“Taxi” by Harry Chapin. Not only does it drone on interminably, but he actually wrote a sequel to it.
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.
Seems a bit unneeded.
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.
Memphis Blues
Always seems to be *one more *verse.
I started a similar thread a few years ago: Pop songs that drag on and on - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board
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.
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.”
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. 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.
The Layla coda goes on for so long it could make someone feel stabby.
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.
American Pie seems to go on forever.
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.
I assumed he was doing parodies of the originals. Ignorance fought.
In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins.
Oh, and Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann.
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.
Yeah, the first part is exciting, but that long second part starts hurting the ears.
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.
Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun.
Red Red Whine… I just want them to drink the bottle and do one*.
- “Do one!” is North West England slang for “gtfo.”
BIRD IS THE (one and only) WORD.
I know what your’e thinking, but STFU.