# Songs everyone will recognize, but no one know the name of. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273 "2003-05-24T20:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/61 "2003-05-26T04:41:07Z")
_Sleepwalk_ by Santo and Johnny. It’s in every film set in the '50s or '60s and has its own [website](http://www.sleep-walk.com/) but hardly anyone can name it. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/62 "2003-05-26T04:59:21Z")
**Tygr** , _Powerhouse_ has a couple of distinct movements; one of them is used for factory scenes, which is what the piece was meant to evoke, and another is used when someone is sneaking up on someone else. You can hear clips from this piece and others at the official website, [here](http://raymondscott.com/MENsndf.html). Each of the pieces available for listening to have been used in Warner Brothers cartoons - there’s a page on that site that lists all of 'em, too. I love Raymond Scott, and force his instrumentals into the ears of anyone who rides in my car. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/63 "2003-05-26T05:00:39Z")
Suzanne Vega’s song “Tom’s Diner,” usually known as “that song that goes doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo.” ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/64 "2003-05-26T05:10:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > \*\*Oh, and the Looney Tunes theme music is actually called _The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down_.😉 \*\* Ah, but what’s the opening theme music to a Bugs Bunny cartoon called? You know, the one that starts with some weird glissando, then immediately launches into trumpets going “DAH, da da da DA DA DA da da da da da, DAH, da da da DA DA DA da da da da da,” then has the cello section play a counter melody, then has a REAL quick descending scale on a piano, then has a xylophone play the first half of the opening trumpet theme again, then closes with trumpets going, “Da da da dah, dah DAAAAAAA!” ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/65 "2003-05-26T05:55:18Z")
The [Merrie Melodies](http://www.toonzone.net/early-years/titles/) theme from 1936 onward was “Merrily We Roll Along” by Charles Tobias, Murray Mencher, and Eddie Cantor. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/66 "2003-05-26T13:35:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > \*\*The Temptations (I think), “Can’t Help Myself” (_Sugar pie honey bunch . . ._) \*\* That was the Four Tops. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/67 "2003-05-26T13:56:56Z")
“Be Thankful for What You’ve Got” - William DeVaughn The only line I can recall: “Diamond in the back, sunroof top Makin’ the scene with a gangster lean…” ---
**Author:** ![Swede\_Hollow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Swede\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swede_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/68 "2003-05-28T00:16:29Z")
Several pieces by **Leroy Anderson** were used in many different cartoons: _The Typewriter Song, The Syncopated Clock, Sandpaper Ballet_. Also, _The Rakes of Mallow_ (and the similar _The Irish Washerwoman_) is familiar to anyone that saw _The Quiet Man_. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/69 "2003-05-28T00:39:58Z")
How 'bout that sailor-ish tune they often play on a xylophone in Popeye, when he’s **not** eating his spinach? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/70 "2003-05-28T04:05:43Z")
Thought of another one that stumped me for a good while. “Please Tell Me Who I Am” by Supertramp … is actually titled “The Logical Song”. … How about also “Fanfare for the Common Man” by Emerson, Lake and Palmer? That’s an instrumental frequently heard on classic-rock stations that give play to '70s art rock. … Here’s a personal stumper – what’s that “Ey! Oh! Let’s Go!” song? It’s kind of punk-sounding, and is used a lot in commercials (including a current one I can’t remember very well … just saw it today): \*Ey! Oh! Let’s Go! Ey! Oh! Let’s Go!" \* ??? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/71 "2003-05-28T04:34:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*How 'bout that sailor-ish tune they often play on a xylophone in Popeye, when he’s **not** eating his spinach? \*\* “Sailor’s Hornpipe”, and [here’s](http://www.wilstar.net/midi/sailpipe.htm) a charming MIDI file of it. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/72 "2003-05-28T04:42:01Z")
What’s the name of that Jimmy Buffet song? You know…“Wasted away again in Margaritaville…searchin for my lost shaker of salt…some people claim that there’s a woman to blame…” Everyone can sing it (well for the most part anyway, I never met a drunk that wouldn’t try 😃 ) But, few know the title. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/73 "2003-05-28T05:01:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\ ***Tygr** , _Powerhouse_ has a couple of distinct movements; one of them is used for factory scenes, which is what the piece was meant to evoke, and another is used when someone is sneaking up on someone else. You can hear clips from this piece and others at the official website, [here](http://raymondscott.com/MENsndf.html). Each of the pieces available for listening to have been used in Warner Brothers cartoons - there’s a page on that site that lists all of 'em, too. I love Raymond Scott, and force his instrumentals into the ears of anyone who rides in my car. 😃 \*\* There is a nice MIDI rendition of the Powerhouse B theme on [this page](http://members.tripod.com/~FunCreator/FC_MIDI.htm); it’s titled _machine.mid_. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/74 "2003-05-28T05:18:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > \*\*What’s the name of that Jimmy Buffet song? > > You know…“Wasted away again in Margaritaville…searchin for my lost shaker of salt…some people claim that there’s a woman to blame…” > > Everyone can sing it (well for the most part anyway, I never met a drunk that wouldn’t try 😃 ) > > But, few know the title. \*\* Okay, I’ll bite…I’ve always heard it called Margaritaville. It seems that [Jimmy Buffett](http://www.margaritaville.com/discography/ChangesInLatitudes.htm) would agree. Am I being whooshed? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/75 "2003-05-28T05:39:46Z")
**Fear Itself** - but the second Powerhouse MIDI on that page (RUNNER) doesn’t have percussion! When you take the drums out of Powerhouse you’re screwing with Raymond Scott’s holy artistic genius vision and ::head explodes:: Sorry, I get annoying with my Powerhouse. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/76 "2003-05-28T06:03:32Z")
**Lily** please excuse me, I have my songs mixed up. I was thinking about the Pina Colada song NOT Margaritaville…sorry, I am drinking a Margarita, maybe that’s what threw me. You know…"if you like pina coladas…gettin caught in the rain…etc. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/77 "2003-05-28T06:12:01Z")
> [@](#): > > what’s that “Ey! Oh! Let’s Go!” song? _Blitzkreig Bop_, by the Ramones. > [@](#): > > …"if you like pina coladas…gettin caught in the rain…etc. Well then, keep your drinks straight! 😉 It seems to be _Escape (The Pina Colada Song)_, by Rupert Holmes. ---
**Author:** ![DaveX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@DaveX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveX)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/78 "2003-05-28T06:12:54Z")
Damn, **Wumpus** beat me to the Grieg reference, but most of that work (Suite No.1, Op.46) is recognisable once you hear it (not just the “Dawn” portion, but “The Death of Ase” and “In the Hall of the Mountain King” as well). The theme song from the “King of the Hill” TV program is called “Yahoos and Triangles”, and most have probably heard that. ---
**Author:** ![mrunlucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@mrunlucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrunlucky)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/79 "2003-05-28T06:17:02Z")
What about those 1, 2, or maybe 3 ominous-sounding instrumentals that movie studios have been using in **almost all** 30 second action/horror/sci-fi movie trailers in recent years? I just saw a new one today, and I swore it was different, that it was a piece from the _Lord of the Rings_ saga, but I could be wrong. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/80 "2003-05-28T12:24:04Z")
“Dial a Line” by Simon & Garfunkel is actually titled “The Boxer”. [sub]_(Baby-boomer S&G fans gasp at the blasphemous lack of fundamental musical knowledge)_[/sub] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273.md?page=5)