# Songs you know that AREN'T parodies but you'll probably never hear anybody else sing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 7, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661 "2021-12-07T19:46:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/1 "2021-12-07T19:46:29Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone else who knows all four verses of “The Star Spangled Banner” or Gene Roddenberry’s lyrics to the _ **Star Trek** _ theme. **Without looking them up,** can you tell us the real lyrics to “I’m Popeye, the Sailor Man,” “The Streets of Cairo,” or any other songs you’ll probably never hear anyone else sing? ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/2 "2021-12-07T19:50:43Z")
For some reason I memorized the words to the Popeye theme song. I’m not sure sure what the board rules for this are, but if you’re curious there’s several videos on YouTube containing the complete lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/3 "2021-12-07T19:56:41Z")
Right, if _you_ can sing it without looking it up, that qualifies. I’d be surprised if anyone else could. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/4 "2021-12-07T19:57:28Z")
I know the first verse of Solidarity Forever. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/5 "2021-12-07T20:12:40Z")
Odd - when I hear “Scotland the Brave” (great number, btw) I don’t hear any lyrics being sung - just bagpipes. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/6 "2021-12-07T20:15:24Z")
Oh, there are lyrics, I assure you. I laughed when I looked up the origin of “The Streets of Cairo” just now. All I could hear was a quote from _ **Seinfeld** _. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/7 "2021-12-07T20:16:43Z")
I know - I spose I should have re-worded that. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/8 "2021-12-07T20:45:00Z")
Prisencolinensinainciusol. It’s funny how it has a second life in commercials now, but I doubt Lady Gaga or anyone is going to do a cover. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/9 "2021-12-07T22:30:40Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone else who knows all four verses of “The Star Spangled Banner” Are you familiar with the World War 2 story of the sentry who captured German infiltrators by asking them to sing the third verse . . . . because he knew that no real American was likely to remember it? ---
**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:** [December 7, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/10 "2021-12-07T22:43:46Z")
I had patriotically obsessed 4th and 6th grade teachers… hmm, let’s see… On the shores dimly lit Through the mists of the deep (??) Though the foe’s haughty host (not quite it) And the (something) desolation yeesh, not doing well on the second verse, let’s try the third… And thus be it e’er Where free men shall stand … some stuff And conquer we must When our cause it is just And this be our motto In God is our trust And long shall that star spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free And the home of the brave Less well than I expected, to be honest, but some decently large fragments came back to me ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/11 "2021-12-07T22:46:58Z")
I know all the words to the Buster Brown shoe commercial (circa 195?). ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/12 "2021-12-08T00:17:19Z")
My big goal in life is to once sing along to “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan without stumbling over the words. I’ve known the song for a long time and theoretically know all the words , but I haven’t pulled it off so far. I doubt anybody else than Dylan can do it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/13 "2021-12-08T00:22:10Z")
I can sing, word for word, the theme song to the 1960’s TV show “_Car 54, Where Are You_” I have no explanation why I remember that 60 years later when I saw the program when I was 7-8. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/14 "2021-12-08T02:49:29Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I know all the words to the Buster Brown shoe commercial (circa 195?). Coincidence! I just so happen to know a couple lines from a 70’s animated one: _Here’s Buster Brown,_ _He lives in a shoe,_ _Here’s his dog Spot (RUFF!)_ _He lives in there too!_ The Last Post? ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/15 "2021-12-08T13:16:11Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Here’s his dog Spot (RUFF!) They must have changed his name. It used to be Tige. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/16 "2021-12-08T13:36:22Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > My big goal in life is to once sing along to “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan without stumbling over the words. I’ve known the song for a long time and theoretically know all the words , but I haven’t pulled it off so far. I doubt anybody else than Dylan can do it. Maybe with cue cards. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/17 "2021-12-08T14:43:34Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Gene Roddenberry’s lyrics to the _ **Star Trek** _ theme. That’s why they didn’t reuse the music for _Star Trek: The Animated Series._ Roddenberry added the lyrics without original composer Alexander Courage’s knowledge. Courage didn’t want to share royalties with him and refused to give permission. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/18 "2021-12-08T15:50:14Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > > My big goal in life is to once sing along to “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan without stumbling over the words. I’ve known the song for a long time and theoretically know all the words , but I haven’t pulled it off so far. I doubt anybody else than Dylan can do it. > > Maybe with cue cards. Well played! 😆 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/19 "2021-12-08T16:42:17Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > > [@terentii](#): > > > > Gene Roddenberry’s lyrics to the _ **Star Trek** _ theme. > > That’s why they didn’t reuse the music for _Star Trek: The Animated Series._ Roddenberry added the lyrics without original composer Alexander Courage’s knowledge. Courage didn’t want to share royalties with him and refused to give permission. Courage was told, he just didn’t pay attention. Hard to believe someone who had been working in Hollywood for so long failed to read the fine print on the contract. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661/20 "2021-12-08T21:27:15Z")
I used to be able to sing all the words to Life Is A Rock by Reunion. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/15wq1Yg_Ac4/hqdefault.jpg "Life Is A Rock - Reunion - 1974") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15wq1Yg_Ac4) Kukla, Fran and Norman Okla, Denver John and Osmond Donny… 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-know-that-arent-parodies-but-youll-probably-never-hear-anybody-else-sing/955661.md?page=2)