# Songs that contain words not commonly found in song lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846 "2007-02-19T19:38:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/81 "2007-02-20T08:14:11Z")
I’ve got one name for ya: [Robert Calvert](http://aural-innovations.com/robertcalvert/lyrics/callyr.htm). (Warning: Music plays when you open the pages, and the sound encoding is kinda crappy.) ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/82 "2007-02-20T08:27:11Z")
[QUOTE=Jophiel] First time I heard “Mining for Gold” by Cowboy Junkies (although lyrics are credited as ‘Traditional’)… _Two years and the silicosis takes hold and I feel like I’m dying from mining for gold_ …I thought “Don’t hear many songs about silicosis.” [/QUOTE] Sweet Honey in the Rock has one in the same vein (sorry about the pun). I think it’s called “More Than a Paycheck.” _We bring home asbestosis, silicosis brown lung, black lung disease_ ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/83 "2007-02-20T08:34:06Z")
One of my favourites: > [@](#): > > Strike by night, they all need the sun to **Photosynthesise** their venom. From Genesis’ _Return of the Giant Hogweed_. As a matter of fact this song also features “herbicidal batterings”, and not least, “heracleum mantegazziani”. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/84 "2007-02-20T08:40:55Z")
Mr. Crowley by Ozzy uses the word polemically. > [@](#): > > Was it polemically sent? I wanna know what you meant, I wanna know … If I recall the story correctly, Ozzy got a book that Alister Crowley once owned from Jimmy Page. The book was signed by Crowley and had a quote that it was ‘polemically sent’. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/85 "2007-02-20T08:42:38Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Blondie, “Accidents Never Happen”: [/QUOTE] I’m trying to figure out how you guys missed _sacroiliac_ from Blondie’s Rapture. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/86 "2007-02-20T09:05:09Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] I think the Indigo Girls’ song Closer To Fine might qualify here. It contains: insatiable, definitive, “a poster of Rasputin” and prostrate. Their self-titled debut album is pretty wordy in general, and I was kind of impressed with some of the unexpected phrasing even with fairly common words. [/QUOTE] Before this thread dies I have to post this. I’ve always loved the words [Happy Rhodes](http://www.myspace.com/happyrhodes) uses. There aren’t any truly amazing ones like “sacroiliac” or “transsubstantiate” but a fairly cursory look at her lyrics gave me this list, which I alphabetized. It’s nowhere near complete. airborne analyzed anon asunder atmosphere banality behalf birthright brier brood cadence captivity carcinogens cellophane chariot charisma circuitry circumstances clarify coffined collide compelled complex comply complying comprehend conquered consequence cowslips cranium craze criteria crucified deafening declaration defiled deliverance describing directive discretion disgrace dismembered disrepair dragonfly drears (her plural of dreary) dwindle encompass endurance entities entity erased eroded escapades explode extinction facades faring fatal feeble festers fierce fleeting flinching formulating freckles funnyfarm gender genetic genius gloom harbors (as in “[Who/what] harbors my individuality?” ) harlequin hereafter hindered hindsight hooves hydrosphere (my 3rd favorite) idiocy immunities impeccably inert infesting insanity instinctively interactions intimidate invade legacy legitimate linear loathe lobes lunatic luxury maim malignant marvel melded mildew mingle misfired moats mortal mortar naivete nocturnal nonexistent oberon oblige oblivious oozing oversight ozone parallel paralyzed paranoia parasites pathetic penchant pensioners periphery petty phobos pillars pitiful pleading podium precision predisposed presence prey prod profanities proprietor psychopath quickening (as in “quickening pace” not the womb thing) rainkeeper rearrange reciprocity (my favorite) refuge regardless representative requiem resolve rewind roam rupture sardined savours schemes searing self-destruct sentinel serenading serenely serum simplicity slumber sordid specieism (my second favorite) spectrum strobes structure sublime suseptible swifter synergy tantrums terrain thorough titania tombstone tragic transparent tundra ultimately unbridled unfounded unreal utmost vagabond vagueness variations ventured vibrant vile virus vultures wallow warpaint wary wavered wretches yearning Plus the phrases “brutal simplicity” “culture-shocked” “lob of spirits” “practical consideration” “sappy wimps” “tarry on” “time whiles by” “to and fro” ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/87 "2007-02-20T11:51:23Z")
Steely Dan “never gonna do it withouth the \*\*Fez \*\*on” “Tobacco they grow in **Peking In the Year of the Locust** You’ll see a sad thing Even **Cathy Berberian** knows There’s one **roulade** she can’t sing” from your gold teeth "After closing time At the **Guernsey Fair** I detect the **El Supremo**" from show Biz kids “When you put me on the Wolverine Up to **Annandale** **Oleanders** growing outside her door Guadalajara won’t do” from My old school thats just a couple tracks, they serioulsy use some strange phrases (and the elusive Oleanders way back in the 70’s) in their tunes. Cake does quite a bit as well. TMBG are off in bizzaro land. you could drop Iron Maiden into the mix, I sincerely doubt there has ever been another band or artist who ever even considered using (forgive the spelling) Kwizatch haderach in a song. nice topic though kinda fun ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/88 "2007-02-20T12:29:57Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] Dork. [/QUOTE] You’re just jealous, dead-guy boy. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/89 "2007-02-20T13:30:42Z")
Tim Rice’s show “Blondel” contains a lot of them, but I can’t find a link. From the Assassin’s Song: All that I am here today I owe to my family That is why I don’t have family here today. They were tortured in the orchard. It was messy with fruit but I have improved since then. Being naugh-tay is my faugh-tay. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/90 "2007-02-20T13:32:13Z")
A quick look didn’t find him, but forgive me if I missed it. **Tom Lehrer** uses wonderfullty weird words, inclyuding rhyming “duck-billed playtus” with “Oedipus” in “Oedipus Rex” He also uses, in various songs: \*\*Maelstrom masochism genuflect abdomen transubstantiate simultaneus uranious Hottentot \*\* and many others, including the name of every element known at the time. Allan Sherman used quite a few odd ones, too – \*\*Hippopotami transistor \*\* ---
**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:** [February 20, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/91 "2007-02-20T13:49:07Z")
[QUOTE=Jackmannii] I have never heard the words “tourniquet”\* and “auto-da-fe” in any recorded song other than _Tent_, by the Bonzo Dog Band. [/quote] My goodness. Another Bonzo Dog Band fan on the board, finally. 🙂 Other uncommon words in Bonzo lyrics: tickertape mustachioed binoculars sideboards ennui gorgonzola chilblains Nimrod supersonic pre-fabricated concrete coal-bunker exuberance serviettes uproot benefactor hexachloraphine ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/92 "2007-02-20T13:52:32Z")
[QUOTE=mamboman] Public Enemy’s\* By The Time I Get To Arizona\* has the word “infrastructure” in it. For some reason, they are the only guys I could ever imagine using that word in a song. mm [/QUOTE] The band **Spahn Ranch** even have a song called “Infrastructure”. The weirdest ones I know are from the band **16 Volt** in the song “Skin”. The chorus is: “Out of focus Wanting pith Higher locus Bowers of bliss This skin.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/93 "2007-02-20T13:53:45Z")
Merle Haggard: I’m proud to be an Okie from Maskogee Kinky Friedman: I’m proud to be an Asshole from El Paso. Kinky also wrote: Ride, ride 'em Jewboy Ride them all around the old corral. I’m, I’m with you boy If I got to ride six millon miles ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/94 "2007-02-20T14:05:45Z")
Keep on Chooglin’ ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/95 "2007-02-20T14:35:38Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Keep on Chooglin’ [/QUOTE] Chooglin on down to New Orleans/Born on the bayou > [@furt](#): > > Possibly my favorite Springsteen lyric: > > Quote: > **Taconite** , coke and limestone > Fed my children and made my pay > Them smokestacks reachin’ like the arms of God > Into a beautiful sky of soot and clay OK, now I have to share my own :smack: . Your quote reminded me of Stan Rogers’s Fisherman’s Wharf, which I and apparently quite a few on-line sites thought said something like: I saw **percanegan** concrete and glass right down to the water line I have heard an old song down on Fisherman’s Wharf Can I sing it just one time But apparently there is no such word and according to other sites, its should be “Upper-Canadian”. I’ll have to give it a more careful listen! :o ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/96 "2007-02-20T14:38:35Z")
Two more from Bad Religion: > [@You are the Government](#): > > You are **jurisprudence** > You are the **volition** … ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/97 "2007-02-20T15:25:19Z")
One of my favorites: From the bottom, it looks like a steep incline From the top, another downhill slope of mine But I know, the **equilibrium** ’s there ( **Faith No More** : Falling to Pieces) ---
**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:** [February 20, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/98 "2007-02-20T15:46:51Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Allan Sherman used quite a few odd ones, too – **Hippopotami** [/QUOTE] Flanders and Swann used it first: The bold Hippopotami began to convene On the banks of that river so wide More from Flanders and Swann: inamorata ignoramus antepenultimate terminus horsepower omnibus okapi hartebeast gnu bedstead skirting boards Your joists are full of dry-rot Electrician glazier blowtorch putty High decibel gain congnac armagnac referendum ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/99 "2007-02-20T16:08:23Z")
**Equipoise** … lots of words there. Some fairly unremarkable, I would argue. Like “tragic.” I almost forgot to mention OMD’s “Genetic Engineering.” I’ll wager that that phrase never turned up in pop music before. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846/100 "2007-02-20T16:33:13Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] You sure? I don’t hear “sycophants” in there. [/QUOTE] Yeah, now that I google the lyrics, the line I was hearing as “syncophants” seems to be generally interpreted as “save your friends.” Is there an official lyric sheet? [QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] I almost forgot to mention OMD’s “Genetic Engineering.” I’ll wager that that phrase never turned up in pop music before. [/QUOTE] [X-Ray Spex](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germ_Free_Adolescents) also wrote a song called “Genetic Engineering.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392846.md?page=6)