“Cat’s In the Cradle” (Harry Chapin) segues from: When you coming home, Dad? I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, son, you know we’ll have a good time then!
to: When you coming home, son? I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, Dad, you know we’ll have a good time then!
“Dani California” (Red Hot Chili Peppers) has a chorus that doesn’t change, but the phrase “simultaneous release” has a slightly different meaning each time it occurs: Sexual release, release from prison, and a suicide pact that the narrator chickened out of.
You are in a twisty little maze of passages.
You are in a little maze of twisting passages.
You are in a maze of twisting little passages.
You are in a little twisting maze of passages.
You are in a twisting maze of little passages.
You are in a maze of little twisty passages.
No Time At All from Pippin, sung by Pippin’s Granny (and Irene Ryan, Granny from The Beverly Hillbillies, originated the role on Broadway). First two verses have a chorus:
Oh, it’s time to start living.
Time to take a little from this world we’re given.
Time to take time, for spring will turn to fall
In just no time at all.
Last verse:
Oh, it’s time to start living.
Time to take a little from this world we’re given.
You are my time, so I’ll throw off my shawl.
And watching your flings being flung all over
Makes me feel young all over
In just no time at all.
Not yet mentioned in this thread, unless I’ve missed it; so, a crossover from another current thread in Cafe Society, “Well-known songs that many people have never heard”, which mentions “passim”, the song The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. A song which I love, but an extremely sad and depressing one – basically about Australia and World War I. The chorus starts in each case, with "And the band played / plays ‘Waltzing Matilda’ " – followed by three lines, always variously, of something horrific, distressing, or both.
but he never wrote a song for Linda
and she was right there all alone
loved him back to life
when his luck ran low
but he never wrote a Linda song
and he never wrote a song for Linda
and she was right there all alone
the one real thing in his crazy world
and he never wrote a Linda song
he’ll never write a song for Linda
and she was right there all alone
oh he knows,is no one understands
and he never wrote a Linda song
no he never wrote a Linda song Play Song
In “Adam’s Song” by Blink 182, the chorus the first two times goes:
I never conquered, rarely came
16 just held such better days
Days when I still felt alive
We couldn’t wait to get outside
The world was wide, too late to try
The tour was over we’d survived
I couldn’t wait till I got home
To pass the time in my room alone
The last time, it becomes:
I never conquered, rarely came
But tomorrow holds such better days
Days when I can still feel alive
When I can’t wait to get outside
The world is wide, the time goes by
The tour is over, I’ve survived
I can’t wait till I get home
To pass the time in my room alone
And if that’s not loving me, then all i’ve got to say,
God didn’t make the little green apples, and it don’t rain in indianapolis in the summer time.
And there’s no such thing as dr. seuss or disney land and mother goose, no nursery rhymes.
God didn’t make the little green apples, and it don’t rain in indianapolis in the summer time.
And when myself is feeling low, i think about her face and go and ease my mind.
And if that ain’t loving me, then all i’ve got to say,
God didn’t make the little green apples, and it don’t snow in minneapolis when the winter comes.
And there’s no such thing as make-believe, puppy dogs or autumn leaves, no bb guns.
God didn’t make the little green apples, and it don’t snow in minneapolis when the winter comes.
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana
Music and passion were always in fashion
At the copa… they fell in love
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana
Music and passion were always in fashion
At the copa… she lost her love.
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana
Music and passion were always in fashion
At the copa… don’t fall in love.
Sk8ter Boi - Avril Lavigne (what?)
He was a sk8ter boi, she said, “See ya later boy”
He wasn’t good enough for her
She had a pretty face but her head was up in space
She needed to come back down to earth
He was a sk8ter boi, she said, “See ya later boy”
He wasn’t good enough for her
Now he’s a superstar, slamin’ on his guitar
Does your pretty face see what he’s worth?
I’m with the sk8ter boi, I said, “See ya later boy”
I’ll be backstage after the show
I’ll be at his studio, singing the song we wrote
About a girl you used to know
Given its popularity, I’m surprised no one’s mentioned “Let It Go” from Frozen, although I suppose the choruses have more than a slight change of lyrics.
“You can’t start a fire
You can’t start a fire without a spark
This gun’s for hire
even if we’re just dancing in the dark”
“You can’t start a fire sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
This gun’s for hire
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
You can’t start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun’s for hire
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark”
You know it’s all beginning,
It’s all beginning,
To feel like it’s ending,
There’s no love as random,
As God’s love,
I can’t stand it,
I can’t stand it!
Crushingly, the third / last chorus changes to:
You know it’s all beginning,
It’s all beginning,
To feel like PRETENDING,
There’s no love as random,
As MY love,
I can’t stand it,
I can’t stand it!
Damn you Tweedy!!! Sorry so late to this party, just listened to Summer Teeth for the first time in over a decade and wanted to add it (if it’s not already included)…
The absolute champion in this category is “The Devil Glitch” by Waitresses founder Chris Carter.
The chorus of the “short”, five-minute version is built around a series of couplets, each slightly different from each other:
*Sometimes you can fix something by just being a prick
Winning by intimidation…
Sometimes you can fix something by just lifting your skirt
It’s the ultimate distraction…
Sometimes you can fix something by just kissing some ass
If you don’t mind humiliation…
Sometimes you can fix something by just smoking a pipe
Academic contemplation…*
The longer version of the song adds over 500 couplets, each slightly different, for a running time of just under sixty-nine minutes. It was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest pop song for a while, though the category’s been discontinued. Text of the full lyrics are here.
“Winds of the Old Days,” Joan Baez’s tribute to Bob Dylan:
1st two verses have the chorus:
And take me down to the harbor now
Grapes of the summer are low on the bough
Ghosts of my history will follow me there
And the winds of the old days will blow through my hair
Last verse:
And get you down to the harbor now
Most of the sour grapes are gone from the bough
Ghosts of Johanna will visit you there
And the winds of the old days will blow through your hair
hy don’t we turn the clock to zero honey
I’ll sell the stock we’ll spend all the money
We’re starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock all the way back
I wonder if she’ll take me back
I’m thinking in a brand new way
Turn the clock to zero sister
You’ll never know how much I missed her
I’m starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero boss
The rivers wide we’ll swim across
We’re starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero honey
I’ll sell the stock we’ll spend all the money
We’re starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero Mac
I’m begging her to take me back
I’m thinking in a brand new way
Turn the clock to zero boss
The river’s wide we’ll swim across
We’re starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero buddy
Don’t wanna be no fuddy duddy
We’re Starting up a brand new da