bull and endorphins. They barely come up to your knees. But God they’re singing like MVPs. And they’re the reason this whole season seems to look like Chuck. E. Cheese and jeez it’s bigger. That’s right it’s bigger. Is there a Tony Day Care where all of you go? You’re getting bigger. Tonight it’s bigger. So do your parents set aside your Broadway dough? When I played Doogie… never mind on with the show. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/117 "2016-08-25T13:52:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yes. Known as an “identity rhyme” in formal prosody. I happen to like that one, as it uses two very different meanings of the word “masses,” from two different roots. Sheryl Crow, on the other hand, opens one of her songs by rhyming “RV” with “TV” before ending it by rhyming “on” with “on”. _“Got my 45 on / So I can rock on.”_ ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/118 "2016-08-25T13:53:19Z")
Another vote for Tom Lehrer: As the judge remarked the day that he Sentenced my aunt Hortense, To be smut, It must be ut- Terly without redeeming social importance. And no mention of Cole Porter? In shallow shoals English soles do it Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it Not forgetting [Noel Coward’s update](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9aLNZoy1bs): ---
**Author:** ![jrbor76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@jrbor76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrbor76)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/119 "2016-08-25T23:43:18Z")
“They’ll say ‘Aw, Topsy’ / at my _auuu_-topsy…” ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-not-so-clever-rhymes-in-songs/762588/120 "2016-08-26T00:30:47Z")
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