# Songs where the different choruses have a slight change of lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965 "2012-09-17T13:54:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 17, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/1 "2012-09-17T13:54:42Z")
e.g., Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville: Chorus #1–But I know, it’s nobody’s fault… Chorus #2–But I think it could be my fault… Chrous #3–But I know it’s my own damn fault. Similarily, Looking Glass’s Brandy (You’re a fine girl) Chorus #1–Yes, your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea… Choruses # 2 & #3–But my life, my love and my lady is the sea. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/2 "2012-09-17T15:48:37Z")
_The Mercy Seat_, though not arranged in traditional verse-chorus structure, uses slightly-different recurring lines most effectively. And anyway I told the truth … And anyway I never lied. … And anyway there was no proof … But I’m afraid I told a lie. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/3 "2012-09-17T15:55:51Z")
Florence & The Machine, 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) First time around: > [@](#): > > Here I am a rabbit hearted girl > Frozen in the headlights > It seems I´ve made the final sacrifice Second > [@](#): > > I must become a lion hearted girl > Ready for a fight > Before I make the final sacrifice ---
**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:** [September 17, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/4 "2012-09-17T16:48:43Z")
Don Henley, “The End of the Innocence” You can lay your head back on the ground And let your hair fall all around me […] Just lay your head back on the ground And let your hair spill all around me […] Just lay your head back on the ground And let your hair fall all around me There’s other slight changes in the refrain as well but the head/hair thing always felt somewhat arbitrary to me. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/5 "2012-09-17T16:56:53Z")
Rain King by Counting Crows She’s been crying I’ve been thinking And I am the Rain King She’s been lying I’ve been sinking And I am the Rain King She’s been dying I been drinking and I am the Rain King ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/6 "2012-09-17T17:07:02Z")
The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix And the wind whispers, Mary. And the wind cries, Mary. And the wind screams, Mary. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/7 "2012-09-17T17:08:41Z")
The Beatles have a few. **Let It Be:** Speaking words of wisdom Whisper words of wisdom **Rocky Raccoon:** Rocky Raccoon checked into his room Only to find Gideon’s bible Rocky Raccoon fell back in his room Only to find Gideon’s bible **Hey Jude** The minute you let her under your skin Then you begin to make it better Remember to let her under your skin Then you’ll begin to make it better mmm ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/8 "2012-09-17T17:25:32Z")
Don Henley, The Boys of Summer. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/9 "2012-09-17T17:36:55Z")
Mean Mr. Mustard , you forgot the Beatles ‘Ob-la-di, ob-la-da’? for shame _Happy ever after in the market place… Desmond lets the children lend a hand… Molly stays at home and does her pretty face… … Happy ever after in the market place… Molly lets the children lend a hand… Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face…_ My vote for minimalist chorus change that meets the OP’s criteria… Faith No More’s “We Care A Lot” _“It’s a dirty job but someones gotta do it”_ till the very last rep in the song… _“It’s a dirty song but someone’s gotta sing it”_ ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/10 "2012-09-17T17:39:15Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Rain King by Counting Crows > > She’s been crying I’ve been thinking And I am the Rain King > She’s been lying I’ve been sinking And I am the Rain King > She’s been dying I been drinking and I am the Rain King Counting Crows do this to varying degrees in a lot of their songs. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/11 "2012-09-17T18:36:25Z")
Fun Fun Fun by the Beach Boys. “And she’ll have fun, fun, fun til her daddy takes the t-bird away,” in the end becomes “And we’ll have fun, fun, fun now that daddy took the t-bird away.” That always struck me as a little creepy, honestly. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/12 "2012-09-17T18:44:53Z")
How about the Who’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It”? The chorus responds to Tommy twice: “We’re not gonna take it Never did and never will We’re not gonna take it Gonna break it Gonna shake it Let’s forget it, better still” “We’re not gonna take it Never did and never will Don’t want no religion And as far as we can tell We ain’t gonna take you Never did and never will We’re not gonna take you We forsake you Gonna rape you Let’s forget you, better still” ---
**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/13 "2012-09-17T19:08:25Z")
The Smiths do this in “You’ve Got Everything Now”: 1 But I don’t want a lover I just want to be seen…oh…in the back of your car 2 But I don’t want a lover I just want to be tied…oh…to the back of your car ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/14 "2012-09-17T19:17:34Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Mean Mr. Mustard , you forgot the Beatles ‘Ob-la-di, ob-la-da’? for shame > > _Happy ever after in the market place… > Desmond lets the children lend a hand… > Molly stays at home and does her pretty face… > … > Happy ever after in the market place… > Molly lets the children lend a hand… > Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face…_ Those are verses. The chorus is the “Ob-La-Di” part. And “Rocky Racoon” has no chorus. It has a longish introduction, several verses, and a tag. ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/15 "2012-09-17T19:40:04Z")
Bruce Springsteen, “Brilliant Disguise” First two times around: > [@](#): > > So tell me who I see > When I look in your eyes > Is that you, baby > Or just a brilliant disguise? Third (and last time): > [@](#): > > So when you look at me > You better look hard, look twice > Is that me, baby > Or just a brilliant disguise? ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/16 "2012-09-17T20:05:41Z")
U2 _All I Want is You_ “all the promises we make from the cradle to the grave” “the promises we break from the cradle to the grave” ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/17 "2012-09-17T20:08:07Z")
Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill” has slightly different recurring lines: …My heart going boom boom boom “Son,” he said “Grab your things, I’ve come to take you home.” …My heart going boom boom boom “Hey” he said “Grab your things I’ve come to take you home.” …My heart going boom boom boom “Hey” I said “You can keep my things, They’ve come to take me home.” ---
**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:** [September 17, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/18 "2012-09-17T20:13:35Z")
Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” And you want to travel with her And you want to travel blind And you know that she will trust you For you’ve touched her perfect body with your mind. … And you want to travel with him And you want to travel blind And you think maybe you’ll trust him For he’s touched your perfect body with his mind. … And you want to travel with her And you want to travel blind And you know that you can trust her For she’s touched your perfect body with her mind. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/19 "2012-09-17T20:41:13Z")
Kris Kristofferson’s “Me & Bobby McGee”: “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose And nothing ain’t worth nothing but it’s free…” “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose And nothing left was all she left to me…” Townes Van Zandt’s “Pancho and Lefty”: “All the federales say They could have had him any day They only let him hang around Out of kindness I suppose” “All the federales say They could have had him any day They only let him slip away Out of kindness I suppose” “A few gray federales say They could have had him any day They only let him go so wrong Out of kindness I suppose” (The first chorus refers to Pancho; the second, and presumably the third, to Lefty.) ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965/20 "2012-09-17T20:54:19Z")
Wilco. Can’t stand it. First couple times " nothing’s as random as gods love". By the end he admits that “nothings as random as my love”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-different-choruses-have-a-slight-change-of-lyrics/634965.md?page=2)