# Everybody knows the song as "Title X" but it's really called "Title Y" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949 "2008-03-03T19:22:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/61 "2008-03-04T15:32:20Z")
[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig] Neither Stephen Foster nor George Gershwin wrote a song called _Swanee River_. Foster wrote _Old Folks at Home_, and Gershwin _Swanee_. [/QUOTE] Minor nitpick, and not with you, but with the composers: it’s actually spelled “Suwannee.” Foster’s song is immortalized on a sign as you pass over the river on I-10, depicting the musical notation for “way down upon the Swanee river,” although it doesn’t misspell the lyric or the river name. I wonder if either of them had ever been down here… ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/62 "2008-03-04T16:13:26Z")
[QUOTE=Peak Banana] Schubert’s “Ave Maria” is actually [Ellens dritter Gesang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellens_dritter_Gesang). Bet you didn’t know _that!_ [/QUOTE] I did know that. I hate it when people sing it as the Latin “Ave Maria” (actually, in my Schubert edition, I believe it’s titled “Ave Maria: Ellens dritter Gesang”). Not only is it not what Schubert wrote, but it doesn’t work. Those are some torturous word rhythms. Since someone mentioned a classical piece: Beethoven’s _Moonlight Sonata_ is actually _Sonata number 14 in c-sharp minor “Quasi una fantasia”, opus 27, no 2, first movement_. Beethoven had nothing to do with the _Moonlight_ stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/63 "2008-03-04T16:29:36Z")
[QUOTE=Cerowyn] > [@Fiver](#): > > The Wang Chung song best known as “Everybody Wang Chung Tonight” or just “Everybody Wang Chung” is really “Everybody Have Fun.” Actually, it’s [Everybody Have Fun Tonight](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:jpfwxzqaldde). [/QUOTE] Well, there you go. ---
**Author:** ![muzzynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@muzzynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muzzynyc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/64 "2008-03-04T18:40:30Z")
Michael Penn’s only radio hit was called “No Myth” but the record company made him add a parenthetical so that the masses could find/buy the song. It was released as “No Myth (Romeo in Black Jeans)” ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/65 "2008-03-04T18:43:53Z")
[QUOTE=Lucky 13] It’s Romanian. I’ve also heard this song called “Ma Ya Hi”. [/QUOTE] Ah, thanks. I couldn’t remember what language it was. Ma Ya Hi makes more sense than Numa Numa to me! ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/66 "2008-03-04T18:59:01Z")
[QUOTE=dwc1970] My other question is, why do bands assign non-intuitive names like this to their songs? [/QUOTE] So the true fans can spot the poseurs. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/67 "2008-03-04T19:04:13Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] The Clash went with “Train in Vain” just so it wouldn’t be confused with the earlier classic “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. [/QUOTE] According to Mick Jones, the title was also an homage to the Robert Johnson song _Love in Vain_. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/68 "2008-03-04T19:08:37Z")
Drum-rich, **The Hey Song** , often heard during sporting events (especially in the US) is a Gary Glitter work actually titled **Rock and Roll, Part II**. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/69 "2008-03-04T19:10:18Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] This long thread without a mention of Grand Funk Railroad’s [Closer to My Home](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/g/grand+funk+railroad/im+your+captain_20062096.html) actual title of “I’m Your Captain” [/QUOTE] Actually its Closer to Home on the original 45, I’m Your Captain on the original [LP](http://cgi.ebay.com/GRAND-FUNK-RR-Closer-To-Home-FIRST-PRESS-SKAO-471_W0QQitemZ250218580116QQihZ015QQcategoryZ306QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) and IIRC I’m Your Captain (Closer tho Home) on the reissue CD so even they don’t know what the songs called. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/70 "2008-03-04T19:18:14Z")
I would swear I had a 45 that said “Closer to Home” but can’t find web based proof, maybe I’m misremembering- if so, my apologies. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/71 "2008-03-04T19:29:24Z")
Your memory is fine. I have the 45, “Closer To Home” and the LP with “I’m Your Captain.” I have several GFR CDs where it is titled one or the other, depending on which version it is. I’d have to check to see if any name it both titles. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/72 "2008-03-04T19:39:05Z")
I don’t know if this counts or not, but a number of foreign-language songs were retitled when they were released in the United States. Las Ketchup’s song _Aserejé_ was retitled “The Ketchup Song,” and the Japanese song _Ue O Muite Aruko_ (I Look Up When I Walk) was retitled “Sukiyaki,” which Newsweek commented was akin to retitling _Moon River_ “Beef Stew.” (The new title had nothing to do with the song- it was just a Japanese word English-speaking audiences were likely to recognize.) ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/73 "2008-03-04T19:43:50Z")
“Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd is often called “Dark Side of the Moon”, just like the album. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/74 "2008-03-04T19:53:45Z")
The Moody Blues “Legend of the Mind,” is often known as “Timothy Leary’s Dead.” Similarly “Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)” is better known as “Tuesday Afternoon.” The Allman Brother’s “Midnight Rider,” is sometimes referred to as “One More Silver Dollar.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/75 "2008-03-04T19:58:38Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] The Allman Brother’s “Midnight Rider,” is sometimes referred to as “One More Silver Dollar.” [/QUOTE] Seriously? I’ve never heard that one - but I’ve heard Melissa called “Sweet Melissa” and Dreams called “Dreams I’ll Never See.” The latter is the title Molly Hatchet used when they butchered the song. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/76 "2008-03-04T19:59:41Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Similarly “Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)” is better known as “Tuesday Afternoon.” [/QUOTE] My copy of the 45 had Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon) on the label. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/77 "2008-03-04T20:01:55Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Similarly “Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)” is better known as “Tuesday Afternoon.” [/QUOTE] That’s the same situation as the Grand Funk one. The popular title, “Tuesday Afternoon,” is what appeared on the 45, while the more oddball title was listed on the album. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/78 "2008-03-04T20:38:12Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] He must’ve really been tying them on, since the popular misconception of that title is “Stand By Me (or not at all)”. And supposedly, The Clash went with “Train in Vain” just so it wouldn’t be confused with the earlier classic “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. [/QUOTE] Perhaps he was thinking of the opening line, which includes the words “stand by your man.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/79 "2008-03-04T20:42:49Z")
“The Star Spangled Banner” was titled “The Defense of Ft. McHenry” by the author. A newspaperman later changed the title. (I don’t care if it is windy, I’m still spittin’.) ---
**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:** [March 4, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949/80 "2008-03-04T22:15:14Z")
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme may win the thread. Even people who remember that it’s really “Scarborough Fair” get it wrong. The correct name is “Scarborough Fair/Canticle,” Canticle being the antiwar counterpoint that Paul Simon wrote and sings under Artie’s version of the folk song. I don’t think I’ve ever heard even a dj give the full name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everybody-knows-the-song-as-title-x-but-its-really-called-title-y/439949.md?page=5)