# Pop songs with unusual (or unique) words in the lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 22, 2021, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118 "2021-09-22T13:56:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/1 "2021-09-22T13:56:07Z")
The [new Billy Bragg song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n794uMfCJw) uses the word “autodidact”, which I’m gonna go out on a limb and say is the only use of the word in a popular music track (by some definition of popular music track). Does the dope agree with me on this? What other examples of this are there? Assuming “scrabble rules” (no made up words, or proper nouns) what unique words have you found in pop music lyrics? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/2 "2021-09-22T14:04:55Z")
Since “pompatus” fails the scrabble rules test, how about “Told me love was too plebeian” from [Cry Me a River](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkD_kYkRk3c). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/3 "2021-09-22T14:10:46Z")
Half the songs by Kinky Friedman. “Homo Erectus” - australopithecine “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” - ethnocentric racist “We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You” - Boruch atoh Adonoi Etc. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/4 "2021-09-22T14:11:43Z")
Our minister named her new-ish daughter Elenore, so _of course_ I have to sing a snippet of the Turtles song to her. > Elenore, gee, I think you’re swell > And you really do me well > You’re my pride and joy, **et cetera** … [Here’s a fun video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPnqE0dRhmM) the falsettos at the end are worth the price of admission. So weird to see Howard Kaylan as a normal person… I’ve mostly seen him and Mark Volman as Flo & Eddie or with Frank Zappa (so cool that they got to be Mothers!). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/5 "2021-09-22T14:12:42Z")
In Steely Dan’s “Almost Gothic”, I thought the use of the word “isotope” was unique: _I’m so excited I can barely cope_ _I’m sizzling like an isotope_ mmm ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/6 "2021-09-22T14:15:09Z")
Only Warren Zevon could work Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Tamiami into a single song. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/7 "2021-09-22T14:25:38Z")
Warren Zevon: I got a part-time job at my father’s carpet store, Laying tackless stripping and housewives by the score. I loaded up their furniture and took it to Spokane, And auctioned off every last naugahyde divan. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/8 "2021-09-22T14:28:49Z")
The first Jens Lekman song I ever heard was “Postcard to Nina”, where he’s freaking out when a lesbian friend takes him to a dinner with her (German, very Catholic) father, and he finds out she told him that Lens was her serious boyfriend. _But Nina I can’t be your boyfriend,_ _so you can stay with your girlfriend._ _Your father is emailing me all the time,_ _he says he just wants to say hi…_ _I send back **Out-Of-Office Auto-Replies**._ Ok, not a word but a phrase I was surprised to hear in a song… [and a really nice one; someone did a cute animation of it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1DaGZ9k5m4) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/9 "2021-09-22T14:31:15Z")
Eve 6 - _Inside Out_ “I would swallow my pride I would choke on the rinds **But the lack thereof** would leave me empty inside” 23 years after its release and it still makes me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/10 "2021-09-22T14:34:04Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I got a part-time job at my father’s carpet store, > Laying tackless stripping and housewives by the score. > I loaded up their furniture and took it to Spokane, > And auctioned off every last naugahyde divan. Honest question; is Spokane properly pronounced “spo kan”? I actually can’t remember if I’ve ever heard it said out loud. Either way, _naugahyde_ is a good one! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/11 "2021-09-22T14:34:28Z")
I’ve only heard it on an Australian radio station’s audio stream and can’t remember the title but there’s a pop song which references [Baby That-a-Way.](https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/1/1216/18/vintage-baby-way-doll-mattel-1974_1_5938350f25e3f8957ffd9b6efbfe0db4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/12 "2021-09-22T14:35:32Z")
If for unusual we accept archaic, Tom Waits is a goldmine. In Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets To The Wind In Copenhagen) he has the line “_And my Stacys are soaking wet_”, where I believe “Stacys” are his footwear. In the song “November” Tom pens: With my hair slicked back With carrion shellac With the blood from a pheasant And the bone from a hare Tied to the branches Of a roebuck stag Left to wave in the timber Like a buck shot flag ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/13 "2021-09-22T14:39:09Z")
The inimitable Kid Creole and the Coconuts, in their song, [“Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy,”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLf6MIdE1BE) made a refrain out of the word “onomatopoeia.” ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/14 "2021-09-22T14:46:14Z")
[quote=“WOOKINPANUBv.2, post:10, topic:951118”] Either way, _naugahyde_ is a good one![/quote] There’s naugahyde in here, too. [The Monkees - Alternate Title](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcRFT0XjQO8) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/15 "2021-09-22T14:46:51Z")
_“The first word in this song is **discorporate**. It means to leave your body.”_ – Absolutely Free by Frank Zappa ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/16 "2021-09-22T15:06:16Z")
Tom Waits in “Heart Attack And Vine”: Boney’s high on china white, Shorty found a punk. “Jockey Full Of Bourbon” has: Stazybo horn and a Slingerland ride “Singapore” has odd slang for sex: While making feet for children shoes ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (I’ll stop now, otherwise I could do this all day) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/17 "2021-09-22T15:09:51Z")
Donovan’s “Wear Your Love Like Heaven” mentions alizarin crimson which I always thought was probably a fairly rare showing of the word in a song. ---
**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 22, 2021, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/18 "2021-09-22T15:38:01Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > > > I got a part-time job at my father’s carpet store, > > Laying tackless stripping and housewives by the score. > > I loaded up their furniture and took it to Spokane, > > And auctioned off every last naugahyde divan. > > Honest question; is Spokane properly pronounced “spo kan”? I actually can’t remember if I’ve ever heard it said out loud. Either way, _naugahyde_ is a good one! According to a girl I met (and dated very briefly) who lived there, it was “spo kan.” I’ve seen that confirmed many times since then. Tom Lehrer has many examples > Bow your head with great respect, > And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect! (Especially unusual if you’re Jewish). > Universal bereavement - > An inspiring achievement! > When they see us coming > The birdies all try an’ hide > But they still go for peanuts > When coated with cyanide ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/19 "2021-09-22T15:40:18Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect! There are enough lapsed Catholics in the rock and roll business for this not be the only use of this word (I can’t think of which song but I’d be surprised if The Hold Steady don’t mention it, its a pretty common theme in their stuff along with getting wasted). ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/20 "2021-09-22T15:43:44Z")
Also the Raconteurs; [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pDtIABGdc18/hqdefault.jpg "The Raconteurs – Help Me Stranger (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDtIABGdc18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118.md?page=2)