# Songs that lists things **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 13, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251 "2014-02-13T15:23:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/141 "2019-01-27T00:52:06Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Two from Dylan: Forever Young and Blowing in the Wind Two more: - [Subterranean Homesick Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGxjIBEZvx0); and - [Maggie’s Farm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8yU8wk67gY). Plus one from Chuck Berry: - [Too Much Monkey Business](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2nRjGHE620) (which “Subterranean Homesick Blues” owes a lot to). ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/142 "2019-01-28T02:52:28Z")
_Seven Drunken Nights_ (also known as _You Old Fool_) features the narrator coming home every night and finding a different suspicious item in his house, and his wife making an excuse for why it’s there. > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Johnny Cash’s _I’ve Been Everywhere, Man_. Which, for the record, is a cover of a [Hank Snow song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jet7Ue743Do). I do agree that the Johnny Cash version is better. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/143 "2019-01-28T04:02:00Z")
Bob Dylan - “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” Stevie Wonder - “Black Man” and _For there’s Basie, Miller, Satchmo And the king of all, Sir Duke And with a voice like Ella’s ringing out There’s no way the band can lose_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/144 "2019-01-28T04:20:45Z")
They Might Be Giants list Alice Cooper songs in [Why Must I Be Sad?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3BCVtYkbIs) ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/145 "2019-01-28T04:43:58Z")
Gilbert and Sullivan’s “I’ve Got a Little List” from _the Mikado_ has been mentioned, but Gilbert wrote several other lyrics that are also lists: “A More Humane Mikado,” also from _Mikado_, covers much of the same ground as “I’ve Got a Little List,” though generally without encompassing anyone’s death (more about letting “the punishment fit the crime”). “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” from _Pirates of Penzance_ – the first two verses list the many unmilitary things the M-G can do and the last lists (basic) military things he’d like to do. “Were I Thy Bride,” in _Yeomen of the Guard_, has the character Phoebe listing what she’d do if she were married to the jailer Wilfred. “Rising Early in the Morning,” from _The Gondoliers_, lists the activities the joint kings of Barataria engage in during the course of a particular day. “If You Want a Receipt” from _Patience_ is sort of the ultimate in list songs–it’s a long enumeration of how you create a “heavy dragoon” in the English military by combining traits of “all of the popular figures in history”: “the keen penetration of Paddington Pollaky,” “the pluck of Lord Nelson on board of the Victory…” Mr. Gilbert did like his lists. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/146 "2019-01-28T16:06:31Z")
Loudon Wainwright III’s [Glad To See You’ve Got Religion](https://genius.com/Loudon-wainwright-iii-glad-to-see-youve-got-religion-lyrics) I’m glad to see you’ve got religion I’m glad to see you’ve gone to god I’m glad to see you’ve straightened all your lines And you’ve evened out your odds ETA: > [@CelticKnot](#): > > Whatever song became the theme for “The Big Bang Theory” by the Barenaked Ladies The first verse and refrain were written as the show’s theme song. When it became so popular (TV Guide’s reviewer Matt Roush called it "the best TV show theme song ever) BNL expanded it into a full length song. ---
**Author:** ![frubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@frubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frubes)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/147 "2019-01-29T06:32:13Z")
Sung by Linda Ronstadt, written by Lowell George ---
**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:** [January 31, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/148 "2019-01-31T14:45:34Z")
Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/149 "2019-02-02T07:35:01Z")
_Let’s tell the future Let’s see how it’s been done. By numbers. By mirrors. By water. By dots made at random on paper. By salt. By dice. By meal. By mice. By dough of cakes. By sacrificial fire. By fountains. By fishes. Writing in ashes. Birds. Herbs. Smoke from the altar._ Suzanne Vega, [Predictions](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/suzannevega/predictions.html) ---
**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 2, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/150 "2019-02-02T15:40:06Z")
The Beatles All Together Now lists numbers, letters and colors 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 I love you. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/151 "2019-02-02T15:56:19Z")
_Monday, at sister Suzy’s ball Tuesday, at the old dance hall Wednesday, at the road house inn Thursday, at the lion’s den Friday, at the chatter box Saturday and Sunday, everybody rocks_ Seven Nights To Rock – Nick Lowe ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_McGinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6bbea6/32.png) [@Mrs\_McGinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_McGinty)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/152 "2019-02-02T22:02:52Z")
Ball of Confusion - The Temptations (bad things happening at the end of the 60s) At the Zoo - Simon & Garfunkel (the animals’ personalities) Feeling Good - Nina Simone (things that know how the singer feels) The Hedgehog Can Never Be Buggered At All - Terry Pratchett et al. (things that can be buggered) ---
**Author:** ![nisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a8b319/32.png) [@nisi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisi)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/153 "2019-02-05T21:11:42Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > There was this 80s college-radio type song called “80 lines for 40 women” (or something) where the singer runs through all the women he’s slept with. I first heard it in high school and thought it was so cool. I heard it again some time later and realized it was the most awful, d-bag, embarrassing song of all time. I think it’s called 88 lines about 44 women and, you’re right, it’s terrible. I think it’s by The Nails? There’s a song called Punk Rock Heaven by Mary Prankster that lists punk-rocky type things. ---
**Author:** ![nisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a8b319/32.png) [@nisi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisi)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/154 "2019-02-05T21:12:44Z")
There’s also the cover of Ball of Confusion by Love & Rockets with a slightly updated list! ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/155 "2019-02-06T16:22:50Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > “Ten Duel Commandments” from **Hamilton** Can’t believe I’m gonna be the first to mention the song that’s a reference to, “Ten Crack Commandments” by Biggie Smalls. ---
**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 6, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/156 "2019-02-06T18:05:34Z")
Sixteen Reasons Why I Love You - Connie Stecens ---
**Author:** ![uncle\_squeegee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b5e925/32.png) [@uncle\_squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uncle_squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/157 "2019-02-06T20:36:55Z")
The Animaniacs created a song listing the [countries of the world](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x88Z5txBc7w). Being that it came out in early 90s, it is slightly out of date. And I just came across this [list of mistakes and omissions](https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-that-is-wrong-with-the-animaniacs-nations-of-the-world-song/)in it. Regardless, it’s still pretty darn. great. ---
**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 8, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/158 "2019-02-08T14:52:49Z")
> [@guy3fire](#): > > turn turn turn - the byrds. Classic California Jesus Movement of the 1960s converting Bible verse from Ecclesiastes’ list of a time for everything under heaven. Nitpick: Written and first recorded by folk singer Pete Seeger, who was about as New York as a person can get. I love the second verse of Albert Hammond’s It Never Rains In Southern California: I’m out of work, I’m out of my head Out of self respect, I’m out of bread I’m underloved, I’m underfed, I want to go home ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/159 "2019-02-08T18:29:31Z")
[Navajo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKZflh0z-bI), by Black Lips could be Cherokee, Inuit, Adai, Navajo, Sioux, Creek, Apache, Seminole, Hano, tomahawk, arrow, anywaythewindblow its just fine with me ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251/160 "2019-02-08T18:41:08Z")
The title track from Kate Bush’s album _50 Words For Snow_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-lists-things/681251.md?page=9)