# Relatively Unknown Later Verses to Well-Known Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 29, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598 "2007-07-29T17:12:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/41 "2007-08-01T02:00:15Z")
**Greg Charles** , She doesn’t change him in to a “Goo,” she changes him into a “duck.” Little Ducky Foo Foo Waddling through the forest Scooping up the field mice And peckin’ 'em on the head. Down came the good fairy, and she said, “This song is over.” ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/42 "2007-08-01T02:15:00Z")
I can only wonder why I know the extra verses to the Cheers theme song. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/43 "2007-08-01T05:02:00Z")
[QUOTE=xnylder] Yes, let’s put a little reminder of Christ’s violent death into this lovely song celebrating His birth! I’ve only heard this verse sung once, and that was at a private Catholic school holiday mass. It fit right in with the ambient guilt quotient, IMHO. [/QUOTE] Actually, I don’t remember _ever_ skipping this verse, and I’ve attended an awful lot of churches over the years. Same for you, **gigi** – and that verse is often sung as a bass solo (which king it’s supposed to be escapes my memory; Balthazar, perhaps?) **FriarTed** , BTW, is completely right. Christmas is not a holiday for its own sake; it is merely the start of a history whose purpose is death – or life, but you get the point. Christ’s birth is only important in light of his death and resurrection. ETA: it seems par for course for national anthems to have additional, largely unsung verses. [O Canada!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Canada) is a good example. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/44 "2007-08-01T05:20:02Z")
[QUOTE=Eonwe] A verse not recorded on the studio take of this song is: _Now the years are rolling by me, they are rocking even me, I am older than I once was, and younger than I’ll be, that’s not unusual. No it isn’t strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same, After changes we are more or less the same._ [/QUOTE] I always heard it as “they are running evenly” but I never listened very closely. I’ve heard there are something like 15 verses to Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” I’ve only heard the Shrek version (5 verses) and two more verses: You say I took the name in vain I don’t even know the name But if I did, well really, what’s it to you? There’s a blaze of light in every word It doesn’t matter which you’ve heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah and I did my best, it wasn’t much I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch I told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you. And even though it all went wrong I’ll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but “Hallelujah” I’ve always been very curious as to the other alleged eight. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/45 "2007-08-01T05:39:16Z")
[QUOTE=whole bean] I’m just a good ol’ boy You know my momma loves me but she can’t understand why they’re showing my hands and not my face on tv Good Ol’ Boys (theme from the Dukes of Hazzard), by Wayon Jennings [/QUOTE] I have the full version of the song, but have never figured out what in the heck that means. Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/46 "2007-08-01T14:00:00Z")
[QUOTE=T\_SQUARE] I have the full version of the song, but have never figured out what in the heck that means. Anybody know? [/QUOTE] The only time he makes TV is when he’s doing the “perp walk” with his hands handcuffed. People typically put their hands up to obscure their face during such an event. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/47 "2007-08-01T14:20:45Z")
[QUOTE=Derleth] The only time he makes TV is when he’s doing the “perp walk” with his hands handcuffed. People typically put their hands up to obscure their face during such an event. [/QUOTE] I was under the impression this verse had come about because on ‘The Dukes of Hazard’ (the song was the theme music for it), during the opening credits, all that was shown of the singer was his hands strumming the guitar. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/48 "2007-08-01T14:29:06Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] The oft forgotten final verse of: Nanananana BATMAN!! Nanananana BATMAN!! Nanananana BATMAN!! BATMAN!!BATMAN!!BATMAN!! [/QUOTE] Which song is this? ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/49 "2007-08-01T16:01:01Z")
[QUOTE=straight man] Actually, I don’t remember _ever_ skipping this verse, and I’ve attended an awful lot of churches over the years. Same for you, **gigi** – and that verse is often sung as a bass solo (which king it’s supposed to be escapes my memory; Balthazar, perhaps?) **FriarTed** , BTW, is completely right. Christmas is not a holiday for its own sake; it is merely the start of a history whose purpose is death – or life, but you get the point. Christ’s birth is only important in light of his death and resurrection. [/QUOTE] I guess I was thinking more of commercial recordings and the children’s masses of my youth. And I haven’t been to a Christmas mass in English in years. Of course, you’re right, the death is what makes the birth significant. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/50 "2007-08-01T18:20:47Z")
[QUOTE=The Punkyova] **Greg Charles** , She doesn’t change him in to a “Goo,” she changes him into a “duck.” [/QUOTE] A duck? How is that even a threat? According to Wikipedia, it’s “goon” not “goo”, but I still prefer the way I heard it (or believed I heard it). It’s all the more ominous for being nonsensical. Wikipedia also mentions the final, moral-subverting verse. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/51 "2007-08-01T19:32:30Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] The verses to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” are all completely unknown. All anybody knows is the chorus. [Wikipedia cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_Out_to_the_Ball_Game#Lyrics) [/QUOTE] Thanks for that link…I actually had the opportunity to make a minor edit to that page. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/52 "2007-08-04T03:08:08Z")
[QUOTE=Greg Charles] A duck? How is that even a threat? According to Wikipedia, it’s “goon” not “goo”, but I still prefer the way I heard it (or believed I heard it). It’s all the more ominous for being nonsensical. Wikipedia also mentions the final, moral-subverting verse. [/QUOTE] Actually, in my childhood, it was a goon, complete with waving fingers and “blech!” noises. The duck is what my daughter’s teacher said, and, I am informed on a daily basis, the teacher knows and I don’t. My observation is that everyone remembers all the verses, with Bunny FooFoo bouncing along and bopping and all, and counts down from three to one, and then can’t remember what happens at the end. I suspect the whole “duck” variation is intended to have an ending that someone can remember. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/53 "2007-08-04T16:55:18Z")
Then up Jack got And home did trot As fast as he could caper Went to bed And wrapped his head In vinegar and brown paper (Jack and Jill) ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/54 "2007-08-04T17:42:51Z")
[QUOTE=Helena] Then up Jack got And home did trot As fast as he could caper Went to bed And wrapped his head In vinegar and brown paper (Jack and Jill) [/QUOTE] That verse was actually included in my book of nursery rhymes. I remember thinking - how the hell is vinegar supposed to help his headache? ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/55 "2007-08-04T19:13:55Z")
I have wondered that myself. ---
**Author:** ![hdagent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/91b2a8/32.png) [@hdagent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hdagent)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/56 "2007-08-08T19:38:41Z")
[QUOTE=FatBaldGuy] How about a tune that most people would recognize, but very few people know that it even has words. I give you the _Star Trek_ theme (TOS): Beyond the rim of the starlight, my love is wandring in star flight. I know he’ll find In star clustered reaches Love, strange love A star woman teaches. I know his journey ends never. His Star Trek will go on forever. But tell him while He wanders his starry sea, Remember, Remember me. These lyrics were written by Gene Roddenberry, the creator of _Star Trek_, allegedly for the sole purpose of getting royalties every time the theme song was performed. AFAIK it has never been recorded or publicly performed with the lyrics. ETA: I know we’re not supposed to post complete lyrics, but this one is so short I couldn’t really excerpt it in any meaningful fashion. [/QUOTE] I don’t get those lyrics. They don’t words don’t seem to fit into the theme music. A friend and I came up with these lyrics - Better than Gene’s afaic because you can sing it along with the opening theme. Star Trek, its a trip into space On Star Trek, many dangers they’ll face And so, the five year journey goes on, this is our Star fuxxxxg Trek! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/57 "2007-08-08T21:35:32Z")
“The Yellow Rose of Texas” is a song that’s undergone a lot of editing and changing over the years. There’s basically two sets of verses. One is about the soldier’s loss of the “rose”, and sings _She’s the sweetest rose of color, this soldier ever knew_. This version is older, and quite obviously refers to the girl as being of mixed race, or black. It ends with a verse about Confederate generals, and is the version sung in Ken Burn’s “Music of the Civil War” Link #1 One refers to the “rose” as\* She’s the sweetest little rosebud this soldier ever knew\*, and goes on to talk about the old days and how the singer hopes they’ll get together again. Link #2 The third link gives what seems to be a very good history of the poem that became to a song, and quotes some yet more changed lyrics. It seems it wasn’t originally a “soldier” singing, but a “darky” > **[37thtexas - Blog](https://37thtexas.org)** > > Blog > **[The Story of the Yellow Rose of Texas -- Gary Wolff's Home Page](http://garywolff.com/yellowrose/)** > > The story and history of the famous Yellow Rose of Texas song and a link to the lyrics. > **[The Yellow Rose Of Texas](https://www.amaranthpublishing.com/yellow.htm)** > > Yellow Rose of Texas history ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/58 "2007-08-09T03:14:12Z")
[QUOTE=The Punkyova] She doesn’t change him in to a “Goo,” she changes him into a “duck.” [/QUOTE] Why a duck? Somebody hadda say it . . . . ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/59 "2007-09-18T15:03:04Z")
Hope this isn’t too dead to revive- The last verse hardly anybody knows of “Amazing Grace” because the Conspiracy 😃 replaced it with “When we’ve been there ten thousand years…” The Earth will soon dissolve like snow The Sun forbear to shine But God who called me here below Will be forever mine. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598/60 "2007-09-18T16:55:38Z")
Most people know Like a bird on the wire, Lke a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free. Not many know the rest of it or who wrote it (Leonard Cohen) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relatively-unknown-later-verses-to-well-known-songs/413598.md?page=4)