# Let's give a shout out to all the great lyricists both past and present. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235 "2005-09-30T18:42:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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 30, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/1 "2005-09-30T18:42:36Z")
One of the best examples of the great songwriting I’m talking about is the Crash Test Dummies Mmm Mmm Mmm with the great chorus: _Mmm Mmm Mmm_ And who can forget Howard Jone’s touching words in Things Can Only Get Better: _Whoa whoa whoa Whoa whoa Whoawhoawhao_ Let us not leave out the master pop tune creators, The Beatles: _Na na na nananana Nananana, hey Jude_ You can tell The Beatles were masters because they have actual words! What are your favorite songs ('cause I actuall like all these songs) in which it seems the writer just ran out of words? ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/2 "2005-09-30T18:59:48Z")
A couple of centuries before the Crash Test Dummies, there was Emanuel Schikaneder, who wrote “Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm!” for Papageno in Mozart’s “Magic Flute”. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/3 "2005-09-30T19:13:26Z")
Thomas Morley. Commonly referred to as one of the greatest composers of his time, whose works were, for the most part, vastly improved by removing the words. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/4 "2005-09-30T19:16:19Z")
Simon & Garfunkel had some good ones, IIRC. In “The Only Living Boy in New York,” there’s: “Da-n-da-da-n-da-n-da-da and here I am.” In “Mrs. Robinson,” don’t they “Do-do-do-do-do-do-do, da-da-da-da-da” through one whole verse? ---
**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 30, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/5 "2005-09-30T19:31:43Z")
**De do do do De da da da** Is all I want to say to you. Na na Na na na na Na na na Na na na na na –surely you recognize this from “Centerfold” by the J. Geils Band ---
**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 30, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/6 "2005-09-30T19:34:30Z")
Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom ba ba bom ba ba bom ba ba dang a dang dang Ba ba ding a dong ding Blue moon moon blue moon dip di dip di dip Moo Moo Moo Blue moon dip di dip di dip Moo Moo Moo Blue moon dip di dip di dip Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom ba ba bom ba ba bom ba ba dang a dang dang Ba ba ding a dong ding Who was that man? I want to shake his hand! ---
**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 30, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/7 "2005-09-30T19:36:12Z")
Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom Blue moon, moon, moon, moon, moon Di, Di, Di, Di, Di, moon, moon, moon, blue moon Di, Di, Di, Di,Di Who was that man? I want to shake his hand! ---
**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 30, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/8 "2005-09-30T19:37:31Z")
**De do do do De da da da** Is all I want to say to you. Na na Na na na na Na na na Na na na na na –surely you recognize this from “Centerfold” by the J. Geils Band ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/9 "2005-09-30T19:45:19Z")
Let’s not forget the brilliant “Tequila.” WHOOPS! Didn’t mean to post the entire lyrics to the song. I know that’s a no-no. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/10 "2005-09-30T20:35:17Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Let’s not forget the brilliant “Tequila.” > > WHOOPS! Didn’t mean to post the entire lyrics to the song. I know that’s a no-no. Yeah, you should have done Wipe Out. :smack: Or that German group with: Da da da ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/11 "2005-09-30T20:41:29Z")
I once counted the number of "Yeah"s on the album _Second Coming_ but Stone Roses. At least 70 IIRC. (I think the exact number is 73.) They sing “yeah yeah yeah” on nearly every song on that album it seems. And don’t get me started on Fountains of Wayne 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/12 "2005-09-30T20:43:02Z")
How can you forget “Good Morning, Starshine”, from _Hair_? Biddy diddy middy, ba do ba ba, iddy blah blah blah. (It was freakin’ hilarious when they sang this on the Simpsons.) ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/13 "2005-09-30T20:46:47Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > One of the best examples of the great songwriting I’m talking about is the Crash Test Dummies Mmm Mmm Mmm with the great chorus: > _Mmm Mmm Mmm_ > > And who can forget Howard Jone’s touching words in Things Can Only Get Better: > _Whoa whoa whoa > Whoa whoa > Whoawhoawhao_ > > Let us not leave out the master pop tune creators, The Beatles: > _Na na na nananana > Nananana, hey Jude_ > > You can tell The Beatles were masters because they have actual words! > > What are your favorite songs ('cause I actuall like all these songs) in which it seems the writer just ran out of words? i can’t believe no ones listed Lie-dee-die Lie-dee-die-die-die-dee-die Lie-dee-die Lie-dee-die-die-die-dee-die-die-dee-die-die-die ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/14 "2005-09-30T20:48:58Z")
Doo wah diddy, diddy dum diddy doo. (I mean, there she was! Just walking down the street singing it.) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/15 "2005-09-30T20:54:20Z")
[del]but[/del] by ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/16 "2005-09-30T20:54:27Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > How can you forget “Good Morning, Starshine”, from _Hair_? > > Biddy diddy middy, ba do ba ba, iddy blah blah blah. > > (It was freakin’ hilarious when they sang this on the Simpsons.) actually it’s gibby glop glooby (last word of song title sung in background) nibby nobby newby la la la lo lo sabba sibby sabba newby ahba nahba ni ni no no dooby ooby wanna dooby amma namma (then real 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:** [September 30, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/17 "2005-09-30T20:54:53Z")
I say-a na, nananana, nananana, nananana, no no no, nana, nah, nana, nah, nana no, nananana! ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/18 "2005-09-30T20:57:19Z")
Dammit, **kunilou,** I came in here _expressly_ to mention Wilson Pickett! Ya beat me by one post. Hidey hidey hidey hey. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/19 "2005-09-30T21:06:38Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Yeah, you should have done Wipe Out. :smack: > > Or that German group with: > > Da da da Do you mean the group “trio” ? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/20 "2005-09-30T21:25:17Z")
Simple Minds _Don’t You Forget About Me_: “I say la … la la la la … la la la la … la la la la la la la la la la” Duran Duran _Reflex_ “Why-yi-yi-yi … w-w … why-yi-yi … yeah” Suzanne Vega _Tom’s Diner_ “Dut dut du du … dut du du du … dut du du du du du du du” Debbie (Deborah) Gibson _Only in My Dreams_ “Ah … ah-ah … Ah … ah-ah” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235.md?page=2)