# Same Melody, Different Song

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-melody-different-song/630896>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 8, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-melody-different-song/630896 "2012-08-08T19:51:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**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:** [August 9, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-melody-different-song/630896/21 "2012-08-09T16:15:20Z")

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Dan Fogelberg’s “Same Old Lang Syne” uses the 1812 Overture melody

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-melody-different-song/630896/22 "2012-08-09T17:30:36Z")

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As I type, the radio in my home is playing Manfred Mann’s Earth Band recording of “Blinded By the Light,” which apparently uses “Chopsticks” as its bridge (or cadenza, or something).

“Chopsticks” is also the fundamental tune underlying the theme music to _My Three Sons_.

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**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-melody-different-song/630896/23 "2012-08-09T17:36:45Z")

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Pearl Jam’s _Given to Fly_ has been thought to [share a melody](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Given_to_Fly#Origin_and_recording) with Led Zeppelin’s _Going to California_

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**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-melody-different-song/630896/24 "2012-08-09T17:48:00Z")

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> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#):
>
> “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and the ABC song.

And Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.

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**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-melody-different-song/630896/25 "2012-08-09T21:14:45Z")

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> [@cjepson](#):
>
> Yes, this is almost the nature of folk songs – to reuse melodies. Dylan has done a lot of this… like, “Restless Farewell” is based on “The Parting Glass”, and “Girl from the North Country” is based on “Scarborough Fair”.

Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone remember a Bob Dylan song that’s based on a Carter Family song? I read about it in a Carter Family biography, but can’t recall which it was.

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**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-melody-different-song/630896/26 "2012-08-09T21:47:48Z")

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Just to illustrate where John Lennon came up with the “Happy Christmas/War Is Over” tune…

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBlS2vYNR24)

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