# Songs that are technically/historically obsolete **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2008, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626 "2008-06-20T21:39:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [June 21, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/41 "2008-06-21T04:36:37Z")
_The Elements_, by Tom Lehrer. _These are the only ones of which the news has come to Hah-vard, And there may be many others, but they haven’t been dis-cah-vard._ Several others were “discahvard”, or at any rate, assembled following the incluson of that song in the Great American Songbook. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/42 "2008-06-21T05:18:02Z")
Not really what y’all are looking for, but I have an obsolete band tune. I used to play a medley called _Channel Surfing_ with my middle school band. It’s a cute little medley with about twenty seconds each of various TV theme songs. There’s _Wheel of Fortune_, _Happy Days_, _Beverly Hills, 90210_, and even _Merrie Melodies_. The whole thing ends with the last line of _The Star-Spangled Banner_ followed by the kids going “shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”. None of the kids knew why there was the national anthem followed by static. In their world, the TV never goes “off the air”. Also, Sheryl Crow’s _Soak Up the Sun_ sings about sitting back with “my 45’s on”. How many kids think she’s talking about some sort of gun, not single records? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/43 "2008-06-21T05:34:20Z")
I don’t expect anyone to remember these songs, as I collect _very_ obscure tunes, but here goes… [MODERN DAY MAGIC,](http://doorbell.net/sounds/modern.mp3) by Marie Cain I sit myself down, And put a piece of plastic on a round revolving tray. I turn up the sound, And suddenly I hear your voice, You sing forever, forever, forever… Oh, modern day magic keeps you with me Even though we’re apart. I wish there were a modern day magic That could mend a broken heart. (This was written with LP records in mind, but it seemed to work when LPs became CDs. It doesn’t work with downloads.) [PUT ME IN THE MOVIES,](http://doorbell.net/sounds/movies.mp3) by Dick Monda Cinderella cowboy, I could play a love scene, Technicolor bad guys, X or G or PG. Put me in the movies, I could be a movie star. Put me in the movies You could paint my face green. Put me in the movies, Dracula or Frankenstein. Put me in the movies, I could be a movie star. [SAN FRANSISCO](http://doorbell.net/sounds/sanfran.mp3) (unknown writer) Hey, Mister Business Man I’ve got the feeling we’ve met before. I know it wasn’t here in your new career On the executive floor. Hey, Mister Business Man The clothes you’re wearing are different now From your worn-out jeans and your gypsy beads, You’ve lost it all somehow. What happened to The friends we knew In San Francisco? They had flowers in their hair, There was music everywhere Back in '69. Like you and me They long to be In San Francisco. We were walking in the sun, Had peace with everyone Back in '69. [SATURDAY MATINEE,](http://doorbell.net/sounds/saturday.mp3) by Paul Jabara Dear Mr. Manager of the neighborhood movie theater, My name is Irene and I am only thirteen, I’m in distress, My life’s a mess. You see my weekend routine has been in your mezzanine Every morning til the stroke of four, Dreaming I could be the queen Of that same silver screen, But you don’t show the matinee no more! Bring back that Saturday matinee movie show, I swear I’ll run away If you don’t open that door. Cause where’s a kid to go When he’s bored with just TV? There’s nothing like the view you get From that balcony! [KISSING BOOTH,](http://doorbell.net/sounds/kissing.mp3) by Bill LaBounty Pardon me, Compadre, May I have this place in line? You see, the woman I love is standing there Underneath that cardboard sign, And saying, “Fifty cents a hug at the kissing booth, To buy a little love at the kissing booth.” Loan me fifty cents for the kissing booth. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/44 "2008-06-21T05:37:01Z")
Roll Over Beethoven I’m gonna write a **little letter** , Gonna **mail** it to my local dj. Its a rockin rhythm record I want my jockey to play. Run For You Life Well I’d rather see you **dead** , little girl Than to be with another man ( :eek: ) Fun, Fun, Fun Well she got her daddy’s car And she cruised through the **hamburger stand** now I’m In Love With My Car Told my girl I’ll have to forget her Rather buy me a new **carburetor** ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/45 "2008-06-21T07:16:52Z")
[QUOTE=Drum God] Also, Sheryl Crow’s _Soak Up the Sun_ sings about sitting back with “my 45’s on”. How many kids think she’s talking about some sort of gun, not single records? [/QUOTE] Add to that Billy Joel’s _Keeping the Faith_: “Gonna listen to my 45’s.” ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/46 "2008-06-21T11:13:37Z")
[QUOTE=devilsknew] Anyone remember the “Sheeny Man”? The guy who would come around and take your worthwhile junk. That guy lived and died by ‘One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.’ I still see them. My Mom threatened that she’d give me away to the Sheeny Man. [/QUOTE] You do know that “sheeny” is a disparaging term for a Jew? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/47 "2008-06-21T11:43:24Z")
There’s a Steve Miller Band song that makes reference to doing something as the singer “get[s] on the 707…” Given that Boeing 707s have been out of service for nearly two decades everywhere except Iran and one or two places in Africa, it certainly dates the song a bit, IMHO… ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/48 "2008-06-21T12:23:59Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] [SAN FRANSISCO](http://doorbell.net/sounds/sanfran.mp3) (unknown writer) Hey, Mister Business Man I’ve got the feeling we’ve met before. I know it wasn’t here in your new career On the executive floor. Hey, Mister Business Man The clothes you’re wearing are different now From your worn-out jeans and your gypsy beads, You’ve lost it all somehow. What happened to The friends we knew In San Francisco? They had flowers in their hair, There was music everywhere Back in '69. Like you and me They long to be In San Francisco. We were walking in the sun, Had peace with everyone Back in '69. [/QUOTE] I can’t figure out how this is technically/historically obsolete, please explain. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/49 "2008-06-21T12:58:31Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] I can’t figure out how this is technically/historically obsolete, please explain. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Technically, no. Historically, it was describing/lamenting a bygone culture when it was written (ca. 1975). Now, it’s twice removed, as even the description of the description seems dated. It’s a stretch, I’ll admit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/50 "2008-06-21T13:13:26Z")
[Any Ice Today, Lady?](http://www.heptune.com/lyrics/anyiceto.html), a novelty hit of 1926, is all about the days of block ice delivery by horse and wagon (“giddyup Napoleon”). Ignore the line about “enriched uranium” - it’s a mondegreen for “no ma’am, not in your geraniums.” Ice men were prone to trample clumsily on one’s property, as they carried 50 lb blocks of the cold stuff on large tongs. They were not, however, known to traffic in radioactive materials. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/51 "2008-06-21T14:02:20Z")
Not _technically_ obsolete, but improbable: _Give me a ticket for an airplane Ain’t got time to take a fast train Lonely days are gone, I’ma goin’ home My baby wrote me a letter_ ---
**Author:** ![jaydotbeedot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jaydotbeedot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaydotbeedot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/52 "2008-06-21T15:58:56Z")
**Kodachrome** (Paul Simon) probably won’t be truly obsolete for some time, but I’d guess fewer and fewer young people will recognize the brand name quickly as time goes by. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/53 "2008-06-21T17:31:24Z")
[QUOTE=Green Bean] I was out shopping yesterday, and “Western Union” was playing…and I thought “what ever happened to **aha**?” Anybody know? [Sorry about the hijack] [/QUOTE] I’ve been seeing a commercial lately from the power boating industry, urging viewers to take up the pastime. The background music is a 1960s style rock song that sounds like a telephone conversation, starting out “Hello, hello, how are you”… I’ve been wondering if this was another one of the “communication” songs which the record company wanted the band to keep pumping out. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/54 "2008-06-21T17:44:28Z")
Heh. I just asked about [‘pop-tops’](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=472611). _Blew out my flip-flop Stepped on a pop-top Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home_ ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/55 "2008-06-21T17:50:36Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] I’ve been seeing a commercial lately from the power boating industry, urging viewers to take up the pastime. The background music is a 1960s style rock song that sounds like a telephone conversation, starting out “Hello, hello, how are you”… I’ve been wondering if this was another one of the “communication” songs which the record company wanted the band to keep pumping out. [/QUOTE] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRJQLzc-bco](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRJQLzc-bco) ? ETA: Fuck that’s a terrible video! Try this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZB-DUCrhVQ&](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZB-DUCrhVQ&) ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/56 "2008-06-21T17:51:03Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] I’ve been seeing a commercial lately from the power boating industry, urging viewers to take up the pastime. The background music is a 1960s style rock song that sounds like a telephone conversation, starting out “Hello, hello, how are you”… I’ve been wondering if this was another one of the “communication” songs which the record company wanted the band to keep pumping out. [/QUOTE] I’m pretty sure this is actually “Telephone Line” by ELO from 1977, which **spoke-** spoke of earlier in this thread. The Five Americans followed up “Western Union” with “Sound of Love”, which, based on the lyrics, appears to be pillow talk rather than electronic communication. That in turn was followed by “Zip Code”, which celebrated the benefits of letter writing. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/57 "2008-06-21T18:25:19Z")
Oh, how about _I’ve got a brand new pair of roller skates You’ve got a brand new key_ ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/58 "2008-06-21T19:35:13Z")
Many of Billy Bragg’s best songs have references to Soviet Bloc countries and other cold-war era references… e.g. “And she’s giving be grief about the DDR” and “On the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline” (I saw him play last week and he sung this as the ‘Hugo Chavez’ highway 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/59 "2008-06-21T21:13:10Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] I don’t expect anyone to remember these songs, as I collect _very_ obscure tunes, but here goes… [MODERN DAY MAGIC,](http://doorbell.net/sounds/modern.mp3) by Marie Cain I sit myself down, And put a piece of plastic on a round revolving tray. I turn up the sound, And suddenly I hear your voice, You sing forever, forever, forever… Oh, modern day magic keeps you with me Even though we’re apart. I wish there were a modern day magic That could mend a broken heart. (This was written with LP records in mind, but it seemed to work when LPs became CDs. It doesn’t work with downloads.) [PUT ME IN THE MOVIES,](http://doorbell.net/sounds/movies.mp3) by Dick Monda Cinderella cowboy, I could play a love scene, Technicolor bad guys, X or G or PG. Put me in the movies, I could be a movie star. Put me in the movies You could paint my face green. Put me in the movies, Dracula or Frankenstein. Put me in the movies, I could be a movie star. [SAN FRANSISCO](http://doorbell.net/sounds/sanfran.mp3) (unknown writer) Hey, Mister Business Man I’ve got the feeling we’ve met before. I know it wasn’t here in your new career On the executive floor. Hey, Mister Business Man The clothes you’re wearing are different now From your worn-out jeans and your gypsy beads, You’ve lost it all somehow. What happened to The friends we knew In San Francisco? They had flowers in their hair, There was music everywhere Back in '69. Like you and me They long to be In San Francisco. We were walking in the sun, Had peace with everyone Back in '69. [SATURDAY MATINEE,](http://doorbell.net/sounds/saturday.mp3) by Paul Jabara Dear Mr. Manager of the neighborhood movie theater, My name is Irene and I am only thirteen, I’m in distress, My life’s a mess. You see my weekend routine has been in your mezzanine Every morning til the stroke of four, Dreaming I could be the queen Of that same silver screen, But you don’t show the matinee no more! Bring back that Saturday matinee movie show, I swear I’ll run away If you don’t open that door. Cause where’s a kid to go When he’s bored with just TV? There’s nothing like the view you get From that balcony! [KISSING BOOTH,](http://doorbell.net/sounds/kissing.mp3) by Bill LaBounty Pardon me, Compadre, May I have this place in line? You see, the woman I love is standing there Underneath that cardboard sign, And saying, “Fifty cents a hug at the kissing booth, To buy a little love at the kissing booth.” Loan me fifty cents for the kissing booth. [/QUOTE] Huh, this was weird. Those links popped up in a seperate FoxyTunes player minimized to the side of my screen when I was reading this thread. Never seen that before. How did you do it? Way cool. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626/60 "2008-06-21T21:32:21Z")
“It’s A Long Way To Amphioxus” is obsolete because biologists renamed the creature “lancelet” and the song “references now-disputed notions about the place of cephalochordates in the chordate evolutionary timeline”. > **[Lancelet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancelet#In_music)** > > The lancelets (/ˈlænslɪts, ˈlɑːn-/ LA(H)N-slits), also known as amphioxi (SG: amphioxus /ˌæmfiˈɒksəs/ AM-fee-OK-səs), consist of some 30 to 35 species of "fish-like" benthic filter feeding chordates in the order Amphioxiformes. They are modern representatives of the subphylum Cephalochordata. Lancelets closely resemble 530-million-year-old Pikaia, fossils of which are known from the Burgess Shale. However, according to phylogenetic analysis, the lancelet group itself probably evolved around th [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-technically-historically-obsolete/453626.md?page=4)