# What Songs Can Be Sung To Other Tunes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2004, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822 "2004-09-30T12:11:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/1 "2004-09-30T12:11:24Z")
Did you know that A Whiter Shade Of Pale, by Procol Harum, can be sung quite satisfactorily, and with amusing and edifying results, to the tune of Deutschland Uber Alles? Got any others? Lawrence Block avers that nearly all of Emily Dickinson’s poems can be sung to The Yellow Rose Of Texas, but since I lent my only copy of her works a number of years ago to a girl I was trying to impress with my sensitivity, I am no longer able to put this to the test. Any takers? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/2 "2004-09-30T12:14:29Z")
One of my favourites is the theme from _Spiderman_ (cartoon), sung to the tune of TMBG’s _Particle Man_. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/3 "2004-09-30T12:31:02Z")
“Jesus Loves Me” to the tune of “Bo Diddley.” ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/4 "2004-09-30T12:31:26Z")
I’m sure there’s overlap of The Doors HELLO, I LOVE YOU; and the Kinks PARANOIA and ALL OF THE NIGHT. Also, I’ve sometimes been able to recount ordinary events to the tune of AQUALUNG. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/5 "2004-09-30T12:51:34Z")
Robert Frost’s “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” (I think that’s the title) can be sung to the tune of “Hernando’s Hideaway” from _Pajama Game_. And it’s true about Emily Dickinson and “Yellow Rose of Texas!” I once wanted to do a one-woman musical show called _The Cow-Belle of Amherst_. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/6 "2004-09-30T12:53:46Z")
_Deck the Halls_ to the tune of Pink Floyd’s _The Wall_. And vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/7 "2004-09-30T13:03:26Z")
_Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star_ and_The ABC Song_. _America_ and _God Save The King_ Pretty much every single song you hear on _Barney_ is an appropriated song with some made-up nicety-nice words. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/8 "2004-09-30T13:06:20Z")
Ah you want to listen to I’m Sorry I’m Haven’t A Clue’s One Song To The Tune Of Another. Without You goes to the Cancan,Stand By Me to the William Tell. And we’ve sung While Shepherds Watched to the Archers quite happily. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/9 "2004-09-30T13:17:50Z")
_Amazing Grace_ can be sung to the tune of _House of the Rising Sun_. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/10 "2004-09-30T13:21:06Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > _Deck the Halls_ to the tune of Pink Floyd’s _The Wall_. > > And vice versa. _We don’t need no education Fa la la la la, la la la la! We don’t need no thought control Fa la la la la, la la la la! No dark sarcasm in the classroom Fa la la, la la la la la la! Teachers leave them kids alone Fa la la la la, la la la la!_ Brings a tear to my eye. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/11 "2004-09-30T13:26:02Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > _Amazing Grace_ can be sung to the tune of _House of the Rising Sun_. _Amazing Grace_ can also be sung to the tune of the _Gilligan’s Island_ theme. You just have to repeat the last line of each verse, like they do in the Gilligan song. _Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see. was blind but now I see._ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/12 "2004-09-30T13:30:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Without You goes to the Cancan,Stand By Me to the William Tell. _Happy Birthday To You_ fits well with _The William Tell Overture_, but you need two people to sing it. Happy birthday to-o you! Happy birthday to-o you! Happy birthday to-o you! Haaaaapy birthday to you! Happy happy happy happy happy birthday to you! Happy happy happy happy happy birthday to you! (To you! To you! To you!) Happy happy birthday, birthday to you! Happy happy birthday, birthday to you! [and so on] ---
**Author:** ![foxymoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@foxymoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxymoron)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/13 "2004-09-30T13:36:10Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > One of my favourites is the theme from _Spiderman_ (cartoon), sung to the tune of TMBG’s _Particle Man_. I do this too! ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/14 "2004-09-30T14:01:43Z")
_Amazing Grace_ can also be sung to the tune of _The Mickey Mouse Club_ theme. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/15 "2004-09-30T14:26:41Z")
God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, _So join us here each week my friend your sure to get a smile,_ Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day. _By seven stranded castaways, here on Gilligan’s Isle._ ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/16 "2004-09-30T14:41:56Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > _We don’t need no education > Fa la la la la, la la la la!_ It’s great, but I like it better the other way around. Cue Pink Floyd: _Deck the halls with boughs of holly_ _Fa la la la, la la la_ _'Tis the season to be jolly_ _Fa la la la, la la la_ And with slight modifications, you can do the Brady Bunch theme to _Ballad of the Green Berets_. _It’s the story, of a lovely lady, who was bringing up, three lovely girls. All of them, had hair of gold; the youngest one, in curls._ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/17 "2004-09-30T15:28:07Z")
[slight hijack] There is a club-dj-inspired phenomenon call “Mash-Ups” where two songs are played simultaneously (live) or blended and mixed to create an integrated version (recorded). I have heard a few and some can sound really good. I heard one that blended “Push It” by Salt n’ Pepa with an Iggy and the Stooges song (can’t remember which one). Really good. And another which combined the rapper Cee-lo (“Wish I was a little bit taller, wish I was a baller…”), with The Breeder’s “Cannonball” and another song… [/slight hijack] ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/18 "2004-09-30T15:51:03Z")
“America the Beautiful” and “Aude Lang Syne” are perfectly interchangeable with one another. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/19 "2004-09-30T15:55:04Z")
Did this in uni in the radio studios(I did Media) Did Prince’s 1999 with the bells of Big Ben in. Came out brilliant and now I can’t hear the original without thinking there’s something missing. Sound effects tape do wonderful things. I loved the mix we made of Sound Effect:Children on the Beach mixed with ‘The Reaper Approaches’. Sounds freaky but cool :eek: Then we did a really unpleasant one: Dunblane’s Knocking On Heaven’s Door mixed with Iron Maiden’s Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter I doubt anyone would ever let you play it anywhere ---
**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:** [September 30, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/20 "2004-09-30T15:55:13Z")
Well, this isn’t _quite_ the same thing, but there’s a PDQ Bach / Peter Schickele recording of “You Are My Sunshine” accompanied by the 1812 Overture: ``` "You are my Sun [tata-ta-ta] Shine [ta-ta-ta-TA-taaa-taaaaaaaaa].... " ``` Quite impressive, actually! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822.md?page=2)