# Weirdest songs to ever hit the Top 40 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 10, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927 "2006-10-10T14:01:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/181 "2013-07-15T08:51:07Z")
Swamp Witch, by Jim Stafford. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IB0SxXTR_UI/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC6AKKAgwIABABGD4gWyhlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDphpQrEFaRuWVRQxWwhb0rBdA_Lg "Swamp Witch- Jim Stafford") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB0SxXTR_UI) Spooky, creepy, cool, a bit juvenile, but, sometimes, you need that. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/182 "2013-07-15T10:01:42Z")
Oddest thing I can think of from the UK charts would be Laurie Anderson’s [O Superman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VIqA3i2zQw) - it even got to #2 in 1981. Apologies if already mentioned - I ran a quick search on the thread and couldn’t see it though. ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/183 "2013-07-15T15:28:24Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > The #1 song in the US then was “Brand New Key” by Melanie Safka. Such an exercise in Freudian symbolism. A pubescent-sounding girl singing about a guy’s “brand-new key” and how they “should get together and try them out, you see.” :dubious: There are other double-entendres all through it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/184 "2013-07-15T15:40:43Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > White Rabbit. Jefferson Airplane. [QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan] How could anyone nominate White Rabbit? The 60’s were ALL ABOUT drugs!!! [/QUOTE] White Rabbit was a satire. It sounds like a drug trip, but is actually references to a couple of pieces of classic children’s literature - “Alice in Wonderland” and its sequel “Through the Looking Glass” Grace Slick was , in essense saying “Drug culture? Well, look what you’ve been encouraging us to read!” ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/185 "2013-07-15T17:44:49Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Man, some great choices here. I’ll throw in a few: > > “Ruby, don’t take your love to town”: Kenny Rodgers, I think. Disabled veteran moans about how he’d like to murder his cheatin’ wife. Real upbeat tune. This reminded me of Metallica’s “One”. It was their first Top 40 song in the US. Its about a guy who stepped on a landmine and blew his body to smithereens. He is basically a slab of meat with a heartbeat who spends all day begging people to kill him by blinking his eyes in morse code. Now that’s bubblegum pop for you. ---
**Author:** ![wharfrat\_72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5f9b8f/32.png) [@wharfrat\_72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wharfrat_72)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/186 "2013-07-15T17:57:55Z")
I am late to the post, but I have a song NOBODY has mentioned! Coca-Cola Douche by the Fugs! Saran Wrap was a follow-up hit also. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/187 "2013-07-15T18:20:19Z")
> [@wharfrat\_72](#): > > I am late to the post, but I have a song NOBODY has mentioned! > > Coca-Cola Douche by the Fugs! Saran Wrap was a follow-up hit also. That song was a Top 40 hit? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/188 "2013-07-15T18:26:13Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Finally, this Shatner-esque cover of [“If”, by Telly Savalas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J94-_w9ARX0), actually made it to #12 on the Adult Contemporary charts. And it got to the very top of the UK charts. At the time, I was slightly scared of [Lene Lovich](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGoEmhQP774) (“Lucky Number”) but watching that now, it’s pretty good! Cool lyric. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/189 "2013-07-15T22:51:44Z")
> [@MacLir](#): > > White Rabbit…sounds like a drug trip, but is actually references to a couple of pieces of classic children’s literature - “Alice in Wonderland” and its sequel “Through the Looking Glass” The two aren’t exactly mutually exclusive. Just like the Beatles’ getting the name “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” from something John’s son Julian said, doesn’t mean the content of the song had zip to do with drugs. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/190 "2013-07-15T22:57:37Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > Or, _King Tut_ by Steve Martin? Actually, it was by Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/191 "2013-07-15T22:59:19Z")
> [@tonyfop](#): > > This reminded me of Metallica’s “One”. It was their first Top 40 song in the US. Its about a guy who stepped on a landmine and blew his body to smithereens. He is basically a slab of meat with a heartbeat who spends all day begging people to kill him by blinking his eyes in morse code. Now that’s bubblegum pop for you. It was inspired by the book and movie “Johnny Got His Gun”. He doesn’t HAVE eyes any more; he beats his head against the pillow in Morse code. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/192 "2013-07-15T23:35:20Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > “[Pac Man Fever](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man_Fever)” by Buckner and Garcia Me too! Dumbest effing song ever. Though I was in 2nd grade at the time, I think we did a parody involving nuns and taking a crap or something… Still, our lyrics were better. I’ll add “The Night Chicago Died”. “Daddy was a cop…” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/193 "2013-07-15T23:39:23Z")
How about “Take Off” by Bob & Doug McKenzie, and a cameo appearance from Geddy Lee, who grew up with one of them? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/194 "2013-07-16T00:36:09Z")
> [@bup](#): > > And Sheila E’s _Toy Box_. And Madonna’s _Into the Groove_. _Only when I’m dancing can I feel this free At night I lock the doors, where no one else can see I’m tired of dancing here all by myself Tonight I wanna dance with someone else_ Dancing was/is a frequent euphemism for sex. Dancing by oneself, well pretty obvious. Masturbation seemed to be a fairly common thing in the 80’s. The men got into it, too. For example, Billy Idol had the song “Dancing With Myself”. Now it’s quite possible that he really was just referring to dancing with himself. He’s said the inspiration from the song came from Tokyo nightclubs where there’d be guys dancing alone for whatever reason. Quite possibly true. But this _is_ Billy Idol. And “love vibration” is such a lame lyric, that this song is no doubt also a big double entendre. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/195 "2013-07-16T00:52:14Z")
Ice Ice baby. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/196 "2013-07-16T01:06:08Z")
Just today I heard “Transfusion” by Nervous Norvus. Slip the claret to me, Barrett. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/197 "2013-07-16T10:32:04Z")
> [@Cumbrian](#): > > Oddest thing I can think of from the UK charts would be Laurie Anderson’s [O Superman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VIqA3i2zQw) - it even got to #2 in 1981. > > Apologies if already mentioned - I ran a quick search on the thread and couldn’t see it though. I was certain this had been mentioned several years ago when this thread was still fresh, but apparently not. As far as I am concerned, it’s the most unlikely popular hit ever. By radio standards, it lasts forever, 8:21. It’s got a highly minimalistic, almost Steve Reich-esque accompaniment. It’s a novelty song and it’s also a classic: its lyrics are somewhat inscrutable but highly evocative – it’s real poetry. I love this song but I’m at a complete loss to explain how it even ranked in any chart. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/198 "2013-07-16T19:38:30Z")
Two come to mind: In 1965 or '64 it was “The Crusher” by a professional wrestler of the same name. It did not last long, but it was quite popular. “Percolator” in the very early '60s. It had been a commercial for some coffee with the percolating coffee beat put to music. It broke into the top 40 briefly. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/199 "2013-07-16T20:11:26Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Just today I heard “Transfusion” by Nervous Norvus. > > Slip the claret to me, Barrett. Put a gallon in me, Alan! Slip the crimson to me, Jimson! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927/200 "2013-07-16T23:15:12Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > I was certain this had been mentioned several years ago when this thread was still fresh, but apparently not. As far as I am concerned, it’s the most unlikely popular hit ever. By radio standards, it lasts forever, 8:21. It’s got a highly minimalistic, almost Steve Reich-esque accompaniment. It’s a novelty song and it’s also a classic: its lyrics are somewhat inscrutable but highly evocative – it’s real poetry. I love this song but I’m at a complete loss to explain how it even ranked in any chart. Part of it was used in a commercial just a few months ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-songs-to-ever-hit-the-top-40/375927.md?page=11)