# Hit singles with no chorus **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 11, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641 "2015-09-11T02:50:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/21 "2015-09-11T15:11:47Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Would it be accurate to say that “Hey Jude” saves the refrain for the end of the song? Ironically the actual words “Hey Jude refrain” come up before that ---
**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:** [September 11, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/22 "2015-09-11T15:50:13Z")
Lola The Wreck of the Edwin Fitzgerald ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/23 "2015-09-11T16:03:57Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I would say a good portion of the Beatles’ output, off the top of my head I’d say the vast majority, does not have a traditional “chorus,” but rather some kind of melodic hook like “Love Me Do.” But that depends on what one’s definition of a chorus is. A lot of Beatles songs have repeating lyrical content at the last few measures of a verse, for instance, but don’t have the typical 8 bars versse/8 bars chorus (or whatever the length is) that is common to most pop songs. I absolutely agree. Exceptions include, say, “With a Little Help From my Friends,” where the title hook is essentially repeated three times each go-around, making it a full-fledged chorus/refrain. ---
**Author:** ![SUZ\_MAC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@SUZ\_MAC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SUZ_MAC)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/24 "2015-09-11T17:19:02Z")
The Impossible Dream … by PFC Gomer Pyle ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/25 "2015-09-11T17:21:55Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Lola > The Wreck of the Edwin Fitzgerald Lola has a chorus: Lola lalalala Lola lalalala Lola ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/26 "2015-09-11T17:24:26Z")
Nitpick - Its Edmund, not Edwin, Fitzgerald. Its the first one that came to my mind. I always loved that tune. In the Year 2525? ---
**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:** [September 11, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/27 "2015-09-11T17:58:33Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > Ironically the actual words “Hey Jude refrain” come up before that 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/28 "2015-09-11T20:13:54Z")
Sticking just to songs that reached #1 on the Billboard Charts: “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals “(Oh) Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel “Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry “Annie’s Song” by John Denver ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/29 "2015-09-11T21:35:40Z")
Laurie Anderson’s 8-and-a-half minute long [_O Superman_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hhm0NHhCBg) reached number 2 in the UK chart in 1981, somewhat inexplicably. There’s no chorus, or bridge, or well anything. There is a hook, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/30 "2015-09-11T21:38:52Z")
“Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” was a #1 hit in the UK, and contains nothing that could be called a chorus. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Why\_Bother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Doctor\_Why\_Bother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Why_Bother)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/31 "2015-09-11T21:42:44Z")
Losing My Religion by R.E.M. springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/32 "2015-09-11T22:00:35Z")
Highwayman hit number one when The Highwaymen covered it. No chorus there and four distinct verses. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/33 "2015-09-11T22:24:18Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > _Sound of Silence_ Simon and Garfunkel I guess the metal band Disturbed just did a cover. It’s pretty epic. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/34 "2015-09-11T22:49:59Z")
There are some songs whose chorus are instrumental, say “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty. I would say “Lola” by the Kinks and “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne have choruses. Now to answer the question, these are the songs that come to mind. By the way there is an old thread with this same subject, but I won’t cheat. “Fields of Gold” by Sting- for sure no chorus “No Rain” by Blind Melon “Friday I’m In Love” by the Cure “Hello I Love You”-The Doors Don’t Stop Believin’-Journey “Bittersweet Symphony” Verve “I’m The One”-Gerry and the Pacemakers. Now some could consider these the Cure and Doors songs to be ONLY A CHORUS, or no chorus. But this is the question of the thread, and so I included them. And the already included “Love Me Do” by the Beatles. “Ninety-Nine Luftballoons” Nena ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/35 "2015-09-11T22:57:37Z")
I would say that most ballads fall into this category. Marty Robbins’ “El Paso”, Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/36 "2015-09-11T23:11:12Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > I guess the metal band Disturbed just did a cover. It’s pretty epic. I usually don’t like cover songs but that is pretty cool. They showed respect for the original while making it their own. i don’t know if I’m explaining that right. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/37 "2015-09-11T23:24:43Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I would say that most ballads fall into this category. Marty Robbins’ “El Paso”, Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison”, etc. Also by Johnny Cash (via Shel Silverstein), _A Boy Named Sue_ … OK, umm, let’s see … comes, jumps, and springs are already covered, so pounces to mind? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/38 "2015-09-11T23:35:39Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > “Bittersweet Symphony” Verve No change, I can change I can change, I can change But I’m here in my mold I am here in my mold But I’m a million different people from one day to the next I can’t change my mold No, no, no, no, no repeated 3 times lyrics: [here](No change, I can change I can change, I can change But I’m here in my mold I am here in my mold But I’m a million different people from one day to the next I can’t change my mold No, no, no, no, no) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/39 "2015-09-12T00:02:48Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Lola has a chorus: Lola lalalala Lola lalalala Lola NItpick, It’s: Lola L-o-l-a, Lola Lo lo lo la, Lola ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641/40 "2015-09-12T00:17:51Z")
> [@Doctor\_Why\_Bother](#): > > Losing My Religion by R.E.M. springs to mind. I thought that I heard you laughing I thought that I heard you sing I think I thought I saw you try [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-singles-with-no-chorus/730641.md?page=3)