# Great Songs Under 2 1/2 Minutes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855 "2008-03-18T22:44:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/41 "2008-03-20T00:52:37Z")
Since Brother **Lawoot** beat me to The Needle and the Damage Done (nice goin. bro!), I’ll resort fo some of the FZ that **Biffy** passed over… Mother People 2:26 Harry You’re a Beast PLUS What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body clock in at a combined 2:24 Pygmy Twylyte 2:13 The Dog Breath Variations 1:48 ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/42 "2008-03-20T01:12:19Z")
Misirlou (Pulp Fiction Theme) 2:30 Dick Dale & His Del-Tones O Fortuna from Carmina Burana 2:30 Orff In the Hall of the Mountain King 2:27 Edvard Grieg Sabre Dance from Gayaneh 2:20 Khachaturian [Plate Spinning Song] (I just wanna be) Free 2:16 Chicago Everybody I Love You 2:22 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young ---
**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:** [March 20, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/43 "2008-03-20T01:17:51Z")
Hawaii Five-O - Ventures (1:54) Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchel (2:14) Do Wah Diddy Diddy Do - Manfred Mann (2:22) Go Where You Wanna Go - Mamas and Papas (2:30) Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry (2:25) Kicks - Paul Revere and the Raiders (2:25) Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra (2:30) Add another ten seconds for Gloria (the Shadows version, I don’t know how long Van Morrisson’s is) I Walk the Line AND Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/44 "2008-03-20T02:49:41Z")
[QUOTE=Plynck] I Fought the Law - The Clash (2:40) and I’m guessing that the Bobby Fuller Four version isn’t much longer than that [/QUOTE] No need to guess. It’s listed in the OP as running 2:18. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/45 "2008-03-20T08:30:19Z")
I just heard two Offspring songs that I just love…short and sweet (with added bitterness!): All I Want - 1:54 Staring at the Sun - 2:13 I swear these two songs sound alot longer than the listed times. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/46 "2008-03-20T08:43:38Z")
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane 2:30 ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/47 "2008-03-20T09:00:49Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] Add another ten seconds for Gloria (the Shadows version, I don’t know how long Van Morrisson’s is) [/QUOTE] 2:38 for Gloria by Them (Van Morrison’s band) released in 1964, although his live version stretched to over four minutes. I googled it, of course, but I figured it’d be appropriate for me to submit the information. Alas, Brown Eyed Girl clocks in at just over three minutes. The Doors: 2:30 Break On Through (to the Other Side) 2:13 People Are Strange 2:16 Hello, I Love You …and a few other lesser known songs, if you’re really serious about The Doors. ---
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/48 "2008-03-20T14:31:36Z")
I gotta go for the most copied - Happy Birthday to You ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/49 "2008-03-20T21:55:31Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] No need to guess. It’s listed in the OP as running 2:18. 😃 [/QUOTE] :smack: Couldn’t have been any more obvious, could it? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/50 "2008-03-20T22:49:32Z")
2:06 La Bamba - Ritchie Valens 2:07 Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag - James Brown 2:10 Tijuana Taxi - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass 2:12 Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley 2:16 What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong 2:23 What a Wonderful World - Joey Ramone 2:20 Rock N Roll High School - The Ramones 2:21 The Green Hornet Theme - Al Hirt ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/51 "2008-03-22T17:09:51Z")
I think that before the late '60s most songs were under 2:30. For example, yet more early or early-ish great Beatles songs: “For No One” (2:01) “I Feel Fine” (2:18) “If I Fell” (2:17) “I’ll Be Back” (2:20) “I’ll Follow the Sun” (1:48) “In My Life” (2:26) and many, many more, as they say. Or my favourite song ever, Jerome Kern/Dorothy Field’s “The Way You Look Tonight” from 1936. Less than two minutes long, that one. ---
**Author:** ![noctilucent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b38774/32.png) [@noctilucent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noctilucent)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/52 "2008-03-22T20:22:03Z")
More oldies (time from my iTunes list): \* Love Potion No. 9\* - The Drifters (2:03) _Ain’t No Sunshine_ - Bill Withers (2:03) _It’s Not Unusual_ - Tom Jones (2:05) _Sweeter Than You_ - Ricky Nelson (2:08) _I Only Have Eyes for You_ - Rosemary Clooney (2:12) _Tequila_ - The Ventures (2:13) _Needles and Pins_ - The Searchers (2:14) _You Really Got Me_ - The Kinks (2:15) _Secret Agent Man_ - Johnny Rivers (2:16) _Bad Moon Rising_ - Creedence Clearwater Revival (2:19) _Son of a Preacher Man_ - Etta James (2:25) _Traveling Man_ - Ricky Nelson (2:25) _Time in a Bottle_ - Jim Croce (2:27) _King of the Road_ - Roger Miller (2:28) With another 10 seconds: _Mr Tambourine Man_ - The Byrds (2:32) _On the Road Again_ - Willie Nelson (2:33) _I Go Walking After Midnight_ - Patsy Cline (2:33) _Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps_ - Doris Day (2:34) _Ring of Fire_ - Johnny Cash (2:34) _Mambo Italiano_ - Rosemary Clooney (2:34) _Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves_ - Cher (2:36) (sorry, couldn’t resist!) _The Lion Sleeps Tonight_ - The Tokens (2:39) _Friday on My Mind_ - Easybeats (2:40) _Mas Que Nada_ - Sergion Mendes & Brasil '66 (2:40) _California Girls_ - David Lee Roth (2:40) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/53 "2008-03-22T20:35:44Z")
[_Is That Love?_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD4RKwGyOV0) - Squeeze 2:28 [_I’m on Fire_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo1npZWR5qk) - Bruce Springsteen 2:20 [_Time Bomb_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fMqJWoOjE4) - Rancid 2:29 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/54 "2008-03-22T20:42:02Z")
Top THIS: [_Teddy Bear_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhRdT6mWE9I&feature=related) Elvis Presley 1:40 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/55 "2008-03-22T21:12:12Z")
Lots of early rock ‘n’ roll qualifies: [Maybe Baby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqdlj_TMoFg) - Buddy Holly 2:05 [Everyday](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMezwtB1oCU&feature=related) - Buddy Holly 2:09 [That’ll Be the Day](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG2ZAqtcOcs&feature=related) - Buddy Holly 2:27 [Bo Diddley](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZbzzePSXl4&feature=related) - Bo Diddley 1:58 [You Never Can Tell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxOElxPD5bM) - Chuck Berry 2:17 [Maybelline](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RAfxiyMKAk&feature=related) - Chuck Berry 2:18 [Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yRdDnrB5kM) - Jerry Lee Lewis 2:00 [Great Balls of Fire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klMqBdSc7uw&feature=related) - Jerry Lee Lewis 1:50 [Tutti Frutti](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlkMc0ZaJmY) - Little Richard 2:00 [Long Tall Sally](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBTakXapwiE&feature=related) - Little Richard 2:10 [Bye Bye Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFoIdxLBm_A) - Everly Brothers 1:25 [Love Hurts](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffynuKji3RY&feature=related) - Everley Brothers 2:20 [All I Have To Do Is Dream](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGQ5gC3TpIY&feature=related) - Everley Brothers 2:18 [Rock Around the Clock](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxcgzwGJtFA&feature=related) - Bill Haley 2:14 ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/56 "2008-03-22T21:42:40Z")
I’m not sure you can count live performances (or youtube clips) as definitive for running time of a song. For instance, the Bo Diddley clip posted appears to be TV show and was apparently trimmed, but the 1958 release clocked in at 2:30. Maybe still applicable by the OP’s qualification, but just barely. Additionally, _(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear_ as released Elvis’ 1957 _Loving You_ album was actually 1:52. What exactly are the qualifications for shortest songs here? Original releases or any versions? ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/57 "2008-03-22T21:56:47Z")
[QUOTE=Dunawake] Song 2 - Blur (2:00) Best. Two Minute. Song. Ever. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Thank you for this. This song (WOOHOOO!) has been on my playlist through many revisions/additions/removals. The original release, however, on 1996’s _Summer_ is the Best. Two Minute Twenty-Six Second. Song. Ever. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/58 "2008-03-22T23:12:50Z")
Sloan - The Good in Everyone is 2:17 of perfection. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/59 "2008-03-23T01:36:02Z")
Sneaky Feelings by Elvis Costello, at 2:12, about having a crush on a married person. These great lyrics “white lies, alibis, anything but say that it’s true we could sit like lovers staring in each other’s eyes but the magic of the moment might become too much for you” combined with the most impeccably timed phrasing. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855/60 "2008-03-23T14:44:34Z")
[QUOTE=Brown Eyed Girl] I’m not sure you can count live performances (or youtube clips) as definitive for running time of a song. [/QUOTE] Several of those “live” performances are actually lip-synchs to the singles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-under-2-1-2-minutes/441855.md?page=4)