Ironically the actual words “Hey Jude refrain” come up before that
Lola
The Wreck of the Edwin Fitzgerald
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.
The Impossible Dream … by PFC Gomer Pyle
Lola has a chorus: Lola lalalala Lola lalalala Lola
Nitpick - Its Edmund, not Edwin, Fitzgerald. Its the first one that came to my mind. I always loved that tune.
In the Year 2525?
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
Laurie Anderson’s 8-and-a-half minute long O Superman 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.
“Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” was a #1 hit in the UK, and contains nothing that could be called a chorus.
Losing My Religion by R.E.M. springs to mind.
Highwayman hit number one when The Highwaymen covered it. No chorus there and four distinct verses.
I guess the metal band Disturbed just did a cover. It’s pretty epic.
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
I would say that most ballads fall into this category. Marty Robbins’ “El Paso”, Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison”, etc.
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.
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?
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)
NItpick, It’s:
Lola
L-o-l-a, Lola
Lo lo lo la, Lola
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try