# Songs that spell! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2006, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062 "2006-01-02T08:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/1 "2006-01-02T08:03:35Z")
And by “spell,” I don’t mean anything educational, in a teach-the-kids-how-to-spell manner. I’m referring to songs that actually garner some airplay. For instance: “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” by Tammy Wynette, “Lola,” by The Kinks (and, I guess, “Yoda” by Weird Al by extention) In other words, I’m deliberately avoiding “YMCA,” by the Village People, which doesn’t actually _spell_ anything. Likewise, no one I know of spells “Old MacDonald” with an “EIEIO.” Others? ---
**Author:** ![PsychoWench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9a140/32.png) [@PsychoWench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PsychoWench)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/2 "2006-01-02T08:56:21Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > And by “spell,” I don’t mean anything educational, in a teach-the-kids-how-to-spell manner. I’m referring to songs that actually garner some airplay. For instance: > > “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” by Tammy Wynette, > “Lola,” by The Kinks (and, I guess, “Yoda” by Weird Al by extention) > > In other words, I’m deliberately avoiding “YMCA,” by the Village People, which doesn’t actually _spell_ anything. Likewise, no one I know of spells “Old MacDonald” with an “EIEIO.” > > Others? Schadenfreude by the Avenue Q cast spells out it’s name, but probably isn’t what you’re looking for. One of the Gwen Stefani songs whose existance I refuse to admit has one of the stupidest examples in the world. I know there are more, but I can’t think of them right now. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/3 "2006-01-02T08:58:16Z")
Frank Zappa had a song about a blow-up doll named Ms Pinky: > [@](#): > > I had a girl with a little rubber head > Rinse her out every night just before I go to bed > She never talk back like a lady might do > And she looks like she loves it every time I get through > > And her name is P, I, N-K-Y ---
**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:** [January 2, 2006, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/4 "2006-01-02T09:14:54Z")
Gloooorrriiiiaaaa… G-L-O-R-I-A!!! Gloooorrrriiiiaaaaa!!! And, of course, “Respect” though that’s not nearly as much fun to sing mentally as I type it. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2006, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/5 "2006-01-02T09:17:50Z")
I suppose I should credit those to Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin respectively. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/6 "2006-01-02T10:55:09Z")
I can’t believe I’m the first to post this… \* Hollaback Girls\* by Gwen Stefani…"The shit is Bananas…B-A-N-A-N-A-S! ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/7 "2006-01-02T11:26:01Z")
“Saturday Night” by the Bay City Rollers. “S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y…NIGHT!” I had an insane science teacher in high school who sang this constantly, usually while blowing things up. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/8 "2006-01-02T11:54:23Z")
The last line of The Jam’s “A-Bomb In Wardour Street” - “A- P - O - C - A - L - Y - P - S - E, Apocalypse!!” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/9 "2006-01-02T11:58:54Z")
What about: “A,” you’re adorable, “B,” you’re so beautiful, “C,” you’re a cutie full of charms. “D,” you’re a darling and “E,” you’re exciting And “F,” you’re a feather in my arms. “G,” you look good to me, “H,” you’re so heavenly, “I,” you’re the one I idolize. “J,” we’re like Jack and Jill, “K,” you’re so kissable, “L,” is the lovelight in your eyes. “M,” “N,” “O,” “P,” I could go on all day. “Q,” “R,” “S,” “T,” alphabetically speaking, you’re OK. U," made my life complete, “V,” means you’re very sweet, Double-“U” “X” “Y” “Zee.” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/10 "2006-01-02T13:50:24Z")
John Cougar Mellencamp’s “R-O-C-K in the U-S-A” Al Green’s “L-O-V-E (Love)” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/11 "2006-01-02T13:51:51Z")
The Fabulous THunderbirds sang “How do you spell love? M-O-N-E-Y.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/12 "2006-01-02T13:58:22Z")
**The Modern Lovers** “Girlfriend”, but Jonathan Richman spells it, G-I-R-L-F-R-E-N… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/13 "2006-01-02T14:18:16Z")
I always liked that Sesame Street spelling/singing of the alphabet that’s pretty hard to pronounce. It’s like pronouncing the QWERTY keyboard, which is also fun. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/14 "2006-01-02T14:18:41Z")
**Ragmop** by the Ames Brothers. _R, I say R-A, R-A-G, R-A-G-G, Rag, R-A-G-G-M-O-P-P, Ragmop_ And then there’s this classic _B-I-N-G-O and Bingo was his name-O_ ---
**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 2, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/15 "2006-01-02T14:21:00Z")
The English cast of “Starlight Express” has “U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D,” and the German “G.E.K.U.P.P.L.E.T.” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/16 "2006-01-02T14:32:50Z")
From _Woodstock_ **Country Joe McDonald** from _I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag_: Country Joe McDonald: Gimme an F! Crowd: F! Country Joe McDonald: Gimme a U! Crowd: U! Country Joe McDonald: Gimme a C! Crowd: C! Country Joe McDonald: Gimme a K! Crowd: K! Country Joe McDonald: What’s that spell? Crowd: FUCK! ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/17 "2006-01-02T14:49:55Z")
M is for the many things she gave me… ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/18 "2006-01-02T14:50:50Z")
“Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother” by Ray Wylie Hubbard: M is for the mud flaps you give me fer my pickup truck O is for the Oil I put on my hair T is fer T-bird H is fer Haggard E is fer eggs, and R is fer REDNECK Up against the wall Redneck Mother, Mother, who has raised her son so well. He’s thirty-four and drinking in a honky tonk. Kicking hippies’ asses and raising hell. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/19 "2006-01-02T15:04:13Z")
ABCDEFGH I got a gal in Kalamazoo Don’t wanna boast But I know she’s the toast Of Kalamazoo-zoo-zoo-zoo-zoo-zoo. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062/20 "2006-01-02T15:18:54Z")
[Old thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=261103&highlight=songs+spell) with a bunch more. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-spell/338062.md?page=2)