# That'll teach you! Songs that are lessons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 9, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555 "2025-12-09T15:32:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/101 "2025-12-10T15:46:56Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > But Chapin had a vast body of work, a lot of which actually had a lesson. And so many of which are really heartbreaking. Somehow it seems almost fated that he died so young - one more tragedy on top of all the ones he sang about. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/102 "2025-12-10T16:05:13Z")
[Coach’s method for learning geography](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhXDcxAM0zc) I still remember that Albania borders on the Adriatic, is mostly mountainous, and exports chrome. I don’t think it’s a red regime anymore though. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/103 "2025-12-10T16:17:22Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > “Mr. Tanner”: Don’t get too full of yourself. or let others get you that way. Huh. That’s not the lesson I would have gotten from that song - more like a narrative description of how art can lift the soul and how the strictures of commerce can crush it - the kind of thing I figure Harry probably had to deal with on occasion himself. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/104 "2025-12-10T16:18:13Z")
_Pinky and the Brain_ on neuroanatomy: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dq2SDObsLjk/maxresdefault.jpg "Brainstem- Pinky and the Brain [CC]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq2SDObsLjk) ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/105 "2025-12-10T16:26:00Z")
Tom Lehrer teaches three ways of doing subtraction, including in octal: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W6OaYPVueW4/hqdefault.jpg "Tom Lehrer: New Math (concert live) (1965)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6OaYPVueW4) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/106 "2025-12-10T16:51:29Z")
Here’s a history/geography lesson regarding a specific ancient city in Asia Minor. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Wcze7EGorOk/maxresdefault.jpg "The Four Lads - Istanbul (not Constantinople)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcze7EGorOk) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/107 "2025-12-10T16:55:02Z")
For Spanish-speaking kids to learn English: “_Pollito,_ chicken; _gallina_, hen; _lapiz_, pencil; _y pluma_, pen…” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9OBpwwsuYos/maxresdefault.jpg "Pollito Chicken") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OBpwwsuYos) ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/108 "2025-12-10T17:39:54Z")
That was priceless – thanks for posting! ---
**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 10, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/109 "2025-12-10T18:02:58Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Truckers should be sure to check their brakes _before_ starting down long steep grades and should also shift to low gear, especially when there is a sign telling them to do so. Wolf Creek Pass teaches the same lesson. Also about checking your route ahead of time for low clearance situations. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/110 "2025-12-10T18:11:12Z")
Billy Joel’s _We Didn’t Start the Fire_ teaches you a lot about 40 years of US history, if you’re able to learn about an event just by hearing a name. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/111 "2025-12-10T20:41:00Z")
For a handy if incomplete guide to the lineup at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, look no further… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xExo67OLrdY/hqdefault.jpg "MONTEREY - Eric Burdon & The Animals (With Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xExo67OLrdY) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/112 "2025-12-11T02:27:29Z")
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum estimates there have been 6,000 ships sunk since the 17th century, but I can only give you [the details of one.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFkyDB2InTs) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/113 "2025-12-11T05:07:06Z")
More They Might be Giants (I told you they have a lot of these). “Mammal” teaches you about mammals. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/14jjo7MtSzE/maxresdefault.jpg "Mammal") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14jjo7MtSzE) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/114 "2025-12-11T11:47:03Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Weird Al’s “Pancreas” teaches both anatomy and physics Speaking of Weird Al, he also teaches us [the common types of hernias that you can get](https://youtu.be/X8Ow1nlafOg?t=148). ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/115 "2025-12-11T14:53:20Z")
[This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B07WIKUKoMc) is a _ **very** _ obscure song about aluminum, and what it can be used for. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/116 "2025-12-11T14:55:30Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Thirty Thousand Pounds of Bananas” anything but a foolery song?) “Check your brakes before descending steep slopes”? Oops: posted before finishing the thread posts. I’m outta here. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/117 "2025-12-11T15:25:29Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Slightly dated advice: If advice that teaches something that isn’t necessary anymore is OK, then Alice’s Restaurant teaches us how to avoid the draft: > I went over to the sargent, said, “Sargeant, you got a lot a damn gall to > ask me if I’ve rehabilitated myself, I mean, I mean, I mean that just, I’m > sittin’ here on the bench, I mean I’m sittin here on the Group W bench > ‘cause you want to know if I’m moral enough join the army, burn women, > kids, houses and villages after bein’ a litterbug.” He looked at me and > said, “Kid, we don’t like your kind, and we’re gonna send you fingerprints > off to Washington.” As well as how to dispose of trash on Thanksgiving Day, when the dump is closed: > …we came to a side road, and off the side of the > side road there was another fifteen foot cliff and at the bottom of the > cliff there was another pile of garbage. And we decided that one big pile > is better than two little piles, and rather than bring that one up we > decided to throw our’s down. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/118 "2025-12-11T15:47:47Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum estimates there have been 6,000 ships sunk since the 17th century, but I can only give you [the details of one.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFkyDB2InTs) Yup…see [Post #55](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/55). ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/119 "2025-12-11T17:44:35Z")
> [@robby](#): > > If recounting historical events counts, then I nominate the Gordon Lightfoot ballad _[The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcc8pzMNo2I)_. And if that one counts, then we should also include a song about another historical transportation related disaster, the [Wreck of the Old 97](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreck_of_the_Old_97). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GGz7FpR2O8o/maxresdefault.jpg "The Wreck of the Old 97") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGz7FpR2O8o) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555/120 "2025-12-11T17:46:30Z")
There might be a bit of a difference between songs that teach general lessons and songs that relate bits of history, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thatll-teach-you-songs-that-are-lessons/1025555.md?page=7)