# Songs/poems that recite lists (e.g. Tom Lehrer's "The Elements" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 9, 2021, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203 "2021-10-09T11:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/1 "2021-10-09T11:22:22Z")
Most of us are familiar with Tom Lehrer’s “[The Elements](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2cfju6GTNs)”, in which he sings the name of all 100+ chemical elements - with a reasonable rhyming scheme. I found a [similar one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82xhr0IzGpc) on Youtube, in which al 270 London Underground stations are “sung” - again, with a reasonable rhyming scheme. (I picked one in which the station names are displayed as they are being sung). Can anyone think of others in a similar vein? Something like US Presidents? I’ve seen poems with the UK monarchs (in sequence) - but not put to music. Of course - the elements and Underground stations can be listed/sung in any order. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/2 "2021-10-09T11:41:15Z")
There is an Animaniacs song with countries. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/4 "2021-10-09T12:31:30Z")
Wikipedia has a list of “[list songs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_song),” though I don’t know if all of them would qualify for what you’ve got in mind. Two that came to mind are R.E.M.'s “[It’s the End of the World as We Know it (and I Feel Fine)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY)” and Billy Joel’s “[We Didn’t Start the Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g).” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/5 "2021-10-09T13:11:27Z")
Animaniacs also had one for state capitals. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/6 "2021-10-09T13:17:03Z")
It’s not the primary lyrics, but in the background of Warren Zevon’s “Run Straight Down” he’s rattling off a list of chemicals (carcinogens, IIRC) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/7 "2021-10-09T13:18:08Z")
Those Animaniacs are an informative bunch. They also have one for the [Presidents of the U.S.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc3xTj3g9QQ) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/8 "2021-10-09T13:20:28Z")
[All the people who won’t be missed](https://www.google.com/amp/s/genius.com/amp/Gilbert-and-sullivan-ive-got-a-little-list-lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/9 "2021-10-09T13:24:26Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ov4epAJRPMw/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZChFMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAWyWfF193QLNhrraDjrm37xdnV1Q "J-O-H-N-N-Y C-A-S-H - I've Been Everywhere - With Lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/10 "2021-10-09T13:30:46Z")
Does [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ) count? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/11 "2021-10-09T15:04:18Z")
“Fifty Nifty United States” I learned it in elementary school, and still know it by heart. The states are listed in alphabetical order. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/12 "2021-10-09T15:08:21Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Does [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ) count? > > mmm For anyone else who doesn’t want to follow a blind link, it’s to Rick Astley’s song “Never Gonna Give You Up”, which doesn’t, as I remember, recite a list. So not sure why it was included. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/13 "2021-10-09T15:11:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So not sure why it was included. He’s Rick-rolling us. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/14 "2021-10-09T15:12:44Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So not sure why it was included. Rickrolling. Did you sleep through 2006? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/15 "2021-10-09T15:17:16Z")
“The Intro and the Outro” by the Bonzo Dog Band is a list of members of the band. 😉 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yCtkJxyYsrc/maxresdefault.jpg "The Intro and the Outro (2007 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCtkJxyYsrc) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/16 "2021-10-09T15:34:35Z")
Tool’s “Die Eier von Satan” is a recipe for hashish cookies in German set to music. The first part is the list of ingredients: _Eine halbe Tasse Staubzucker_ _Ein Viertel Teelöffel Salz_ _Eine Messerspitze türkisches Haschisch_ _Ein halbes Pfund Butter_ _Ein Teelöffel Vanillezucker_ _Ein halbes Pfund Mehl_ _Einhundertfünfzig Gramm gemahlene Nüsse_ _Ein wenig extra Staubzucker_ _… und keine Eier_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/82XqhHYwB-Q/maxresdefault.jpg "TOOL - Die Eier von Satan (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82XqhHYwB-Q) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/17 "2021-10-09T15:44:32Z")
Does Weird Al Jankovic’ parody of Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” [BOB](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAfIikFnvuI) count? It consist entirely of (all?) the palindromes discovered so far in English, so it is a list of sorts. And it sounds as if Bob Dylan could have written it! Bonus: I find it extremely funny. > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Eine Messerspitze türkisches Haschisch Nice idea, but that is waaaay to little. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/18 "2021-10-09T15:51:59Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Nice idea, but that is waaaay to little. Depends on how broad your knife is. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/19 "2021-10-09T15:56:35Z")
I see, for _türkischer Haschisch_ you use a turkish [scimitar](https://www.melbar.eu/items/Blankwaffen/Schwerter/M2V1004197.jpg). Makes sense, silly me. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/20 "2021-10-09T16:01:15Z")
😆 👍 (for our non-German speaking friends: “Eine Messerspitze türkisches Haschisch” means “one pinch of Turkish hashish”, where “Messerspitze” literally means “tip of a knife”) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203/21 "2021-10-09T16:04:24Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VKWcHfua0Kg/maxresdefault.jpg "MENU SONG from "What A Pickle"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKWcHfua0Kg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-poems-that-recite-lists-e-g-tom-lehrers-the-elements/952203.md?page=2)