# Topic Playlist (Part 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [January 26, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687 "2024-01-26T15:37:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 367
**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:** [May 16, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7321 "2026-05-16T21:57:52Z")
**References to Authors** 1. “Just like the, old man in, that book by Nabokov.” - Don’t Stand So Close to Me by The Police 2. “Shinin’ in the dead of night I heard the pilot saying, poems that were written by John Keats and Robert Browning” - "Illusions in G Major\* by Electric Light Orchestra 3. “Tyger, Tyger, burning bright” - “William Blake” by Daniel Amos 4. “Neal and Jack and me” - “Neal and Jack and Me” by King Crimson, referencing Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac 5. The Dangling Conversation - Simon & Garfunkel 6. A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission) - Paul Simon 7. Mr. Buechner’s Dream - Daniel Amos The title is a reference to Frederick Buechner, but the song references many other authors (Chesterton, Lewis, O’Connor, Eliot, Percy, Sayers, Carroll, Greene) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7322 "2026-05-16T22:07:27Z")
**References to Authors** 1. “Just like the, old man in, that book by Nabokov.” - Don’t Stand So Close to Me by The Police 2. “Shinin’ in the dead of night I heard the pilot saying, poems that were written by John Keats and Robert Browning” - "Illusions in G Major\* by Electric Light Orchestra 3. “Tyger, Tyger, burning bright” - “William Blake” by Daniel Amos 4. “Neal and Jack and me” - “Neal and Jack and Me” by King Crimson, referencing Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac 5. The Dangling Conversation - Simon & Garfunkel 6. A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission) - Paul Simon 7. Mr. Buechner’s Dream - Daniel Amos 8. Grow Old Along With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter, based on lines by Robert Browning ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7323 "2026-05-16T22:11:41Z")
**References to Authors** 1. “Just like the, old man in, that book by Nabokov.” - Don’t Stand So Close to Me by The Police 2. “Shinin’ in the dead of night I heard the pilot saying, poems that were written by John Keats and Robert Browning” - "Illusions in G Major\* by Electric Light Orchestra 3. “Tyger, Tyger, burning bright” - “William Blake” by Daniel Amos 4. “Neal and Jack and me” - “Neal and Jack and Me” by King Crimson, referencing Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac 5. The Dangling Conversation - Simon & Garfunkel 6. A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission) - Paul Simon 7. Mr. Buechner’s Dream - Daniel Amos 8. Grow Old Along With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter, based on lines by Robert Browning 9. “The Tyranny of Distance” - Six Months in a Leaky Boat – Split Enz referencing historian Geoffrey Blainey’s magnum opus of that name. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7324 "2026-05-17T14:46:29Z")
**References to Authors** 1. “Just like the, old man in, that book by Nabokov.” - Don’t Stand So Close to Me by The Police 2. “Shinin’ in the dead of night I heard the pilot saying, poems that were written by John Keats and Robert Browning” - "Illusions in G Major\* by Electric Light Orchestra 3. “Tyger, Tyger, burning bright” - “William Blake” by Daniel Amos 4. “Neal and Jack and me” - “Neal and Jack and Me” by King Crimson, referencing Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac 5. The Dangling Conversation - Simon & Garfunkel 6. A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission) - Paul Simon 7. Mr. Buechner’s Dream - Daniel Amos 8. Grow Old Along With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter, based on lines by Robert Browning 9. “The Tyranny of Distance” - Six Months in a Leaky Boat – Split Enz referencing historian Geoffrey Blainey’s magnum opus of that name. 10. “Read about you in a Faulkner novel, Met you once in a William’s play” - Maybe It Was Memphis - Pam Tillis Pass ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7325 "2026-05-17T15:19:05Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7326 "2026-05-17T15:32:07Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7327 "2026-05-17T15:40:42Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” 3. “The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar” - Paul Simon, _Graceland_ ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7328 "2026-05-17T17:51:54Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” 3. “The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar” - Paul Simon, _Graceland_ 4. “You pack a bag, you say goodbye, you kiss me on the cheek and look me in the eye, you tell a lie that you will soon return to me.” - Sam Haft, _Merry Sinsmas_ from _Helluva Boss_ ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7329 "2026-05-17T18:40:41Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” 3. “The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar” - Paul Simon, _Graceland_ 4. “You pack a bag, you say goodbye, you kiss me on the cheek and look me in the eye, you tell a lie that you will soon return to me.” - Sam Haft, _Merry Sinsmas_ from _Helluva Boss_ 5. “I’ve been walking in the rain / Just to get wet on purpose / I’ve been forcing myself not to forget / Just to feel worse” - Electronic, “Getting Away With It” ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7330 "2026-05-17T18:54:03Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” 3. “The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar” - Paul Simon, _Graceland_ 4. “You pack a bag, you say goodbye, you kiss me on the cheek and look me in the eye, you tell a lie that you will soon return to me.” - Sam Haft, _Merry Sinsmas_ from _Helluva Boss_ 5. “I’ve been walking in the rain / Just to get wet on purpose / I’ve been forcing myself not to forget / Just to feel worse” - Electronic, “Getting Away With It” 6. “I wake up in the evening, and I ain’t got nothing to say; I get home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way.” - Billy Joel, “Dancing in the Dark” ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7331 "2026-05-17T18:55:31Z")
(I’ve never seen Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen in the same room, either) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7332 "2026-05-17T19:14:32Z")
(Watch _The Greatest Day In Rock_. Billy and the Boss were both part of USA for Africa.) ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7333 "2026-05-17T22:22:09Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” 3. “The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar” - Paul Simon, _Graceland_ 4. “You pack a bag, you say goodbye, you kiss me on the cheek and look me in the eye, you tell a lie that you will soon return to me.” - Sam Haft, _Merry Sinsmas_ from _Helluva Boss_ 5. “I’ve been walking in the rain / Just to get wet on purpose / I’ve been forcing myself not to forget / Just to feel worse” - Electronic, “Getting Away With It” 6. “I wake up in the evening, and I ain’t got nothing to say; I get home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way.” - Billy Joel, “Dancing in the Dark” 7. “Bought me a box of French cigars. Bought me a black beret. Get my French from a girl next door, teaching me night and day” - The Angels “Marseilles” ---
**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:** [May 17, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7334 "2026-05-17T22:56:23Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” 3. “The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar” - Paul Simon, _Graceland_ 4. “You pack a bag, you say goodbye, you kiss me on the cheek and look me in the eye, you tell a lie that you will soon return to me.” - Sam Haft, _Merry Sinsmas_ from _Helluva Boss_ 5. “I’ve been walking in the rain / Just to get wet on purpose / I’ve been forcing myself not to forget / Just to feel worse” - Electronic, “Getting Away With It” 6. “I wake up in the evening, and I ain’t got nothing to say; I get home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way.” - Billy Joel, “Dancing in the Dark” 7. “Bought me a box of French cigars. Bought me a black beret. Get my French from a girl next door, teaching me night and day” - The Angels “Marseilles” 8. “Nibblin’ on a sponge cake, watching the sun bake, all of those tourists covered with oil.” Jimmy Buffett, “Margaritaville” ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7335 "2026-05-17T23:50:35Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” 3. “The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar” - Paul Simon, _Graceland_ 4. “You pack a bag, you say goodbye, you kiss me on the cheek and look me in the eye, you tell a lie that you will soon return to me.” - Sam Haft, _Merry Sinsmas_ from _Helluva Boss_ 5. “I’ve been walking in the rain / Just to get wet on purpose / I’ve been forcing myself not to forget / Just to feel worse” - Electronic, “Getting Away With It” 6. “I wake up in the evening, and I ain’t got nothing to say; I get home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way.” - Billy Joel, “Dancing in the Dark” 7. “Bought me a box of French cigars. Bought me a black beret. Get my French from a girl next door, teaching me night and day” - The Angels “Marseilles” 8. “Nibblin’ on a sponge cake, watching the sun bake, all of those tourists covered with oil.” Jimmy Buffett, “Margaritaville” 9. “I heard the knock on my door, I heard the ring of the bell, I got the letter, but I couldn’t go. So many thoughts in my head, so many places to be, so many faces that I long to see, standing in front of me.” - Styx, “Lights” ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7336 "2026-05-18T03:46:25Z")
**Opening lines** 1. “You know I smoked a lot of grass, oh lord, I popped a lot of pills.” - Steppenwolf, _The Pusher_ 2. “I was there, to match my intellect, on national TV” - “Weird Al” Yankovic, “I Lost on Jeopardy” 3. “The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar” - Paul Simon, _Graceland_ 4. “You pack a bag, you say goodbye, you kiss me on the cheek and look me in the eye, you tell a lie that you will soon return to me.” - Sam Haft, _Merry Sinsmas_ from _Helluva Boss_ 5. “I’ve been walking in the rain / Just to get wet on purpose / I’ve been forcing myself not to forget / Just to feel worse” - Electronic, “Getting Away With It” 6. “I wake up in the evening, and I ain’t got nothing to say; I get home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way.” - Billy Joel, “Dancing in the Dark” 7. “Bought me a box of French cigars. Bought me a black beret. Get my French from a girl next door, teaching me night and day” - The Angels “Marseilles” 8. “Nibblin’ on a sponge cake, watching the sun bake, all of those tourists covered with oil.” Jimmy Buffett, “Margaritaville” 9. “I heard the knock on my door, I heard the ring of the bell, I got the letter, but I couldn’t go. So many thoughts in my head, so many places to be, so many faces that I long to see, standing in front of me.” - Styx, “Lights” 10. “Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar, you’re gonna go far.” - Pink Floyd, “Have a Cigar” pass ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7337 "2026-05-18T03:59:44Z")
**More opening lines** 1. “Sing me a song, you’re a singer; do me a wrong, you’re a bringer of evil. The devil is never a maker; the less that you give, you’re a taker.” - Black Sabbath, “Heaven and Hell” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7338 "2026-05-18T04:05:17Z")
**More opening lines** 1. “Sing me a song, you’re a singer; do me a wrong, you’re a bringer of evil. The devil is never a maker; the less that you give, you’re a taker.” - Black Sabbath, “Heaven and Hell” 2. “Sun is shinin’ in the sky, there ain’t a cloud in sight, it’s stopped rainin’, everybody’s in a play, and don’t you know It’s a beautiful new day” - Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Blue Sky” ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7339 "2026-05-18T04:17:11Z")
**More opening lines** 1. “Sing me a song, you’re a singer; do me a wrong, you’re a bringer of evil. The devil is never a maker; the less that you give, you’re a taker.” - Black Sabbath, “Heaven and Hell” 2. “Sun is shinin’ in the sky, there ain’t a cloud in sight, it’s stopped rainin’, everybody’s in a play, and don’t you know It’s a beautiful new day” - Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Blue Sky” 3. “Time after time, I sit and I wait for your call. I know I’m a fool, but what can I say? Whatever the price, I’ll pay, for you, Madame Blue.” - Styx, “Suite Madame Blue” ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687/7340 "2026-05-18T04:45:40Z")
**More opening lines** 1. “Sing me a song, you’re a singer; do me a wrong, you’re a bringer of evil. The devil is never a maker; the less that you give, you’re a taker.” - Black Sabbath, “Heaven and Hell” 2. “Sun is shinin’ in the sky, there ain’t a cloud in sight, it’s stopped rainin’, everybody’s in a play, and don’t you know It’s a beautiful new day” - Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Blue Sky” 3. “Time after time, I sit and I wait for your call. I know I’m a fool, but what can I say? Whatever the price, I’ll pay, for you, Madame Blue.” - Styx, “Suite Madame Blue” 4. “Cruisin’ down the center of a two way street, wond’rin’ who is really in the driver’s seat; mindin’ my bus’ness, along comes Big Brother, says, ‘Son, you better get on one side or the other.’” - Eagles, “On the Border” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687.md?page=366) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/topic-playlist-part-3/996687.md?page=368)