# 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:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/21 "2002-04-09T00:31:49Z")
_Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer_ can be sung to _Free Bird_ ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/22 "2002-04-09T01:07:13Z")
On Leon Russell’s self-titled debut album, He sings the Bob Dylan song “Masters of War” to the tune of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. I catch myself singing the lyrics to it whenever I hear our National Anthem. I guess this makes me a bad American. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/23 "2002-04-09T14:54:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neptune \* > \*\*Alphabet Song/Baa, Baa, Black Sheep/Twinkle, Twinkle > > These are cheating. They’re all the same melody. \*\* “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman”. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/24 "2002-04-09T15:11:05Z")
Not sure if this quite fits the topic, but on “Peppers and Eggs”, the second compilation of Sopranos soundtracks, there’s an absolutely brilliant blend of “Every Breath You Take” and “The Theme From Peter Gunn”. They both have the same strong back beat, and they swim in and out of each other magically. Worth the price of the double CD! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Clawman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@The\_Clawman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Clawman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/25 "2002-04-09T16:12:05Z")
The UK’s beloved Cliff Richard once managed to shoehorn the words of The Lord’s Prayer into the tune for Auld Lang Syne. And then he released it as a single. It was about as awful as you’d expect. ---
**Author:** ![epeepunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f19dbf/32.png) [@epeepunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epeepunk)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/26 "2002-04-09T16:13:00Z")
“My Darling Clementine” can be sung to Beethovan’s “Ode to Joy” ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524/27 "2002-04-09T16:13:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by singular1 \* > \*\*Not sure if this quite fits the topic, but on “Peppers and Eggs”, the second compilation of Sopranos soundtracks, there’s an absolutely brilliant blend of “Every Breath You Take” and “The Theme From Peter Gunn”. They both have the same strong back beat, and they swim in and out of each other magically. Worth the price of the double CD! \*\* Speaking of Every Breath You Take, it’s amazing what a rip-off of “More Than I Can Say” by Leo Sayer this song is. Not only can you sing the words of one to the other, but at times the melodies are identical. Leo Sayer should sue Sting. Chris W [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-can-be-sung-to-different-melodies/102524.md?page=1)