# Quick, sing something else: songs that get stuck in your head **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132 "2004-10-02T01:37:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/41 "2004-10-04T05:59:36Z")
**JayElle** : Thanks for not being annoyed by my nitpicky-ness. 🙂 > [@bobkitty](#): > > The most consistent offender has been **1985**. YES! I had that song stuck in my head _all morning_…grrr… :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/42 "2004-10-04T14:02:34Z")
And no one gets infected by The Tokens, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” except me? Inconceivable! ---
**Author:** ![ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZombiesAteMyBrain)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/43 "2004-10-04T15:53:29Z")
One of the things that I hate about Christmas is the canned music in the shops - they **always** play “The little Drummer Boy” and it **always** gets stuck in my head for days. Arrrggghhhh!!! ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/44 "2004-10-04T16:18:20Z")
The one song that got me for a whole summer was “Mama Said” (I think that’s the title). "Mama said there’ll be days like this, there’ll be days likes this Mama said (Mama Said Mama Said!) Grr. There’s an article on the BBC about these things called [“Earworms”](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3221499.stm) or “cognitive/brain itch”. > [@](#): > > “A cognitive itch is a kind of metaphor that explains how these songs get stuck in our head,” Professor Kellaris told BBC World Service’s Outlook programme. > > "Certain songs have properties that are analogous to histamines that make our brain itch. > > “The only way to scratch a cognitive itch is to repeat the offending melody in our minds.” ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/45 "2004-10-04T16:58:24Z")
The Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week” is a particularly vicious offender. I was, at one point, able to sing the first two words of the song (“Yit’s been --”) with the same inflection on the same notes as the original. Anyone who knew the song would make a saving throw vs. intelligence and then succumb to bopping their heads in time with the music. About two minutes later, three people in the group simultaneously mumble “chickadee china, the Chinese chicken…” Yiiit’s been– ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/46 "2004-10-04T17:11:21Z")
> [@The world's most deadliest...](#): > > Sweet. I knew the first _four_ lines, not just the first two. 😃 I can do better than that…I have the album with this gem on it. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/47 "2004-10-04T17:45:33Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > The Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week” is a particularly vicious offender. I was, at one point, able to sing the first two words of the song (“Yit’s been --”) with the same inflection on the same notes as the original. Anyone who knew the song would make a saving throw vs. intelligence and then succumb to bopping their heads in time with the music. About two minutes later, three people in the group simultaneously mumble “chickadee china, the Chinese chicken…” > > Yiiit’s been– You’re lucky this isn’t the pit. I also vote for Tom’s Diner, that one is horrendous. Worst case of the earworms was when I had Tesla’s “Signs” in my head all morning and afternoon, trying desperately to get it out of my head. Finally, busily working on a difficult issue, it went away. And then it came on the radio, I swear to god, not 30 minutes later. And it was in my head the rest of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Niceguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mr.Niceguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Niceguy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/48 "2004-10-04T17:59:04Z")
“me think of me girl oh so constantly a maya ahh a maka ahh a oohhhh aahhhh” Something like that. And more recently “B double E double R U N beer run, B double E double R U N beer run, all we need is a ten and a fiver, a car and a key and a sober driver, B double E double R U N beer run” ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/49 "2004-10-04T18:25:27Z")
> [@Krisfer the Cat](#): > > Tie me kangaroo down boys, tie me kangaroo down… > > God dammit thats ALL of the song I know! I don’t know if I should be ashamed or proud that I still remember all the words to that one. And of course now, thanks to you, they’re running through my head. So I must gets me revenge… _Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…_ (or, if you prefer) _It’s a story… of a lovely lady…_ ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/50 "2004-10-04T18:27:11Z")
Badger badger badger badger… ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/51 "2004-10-04T18:45:04Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > And no one gets infected by The Tokens, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” except me? > > Inconceivable! I do not think that word means what you think it means… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/52 "2004-10-04T19:26:28Z")
Oh where oh where can my baby be The Lord took her away from me She’s gone to heaven so I got to be good So I can see my baby when I le-ave this world Where oh where can my baby be… At least it’s the J. Frank Wilson version. ---
**Author:** ![prybar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5e9695/32.png) [@prybar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prybar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/53 "2004-10-04T19:32:34Z")
> [@Horrifying Howler Monkey](#): > > I can’t open this at this computer (blocked) but I think this is the Kenya song, and if so [www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/29/](http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/29/) has been stuck in my head for several days. > > Come to Kenya we got Lions (bu da bum da bum)… Thanks a lot fellow Ontarian! That song will never leave my head, and I finally got it out last week from the previous time watching that Flash. Is that an actual song? Perhaps the rest of the cd would be as much fun to play for friends and watch them slowly go insane. Oh, and for the record, I think it’s been (at least in my house) scientifically proven that the Mcdonald’s “Bah da Bup Bah Baaaaahhh, I’m lovin’ it!” is the song (even though it’s the jingle version) that gets stuck on repeat in our heads. pry ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/54 "2004-10-04T19:50:45Z")
For me, it’s the theme from the _Banana Splits_. \*\*TRA LA la TRA-LA La la TRA LA la TRA-LA La la One Banana, Two Banana, Three Banana, Four. Four bananas make a bunch and so do many more.\*\* That sticks with me 'cuz I can’t remember all the words and I have to start over to try and finish it. ---
**Author:** ![Sevo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sevo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/55 "2004-10-04T20:24:54Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > Badger badger badger badger… Mushroom! Mushroom! I walked around for about a week straight with that song–that word, actually–using up all my idle process time. When I started unconsciously muttering it aloud at work, though…good times, good times… ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/56 "2004-10-04T20:39:59Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > Oh where oh where can my baby be > The Lord took her away from me > She’s gone to heaven so I got to be good > So I can see my baby when I le-ave this world > > Where oh where can my baby be… Heh. I just saw Pearl Jam in concert on Friday night, and they did their cover of this song, and it had _just_ left my head as I read this. I got over the tinnitis but not the bad song brain fungus. And now it’s back! From outer space! I just walked in and found you here … etc. Oh, wait, I had a point. Anyway, Dave Barry is in a “band” with other literary types called the Rock Bottom Remainders, and sometimes Stephen King plays, and per Dave, when Stephen does lead vocals on “Last Kiss,” sometimes he sings this version: “When I awoke I found her lying there / I brushed her liver from my hair.” So there’s always that. Apropos of nothing, but still. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/57 "2004-10-04T20:56:13Z")
I always think about Dave Barry saying that no one should go to heaven who intentionally rhymes “good” with “world”. He’s right, you know. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/58 "2004-10-04T23:16:10Z")
All together, everybody now!! THE CHICKEN DANCE!! badabadabadabump badabadabadabump badabadabadabump CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/59 "2004-10-05T01:01:46Z")
“I like big butts and I cannot lie” (but that’s all I know of the song) for some strange reason! ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/60 "2004-10-05T01:12:21Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > “I like big butts and I cannot lie” (but that’s all I know of the song) > for some strange reason! Oh my god Becky, look at her butt! You other brothers can’t deny that when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face… 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132.md?page=4)