# Well-known songs that many people have never heard **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514 "2014-02-17T02:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/1 "2014-02-17T02:13:01Z")
In its entirety anyway. It’s hard to explain. I mean songs where a part of the song is well-known for whatever reason, sometimes commented on (very often in a jokey or derisive way) but where the song in its entirety is unknown except by big fans. I recently found a couple by accident when I discovered a bunch of videos of the Australian group The Seekers. Even at their corniest, I’ve always liked the voice of their lead singer Judith Durham, but I’d forgotten about them. They’re best known (to us old farts anyway) for their hits [“Georgy Girl,”](http://youtu.be/wsIbfYEizLk) [“A World Of Our Own,”](http://youtu.be/PSxwqBJLU8A) and [“I’ll Never Find Another You”](http://youtu.be/MsgXbSUMzR4) but I hadn’t heard much else. I was listening to their version of “Waltzing Matilda” and, while familiar with the existence of the song and the general chorus, I realized that I’d never actually heard the whole thing, let alone knew what it was about. So, how many non-Australians have ever heard the song in its entirety? [“Waltzing Matilda”](http://youtu.be/ESebV4H5JuM) (I never knew how crushingly sad it was until I [looked it up on Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltzing_Matilda), which includes the lyrics and glossary.) I’ve heard the title/chorus of this song regularly referenced as a snaky joke, but I’d never heard the whole thing until just a few minutes ago. I know it’s been covered a lot but I don’t follow the artists who’ve covered it. I don’t care about the lyrics, but melodically it’s really quite a beautiful song. Or maybe I just really like her voice. [“Kumbaya”](http://youtu.be/bYJMtn6IJeE) I’m trying to think of other examples. [“Tubular Bells”](http://youtu.be/QvBAu0PJ7A8) by Mike Oldfield - Just about everyone has heard the creepy musical motif from The Exorcist at one time or another, but I’ll bet most people have never heard the entire songpiece. Maybe there’s a good _reason_ why most people have never heard it (for one, you had to have had the album), but still, it’s a good example of how a part of a song is familiar but the rest isn’t. [“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”](http://youtu.be/-kHYdhw-HyY) was at one time famous for being a DJ’s “bowel movement” song, and a lot of (older) people can still hum the “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” part, but the whole 17 minute version is rarely if ever played anymore. More? ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/2 "2014-02-17T03:10:46Z")
Just the other day, my girlfriend and I were surprised to learn that the theme from _Portlandia_ is a snippet from an actual song. We found this out when it popped up on her Pandora. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/3 "2014-02-17T03:33:24Z")
I had been seeing references to the Leonard Cohen song “Suzanne” for about 20 years before I finally heard the song on satellite radio. I think his style of music just doesn’t lend itself to commercial radio. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/4 "2014-02-17T03:42:58Z")
I think classical music has a lot of these. Those of us who don’t listen as a general rule have heard snippets of musical pieces that in their entirety go on for hours (I think). Obvious examples being the theme from the Lone Ranger taken from the William Tell Overture. Also Ride of the Valkyries, and at Christmas time part of The Nutcracker. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/5 "2014-02-17T03:45:57Z")
I think there are a lot of well-known songs of which only the first one or two verses are generally known. One category is patriotic songs and anthems – “The Star-Spangled Banner” would be an obvious one for Americans. Lots of Christmas carols are also like this. “Mr. Tambourine Man” is probably another example, due to the Byrds’ abbreviated version. Back in the late 60s and early 70s, when popular music was advancing beyond the boundaries of top-40 radio, there were various “album versions” that were much longer than the better-known single versions. The OP mentioned one – “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”. Steppenwolf’s “Monster” is another prime example; the album version takes up most of an album side. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/6 "2014-02-17T03:52:25Z")
I think pretty much every native English speaker is familiar with snippets of Stephen Foster’s songs, but I don’t think many are aware of the original minstrel lyrics of some. For example: Oh! Susanna > [@](#): > > 1. > > I come from Alabama with my Banjo on my knee— > I’se gwine to Lou’siana my true lub for to see. > It rain’d all night de day I left, de wedder it was dry; > The sun so hot I froze to def—Susanna, dont you cry. > > Chorus: > Oh! Susanna, do not cry for me; > I come from Alabama, wid my Banjo on my knee. > > 1. > > I jump’d aboard the telegraph and trabbeled down de ribber, > De lectrie fluid magnified, and kill’d five hundred Nigger. > De bullgine bust, de hoss ran off, I really thought I’d die; > I shut my eyes to hold my bref—Susanna, dont you cry. > Chorus: > > 1. > > I had a dream de udder night, when ebry ting was still; > I thought I saw Susanna dear, a coming down de hill. > De buckweat cake was in her mouf, de tear was in her eye, > I says, I’se coming from de souf, – Susanna, dont you cry. > Chorus: or Old Folks at Home > [@](#): > > Way down upon de Swanee Ribber, > Far, far away, > Dere’s wha my heart is turning ebber, > Dere’s wha de old folks stay. > All up and down de whole creation > Sadly I roam, > Still longing for de old plantation, > And for de old folks at home. > > Chorus > All de world am sad and dreary, > Eb-rywhere I roam; > Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary, > Far from de old folks at home! > > 2nd verse > All round de little farm I wandered > When I was young, > Den many happy days I squandered, > Many de songs I sung. > When I was playing wid my brudder > Happy was I; > Oh, take me to my kind old mudder! > Dere let me live and die. > > 3rd Verse > One little hut among de bushes, > One dat I love > Still sadly to my memory rushes, > No matter where I rove. > When will I see de bees a-humming > All round de comb? > When will I hear de banjo strumming, > Down in my good old home? And if you think Waltzing Matilda is a sad song, you need to listen to [“The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0fF6oY6I4) A sadder song you’ll never hear. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/7 "2014-02-17T04:07:25Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > So, how many non-Australians have ever heard the song in its entirety? > > [“Waltzing Matilda”](http://youtu.be/ESebV4H5JuM) (I never knew how crushingly sad it was until I [looked it up on Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltzing_Matilda), which includes the lyrics and glossary. > [@Leaffan](#): > > And if you think Waltzing Matilda is a sad song, you need to listen to [“The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0fF6oY6I4) A sadder song you’ll never hear. Until this very moment, I didn’t realize that these were two different songs. Which is stupid, I suppose, considering the name of the second one (the only one I’ve heard in it’s entirety) more or less tells you that there are two songs. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/8 "2014-02-17T04:14:17Z")
The opening acoustic part to “Stairway to Heaven” is very well known, but the song is so long that later parts aren’t as famous. The same applies to lots of Bob Dylan songs - when it starts, everyone knows the words to “Mr. Tambourine Man,” but as the song goes on, the poetry is not as familiar. Also, “You Are My Sunshine” is a great example. Everyone knows > [@](#): > > You are my sunshine, my only sunshine > You make me happy when skies are grey > You’ll never know dear, how much I love you > Please don’t take my sunshine away Most people know > [@](#): > > The other night dear, as I lay sleepin’ > I dreamed, I held you by my side > When I awoke dear, I was mistaken > And I hung my head and I cry > > You are my sunshine, my only sunshine > You make me happy when skies are grey > You’ll never know dear, how much I love you > Please don’t take my sunshine away And not many people know > [@](#): > > You told me once dear, you really loved me > And no one else could come between > But now you’ve left me and you love another > And you have shattered all my dreams > _chorus_ > I’ll always love you and make you happy > If you will only say the same > But if you leave me to love another > But you’ll regret it all some day . . . which really gives a very different tone to the last two lines: > [@](#): > > Please don’t take my sunshine away > Please don’t take my sunshine away. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/9 "2014-02-17T04:41:21Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > I think classical music has a lot of these. Those of us who don’t listen as a general rule have heard snippets of musical pieces that in their entirety go on for hours (I think). > > Obvious examples being the theme from the Lone Ranger taken from the William Tell Overture. Also Ride of the Valkyries, and at Christmas time part of The Nutcracker. This is what I was going to mention. I think a lot of people would never hear any classical music if they didn’t watch cartoons. Or the intro to \*2001: A Space Odyssey, \*which is from “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” a half-hour-long piece. And there are lots of opera arias that are famous for a measure or two, like “Largo al factotum” (“Figaro, Figaro, Figaro,” etc.) from _The Barber of Seville,_ or the “March of the Toreadors” from _Carmen._ ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/10 "2014-02-17T04:54:47Z")
Great examples everybody, thanks! I’ll be listening to the full versions of these as I can. I didn’t even think of classical music/cartoons as an example and that’s the most perfect example of all!:smack: And I didn’t know there were two different Waltzing Matilda songs either. I haven’t had a chance to click on the “The Band Played…” link yet, but I will when I get back to my desktop. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/11 "2014-02-17T04:59:44Z")
[The full-length album version of Marvin Gaye’s "Let’s Get It On"](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6QZn9xiuOE)has an extra verse that was probably a bit too racy for many Top 40 stations in 1973. Everybody’s familiar with the sports arena jock jam [“Rock n’ Roll (Part 2)”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o9AGo_J7Hc) by noted pedophile Gary Glitter. Not as many, however, know ["Rock n’ Roll (Part 1)"](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm50uMEDm1s)which actually has lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/12 "2014-02-17T05:39:47Z")
Nearly everyone’s familiar with the [3-minute single version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bRZqjAYqwg) of Jethro Tull’s “Thick as a Brick”, or at least the [30-second Hyundai commercial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWNgblobKbE). I don’t think many people have heard the whole fucking thing. Same goes for ELP’s [Karn Evil 9](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karn_Evil_9); the full song is almost 30 minutes, but the version you hear on classic rock radio is just 5:30 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/13 "2014-02-17T05:43:28Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > This is what I was going to mention. I think a lot of people would never hear any classical music if they didn’t watch cartoons. I’m slow on the uptake more than I care to admit. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned that the music in old cartoons was classical. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/14 "2014-02-17T05:48:43Z")
Many non-Spanish speakers don’t know that the song _ **Three Caballeros** _ from the 1940s Disney cartoon is actually based upon a huge Mexican mariachi classic by Jorge Negrete called _ **Ay, Jalisco no te rajes** _ And as time passes more people will likely become unfamiliar with both songs as the Disney cartoon is rarely aired today due to some of its content not being politically correct by today’s standards and Jorge Negrete unfortunately died in his early 40s due to hepatitis. Reference: Disney version - [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCQY6hd4WW4) Jose Negrete - [Jorge Negrete --- ¡¡ Ay Jalisco No Te Rajes !! original cine - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVUDEeIhUow) ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/15 "2014-02-17T16:28:54Z")
"Waltzing Matilda"was known to everyone during World War II; I think some thought it was the Australian National Anthem. Played to welcome Australian servicemen on a TV show, etc. I used to know all the slang meanings. [Interesting example of writers, etc. using allusions that are missed by the following generations.] ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/16 "2014-02-17T16:52:30Z")
Several TV themes are parts of entire songs. For example, the “Bah bah bah” of How I Met Your Mother is part of an actual song (done by the show’s creators). ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/17 "2014-02-17T16:54:51Z")
[La Marseillaise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g) Most of us are only familiar with the opening line… which was quoted by the Beatles at the start of “All You Need Is Love” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/18 "2014-02-17T17:14:21Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Several TV themes are parts of entire songs. For example, the “Bah bah bah” of How I Met Your Mother is part of an actual song (done by the show’s creators). The theme from _House_ is a 1998 hit (UK #10) for the band Massive Attack, called “Teardrop.” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrIhQMr1Q10](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrIhQMr1Q10) The theme from _2 Broke Girls_ is a single from Swedish pop band Peter, Bjorn and John called “Second Chance.” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxcHS27DuEo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxcHS27DuEo) It didn’t make any charts but my friend Larry put it on his Top 100 of 2011 and he’s really cool lol The theme from _Community_ is called “At Least It Was Here” and is by The 88. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEGbjR1Y9Qo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEGbjR1Y9Qo) They happen to do a lot of work in TV and video games. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/19 "2014-02-17T17:33:11Z")
Speaking of Stephen Foster, “My Old Kentucky Home” is our state song (who’d of thought it!) and it’s played at lots of ballgames. It’s funny to watch people stand there and mumble until it the music swells and everyone bawls, WEEP NO MORE MY LADY! OH WEEP NO MORE TODAY as if their lives depended on it. Also because it’s the state song, no one has heard more than a the first verse, which is upbeat: > [@](#): > > The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home > ’Tis summer, the darkies\* are gay. \*[_changed to ‘people’ at some point]_ > The corn top’s ripe and the meadow’s in bloom > While the birds make music all the day. > The young folks roll on the little cabin floor > All merry, all happy and bright. > By 'n by hard times come a-knocking at the door > Then my old Kentucky home good night. > > Weep no more, my lady! > Oh, weep no more, today. > We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home > For the old Kentucky home far away. It’s sad, depicting slavery as it does. > [@](#): > > They hunt no more for the 'possum and the coon, > On meadow, the hill and the shore, > They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon, > On the bench by that old cabin door. > > The day goes by like a shadow o’er the heart, > With sorrow where all was delight. > The time has come when the darkies have to part, > Then my old Kentucky home, good night. > > The head must bow and the back will have to bend, > Wherever the poor folks may go. > A few more days and the trouble will end, > In the field where sugar-canes may grow. > > A few more days for to tote the weary load, > No matter, 'twill never be light > A few more days till we totter on the road, > Then my old Kentucky home, good night. According to Wikipedia, it’s in the Bugs Bunny cartoon _Southern Fried Rabbit_. (It is also public domain, for anyone concerned with copyrights.) ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514/20 "2014-02-17T17:53:30Z")
> [@K364](#): > > [La Marseillaise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g) > > Most of us are only familiar with the opening line… which was quoted by the Beatles at the start of “All You Need Is Love” Likewise [Rule Britannia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHNfvJc99YY), rarely heard stateside except for the first half of the chorus. (See: every establishing shot of London in an American comedy film ever.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-songs-that-many-people-have-never-heard/681514.md?page=2)