# Popular songs that are waltzes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449 "2007-09-25T17:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/41 "2007-09-26T07:23:23Z")
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, _Mr. Bojangles_ ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/42 "2007-09-26T11:43:01Z")
Like a Rolling Stone was originally a waltz. One of the Dylan anthologies has a recording of a demo in waltz time. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/43 "2007-09-26T12:54:04Z")
“Someday My Prince Will Come.” For an additional challenge, use a Miles Davis version. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/44 "2007-09-26T16:23:55Z")
Try the cover of Manic Depression off the Stone Free album. Seal and Jeff Beck. Little slower pacing. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/45 "2007-09-26T16:27:40Z")
\*Innocent when You Dream \* by \*\*Tom Waits \*\* is a waltz if I recall correctly. Beautiful song too. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/46 "2007-09-26T17:27:40Z")
**2000 Miles** by **The Pretenders** **Norwegian Wood** , **You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away** and **She’s Leaving Home** - **The Beatles** **Cattle Call** by **Eddy Arnold** has been used in a lot of movie soundtracks. You’d likely recognize it if you heard it. (It has a memorable yodeling introduction.) **Dreaming My Dreams With You** by **Waylon Jennings** (later covered by the **Cowboy Junkies** ) **Hollywood Waltz** by **The Eagles** **The Pogues** have several: **Navigator** **A Pair of Brown Eyes** **I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day** **The Band Played Waltzing Matilda** **Philadelphia Lawyer** - **Woody Guthrie** ( **Willie Nelson** did a nice cover a while back.) There is a long tradition of waltzes in country music. **Dwight Yoakam** has produced many fine waltzes, such as: **You’re the One One More Name Traveler’s Lantern Lucky That Way** (but this one is…very…slow…) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/47 "2007-09-26T17:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=Tool of the Conspiracy] “Tennessee Waltz” by Hem (popularized by Patti Page) [/QUOTE] I first knew this song as done by Manfred Mann on _Pretty Flamingo_ (one of the first albums I ever owned). Their version is in 4/4 time. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/48 "2007-09-26T17:56:22Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] I first knew this song as done by Manfred Mann on _Pretty Flamingo_ (one of the first albums I ever owned). Their version is in 4/4 time. [/QUOTE] I read this post and went 😕 How is it even possible to do the song in 4/4 time? But then I listened to a snippet at Amazon, and sure enough, you’re right. I guess Manfred Mann didn’t quite grasp the concept. ---
**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 26, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/49 "2007-09-26T18:03:06Z")
“Christmas Don’t Be Late” aka “The Chipmunk Song”, Billboard #1 Single in 1958. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/50 "2007-09-26T18:11:10Z")
We’re all in the Dance by Feist from the soundtrack Paris Je Tiem ---
**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 26, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/51 "2007-09-26T18:14:31Z")
“Tubular Bells” is 3/4, IIRC. The _Exorcist_ soundtrack version should be perfect for Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/52 "2007-09-26T19:39:42Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] “Tubular Bells” is 3/4, IIRC. [/QUOTE] Assuming you mean the opening theme (the “Exorcist” music), it’s actually in a compound meter that adds up to 30/8 (7+7+7+9/8). I think you may be hearing those 7s as a “limping” 3/4 (one-and-two-and-three-and-a). ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/53 "2007-09-26T19:42:51Z")
Hmm. Nobody’s mentioned \*_The Star Spangled Banner_ . By “popular” do you mean well-known? ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/54 "2007-09-26T19:53:04Z")
I sort of meant songs from within pop culture, but what I was really getting at was songs that I was likely to already have. It’s also fun to be able to pull songs from odd groups that no one would assume would ever do a waltz. **Jimmy Eat World** that I mentioned earlier is a sort of punkish, maybe slightly emo band that’s still around, with lots of loud guitars and lead singer that’s not very melodic, so it’s a lot of fun to bring out a waltz from them. Likewise, I’ve just discovered that _Sad Songs and Waltzes_ by **Cake** is also a waltz. But I’m quite willing to try almost anything that anyone in here suggests. I’m quite entertained that _The Star Spangled Banner_ is a waltz, and I’ll try that as soon as I can find a recording. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/55 "2007-09-26T20:12:23Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] “Christmas Don’t Be Late” aka “The Chipmunk Song”, Billboard #1 Single in 1958. [/QUOTE] A cherish the vision of a rehearsal hall of dance students waltzing to this. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/56 "2007-09-26T20:44:49Z")
Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” is in some multiple of three over something. (I’m pretty sure it starts in 6/8; it may change in the middle, but it is still waltzable) if you have that lying around. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/57 "2007-09-26T21:47:19Z")
_Pretty Maids All In A Row_ by **The Eagles** , too. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/58 "2007-09-26T21:55:46Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” is in some multiple of three over something. (I’m pretty sure it starts in 6/8; it may change in the middle, but it is still waltzable) if you have that lying around. [/QUOTE] Even the heavier part with the distorted gutiar solo is in 6/8. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/59 "2007-09-26T22:00:45Z")
The Beatles, **Baby’s in Black** ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449/60 "2007-09-26T22:17:14Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] Like a Rolling Stone was originally a waltz. One of the Dylan anthologies has a recording of a demo in waltz time. [/QUOTE] Waltzes are sometimes hard to sing. On the Beatles Anthology album, John tries to sing “I’ll Be Back” in 3/4 time but gives up in the sing and the final version is in 4/4 time. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-are-waltzes/420449.md?page=4)