# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/41 "2021-09-22T18:28:09Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > This is certainly the only use of this element of Greek mythos in pop music, and one of the few references to any part of Classical culture. You youngsters. What about Cream’s “Tales of Brave Ulysses” and its references to the Odyssey? The song was once as famous as anything from The Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/42 "2021-09-22T18:45:27Z")
From **I Am The Walrus** : Eggman Semolina (coarse wheat middling) Pilchard (an oily fish like a sardine) Yellow matter custard ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/43 "2021-09-22T18:48:49Z")
There’s always the immortal “Give him a lonely heart like Pagliacci / And lots of wavy hair like Liberace!” ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/44 "2021-09-22T18:52:47Z")
They Might be Giants probably have a ton of of these. From “Birdhouse in Your Soul”: “So the room must listen to me / Filibuster vigilantly” The song also mentions Argonauts, but I guess that a proper noun and thus fails the Scrabble test. ---
**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, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/45 "2021-09-22T18:56:58Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > There’s always the immortal “Give him a lonely heart like Pagliacci / And lots of wavy hair like Liberace!” And "_Just like Pagliacci did_ _I try to keep my surface hid"_ from T **ears of a Clown.** It took me years to understand who / what they were talking about in that line ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/46 "2021-09-22T18:59:24Z")
The first that came to mind is from Bob Dylan’s “Ballad Of A Thin Man”: _You have many contacts among the lumberjacks_ _To get you facts when someone attacks your imagination_ _But nobody has any respect, anyway they already expect you to all give a check_ _To tax-deductible charity organizations_ I think the only time that “tax-deductible” was used in a pop song. The other is Mike Nesmith’s " Propinquity (I’ve Just Begun to Care)". I first learned the word “propinquity” there. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/X6NYFkzv71E/maxresdefault.jpg "Propinquity (I've Just Begun to Care)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6NYFkzv71E) ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/47 "2021-09-22T19:13:31Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > The Police’s “Wrapped Around Your Finger” starts with the lyrics: Also by The Police, "Don’t Stand So Close To Me "refers to “that book by Nabokov”. (Sting was a former teacher). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/48 "2021-09-22T19:18:29Z")
“Another Day” by The Rutles features a rare instance of “pusillanimous.” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/49 "2021-09-22T19:41:39Z")
Remember the OP is looking for “Scrabble rules” words - no names, no capital letters. So no Greek gods. Another one that comes to mind is Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know?” _'Cause there’s this tune I found_ _That makes me think of you somehow an’ I play it on repeat_ _Until I fall asleep, spillin’ drinks on my **settee** _ ---
**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, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/50 "2021-09-22T19:44:41Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Another one that comes to mind is Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know?” > > _'Cause there’s this tune I found_ > _That makes me think of you somehow an’ I play it on repeat_ > _Until I fall asleep, spillin’ drinks on my **settee** _ That’s not too unusual in the UK (its pretty common synonym for sofa). E.g. Carter USM: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qd9HoEmIBWg/hqdefault.jpg "Carter USM, Nowhere Fast") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd9HoEmIBWg) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/51 "2021-09-22T19:45:07Z")
“Return of the Giant Hogweed” by Genesis manages to work the scientific name of the plant into the lyrics: _Heracleum mantegazzianum_ ---
**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, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/52 "2021-09-22T19:54:37Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > > [@garygnu](#): > > > > There’s always the immortal “Give him a lonely heart like Pagliacci / And lots of wavy hair like Liberace!” > > And > " _Just like Pagliacci did_ > _I try to keep my surface hid"_ > from T **ears of a Clown.** > > It took me years to understand who / what they were talking about in that line Pop music refers to Pagliacci all the time. Consider “[I’m Afraid the Masquerade is Over](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g9FOgh5V2M)”. > I Guess I’ll Have To Play Pagliacci And Get Myself A Clown’s Disguise > And Learn To Laugh Like Pagliacci With Tears In My Eyes ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/53 "2021-09-22T20:02:13Z")
I was going to suggest They Might Be Giants’ “Hate the Villanelle,” which not only contains the word “villanelle” (an ancient French poetic form), but is, in fact, a villanelle. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/54 "2021-09-22T20:03:52Z")
> [@its\_the\_daddy](#): > > Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. > > Sorry! Well, if you’re going to do that, I’ll offer **screever**. I’ll let Bert explain. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8fHppd_KtP4/maxresdefault.jpg "Mary Poppins - Chim Chim Cheree [HD]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fHppd_KtP4) But I really came here to ask, has any other popular song used the word **quipsters**? > They say, Candy is dandy but liquor makes quipsters [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/P0F45-Fyl2E/maxresdefault.jpg "The Power of Positive Drinking") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0F45-Fyl2E) j ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/55 "2021-09-22T20:09:46Z")
Speaking of Disney films, “Friend Like Me” from _Aladdin_ has **nabob** , **baklava** , and **chargé d’affaires**. ---
**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, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/56 "2021-09-22T20:12:59Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Todd Rundgren had a whole song about onomatopoeia (complete with sound effects!) Don McClean, too. McClean also performed “On the Amazon” with plenty of unusual words: > On the Amazon, the prophylactics prowl > On the Amazon, the hypodermics howl > On the Amazon, you’ll hear a scarab scowl and sting > Zodiacs on the wing > All the stalactites and vicious vertebrae > Hunt the stalagmites while laryngitis slay > All that parasites that come from Paraguay in the spring [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SBsC8uQ-tgs/hqdefault.jpg "On The Amazon - Don McLean") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBsC8uQ-tgs) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/57 "2021-09-22T20:19:56Z")
More They Might be Giants – “Mammal” > So the warm blood flows > With the red blood cells lacking nuclei > Through the large four-chambered heart > Maintaining the very high metabolism rate they have ETA: Another TMBG song, “James K Polk”. That’s an odd subject for a pop song in and of itself, albeit a proper noun. But you can pretty much take your pick of unusual words for a pop song. How many other songs mention abolitionists, oratory, tariffs, manifest destiny, etc? ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/58 "2021-09-22T22:07:58Z")
Red one’s _The Witch Queen of New Orleans_ has gris gris and tana leaves. Boney M’s _Rasputin_ has kazachok. Queensryche’s _Empire_ has an entire spoken bit: In fiscal year 1986 to '87, local, state and federal governments spent a combined total of 16.6 billion dollars on law enforcement. Federal law enforcement expenditures ranked last in absolute dollars and accounted for only 6% of all federal spending. By way of comparison, the federal government spent 24 million more on space exploration, and 43 times more on national defense and international relations, than law enforcement ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/59 "2021-09-22T22:16:39Z")
Rapure by Blondie: Back to back Sacroiliac Spineless Movement And a wild attack ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118/60 "2021-09-22T22:37:22Z")
Neil Peart was a creative songwriter for Rush, often evoking mythology and history. In _Xanadu_, he talks about “Kubla Khan” (Kublai Khan), the river “Alph”, and “honeydew” (all in one song!): _To stand within the Pleasure Dome_ _Decreed by Kubla Khan_ _To taste anew the fruits of life_ _The last immortal man_ _To find the sacred river Alph_ _To walk the caves of ice_ _Oh, I will dine on honeydew_ _And drink the milk of Paradise_ I am sure there are many other unusual and rare words in Rush’s lyrics (_Cygnus X-1_), but I will have to post more later. Also, Pat Benatar mentioned a “meteorite” in _All Fired Up_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-unusual-or-unique-words-in-the-lyrics/951118.md?page=4)