# Pop/rock songs with unusual meters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052 "2005-04-13T00:21:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/81 "2005-04-15T03:37:18Z")
[Lamb’s Fear of Fours](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000JNMT/103-0087512-2417420?v=glance) is a whole album of music with odd metering. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/82 "2005-04-15T11:33:22Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I figured as much. But I was hoping someone might be able to chime in with the actual meter. Anyone? I always heard it/counted it (“Tattooed Love Boys” by the Pretenders) as being in 15/8. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/83 "2005-04-15T15:17:31Z")
The title themes to the TV shows _Mission Impossible_ and _Mannix_ were in 5/4. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/84 "2005-04-15T15:31:57Z")
What are the time signatures of _Fool in the Rain_ by Led Zeppelin, _Who Are You?_ by The Who, and _Chuck E’s in Love_ by Rickie Lee Jones? ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/85 "2005-04-15T15:41:05Z")
Pink Floyd “Mother” is listed to be played “Moderately with half-time feel” which basically works out to “screw meter.” But it’s funny to watch an attempt to impose meter upon it. My songbook has (just for the first verse alone): 5/8 for 1 measure 4/4 for the next 4 5/8 one more 4/4 the next 8 6/8 for the last measure 4/4 for the two measures building up to the next verse The first chorus: 4/4 for the first measure of the chorus 12/8 for five measures 9/8 one measure 12/8 for four more 4/4 into the solo Of course, the entire “The Wall” album should be mentioned in this thread, though. “Mother” is just the biggest example. ---
**Author:** ![MizQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@MizQuirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizQuirk)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/86 "2005-04-15T16:38:12Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > My songbook has (just for the first verse alone): > > 5/8 for 1 measure > 4/4 for the next 4 > 5/8 one more > 4/4 the next 8 > 6/8 for the last measure > 4/4 for the two measures building up to the next verse > > The first chorus: > > 4/4 for the first measure of the chorus > 12/8 for five measures > 9/8 one measure > 12/8 for four more > 4/4 into the solo > > Of course, the entire “The Wall” album should be mentioned in this thread, though. “Mother” is just the biggest example. Sounds like an interesting song book. If you don’t mind looking, does it happen to list Bruce Hornsby’s “Tango King”? ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/87 "2005-04-18T01:47:58Z")
Here are some by Frank Zappa: _Keep it Greasy_ alternates between 19/16 and 21/ _]G Spot Tornado_ is in 17/8 _Pedro’s Dowry_ (I’m not sure if the sugnature, but it is rumored to have over 1000 notes into just two mesures) _Rubber Shirt_ is in 11/4 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/88 "2005-04-18T07:03:34Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I believe Soundgarden’s big single “Outshined” was in 7/4. According to one site I found, the same is true of Spoonman, which was an even bigger hit. 😉 Although I’m less sure of that one, I have trouble counting along with that song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052.md?page=4)