# What songs are genuinely funny? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927 "2003-06-10T18:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/1 "2003-06-10T18:26:02Z")
What songs are truly hilarious? Especially songs that are not by performers who normally go for laughs. If I were to compile the funniest songs of all time, what should be included? ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/2 "2003-06-10T18:43:49Z")
How about Guns 'N Roses? Used To Love Her I used to love her But I had to kill her I used to love her, Mm, yeah But I had to kill her I had to put her six feet under And I can still hear her complain I used to love her, Oo, yeah But I had to kill her I used to love her, Oo, yeah But I had to kill her I knew I’d miss her So I had to keep her She’s buried right in my backyard The scary thing is, I don’t know if they intended it to be humorous. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/3 "2003-06-10T18:44:31Z")
Give us a clue what you think is funny and we might be able to help you! You want satire? Puns? Topical? Noir humor? Elephant jokes? ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/4 "2003-06-10T18:48:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blonde \* > \*\*How about Guns 'N Roses? > Used To Love Her > > I used to love her > But I had to kill her > I used to love her, Mm, yeah > But I had to kill her > I had to put her six feet under > And I can still hear her complain > > I used to love her, Oo, yeah > But I had to kill her > I used to love her, Oo, yeah > But I had to kill her > I knew I’d miss her > So I had to keep her > She’s buried right in my backyard > The scary thing is, I don’t know if they intended it to be humorous. > > 🙂 \*\* I think that part of the joke (or so I’ve heard) is that people got all offended by it, but it was about his dog. He had to put it to sleep, apparently. In the song itself, he says, “Take it for what it is”; that is, the song itself is a joke, not serious. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/5 "2003-06-10T18:54:53Z")
Ben Folds Five and William Shatner “In Love”. It’s hard to tell when Shatner is being serious or funny. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfgrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@Wolfgrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfgrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/6 "2003-06-10T18:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blonde \* > \*\*How about Guns 'N Roses? > Used To Love Her > > I used to love her > But I had to kill her > I used to love her, Mm, yeah > But I had to kill her > I had to put her six feet under > And I can still hear her complain > > I used to love her, Oo, yeah > But I had to kill her > I used to love her, Oo, yeah > But I had to kill her > I knew I’d miss her > So I had to keep her > She’s buried right in my backyard > The scary thing is, I don’t know if they intended it to be humorous. > > 🙂 \*\* Supposedly, the song was written about a dog, but they thought it would be funny to make it sound like it was about a woman. Or that’s what they claimed at the time in response to women’s groups who called it misogynistic, not that I could ever find the original article as my old hard rock/metal mags all got thrown out in a frenzy of housecleaning a few years back. Funny songs depends on how you define funny. I think “Masochism Tango” is brilliantly funny. I also think Elvis Presley’s “Wooden Heart” is hilarious. I know the melody is based on a German children’s song, or so says the cd liner notes, and that’s what’s funny about it - it’s got the romantic poetry for lyrics, but it still sounds like he’s playing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or something. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/7 "2003-06-10T18:56:15Z")
[I Love Me](http://www.coolcatdaddy.com/gt-supp-iloveme.htm), “as sung with great success by Mr. Billy Murray.” [Gilda Radner](http://www.geocities.com/gildaslillamb/Lyrics.html)’s “Let’s Talk Dirty to the Animals” and “I Love to be Unhappy” ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/8 "2003-06-10T18:57:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nineiron \* > \*\*it was about his dog. He had to put it to sleep, apparently. > \*\* I did not know that! That piece of information is going to completely change how I feel about the song. Although, to be honest, I thought it was funny. Now it’s sad. ☹ **syncrolecyne** , I think the Beatles wrote some light-hearted songs, but probably none that were downright hysterical. Bet other Dopers will come up with some more, though. ---
**Author:** ![Peg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Peg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peg)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/9 "2003-06-10T18:59:13Z")
Always been partial to Beautiful South lyrics, but they’re more dry than haha funny: I’ll Sail This Ship Alone: > [@](#): > > Well they said if I wrote the perfect love song, > that you would take me back > Well, I wrote it, but I lost it > And now will you take me back anyway? > . > . > Well they said if I wrote the perfect letter, > that I would have a chance > Well, I wrote it, but you burned it > And now do I have chance anyway? > . > . > Well they said if I burnt myself alive, > that you’d come running back. . . . Song From Whoever: > [@](#): > > I love you from the bottom, of my pencil case > I love you in the songs, I write and sing > Love you because, you put me in my rightful place > And I love the PRS cheques, that you bring > Cheap, never cheap > I’ll sing you songs till you’re asleep > When you’ve gone upstairs I’II creep > And write it all down > Oh Shirley, Oh Deborah, Oh Julie, Oh Jane > I wrote so many songs about you > I forget your name (I forget your name) Of course, there is: I Love You (But You’re Boring) > [@](#): > > Birds are singing in the trees > As we rise up on a beautiful morning > But I can’t hear > That beautiful sound > Because I’m permanently yawning ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/10 "2003-06-10T18:59:49Z")
David Allan Coe’s _You Never Even Call Me By My Name_ (though I’m sure that’s not the proper name of the song, I can’t be bothered to dig out my CD.) His song _Divers Do it Deeper_ is pretty funny as well. Ben Folds Five _Army_, I suppose. Beck’s song…oh what is it…the one where he wants to sleep with the two sisters…I’m sure someone here can help me out. It’s pretty damn funny. The name of the song might be _Deborah_. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/11 "2003-06-10T19:10:33Z")
Mr. Cash’s **A Boy Named Sue** written by Mr. Silverstein. I wore out my copy of _Live at San Quentin_ listening to this as a kid and I still like it. I thought that Dynamite Hack’s **Boys 'N the Hood** was pretty funny as well, although that is only because it is an acoustic version by a couple of white boys and not because of the content. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/12 "2003-06-10T19:16:00Z")
“Big Bottom” by Spinal Tap, of course “Watching Johnny Glow,” “Veg-e-matic,” and “How Much Tequila Did I Drink Last Night?” by Steve Goodman “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” by Kinky Friedman and many, many more. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/13 "2003-06-10T19:17:34Z")
Anything by the Bonzo Dog Band. They can make instrumentals that have you laughing. Ditto Spike Jones. And there’s also “Teen Angel.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/14 "2003-06-10T19:25:32Z")
As far as music by performers who aren’t known to go for laughs, I’d suggest these: Cream – “Mother’s Lament” Procul Harum – “Mabel” (“Don’t eat green meat, it ain’t good for you/killed your mother, killed your sister, too.”) Beatles – “You Know My Name, Look Up the Number” (extremely weird) Rolling Stones – “Dear Doctor” The Who – “My Wife” (Listen to the lyrics – John Entwistle has an amazing sense of humor) Lyle Lovitt – “Here I Am” ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/15 "2003-06-10T19:30:29Z")
I found this one online. It’s called “perfect day” by a guy called drew. His website is [toothpastefordinner.com](http://toothpastefordinner.com), and it’s in the music section. It goes: It’s a perfect day for punching birds they chirp and squeak and bother me and fly around my head! And wake me up when I’m in bed oh it’s a perfect day, it’s a perfect day… and then there’s verses about cats, kids, and snails. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/16 "2003-06-10T19:35:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blonde \* > \*\*I did not know that! That piece of information is going to completely change how I feel about the song. Although, to be honest, I thought it was funny. Now it’s sad. ☹ > > **syncrolecyne** , I think the Beatles wrote some light-hearted songs, but probably none that were downright hysterical. Bet other Dopers will come up with some more, though. \*\* Kill human being = funny Kill canine = sad Interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/17 "2003-06-10T19:52:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bearflag70 \* > \*\*Kill human being = funny > > Kill canine = sad > > Interesting… \*\* Ah, lighten up, man. The song was funny mainly because of the “I can still hear her complain” line. It wasn’t my intention for my comment to be taken that seriously. Wait! Has anyone mentioned Alice Cooper’s necrophelia (sp?) song, or Zappa’s “Watch out where the huskies go, and don’t you eat that yellow snow?” ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/18 "2003-06-10T20:37:10Z")
Tenacious D’s tribute, mainly with the video. The part where JB sings “And we said nay! We are but men! Rock!” and rips his shirt and goes “wooooo-oooo” with purple light flowing from behind him never fails to crack me up. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/19 "2003-06-10T20:43:15Z")
I’ve always been partial to the Mothers of Invention’s _Billy the Mountain_. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927/20 "2003-06-10T20:57:18Z")
The Zappa song you mention is _Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow_. He did a lot of funny, bizarre stuff. Doesn’t that Guns ‘n’ Roses song end with “She bitched so much, she drove me nuts/And now I will be seeing her in hell?” Or am I thinking of a different one? If you’re somewhat sick, you might find the Misfits’ _Last Caress_ funny. (Metallica did it later.) A friend of mine once performed a rather delicate solo version on piano. THAT was funny. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-genuinely-funny/180927.md?page=2)