Subject: Shortest song ever From: Leadbelly Date: 17 Aug 14 - 03:30 PM Because of best song ever I do believe it's time to complete the "ever" section by finding out which song in pop history was the shortest ever. We did the longest some time ago so now let's start nominating the absolutely shortest. Personally, I have no idea. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,# Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:20 PM You Suffer by Napalm Death. Here is a link to it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybGOT4d2Hs8 |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Leadbelly Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:22 PM Obviously a flop! But I don't care because this was expected. There are much more interesting threads on mudcat. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Leadfingers Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:45 PM Shortest FOLK song ever would get more response The gallant frigate Amphetrite sank for example |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: pdq Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:50 PM The shortest "hit" song in U.S. history was "Little Boxes", the Malvina Reynolds song as sung by Pete Seeger. |
Subject: RE: Shortest folk song ever From: Leadbelly Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:58 PM OK, let's try it this way. Shortest folk song ever, folks. Come on, I wanna go to bed. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Mick Green (of Coblers Monday Shanty Group, Date: 17 Aug 14 - 06:01 PM I had a Tom Paxton CD on which he sang a song to commemorate a lost election. Musical intro followed by "shit". Shortest for me. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST, topsie Date: 17 Aug 14 - 06:06 PM Unless anyone comes up with a one-word song with less than four letters, I think we have a winner. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,guest apw Date: 17 Aug 14 - 06:24 PM I'll sing of Spiro Agnew and all the deeds he's done |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Rob Naylor Date: 17 Aug 14 - 06:27 PM Another Tom Paxton: The Ballad of Spiro Agnew Intro: "i'll sing of Spiro Agnew, and all that he has done....." follwed by silence. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Rob Naylor Date: 17 Aug 14 - 06:28 PM damn, apw....you must have posted that while I was writing mine :-) |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 17 Aug 14 - 06:48 PM Come hangman slack your urkggg! |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,gillymor Date: 17 Aug 14 - 06:58 PM The Smothers Brothers did a longer version of the one BBCW cited above: Hangman, hangman slack your rope, Slack your rope, Slack it 'fore I (choking sound). |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Don Firth Date: 17 Aug 14 - 08:55 PM Walt Robertson used to sing "You stole my wife-- You horse thief!!" Don Firth |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Joe Offer Date: 17 Aug 14 - 11:31 PM Another cowboy-ish song: I'm so lonesome in the saddle... Since my horse died. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: michaelr Date: 18 Aug 14 - 01:12 AM Shortest conversation between two Scotsmen: "Tay?" "Nay." |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 18 Aug 14 - 02:43 AM The shortest poem that I know is one entitled "A short poem upon the antiquity of fleas" Adam had'em. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Mr Red Date: 18 Aug 14 - 03:26 AM not the shortest but in the same vein "Tom Pierce, Tom Pierce, Lend I your grey mare? NO!" "Have you ever seen a wild Goose? NO!" etc |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Mike Yates Date: 18 Aug 14 - 03:38 AM "Come all ye, and go back again." Or, "My name it is Van Gough, lend an ear, lend an ear." |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: BobL Date: 18 Aug 14 - 03:56 AM "Unforgettable - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ." |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Mike Yates Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:11 AM Woops! Should say that it should be "Van Goth" before MGM spots this mistake and gets onto his Hobbyhorse! |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST, topsie Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:20 AM Are you sure, Mike? Am I missing something? (or does your machine auto"correct"?) |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Mike Yates Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:23 AM On my screen I can see that I originally mis-spelt the name as Van Gough". I corrected this to "Van Goth" and that is what I can see on my second message. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: The Sandman Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:29 AM I am surprised no one one has written a song one second long which is silence and then copyrighted it. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST, topsie Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:33 AM http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/vincent-van-gogh |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Mike Yates Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:40 AM Get it. It is Van Gogh. Never was any good at foreign languages! |
Subject: Lyr Add: Lament for a Lost Election (Tom Paxton) From: Jason Xion Wang Date: 18 Aug 14 - 07:11 AM Lament for a Lost Election (Tom Paxton) Shit! |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Jason Xion Wang Date: 18 Aug 14 - 07:16 AM By the way, John Denver "recorded" a "song" on his debut album called The Ballad of Richard Nixon, which is 10 second long silence. If I remember correctly, the credit was given to Tom Paxton as well. Tom's ballad of Spiro Agnew contains 11 words. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Mrrzy Date: 18 Aug 14 - 10:42 AM In kind of real songs, Shel Silverstein did a train song of 1 verse, where "she got there on time and she did not crash" - |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Leadfingers Date: 18 Aug 14 - 11:46 AM I am sure the 'Lend an ear' is one of Les Barkers short rhymes . |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: frogprince Date: 18 Aug 14 - 12:42 PM Something like sixty years ago, I heard Carl Sandburg sing (on television) what he described as "the shortest blues song". Papa loved Mama, Mama loved Men, Mama's in the graaave yaaard, Papa's in the pen. I still think Garth Brooks should be convicted of blasphemy for using that as the chorus of a longer song. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Mrrzy Date: 18 Aug 14 - 01:20 PM I am reminded of the "shortest short story" - very sad: For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Richard Mellish Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:35 PM The Van Gogh one is considerably longer than quoted above. My name it is Van Gogh, Lend an ear, lend an ear. My name it is Van Gogh, Lend an ear. My name it is Van Gogh, And all I did was cough, And me right ear it fell off, In me beer, in me beer. Plus at least one more verse. There are some others of the same kind as quoted by Mr Red, for example: Oh dae ye see yon high hills, a' cover't wi' snaw? Na! |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: MartinRyan Date: 18 Aug 14 - 06:33 PM "There were two brothers, two noble warriors They fell in love with a lady gay But obviously, she wasn't interested - so they went home again!" Anyway - I reckon the real measure of song economy is the inverse ratio of the short version to the length the damn thing would have reached otherwise! Regards |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Don Firth Date: 18 Aug 14 - 06:56 PM Variation of "Fine Flowers in the Valley" (The Cruel Mother," Child #20): She leaned her back against a thorn, "OUCH!!" Don Firth |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Leadfingers Date: 18 Aug 14 - 08:53 PM I think Marty Robbins runs to about seven minutes , but this has all the facts :- One night in the wild west town of El Paso I met a girl and I got shot and died |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Gerry Date: 18 Aug 14 - 09:14 PM I can never think of El Paso without thinking of the Steve Martin version, with monkeys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqrr-N4ue0c |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Charley Noble Date: 18 Aug 14 - 09:26 PM Don Firth posts all the good ones that I know. There is the Ballad of the Vasa: On Friday night she set sail, And she sank to the bottom of the sea! Charlie Ipcar |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Bill D Date: 18 Aug 14 - 09:31 PM short blues song.. ♫ Well, I didn't wake up this morning...♫ |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Mysha Date: 19 Aug 14 - 02:44 AM I don't know about that, Bill: Well, I didn't wake up this morning, It was in the afternoon. I didn't wake up this morning, It was in the afternoon. Was awake at 12.30, But I felt that was too soon. Now. my girl friend didn't leave me, She is with her mum and dad. My girl friend didn't leave me, She is with her mum and dad. They needed help redecorating And my baby's good with that. Oh, my dog was not run over, And he didn't pass away My dog was not run over, And he didn't pass away He's over at the neighbours Who liked to spoil him for a day Hey, yesterday I had a party Lasted till the morning light Yesterday I had a party Lasted till the morning light Now I'm taking things easy Everything just feels so right Say, I don't have any worries All around I get good news I don't have any worries All around I get good news Things couldn't be much better So why - am I singing the blues? Mysha Not quite as short as the other ones. (That one has been hanging around in my mind for quite a while. Thanks for giving me an opportunity for working it out.) Bye Mysha |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 19 Aug 14 - 03:34 AM From what I remember of it the song with the least number of individual words must be "Why?" By Yoko Ono. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 19 Aug 14 - 03:38 AM Not really in contention but a short parody is As I was a walking one morning in May I spied a young couple a making of hay One was a soldier and a bold grenadier And the other was a choirboy and I thought "Hey that's queer!" |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Mike Yates Date: 19 Aug 14 - 04:25 AM Richard, thank you for adding to the Van Gogh lines. In the 1960's there used to be a singer in London who would stand up, sing the first two lines, and then sit down again. I never realised that there was more to the song. So, once again, my thanks. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: bubblyrat Date: 19 Aug 14 - 06:23 AM Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha! Wipeout ! |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: mayomick Date: 19 Aug 14 - 06:33 AM the shortest and longest song ever written : Michael Finnegan |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Alaska Mike Date: 19 Aug 14 - 12:00 PM The shortest, famous song I know of was written and prtformed bt Cliff Eberhardt, it goes like this.... "Heartbeat of America, today's Chevrolet." |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 19 Aug 14 - 12:20 PM What about those recent pop songs that repeat one line 64 times. For example: Give me the people and free my soul, I wanna get lost in rock and roll mumble mumble mumble mum There are others, which I am forced to listen to while shopping, but I can't recall them now. How absurd that pop stars actually make money on stuff like that. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Mysha Date: 19 Aug 14 - 12:22 PM Hi Black, Don't the lyrics of "Why" consist of "Hey" and "Why"? That would sort of make it two words against the one word in Lament For A Lost Election, which Mike mentions above. Bye Mysha |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker Date: 19 Aug 14 - 01:51 PM Shortest song ? Quite a few contenders from 1980s punk and thrash metal bands... For example: Napalm Death - "You Suffer" |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Desi C Date: 19 Aug 14 - 02:16 PM How about the shortest book ever 'The diplomatic Skills of David Cameron' There is a folk song on You Tube by a sister of The Clancy Brothers Irish trad called 'she didn't dance' Can't remember her name but the surname is Clancy it's under a minute long |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Achy Pete Date: 19 Aug 14 - 07:27 PM I guess it depends on how you define "song." If you want something with a verse and chorus there's always " Her Majesty," by The Beatles, which is 23 seconds long. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: scouse Date: 20 Aug 14 - 07:10 AM And don't forget Cyril... I went down to Sammy's Bar...It was closed!!! |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 20 Aug 14 - 07:53 AM Any song that starts with a negatable question can be swiftly conclude with "No", for example "Were you ever in Quebec, stowing timber on the deck?" |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Gutcher Date: 20 Aug 14 - 11:51 AM Discussion on wireless at height of Clinton affair as to why there were no songs about it---conclusion-- difficulty over young lady"s name. When my head hit the pillow that night the following came to me:-- Bill Clinton is a nottar loon and aa bet he wishes he wisnae, On Setturday nichts he got his licks fae a lassie cried Lewinskay. To get your licks in Scotland, to folk of my generation, was to have the palms of your hand whacked by the leather tawse wielded by the teacher. When I sang this, from the laughter of the young people in the audience, I take it that to get your licks has a more modern meaning to them. Nottar loon---notorious chap. Cried---------called. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Mike Yates Date: 21 Aug 14 - 03:51 AM I have always liked this one: I had a dog and his name was Rover, When he died, he died all over. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Tattie Bogle Date: 21 Aug 14 - 04:01 AM My true love came in, and she fell through the flair, AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH ! |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Julian Date: 21 Aug 14 - 04:03 AM I've bought a new bucket,dear Lisa |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Ed T Date: 21 Aug 14 - 11:25 AM Could Paul McCartney's LET 'EM IN song possibly be the biggest hit, earning the biggest bucks, with the fewest, (not repeated), words (lyrics, excluding the names, but, then, they are part of the song)? Is this a stretch? Basicall,, it would be: ""Someone's knocking at the door Somebody's ringing the bell Do me a favor and open the door And let 'em in Full lyrics: Someone's knockin' at the door Somebody's ringin' the bell Someone's knockin' at the door Somebody's ringin' the bell Do me a favor, Open the door and let 'em in(repeat) (The names: Sister Suzie, brother John, Martin Luther, Phil And Don, Brother Michael, Auntie Gin, Open the door,let 'em in. Sister Suzi, brother John, Martin Luther, Phil and Don, Uncle Ernie,Auntie Gin open the door, let em in |
Subject: Lyr Add: 26 Second Song (Shel Silverstein) From: Jason Xion Wang Date: 22 Mar 16 - 07:44 AM Speaking of Shel he also has a song called "26 Second Song": 26 Second Song (Shel Silverstein) All the DJs keep complaining, "tunes are much too long!" So I've gone and wrote myself a 26 second song. It's a real song; indie rock band My Morning Jacket has covered it. Jason
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Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Jim Carroll Date: 22 Mar 16 - 09:09 AM Blast from the past: "I'll sing of Spiro Agnew and the things that he has done..........." Jim Carroll |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,Jack Campin Date: 22 Mar 16 - 10:32 AM Tobacco pipes, tobacco pipes, tobacco pipes and porter, You may find a better song but you willnae find a shorter. (I know that from a cassette by Tam Reid). |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Steve Shaw Date: 22 Mar 16 - 10:43 AM On The Bosom Of Young Abigail, as sung by The Corries, is 31 seconds long, and a large chunk of that comprises the unnecessarily "lengthy" instrumental introduction! On the bosom of young Abigail Is written the price of her tale And upon her behind For the use of the blind Is the same information in Braille |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Dave the Gnome Date: 22 Mar 16 - 11:17 AM I didn't wake up this morning? |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Bill D Date: 22 Mar 16 - 11:33 AM ♫ Out in the west Texas town of Laredo, I fell in love, got shot & then died.♫ |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Paul Reade Date: 22 Mar 16 - 03:41 PM Anyone remember Dave Calderhead aka "The Singing Toby Jug"? He used to do "The world's shortest folk songs" as part of his act in the 60s, including a lot of those mentioned above. You could also check out Stanley Accrington's version of "Matty Groves" - the whole song condensed into one verse! |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: Vic Smith Date: 22 Mar 16 - 05:06 PM Shortest Traditional Song? How about "Davie & Jeannie" from the great Gavin Greig Collection. It says a hell of a lot in a few lines:- Tell me, what was on yer mind, Bonnie Jeannie? |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: cnd Date: 22 Mar 16 - 05:24 PM Shortest songs I've got on hand: Fiddle Tune - Flatt and Scruggs - At Carnegie Hall! - 45 sec Short and Sweet - Hylo Brown - Hylo Brown Sings the Blues - 52 sec Lonely Road - Klaudt Indian Family - Gospel Warhoops - 1 min 5 sec Shortening Bread - Flatt and Scruggs - Live TV - 1 min 10 sec Dooley - Andy Griffith - The Andy Griffith Show - 1 min 16 sec You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming - Flatt and Scruggs - At Carnegie Hall! - 1 min 17 sec Old Time Religion - Carl Story - Bluegrass, Gospel, And Mountain Music: 1942-1959 - 1 min 19 sec Coal Creek March - Pete Seeger - Banjo Tunes and Songs - 1 min 25 sec The Tie That Binds - Jim Greer - Stars of the WWVA Jamboree - 1 min 27 sec Cripple Creek - Stringbean - Live TV - 1 min 29 sec I have another 36 songs between 1:30 at 2:00, but I don't have time to post all of them. Plus, after 1:45 or so, they're really not that short anymore. |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 23 Mar 16 - 03:56 AM From collections of Rugby "down-down" song.
Down Down Song This is your down, down song. It isn't very long. Sincerely, Gargoyle |
Subject: RE: Shortest song ever From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 23 Mar 16 - 03:59 AM Those are two separate songs. Sincerly, Gargoyle |
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