# Songs that can be sung to different melodies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524 "2002-04-08T18:09:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/1 "2002-04-08T18:09:55Z")
Have you ever tried to sing one song while using the melody of a different song? Somehow it occurred to me that the words for “America the Beautiful” can be sung to the melody of “Auld Lang Syne.” Try it! The meter is just right for the two songs to use each other’s melodies. I also found that the beginning verses to Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” can be sung in meter to the melody of “Jackie Blue” by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Yes, things are very slow and boring at work today. ---
**Author:** ![Ferggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Ferggie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferggie)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/2 "2002-04-08T18:54:54Z")
I was in here on the computer and in the living room I had the TV on and Leno was on … Was it Leno? I think it was Leno … Anyway, the musical guest sang “Amazing Grace” … to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun.” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/3 "2002-04-08T19:21:53Z")
On the album “A Twisted Christmas” they sang “Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem” to “House of the Rising Sun”. I’ve noticed that you can interchange “Deck the Halls” with “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”. **Pepper Mill** knows quite a few of these (non-Christmas) ones. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/4 "2002-04-08T19:25:18Z")
A classic is the Gilligan’s Island theme sung to “Stairway to Heaven” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/5 "2002-04-08T19:35:54Z")
Well, the lyrics to “Amazing Grace” can be sung to any number of tunes, including: 1. “Gilligan’s Island” 2. “The Yellow Rose of Texas” 3. “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/6 "2002-04-08T19:54:27Z")
Gilligan’s Island = Amazing Grace = House of the Rising Sun = The Yellow Rose Of Texas = Ghost Riders in the Sky = I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing = O Little Town of Bethlehem = Auld Lang Syne = America the Beautiful = god knows what else… ---
**Author:** ![Amidar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Amidar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amidar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/7 "2002-04-08T20:34:45Z")
And many/most Emily Dickinson poems can be sung to the tune of “The Yellow Rose of Texas”… ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/8 "2002-04-08T20:58:35Z")
I’d always heard Emily Dickinson poems/Gilligan’s Island theme/Yellow Rose of Texas. Gilligan’s Island/Amazing Grace Also, The ABC Song/Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star/ Baa, Baa Black Sheep. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/9 "2002-04-08T21:19:26Z")
Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” matches perfectly with Jimmy Buffet’s “Pencil Thin Mustache”. ---
**Author:** ![Neptune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@Neptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptune)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/10 "2002-04-08T21:31:27Z")
Alphabet Song/Baa, Baa, Black Sheep/Twinkle, Twinkle These are cheating. They’re all the same melody. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/11 "2002-04-08T21:37:10Z")
I’m not sure who did it, but a number of years ago someone came out with “Green Haze” which is basically the lyrics to “Green Acres” sung to “Purple Haze”. Classic Stuff Chris W ---
**Author:** ![super\_head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@super\_head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/super_head)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/12 "2002-04-08T21:50:47Z")
Monte Montgomery does just that in the song “Stairway to Freebird” - combining the music of Stairway to Heaven with the lyrics to Freebird. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/13 "2002-04-08T21:53:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by riserius1 \* > \*\*I’m not sure who did it, but a number of years ago someone came out with “Green Haze” which is basically the lyrics to “Green Acres” sung to “Purple Haze”. > > Classic Stuff > > Chris W \*\* I do believe you heard Pinkard and Bowden, country music comedy act. Funny, funny (and a bit risque) guys. ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/14 "2002-04-08T22:13:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by super\_head \* > \*\*Monte Montgomery does just that in the song “Stairway to Freebird” - combining the music of Stairway to Heaven with the lyrics to Freebird. \*\* I’ve been trying to remember that guys name for some time. Caught his act as an opener for Tori Amos a few years ago, and it was rather funny. Now as to the OP, I’m amazed no one mentioned the real classic. _The Rhyme of the Ancient Marinar_ sung to the theme from **Gilligan’s Island** Water, Water, Everywhere, and not a drop to drink. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/15 "2002-04-08T22:15:28Z")
“How Much Is That Doggie In The Window” goes with “A Fair Is A Veritable Paradise” (sung by Paul Lynde, as the Rat, in _Charlotte’s Web_) ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/16 "2002-04-08T22:16:48Z")
Oh, and a classic is “Humoresque” with “Swannee River”. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/17 "2002-04-08T23:14:46Z")
Oh God, I had such trouble in my Romantic Poetry class back in college. I found out the hard way that Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” can be rapped ala Tone Loc’s “Wild Thing”. And I’m afraid that if any of you read that poem from now on, you may be disturbed by this same affliction. So if you don’t like The Giligan’s Island theme, go Tone Loc. Sweet jesus, it’s awful. Colin ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/18 "2002-04-08T23:45:47Z")
Britney Spears’ _Oops I Did It Again_ and _Hit Me Baby, One More Time_ are interchangeable. My brother and I once synced up the MP3 players on both our computers and played them over each other. It’s actually quite amusing, as if anyone needed more proof of what a talentless, unoriginal hack she is. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/19 "2002-04-09T00:03:12Z")
Frank Zappa’s song **The Torture Never Stops** can be sung to the melody of **I Love Lucy**. He sang it this way a few times in late 1980’s ---
**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:** [April 9, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/20 "2002-04-09T00:03:55Z")
Stairway to Heaven Gilligan’s Island Amazing Grace House of the Rising Sun O Little Town of Bethlehem God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Australian National Anthem Rime of the Ancient Mariner any Emily Dickinson poem The Yellow Rose of Texas As it happens, there’s a thread on rec.music.dementia about this: [http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&th=95eb6a7a4059aaf4](http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&th=95eb6a7a4059aaf4) Two interesting additions to the first list: The Marine Corps song “From the halls of Montezuma” and “My Darling Clementine”! With slight editing, “Camp Granada” (“Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”) can be sung to the loud part of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Dr. Demento plays a rendition of this occasionally, credited to “Alien von Sherman”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524.md?page=2)