# "Different Drum": Most clichés in a song ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255 "2019-06-09T14:49:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/1 "2019-06-09T14:49:42Z")
What is the world’s record for highest density of idioms or clichés in a song or poem? I nominate Linda Ronstadt’s hit song _Different Drum_. I show the first four stanzas below with clichés and idioms colored red. Can anyone top this? Don’t get me wrong. I actually love this song! 🙂 You and I travel to the beat of a different drum Oh can’t you tell by the way I run Every time you make eyes at me You cry and moan and say it will work out But honey child I’ve got my doubts You can’t see the forest for the trees Oh don’t get me wrong It’s not that I knock it It’s just that I am not in the market For a boy who wants to love only me Yes, and I ain’t saying you ain’t pretty All I’m saying is I’m not ready For any person place or thing To try and pull the reins in on me ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/2 "2019-06-09T15:14:53Z")
The thing that bugs me about that song is that, while Linda’s clearly ruling out the possibility of hooking up with the guy, she’s using a cliche that implies that they should be soulmates. You and I don’t travel to the beat of A different drum; we travel to the beats of TWO different drums. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/3 "2019-06-09T15:21:20Z")
The song was written by Michael Nesmith, before he joined the Monkees. When you’re talking about lyrics, name the writer, not the singer. You might also note that it was written for a man to sing, and Ronstadt changed girl to boy but kept the other descriptors. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/4 "2019-06-09T15:25:35Z")
I’ve got a song that’s ALL cliches: \*Golly, golly, oh my gosh Golly, golly, my, oh my Golly, golly, goodness sakes alive Can you beat that? Did you ever hear of such a thing? Oh boy, that really takes the cake! Well I never ever saw the likes of that!\* [Cite.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aEWWbh50rMI) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/5 "2019-06-09T15:26:41Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The song was written by Michael Nesmith, before he joined the Monkees. When you’re talking about lyrics, name the writer, not the singer. > > You might also note that it was written for a man to sing, and Ronstadt changed girl to boy but kept the other descriptors. My objections stand. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/6 "2019-06-09T15:35:27Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The song was written by Michael Nesmith, before he joined the Monkees. When you’re talking about lyrics, name the writer, not the singer. > > You might also note that it was written for a man to sing, and Ronstadt changed girl to boy but kept the other descriptors. she left in the “pretty” which is not normally said about men. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/7 "2019-06-09T15:46:04Z")
Hadn’t heard Different Drum before. Her singing is decent, but it sounds like the singer, the person playing the drums, and the person playing the harpsichord are all playing different songs in different styles and competing for attention. And the latter two don’t even seem like they’re trying to be musical so much as just trying to aggressively get your attention, whether you want to give it to them or not. Not the most annoying song ever, but it’s certainly going for the title. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/8 "2019-06-09T16:00:24Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Hadn’t heard Different Drum before. > > Her singing is decent, but it sounds like the singer, the person playing the drums, and the person playing the harpsichord are all playing different songs in different styles and competing for attention. And the latter two don’t even seem like they’re trying to be musical so much as just trying to aggressively get your attention, whether you want to give it to them or not. > > Not the most annoying song ever, but it’s certainly going for the title. Sorry you feel that way. I think it’s a classic and one of the songs that most say “60s” to me. I just listened to it again, and it holds up perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/9 "2019-06-09T17:05:46Z")
Joe South’s “Rose Garden” contains the immortal line: “You better look before you leap, still waters run deep.” And yes, he’s a great songwriter (though that tune isn’t one of my favorites of his.) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/10 "2019-06-09T17:10:02Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Sorry you feel that way. I think it’s a classic and one of the songs that most say “60s” to me. Just this. I didn’t even know what all the lyrics were for a long time, and didn’t care. This song is great folk rock. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/11 "2019-06-09T18:18:36Z")
Not even close. Look at “[The Babbitt and the Bromide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF8coqYjINo)” ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/12 "2019-06-09T18:27:17Z")
I remember reading a review of Billy Joel’s “Keeping the Faith” that said it was full of cliches…I guess there’s a few but I hardly think it’s “full” of them ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/13 "2019-06-09T18:34:14Z")
I can’t point out all the cliches and aphorisms in Smash Mouth’s “All Star” without breaking board policy of not quoting lyrics too extensively, so here’s a link. [https://genius.com/Smash-mouth-all-star-lyrics](https://genius.com/Smash-mouth-all-star-lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/14 "2019-06-10T01:37:20Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Hadn’t heard Different Drum before. > > Her singing is decent, but it sounds like the singer, the person playing the drums, and the person playing the harpsichord are all playing different songs in different styles and competing for attention. And the latter two don’t even seem like they’re trying to be musical so much as just trying to aggressively get your attention, whether you want to give it to them or not. > > Not the most annoying song ever, but it’s certainly going for the title. Part of that may be because when Capitol records signed the Stone Poneys to a recording contract, they did it to get Linda Rondstadt and didn’t give a damn about Bobby Kimmel or Kenny Edwards. Nick Venet, the group’s producer, isolated Rondstadt’s vocals, stripped Kimmel and Edwards off the track entirely, and used studio musicians. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/15 "2019-06-10T04:00:16Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > What is the world’s record for highest density of idioms or clichés in a song or poem? I nominate Linda Ronstadt’s hit song _Different Drum_. As long as “[A Horse With No Name](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/america/ahorsewithnoname.html)” exists, the record is safely high enough that songs like “Different Drum” are no threat. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2019, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/16 "2019-06-10T07:03:44Z")
Why not go back to [WS Gilbert,](https://www.gsarchive.net/iolanthe/web_op/iol21.html) who did it deliberately. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/17 "2019-06-10T09:32:07Z")
John Prine also did it intentionally in “It’s a Big Old Goofy World”. _Up in the morning Work like a dog Is better than sitting Like a bump on a log Mind all your manners Be quiet as a mouse Some day you’ll own a home That’s as big as a house_ [Link](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnprine/itsabigoldgoofyworld.html) to the rest of the cliches. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/18 "2019-06-10T12:02:53Z")
I loves that “Different Drum” song. The first time I heard Springsteen’s “Dancing In the Dark” on the radio, I turned it off after the first chorus: _You can’t start a fire, you can’t start a fire without a spark This gun’s for hire even if we’re just dancing in the dark_ It was just three trite phrases in a row that exhausted my patience in under 20 seconds. However, it hooked in hard after the third hearing, and I loves that “Dancing In the Dark” song. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/19 "2019-06-10T12:44:45Z")
Half of the phrases highlighted in the OP aren’t cliches or idioms, to my eye. They’re just prose. “Can’t you tell by the way I run” - It doesn’t make the most sense to me but it’s not a cliche or idiom that I’m familiar with. How can “Can’t you tell” be anything but basic English sentence structure? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255/20 "2019-06-10T12:58:55Z")
I love that song. And several of those things aren’t cliches but just regular ways of saying things. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > while Linda’s clearly ruling out the possibility of hooking up with the guy, she’s using a cliche that implies that they should be soulmates. I’m thinking you’re misinterpreting the song. She’s saying she isn’t interested in an exclusive relationship. “Hooking up” would definitely be on the table (“I ain’t saying you ain’t pretty”) if she didn’t suspect that he would want her to be monogamous (“I’m not in the market for a boy who wants to love only me”). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-drum-most-cliches-in-a-song/835255.md?page=2)