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Words You've Never Heard (In Songs)
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Subject: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 13 Feb 05 - 11:39 AM I've never heard a song in which the word "defenestrate" (meaning to throw something or someone through a window) has been used. Does anyone know of one? I've checked the DT. Nada. Which leads us to the question, "What other great words have the songwriters of the world totally ignored?" We're not talking about scientific esoterica like "albumen" or "homeostasis", but words that, though a bit unusual, should have been used in a song by someone. Perhaps this could evolve into a song challenge. Last night as I lay sleeping upon my pillow, feather-filled There came an awful yowling from just outside my windowsill It was my neighbors' Tomcat, and such noise did he create That a Webster's dictionary I did defenestrate It hit that Tom upside his head with such a mighty whallop That from my fence he did alight and took off at a gallop. Okay, it ain't great. Why don't you try using "defenestrate" in a song? |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Amos Date: 13 Feb 05 - 11:56 AM Deee-fenestration Is making me blue, It's making me sad Deee-fenestration Is bringing me down It's gonna be bad I see the blacktop twenty stories down below me Why do I think that it's got something bad to show me-e-e-e? Oh, Deeee-fenestration The faster I go The surer I know It's bringing me down so looooooooow! How I wish I'd never been shown Deee-fene-estration.... (Violins and harps fade out....) |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Gorgeous Gary Date: 13 Feb 05 - 12:28 PM Hmm...I'm sure one of my fellow filkers has used "defenestrate" in a song somewhere. I'll have to pose the question! 8-) I think my favorite "great word" in a song is from the Berrymans' "Family Car": "Some steam from your thermos On my cold epidermis" |
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Subject: Lyr Add: GorlestonTown From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 13 Feb 05 - 12:31 PM There's a defenestration in Gorleston Town, by the Kippers, though the word isn't actually used: There was a bloke in Gorleston Town He kept an inn called the Rose and Crown. This landlord had a daughter fair, A plump little thing, with not much hair. Now won't you come down, won't you come down, Won't you come down to Gorleston Town. Belinda was this fair maid's name, And some says she was on the game, With her high heels and painted toes, And rosy cheeks for to match her nose. Now a sailor boy come home from sea He thought he'd have a jubilee. "Would you like a nice time" Belinda said. "No, I'll make do with you instead. "Well if a night of passion is your intention There's just one thing that I should mention. I'm a very heavy sleeper, I sleep like a top, But here's how you can wake me up." "I'll tie a bit of rope around my foot And the other end out of the window I'll put. As you pass by you can pull on the rope And that should wake me up I hope." So that same night old Jack come a-creeping. He pulled on the rope but she kept on a-sleeping "I could do with a little bit of help", thinks Jack, So he went and brought his mates all back. And the very next night in Gorleston Town There were sixteen sailors at the Rose and Crown. They heaved on the rope, and poor Belinda She was pulled right out of the winder. Now as she fell down from that casement. She knocked all the sailors into the basement. And Jack he says to the old innkeeper, "She's what I call a very heavy sleeper". |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Herga Kitty Date: 13 Feb 05 - 12:40 PM From what I remember of my history lessons at school, the defenestration of Prague in 1618 triggered the 30 years' war. Which war and consequences inspired Brecht/ Weill's Mother Courage. Kitty |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: dick greenhaus Date: 13 Feb 05 - 12:53 PM Well, Flanders and Swan used "antepenultimate" |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Leadfingers Date: 13 Feb 05 - 01:04 PM I did a local club gig with Trayton and we managed to use that lovely word 'Embouchure'in two separate songs !! |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: alanabit Date: 13 Feb 05 - 01:30 PM It is an interesting idea. From my own experience of teaching my language to others and learning another language, I have become aware of the fact that there are many words which one knows, but does not use in every day conversation. We know what words like "ubiiquitous" and "cuckold" mean, but we sound distinctly odd if we try to include them in conversation. (I will admit that the latter word is archaic and I do not even know how to pronounce it). I am sure I could think of other examples though. In the sort of songs most people here like, it is rare to find words which are not, or were not used in everyday conversation. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Bill D Date: 13 Feb 05 - 02:07 PM since 'most' of the purpose of songs is to convey a feeling or image or story to others, I'm not a bit surprised that 'ungulate' or 'dyspepsia' or 'vicissitude' seldom appear in song....except in order to show off or be Flanders & Swann. just think about how famous old songs like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" appear when they are translated into geek-speak.... |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: alanabit Date: 13 Feb 05 - 02:20 PM That always happens on Mudcat. Someone else comes along and says it better in fewer words! |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: michaelr Date: 13 Feb 05 - 02:21 PM Paul Thorn has the following couplet in his "Viagra Song": Well I feel like such a failure With my broke-down genitalia Cheers, Michael |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Teresa Date: 13 Feb 05 - 02:47 PM spatula Ok, I'm out of here :) |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Strollin' Johnny Date: 13 Feb 05 - 02:51 PM 'Acrimony' - not in itself an unusual word, but certainly unusual in songs:- "There's acrimony down in the card-room" A great line by Stan Rogers - almost as good as "She wears bougainvillea blossoms, you pluck 'em from her hair and toss them in the tide". Siii-i-i-i-i-ghhh! S:0) |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Teresa Date: 13 Feb 05 - 03:01 PM Ok, I'm not outa here. :) "Lockkeeper" is one of my all-time favorite songs. The lyrics, the music, all of it. I think I might have heard "antediluvian" in a song, but not "antidisestablishmentarianism". Not even convinced the latter is a word. :) Teresa |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 13 Feb 05 - 05:29 PM Cholesterol Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Don(Wyziwyg)T Date: 13 Feb 05 - 05:50 PM Les Barker used the full expanded words for BSE in a parody, I believe. I'll look it up sometime. I've never come across a miners song which mentions ultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis either. Now that's a rhymer's challenge. And how about Flocinocinihilipilification, a word that uses up a typewriter's lifetime quota of i's. Don T. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Peace Date: 13 Feb 05 - 05:54 PM There are two spellings for the word: FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION FLOCCINOCCINIHILIPILIFICATION Don't mean to be pedantic. I give it as a bonus point on spelling quizzes. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 13 Feb 05 - 06:09 PM "Floccinoccinihilipilification" - the act of estimating something as worthless. There's rather a lot of it about isn't there? Floccinoccinihilipilification That's a curse that dragging down this poor dejected nation, Everywhere I look I see dejected desperation Is there anything can free us from this collective constipation, This floccinoccinihilipilification. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 13 Feb 05 - 06:11 PM just think about how famous old songs like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" appear when they are translated into geek-speak.... Scintillate, scintillate, apparently Lilliputian orb! Interrogatively, I question your constituent elements. In your prodigious altitude above the terrestrial sphere, Similar to a carbonaceous, isometric, octahedral specimen In the celestial firmament! (I exist to serve.) Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Murray MacLeod Date: 13 Feb 05 - 06:21 PM The number of mondegreens in the "Cholesterol" lyrics as harvested on the DT (M of H's link above) would be enough to give Adam McNaughtan a heart attack all on their own ... |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Bill D Date: 13 Feb 05 - 06:27 PM glorioski, Uncle Dave...that's just about the fanciest, most erudite and obfuscated hypersesquipedalian version of TTLS I ever DID see! Makes my point purty good, too... |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 13 Feb 05 - 07:31 PM Supercalifragalisticexp... what? |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Don(Wyziwyg)T Date: 13 Feb 05 - 07:42 PM Thanks Brucie, I couldn't be arsed to pick up a dictionary, but I was sure someone would tell me the correct spelling (grin). McGrath, I surrender. Do you have a few thousand of these stored on the off chance, or do you really compose at warp factor nine? My hat's off to you either way. BTW McGrath, did you ever know a very nice guitar wizard by the name of David Reay? When I mentioned your handle he thought he might have known you in the past. Don T. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: JennyO Date: 13 Feb 05 - 09:00 PM There's this version of Twinkle Twinkle: Scintillate scintillate globule sporific, How I conjecture your nature specific, Loftily poised in ether capacious, Strongly resembling a gem carbonaceous. One of our Oz songwriters, Bruce Watson, who writes and performs a lot of very funny stuff, has songs called "Procrastination" and "Pretentious Song". One of his CD's is called "Out my Window" - it's a wonder he didn't call it "Defenestration" :-) |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Little Hawk Date: 13 Feb 05 - 09:24 PM smegma halitosis solipsism Schenectady mellifluous tangential tendentious concupiscence somatosensory tautology |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Bill D Date: 13 Feb 05 - 11:13 PM vacillation indolent cloaca mellifluous bellicose ............ let's go back to Google whacking |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Padre Date: 13 Feb 05 - 11:42 PM George M. Cohan used Schenectady in his song, 'So Long Mary' from the play "45 Minutes from Broadway" in 1906. Padre |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: DonMeixner Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:03 AM Listen to Don McLean sing "On The Amazon" |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: DonMeixner Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:07 AM On The Amazon. Sung but not written by Don McLean There's a danger zone, not a stranger zone Than the little plot I walk on that I call my home Full of eerie sights, weird and skeery sights Ev'ry vicious animal that creeps and crawls and bites!! On the Amazon, the prophylactics prowl On the Amazon, the hypodermics howl On the Amazon, you'll hear a scarab scowl and sting zodiacs on the wing All the stalactites and vicious vertebrae Hunt the stalagmites while laryngitis slay All that parasites that come from Paraguay in the spring Hmm, hmm hmmm Snarling equinox among the rocks will seize you And the fahrenheit comes out at night to freeze you Wild duodenum are lurking in the trees And the jungle swarms with green apostrophes Oh, the Amazon is calling me On the Amazon, the pax vobiscum bite On the Amazon, the epiglottis fight On the Amazon, the hemispheres at night all slink where the agnostics drink All the hippodromes that lie concealed in mud Hunt the metronomes that live in swamp and flood Then the kodachromes run out and drink their blood, poor ginks While velocipedes among the weeds will scare you And the menopause with hungry jaws ensnares you Frenzied adenoids infest the hills and slopes Everyone avoids the deadly stethoscopes Oh, the Amazon is calling Yes, the Amazon is calling Oh, the Amazon is calling me-ee!! |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Teresa Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:12 AM That is one wild song. I love it. :) teresa |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Nick Date: 14 Feb 05 - 05:38 AM "I happen to be gay But my hearing is great My friend on the other hand He's defenestrate" Trad |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Don(Wyziwyg)T Date: 14 Feb 05 - 02:02 PM Well spotted Bill D. From "I'M A GNU", the line is:- "Call me Bison, or Okapi, and I'll sue". Don T. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 14 Feb 05 - 02:24 PM The real trick would be relatively common or garden words, the kind you might actually use, which just don't tend to make it into songs. In fact I can't think of any - every time I thought I had one, I checked, and found a song. Socks, compost, broccoli, carbuncle... But there must be some. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Bert Date: 14 Feb 05 - 02:54 PM Corbel |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 14 Feb 05 - 03:51 PM dehumidifier? Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 14 Feb 05 - 05:16 PM Programme (or program)? |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Judy Cook Date: 14 Feb 05 - 05:30 PM I know I enjoy the three songs with "Perdition" in them...It's just fun to *say*. When I was very little we used to sing a song about defenestration: We'd take the lyrics of any nursery rhyme up to the last phrase; then break into "Threw it out the window, the window, the second story window..." For example: "Jack & Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and threw it out the window, the window, the second story window. Jack fell down and broke his crown, and threw it out the window." A few hours of this on a long car trip is guaranteed to have a definite effect on the driver. Judy Cook |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: sixtieschick Date: 14 Feb 05 - 05:32 PM Oxymoron. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: RangerSteve Date: 14 Feb 05 - 05:54 PM Sanskrit Bessarabia Ptolemy Coelacanth Paleoscincus Necromancy (I don't see why not, it rhymes with Nancy, fancy and if you're Ogden Nash, pansy) Morbidity Schwa Flux Phlox Kohlrabi |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST Date: 14 Feb 05 - 07:44 PM Rectangular is the wooden box Where lies my love 'neath the golden phlox They say he died of the chicken pox In part I must agree One chick too many had he. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Genie Date: 15 Feb 05 - 03:31 AM discombobulate plethora rectification narthex vestibule mulch phlegm preposition rutabaga minestrone earwig tapir tuber tungsten |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Kaleea Date: 15 Feb 05 - 04:20 AM Odoriferous! I've never heard odoriferous in a song. I have, however, known an odoriferous Musician or two. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Don(Wyziwyg)T Date: 15 Feb 05 - 01:43 PM Enema? DT |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Cool Beans Date: 15 Feb 05 - 01:59 PM "Rutabaga" shows up in my addition to "The Vegetable Song" aka "The Barnyard Dance, to wit: Three rutabagas Flew in from Vegas Down at the barnyard dance. Others have added it to their renditions. But howt about ameliorate? And, no, it's not the answer to, What did Amelia do at the restaurant? |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 15 Feb 05 - 02:09 PM "Earwig"? But that features in one of the most popular folksongs in the oral tradition: "Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O Earwigo-O-O..." As celebrateed by the incomparable Lesd Barker. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Charley Noble Date: 15 Feb 05 - 04:51 PM What a rich and wonderful thread. Now I've never heard a song using the word "sesquipedalian" in it but why not start now: My old man's a sesquipedalian, What do you think about that? He wears a sesquipedalian raincoat And a sesquipedalian hat; He wears sesquipedalian underwear, And sesquipedalian shoes, And every night when he gets home He reads the Sesquipedalian News. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Cool Beans Date: 15 Feb 05 - 07:30 PM Actually, Tom Chapin used "Sesquipedalian," and several other biggies, in his kids' song "Great Big Words." "They look at me like I'm an alien When I say words like sesquipedalian. But what me worry, can't go wrong With a word that's a foot-and-one-half long. Great big words, I like big words. No extra charge if it's very large, Great big words." |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 15 Feb 05 - 07:39 PM Now "Eclectic" is one word I can't recall meeting in a song; but I've come across it often enough ub wruting or indeed in speech. "Sibling" is another. Long words nobody uses are fun - but the ones we use, but don't put in songs are in some ways more interesting. It's not that hard to put one of those overlong words in a song, because they work as a joke. But a short dullish-sounding words don't have that entréé. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,Melani Date: 15 Feb 05 - 07:43 PM Speaking of Stan Rogers, he also used "superannuation." |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Judy Cook Date: 15 Feb 05 - 08:44 PM In der vintertime in der valley green Wen der vind blows on der vinderpane And der vimminvolk in der vaudeville Ride velocopedes in der vestibule. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:19 PM "Sibling" is another True, but in its shortened version it can be found in the refrain to SHEATH AND KNIFE 2 - "God give we had never been sib" And tonight at the pub it was mentioned that there are not many songs with "stickleback" in them (or "banstickle" for the Scots amang ye). |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,Snuffy Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:21 PM That was me - must have lost my cookie |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Teresa Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:40 PM tungsten in this song |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Bert Date: 15 Feb 05 - 11:49 PM earwig? His mother was an earwig his father was a whale and I'm gonna put a bit of salt on his tail and the Lord Mayor of London the Lord Mayor of London the Lord Mayor of London's gonna put him in the Lord Mayor's show. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Teresa Date: 16 Feb 05 - 12:03 AM Wouldn't it have worked better if his parents' forms were reversed? ;) :D Teresa |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: YorkshireYankee Date: 16 Feb 05 - 03:38 AM sesquicentennial vituperation obstreperous regurgitation gesticulate eviscerate emasculate perspicaceous pluperfect camembert revert undulate polypropylene kumquat acrylic (that's more than enough – sorry... got carried away!) Here are a few "everyday"(ish) words: screwdriver shoelace(s) radiator stoplight/traffic light cucumber hubcap sweatshirt anorak (seems strangely appropriate... time to stop!) Except that I have to mention Dick Siegel, who recently wrote "Fighting for King George", in which he used the word "misunderestimate" (brilliantly, IMO); here's an excerpt: we fought for George's daddy old King George the First now we beat the drums again this time it's George the worst now King George is begging "please hire me again I'm making mincemeat of my enemies making money for my friends and the whole world is against us they misunderestimate us lord knows they ought to love us but who cares if they hate us" |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Nick Date: 16 Feb 05 - 04:57 AM Reminds me of the Alanis Morisette lyric generator which has been around a good few years. Easy to create songs with these words in at lyric generator For example: "Will to Live" I feel miserable Camemberts make me ill I feel miserable Polypropylenes tear at my foundations I feel miserable Kumpquats are dragging me down to the depths of misery I want to die Is it because of regurgitation that I feel this way? With the aquamarine rays of misery pounding on my brain? Or am I lost in a tale of W B Yeats, adrift far from home I don't think so, I don't think so. Ruth Broke My Will to Live Ruth Broke My Will to Live Ruth Broke My Will to Live I was getting better but then Ruth Broke My Will to Live I feel miserable Traffic lights rot the flesh from my bones I feel miserable Cucumbers defeat my purpose I feel miserable Sesquipedalians are doing their best to impale my soul I want to die Is it because of regurgitation that I feel this way? With the aquamarine rays of misery pounding on my brain? Am I lost in tale of W B Yeats, adrift far from home I don't think so, I don't think so. Ruth Broke My Will to Live Ruth Broke My Will to Live Oh God, Ruth Broke My Will to Live I was getting better but then Ruth Broke My Will to Live |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,Splott Man by the back door Date: 16 Feb 05 - 07:31 AM To answer the firdst question... Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention used "defenestrate" in a song way back, he even defines it in the intro. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,Bat Goddess Date: 16 Feb 05 - 08:00 AM Oh, why HASN'T the word "narthex" been used in a song?!? Alanabit -- first song with "cuckold" in it that comes to mind is the verse of "Martin Said To His Men" -- "I saw a sheep shearing corn. Fie, man, fie. Heard the cuckold blow his horn. Thou hast well drunken, man, Who's the fool now?" Then there's the song "Sarafina" which appears to me to be written solely with the intent of eventually rhyming with "concertina." (Just my opinion.) Linn |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,Charley Noble Date: 16 Feb 05 - 08:49 AM Wow! So "sesquipedalian" has gotten the attention it deserves. Tom Chapin's song is a great vehicle for introducing children to the joys of language. Most children also delight in the long dinosaur words, much to the chagrin of childrens book consultants who feel that such books should be restricted to words of one syllable. My mother had great difficulty getting a publisher interested in doing her pioneering book on dinosaurs, called THE WONDERFUL EGG. It was one of her most successful works. I'm also reminded that the Canadian group Tanglefoot is a master at incorporating multisyllable words in their songs. "Paddy's Finger" is a case in point: By Joe Grant & Steve Ritchie, Tanglefoot © 1994 From Saturday Night at Hardwood Lake Slightly adapted by Charlie Ipcar 1996 Paddy's Finger 'Twas in the town of Pelham one dark and dreary day We local lads was in the pub, just sipping time away-a When in there walked this stranger who disturbed our CONTEMPLATION So we decided his facial features needed ALTERATION. "Now what's your name, fair stranger? We've not seen you in town." He answers "David Disher. I'm a man of some renown." Says Patrick, "Well, now, Disher, lest you think that I'm remiss, They calls me Scrappin' Paddy, and this here is me fist!" Chorus: Oh, Fight like a wildcat, learn your lesson, up jumps Paddy with a finger missin' Poor wee fist, one finger less, for seven pound ten 'twill scarce be missed!. Oh, fight like a wildcat, learn your lesson, up jumps Paddy with a finger missin' Poor wee fist, great bloody mess, for seven pound ten 'twill scarce be missed! Paddy's finger 'twill scarce be missed! A room of rowdy roisters, swinging aft and fore; Disher takes a nasty knock and sprawls upon the floor; Paddy pounces all too slow, and for one second lingers; Disher grabs his hand and sets his teeth to Paddy's finger. (CHO) Now Paddy seeks legal counsel, down in muddy York; Fighting may be Paddy's line, but missing parts is lawyers' work; His complaint was swiftly drafted and filed with the court clerk, With a copy served on Disher before he could embark; So Disher is persuaded for fear of DISPUTATION, To compensate in full for Paddy's DISINDIGITATION; Now Paddy gets his seven pound ten, a COMPENSATION which ? Convinces him that losing fights will make him filthy rich!(CHO) Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: sian, west wales Date: 16 Feb 05 - 11:51 AM Probably most weasle-words and bafflegab (stuff spoken by civil servants and elected representatives) would qualify. I can't think I've ever heard 'sustainable development' or 'social cohesion' or 'integrated total quality management' in a song. Which leads me to hypothesize that you should never quite trust any words or phrases that can't be used in songs to be performed in accoustic sets ... siân |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Nick Date: 16 Feb 05 - 12:31 PM Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention used "defenestrate" in a song way back, he even defines it in the intro. Wasn't it 'discorporate'? |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Charley Noble Date: 16 Feb 05 - 12:51 PM Jon Campbell of Rhode Island is another master of the multisyllable word. In his gentrified sailortown song "Frederick's of Gailee" there's this astounding verse: There's a full-uplift floatation vest in a lacy pastel hue, And a peek-a-boo survival suit that will always see her through; Give her the POLYPROPYLENE garter belt, the PVC chemise, For ol' Frederick's has put the sleaze back on the Seven Seas. Then, of course, there are the challenging creations of Tom Leher and Artisan. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Genie Date: 17 Feb 05 - 03:35 AM OK, guys, I've been enlightened about "earwigs" in song! LOL Charley, I was just thinking that if any songwriter had used some of these big, Latin-derived words, it would have been Tom Lehrer! :-D As for "shoelace(s)" and "hubcap," I recall a couple songs from the '50s or '60s that used those. One was "Tan Shoes And Pink Shoelaces (And A Big Panama With A Purple Hat Band" and the other was a parody of "Teenager In Love" called "(Why Must I Be A) Teenager In Jail," which had the line (possible slight paraphrase): "While Dion is on the Bandstand Singing love songs about the stars, The Belmonts are out in the parking lot Stealing hubcaps off of cars." And I could swear there are songs that mention stoplights or traffic lights, but I can't think of them right now. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,Raggytash Date: 17 Feb 05 - 04:29 AM Now if you want a song with weird and wonderful words, they don't come much better than Don McCleans "On the Amazon" click and scroll down a bit http://www.lyrics007.com/Don%20McLean%20Lyrics/On%20the%20Amazon%20Lyrics.html |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,Raggytash Date: 17 Feb 05 - 04:31 AM That should of course read Don McLean, sorry Don |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: alanabit Date: 17 Feb 05 - 04:42 AM Er Flanders and Swan. Have you read the previous posts? |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: belfast Date: 17 Feb 05 - 04:50 AM "Desfenestration" is the title of a piece of light verse by R. P. Lister. It was set to music by the group Instant Sunshine one of whose members was the English humourist Miles Kington. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Cool Beans Date: 17 Feb 05 - 12:09 PM Sally Rogers does a kids' song called "Stopping at the Stoplight." |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,Charley Noble Date: 17 Feb 05 - 01:24 PM Here's a mouthful I cooked up one night for "Martin Said to His Man": I saw a Brontosaurus with a thesaurus, Fie, man, fie! I saw a Brontosaurus with a thesaurus, Who's the fool now?" I saw a Brontosaurus with a thesaurus, Searching for the ultimate chorus - Thou hast well drunken and who's the fool now? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: GUEST,a ninja. Date: 19 Aug 07 - 02:48 PM Scintillate scintillate globule sporific, How I conjecture your nature specific, Loftily poised in ether capacious, Strongly resembling a gem carbonaceous. Possibly the best thing I've ever read in my life. |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Genie Date: 19 Aug 07 - 03:34 PM Defenestration lyrics (?) by Genie (Tune: Down By The Station) Defenestration early in the morning! Hear the startled barrel-bellies cursing at the throw! See the little rock casters shaking in their sandals, Then huff, puff, hot-foot, off they go! |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Genie Date: 19 Aug 07 - 03:47 PM Somehow, "Bèsame mucho" loses a lot of its magic as a lyric hook when it's translated to "kiss me a lot," but it would lose infinitely more if it were translated "Osculate me profusely" (or "intensely). |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: dick greenhaus Date: 20 Aug 07 - 11:11 AM For one with a bunch of less-frequently-encountered words, how about: THE CUCKOO'S NEST (John Shiels) One morning fair in Janu'ry, as I roamed for curiosity Down by a neighboring granary along the flowing tide Where the solar rays perplexingly from THE ethereal canopy Displayed a bright transparency, this maiden I espied. She appeared to me some deity, in splendor she was dressed, And courteously accosting me, these words she then expressed, "If experienced in ontology, relate without tautology The pristine aestheology of my cuckoo's nest." I stood in great astonishment and swore I'd suffer banishment Before I to her blandishment would amply comply Dreading some calamity had tainted that curst cavity Or else that same commodity my member might destroy. Then instantly she flattered me, she swore she could not rest And I candidly avow to you that I thought she was distressed For to lay my hand upon her breast she swore she'd be forever blest Had I a moment but caress'd her cuckoo's nest. Now on hearing this repetition of her loose abandon'd condition I took a quick transition and I journeyed on my way But she then pursued me speedily, exhorting me most wickedly Saying, "Sir, you see me sickly, so why DO you not obey?" Her malady appeared to me an amatory pest Unwillingly would I agree unto HER desired behest She said, "Sir, your animosity excites my generosity To show you the curiosity of my cuckoo's nest." Then said I, "My lovely she, pray thank your own audacity For having thus attracted me or else I'd not avail, For it's oft I've heard in history how heroes of antiquity, While striving to gain ascendancy, more often they did fail." "And Solomon, the virtuous man, the wisest and the best And Samson, whom the Philistynes in Gaza did arrest Oh, Hector, Paris, ACHilles, Petrocleus and Hercules All suffered with great Ulysses for the cuckoo's nest. Then she said, "Kind sir, your colloquy is fraught with vain frivolity Desist, unite in gallantry and join in harmony And treat me satisfact'rily and I'll sound your name through Cathary And all along to Drogheda, each town and barony." I must confess I did my best, though knowing I transgress'd And my arms I wrapped around her waist, and I closely her caressed From one to ten this maid to me was lovely, pleased, and kind and free 'Til I at length was forced to flee from her cuckoo's nest. Now I've travelled through Russia and Germany, and o'er the Alps through Italy Around by the isle of Sicily and back again to Spain Naples, Rome and Tuscany, DenMARK and Sweden and Normandy The Netherlands and Saxony, though France and then Lorraine. Silesia, Galicia, the Indies, East and West Britannia and gay Tartary, which Mohammed did possess But in all my rambles ne'er was I reduced to such a low degree As I was when trying to satisfy her cuckoo's nest. SOURCE: Frank Harte (Augusta Heritage Festival, July 1995) note: Harte says:"the song was written by John Shiels the ballad poet from Drogheda..he also wrote that other big ballad 'The Rights of Man' and many others." RPf @Irish filename[ CUCKNEST RPf oct96 |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Joe_F Date: 20 Aug 07 - 11:15 PM If you cannot hold your water, Ring the bell and have the porter Place a vessel in the vestibule. Inch by inch, row by row, Gonna make this garden grow, Gonna mulch it deep and low, Gonna make it fertile ground. "Sib" is a much older word than "sibling". I like pickled onions, I like piccalilli, Pickled cabbage is all right With a bit of cold beef on a Sunday night. I can go tomatoeses, but what I do prefer Is a little bit of cucum- (I come, you come!) Little bit of cucumber. Talking to the driver May make him turn his head. He must watch the traffic lights -- Are they green or red? |
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Subject: Words not used in song: Show Me the Way to Go Hom From: Genie Date: 21 Aug 07 - 12:47 AM "Indicate the direction of my residence, I'm fatigued and I desire to retire. I imbibed a miniscule quantity approximately 60 minutes past And it travelled directly to my cerebellum. Regardless where I may perambulate, On terra firma or the ocean or effervescence, You will ever perceive me incanting this melody: 'Indicate The Direction Of My Residence." (One off several of what I call "the W. C. Fields versions" of that well-known ditty.) |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Muttley Date: 21 Aug 07 - 04:41 AM HA Don !!! It's actually PNEUMONOultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis!!! And Teresa Antidisestablishmentarianism is, in fact, a word! Muttley |
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Subject: RE: Words You've Never Heard (In Songs) From: Betsy Date: 21 Aug 07 - 06:28 AM A great mate of mine up in Inverness wrote a song using the word "surreptitiously". I told him to give his head a shake !!! It doesn't quite qualify but I hope it is in the spirit of this thread . |
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