# Songs that scan to other songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523 "2004-08-05T22:50:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/1 "2004-08-05T22:50:16Z")
Some time ago I listened to Tom Lehrer’s classic bit (I forget from which album) on how professional musicians would have done the American folk song _Clementine_ differently. (He began with the observation: “The reason most folk songs are so atrocious is that they were written by the people.”) Playing around with the idea, it suddenly occurred to me that the lyrics to _Clementine_ would scan perfectly to the melody of Beethoven’s _Ode to Joy!_ Try it! In a cavern, in a canyon Excavating for a mine Lived a miner Forty-Niner And his daughter Clementine Oh my darling, oh my darling Oh my darling Clementine You are lost and gone forever Dreadful sorry, Clementine Recently I shared this discovery with the Doper world on a GD thread – “What’s the deal with LaRouche?” – [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268703](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268703) (The connection? The LaRouchies are huge Beethoven fans – what that would have to do with political ideology is not clear to me, but apparently it is to them.) And then **Bryan Ekers** pointed out, “The melody of _La Cucaracha_ works, too.” Fancy that! So you could sing the _Clementine_ lyrics to the tune of _La Cucaracha_ – and the _Ode to Joy_ lyrics (if you know them – it’s a musical setting of a poem by Schiller) to either one! What songs do you know, whose lyrics would fit with other songs’ melodies? (Leaving out, of course, songs that were **written** to trope the text of songs previously written, like a lot of Weird Al’s material, or those timeless classics from _Mad_ magazine – “You’re a fat old hag, you’re an unsightly bag / Though you’re still my true love, Emmy Lou / You’re the emblem of the land I love / Your complexion is red, white and blue . . .”) ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/2 "2004-08-05T23:06:03Z")
The Gilligan’s Island theme song and the hymn Amazing Grace scan with one another in this fashion as well. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/3 "2004-08-05T23:12:43Z")
> [@TeaElle](#): > > The Gilligan’s Island theme song and the hymn Amazing Grace scan with one another in this fashion as well. 😛 One reason I got interested in this was because of “Scans to Argo,” a memorable parody of the even more memorable Leslie Fish filk classic “Banned From Argo.” (Chorus: “With songs of seven iambs and a meter of 4/4 / we’ll all screw “Banned from Argo” up once more!”) The “Gilligan’s Island” theme was in there, but I don’t remember “Amazing Grace” – I’ve tried and failed to find “Scans to Argo” on the Net . . . ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/4 "2004-08-05T23:37:14Z")
I rather enjoy the **Blind Boys of Alabama** version of “Amazing Grace” sung to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun”. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/5 "2004-08-05T23:49:11Z")
So that should mean that the Theme from Gilligan’s Island should scan to House of the Rising Sun. I’ve also heard it sung to the tune of Stairway to Heaven. Greensleeves and Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do scan to each other. I’m guessing that a lot of songs cross-scan. How would you go about looking for matches? Length of line and number of lines per verse? Ditto for chorus? Make a table and look for matches? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/6 "2004-08-06T00:09:49Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > So that should mean that the Theme from Gilligan’s Island should scan to House of the Rising Sun. I’ve also heard it sung to the tune of Stairway to Heaven. The lyrics of the _Gilligan_ theme, “Amazing Grace”, and “House of the Rising Sun” can all be sung to each other’s tunes. And all of their lyrics can be sung to the tune of “Stairway to Heaven”, but you can’t sing the lyrics of “Stairway” to the tunes of any of those other songs. > [@](#): > > I’m guessing that a lot of songs cross-scan. Like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Baa Baa Black Sheep” and the alphabet song. > [@](#): > > How would you go about looking for matches? Length of line and number of lines per verse? Ditto for chorus? Make a table and look for matches? I think that would work. Traditional hymnals list that sort of thing: for instance, above “Rock of Ages”, the 1940 Espiscopal hymnal has 77.77.77 at the top of the page, indicating six half-lines of seven syllables each per verse. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/7 "2004-08-06T02:15:38Z")
Robert Frost’s famous poem “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” fits _Hernando’s Hide-away_ to perfection. Who’s woods These are I think I know. He lives Within The village though. He will Not see Me stopping here, To watch, His woods Fill up with snow. &c. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/8 "2004-08-06T12:14:34Z")
Of course there’s that whole “Anything by Emily Dickinson” and “Yellow Rose of Texas” thing. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/9 "2004-08-06T13:21:15Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > Of course there’s that whole “Anything by Emily Dickinson” and “Yellow Rose of Texas” thing. “Oh Susannah” works in place of “Yellow Rose,” as well. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/10 "2004-08-06T13:26:16Z")
Sing the following words to the tune of the _M_A_S_H\* theme song: _Just a good old boys, never meanin’ no harm, Been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. Makin’ their way, trappin’ their kill, Someday the mountain might get 'em, but the law never wi-iiiiiiill_ It’s the Dukes of Mash! ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/11 "2004-08-06T13:34:24Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Baa Baa Black Sheep” and the alphabet song. That might have a little something to do with the fact that all 3 of those songs use the **same freakin’ tune!** 😛 ---
**Author:** ![trishka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@trishka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trishka)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/12 "2004-08-06T13:55:40Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > Sing the following words to the tune of the _M_A_S_H\* theme song: > > _Just a good old boys, never meanin’ no harm, > Been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. > Makin’ their way, trappin’ their kill, > Someday the mountain might get 'em, but the law never wi-iiiiiiill_ > > It’s the Dukes of Mash! Which means should be able to transpose the lyrics of the M_A_S\*H theme song (Suicide Is Painless) to the Dukes of Hazard tune. Through early morning fog I see Visions of the things to be The pains that are withheld for me I realize and I can see That suicide is painless It brings on many changes And I can take or leave it if I please But, it’s not working for me. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/13 "2004-08-06T17:03:23Z")
While it is a Weird Al song, he really merely brought it to our attention: The lyrics to the _Beverly Hillbillies_ theme fits perfectly over Dire Straits’ _Money for Nothing_. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/14 "2004-08-06T17:39:59Z")
The lyrics to the theme from “Green Acres” scan pretty well to “Purple Haze.” (“Green Haze?”) ---
**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:** [August 6, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/15 "2004-08-06T17:50:38Z")
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun” (courtesy of the Bob Rivers Christmas album) ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/16 "2004-08-06T17:54:13Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > Sing the following words to the tune of the _M_A_S_H\* theme song: > > _Just a good old boys, never meanin’ no harm, > Been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. > Makin’ their way, trappin’ their kill, > Someday the mountain might get 'em, but the law never wi-iiiiiiill_ > > It’s the Dukes of Mash! A pity that those aren’t the words to the Ballad of Hazzard County. Just two good ol’ boys, never meanin’ no harm, beats all you never saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. Straightenin’ the curves, flattenin’ the hills, Someday the mountain might get 'em but the law never will. I don’t think that’s going to work. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/17 "2004-08-06T18:15:35Z")
I’m glad to see this thread; I had noticed the same thing myself and kept meaning to bring it up. Several of us had noticed the Gilligan’s Island-House of the Rising Sun connection. We eventually came up with: Gilligan’s Island House of the Rising Sun Oh Little Town of Bethlehem God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen America the Beautiful which all work (try it yourself). Pinball Wizard sort of works too (the main theme scans but the chorus doesn’t). Anyone have any others? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/18 "2004-08-06T18:28:16Z")
the DJ at WBER in Rochester once commented after playing Du Hast that “It’s Tricky” could be sung over it. I didn’t believe him till he started playing it again and sang over it…it worked! ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/19 "2004-08-06T19:55:22Z")
The words for “America the Beautiful” can be sung perfectly to the melody of “Auld Lang Syne”. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523/20 "2004-08-06T20:14:52Z")
Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. Like Twinkle twinkle little star, and others already mentioned, these lines are in trochaic meter, a long or heavily accepted first syllable followed by a short one. The Davy Crockett meter is particularly strong in this regard: DAY’ vee, DAY’ vee CROCK et So any words that are trochaic will fit into the scheme and will enter your head and not leave it for days on end while you go around muttering random words in a rhythmic beat and frightening little children and impressionable adults. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-scan-to-other-songs/258523.md?page=2)