# Songs that seemingly never end **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231 "2012-11-16T19:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/81 "2012-11-19T09:20:45Z")
“Taxi” by Harry Chapin. Not only does it drone on interminably, but he actually wrote a sequel to it. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/82 "2012-11-19T09:26:35Z")
ELO - Strange Magic That song is like 5 minutes long, and 4 1/2 minutes of it is just the words “strange magic” repeated over and over. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/83 "2012-11-19T09:39:22Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > “Taxi” by Harry Chapin. Not only does it drone on interminably, but he actually wrote a sequel to it. Seems a bit unneeded. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/84 "2012-11-19T21:09:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Or, as Weird Al aptly put it, “This song is just six words long/this song is just six words long/this song is just six words long/this song is just six words long…” > > Although, of course, he was wrong. Even the original is seven words long… So Weird Al did a parody of a cover song? You all know that George H didn’t write “Got My Mind Set On You”, right? It was originally recorded in 1962 by James Ray. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/85 "2012-11-20T02:42:56Z")
_ **Memphis Blues** _ Always seems to be \*one more \*verse. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/86 "2012-11-20T03:02:09Z")
I started a similar thread a few years ago: [Pop songs that drag on and on - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536278) I still stand by my examples of Pearl Jam’s “Yellow Ledbetter,” Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See,” and Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page.” **Bayard** ’s example of “Jessica” is also an excellent candidate, although I think they could cut it to ten seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/87 "2012-11-20T03:11:55Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > So Weird Al did a parody of a cover song? You all know that George H didn’t write “Got My Mind Set On You”, right? It was originally recorded in 1962 by James Ray. You do know that Weird Al has parodied other cover songs, right? He did Tiffany’s version of “I Think We’re Alone Now” and Billy Idol’s version of “Mony Mony” on the same album as “This Song’s Just Six Words Long.” And believe it or not, I also know that Tommy James and the Shondelles did the originals for both “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Mony Mony.” ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/88 "2012-11-20T14:52:00Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I heard one just today and had the same thought. > > _I’m getting closer to my home…_ > mmm This one, way out in front. People who are citing other songs are either too young to have been exposed to this one or they’ve forgotten. Since **Mean Mr. Mustard** didn’t identify it for those attempting to play along at home, that turkey is Grand Funk Railroad’s [I’m Your Captain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1C2lbGwcHE). The repetitive part starts at 4:39 of a ten minute song. I don’t care how badly the “na na na’s” from Touching Loving Squeezing or the ones from Hey Jude grate on you, they don’t do so for more than 5 minutes, and in both of them the repetitions are building (adding extra instruments or voices, etc); not so with the Captain. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/89 "2012-11-20T16:14:29Z")
The _Layla_ coda goes on for so long it could make someone feel stabby. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/90 "2012-11-20T19:51:30Z")
Kenny Rogers: Through the Years. Ugh, My wife and I got married on my MIL and FIL’s 50th anniversary. So we had a 2nd wedding song wherein I had to dance with my MIL for that song that lasted FOREVER. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/91 "2012-11-20T20:41:04Z")
American Pie seems to go on forever. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/92 "2012-11-20T20:45:59Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > You do know that Weird Al has parodied other cover songs, right? He did Tiffany’s version of “I Think We’re Alone Now” and Billy Idol’s version of “Mony Mony” on the same album as “This Song’s Just Six Words Long.” Not to mention parodying the Los Lobos version of “La Bamba” on that same album. IIRC, only his parody of “Bad” was a parody of an original song. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/93 "2012-11-20T22:23:05Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > You do know that Weird Al has parodied other cover songs, right? He did Tiffany’s version of “I Think We’re Alone Now” and Billy Idol’s version of “Mony Mony” on the same album as “This Song’s Just Six Words Long.” > > And believe it or not, I also know that Tommy James and the Shondelles did the originals for both “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Mony Mony.” I assumed he was doing parodies of the originals. Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/94 "2012-11-21T01:18:49Z")
_In the Air Tonight_ by Phil Collins. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/95 "2012-11-21T01:27:30Z")
Oh, and _Blinded by the Light_ by Manfred Mann. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/96 "2012-11-21T15:11:09Z")
I would also nominate most songs by The Smithereens. Practically every single one ends with the singer endlessly repeating the title. I used to like them, even went to see them live, but once I became aware of that “habit” I could no longer stand them. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/97 "2012-11-23T19:48:30Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Not only that it’s too long, but that it’s that self-indulgent twaddle of a solo at the end that makes it too long. Yeah, the first part is exciting, but that long second part starts hurting the ears. > [@Ms\_Boods](#): > > Most of Beethoven is a two note motif followed by several hours of cadence. Allow Dudley Moore to demonstrate, barely escaping with his life: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazlqD4mLvw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazlqD4mLvw) Okay, (a) that is pretty funny, especially at the end with his expressions. And (b), I was unaware that Dudley Moore was a great pianist. But that’s damned impressive. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/98 "2012-11-23T20:17:03Z")
Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/99 "2012-11-23T20:24:57Z")
Red Red Whine… I just want them to drink the bottle and do one\*. - “Do one!” is North West England slang for “gtfo.” ---
**Author:** ![alindallas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@alindallas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alindallas)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/100 "2012-11-24T12:21:59Z")
BIRD IS THE (one and only) WORD. I know what your’e thinking, but STFU. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231.md?page=6)