Songs whose titles never appear in the lyrics

[NightTrain]

Right off the bat: At least half the Bob Dylan catalog!

Now, having said that....

THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO - The Beatles
THE CHIPMUNK SONG - David Seville & The Chipmunks
THE CHRISTMAS SONG - Nat "King" Cole
COME SOFTLY TO ME - The Fleetwoods (1)
EBB TIDE - Roy Hamilton (2)
EL WATUSI - Ray Barretto
FINGERTIPS - Little Stevie Wonder
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH - Buffalo Springfield
GIMME LITTLE SIGN - Brenton Wood (3)
LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES - Chris Kenner, Cannibal and the Headhunters, Wilson Pickett, et al
LET IT ROCK - Chuck Berry
MORSE CODE OF LOVE - The Capris (4)
MULE SKINNER BLUES - The Fendermen
MY GIRL SLOOPY - The Vibrations (5)
MY TRUE STORY - The Jive Five
PSYCHO - Bobby Hendricks (6)
SUNSHINE SUPERMAN - Donovan
UNCHAINED MELODY - Al Hibbler, Les Baxter, Roy Hamilton, Vito and the Salutations, the Righteous Brothers, Elvis Presley, et al (7)
WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE - Johnny Otis

(1) The original title was "Come Softly," but that phrase by itself was considered too risque for 1959.

(2) However, in the 1966 remake by the Righteous Brothers, Bobby Hatfield cuts loose with a melismatic rendering of the song's title at the very end of the record.

(3) He sings, "Just gimme some kinda sign, girl."

(4) When the Manhattan Transfer covered this song in 1984, they called it "Baby, Come Back To Me."

(5) When the McCoys covered it in 1965, they called the song "Hang On Sloopy."

(6) Not to be confused with the country song that Elvis Costello covered in the early '80s.

(7) The original composition was an orchestral instrumental, written for the 1955 movie, "Unchained." The lyrics were added later.

[Kenneth]

1. How about "Iris"

By the Goo Goo Dolls.

[Kamika]

2. "Elvis Presley and America",, and "MLK"

Both by U2 on unforgettale fire..

[AntiCoup2K4]

3. Life During Wartime - Talking Heads

A.k.a. "This Ain't No Party, This Ain't No Disco, This Ain't No Foolin Around"

[AntiCoup2K4]

4. Sympathy For The Devil - Rolling Stones

In the song, Mick identifies himself as "Lucifer" and says "If you meet me, have some courtesy, and some sympathy...." but that's as close as it gets. :evilgrin:

[Shakespeare]

5. My favorite: Baba O'Reilly by The Who

One of the most mistaken song titles EVER. When I was a DJ (on a classic rock station), I lost count of how many people called up wanting me to play "Teenage Wasteland." I always gently corrected them, but I think a LOT of people still don't know the actual title of the song.

[AntiCoup2K4]

6. Train In Vain - The Clash

If I remember correctly, the song didn't have a title at all on the first pressing of London Calling where it was the "hidden bonus track" at the end of the album. (Or as well hidden as you could do with vinyl)

[TrogL]

7. McArthur Park

[Dookus]

10. Nope...

the second verse of MacArthur Park is:

MacArthur Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

[TrogL]

8. Karn Evil 9

Emerson Lake and Palmer

[bbernardini]

9. Rainy Day Women #12 and #35

Bob Dylan. And I don't know what version of "Macarthur Park" the other writer is referring to, but the title is certainly mentioned in the lyrics, at least three times.

Of course, there's always "Overture" by The Who. ;)

[DarkPhenyx]

11. "Pepper" - Butthole Surfers

[rbnyc]

12. White Suckers

by Kristin Hersh

We were awake together all night long
Sharing paraphernalia 'till dawn
You didn't dissapoint me Not at all

You never disappoint me
You lubricate the morning
Shining and yawning

You were nice but twisted the same old story
We were a match made in purgatory
You didn't disappoint me
Totally

You never disappoint me
You animate the morning
Shining and yawning

You come off like a distant moth
Aimless and driven
Yet you seem to be living it up
Walking around in your busted shoes
Like you've got nothing better to do

I don't like I was I don't know what I've become
But shaken out of my pallour I'm filled up
You didn't disappoint me
Not once

You never disappoint me
you mutilate the morning
Shining and yawning

You run by like a spazzing fly
Shameless and smiling
Yeah, you seem to be living it up
Driving around in your souped-up jeep
Like you've got somewhere better to be

[dwckabal]

13. Led Zeppelin

The Battle of Evermore
Immigrant Song
Over The Hills and Far Away
Trampled Under Foot
Achilles Last Stand
South Bound Saurez

[Philostopher]

19. Musta' been Percy's fault.

Most of his first solo album was like that, too:

Burning Down One Side
Fat Lip
Pledge Pin

Those are just the ones I can remember offhand, without going to look at the disc.

[Rooktoven]

28. Actually they say "Saurez",

But mayme not Southbound...

Add to that (Zep)
The Crunge
Black Dog
Four Sticks
Wearing and Tearing

[Skittles]

31. how about

Thank You

[Kat45]

36. At least that one's close, with "thanks to you" in the lyrics

Many of their songs don't even come close.

[dwckabal]

14. Rolling Stones

Little T&A

[VelmaD]

15. H. by Tool

What's coming through is alive.
What's holding up is a mirror.
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine.

They're both totally void of hate,
But killing me just the same.

The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.

And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
Considerately.

Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity.

The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.

And I feel this coming over like a storm again.

I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me.

Without the skin,
Beneath the storm,
Under these tears
The walls came down.

And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.

I could have cried then.
I should have cried then.

And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind.

I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,

And considerately killing me.

Mmm...love that song.
Also from Tool - Hooker with a Penis. ;-)

[TexasMexican]

16. Tool - Aenima

Some say the end is near.
Some say we'll see armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will.
I sure could use a vacation from this

Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of
Freaks

Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay.

Fret for your figure and
Fret for your latte and
Fret for your hairpiece and
Fret for your lawsuit and
Fret for your prozac and
Fret for your pilot and
Fret for your contract and
Fret for your car.

It's a
Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of
Freaks

Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay.

Some say a comet will fall from the sky.
Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves.
Followed by faultlines that cannot sit still.
Followed by millions of dumbfounded dipshits.

Some say the end is near.
Some say we'll see armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will cuz
I sure could use a vacation from this

Silly shit, stupid shit...

One great big festering neon distraction,
I've a suggestion to keep you all occupied.

Learn to swim.

Mom's gonna fix it all soon.
Mom's comin' round to put it back the way it ought to be.

Learn to swim.

Fuck L Ron Hubbard and
Fuck all his clones.
Fuck all those gun - toting
Hip gangster wannabes.

Learn to swim.

Fuck retro anything.
Fuck your tattoos.
Fuck all you junkies and
Fuck your short memory.

Learn to swim.

Fuck smiley glad - hands
With hidden agendas.
Fuck these dysfunctional,
Insecure actresses.

Learn to swim.

Cuz I'm praying for rain
And I'm praying for tidal waves
I wanna see the ground give way.
I wanna watch it all go down.
Mom please flush it all away.
I wanna watch it go right in and down.
I wanna watch it go right in.
Watch you flush it all away.

Time to bring it down again.
Don't just call me pessimist.
Try and read between the lines.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't
Welcome any change, my friend.

I wanna see it all come down.
Suck it down.
Flush it down.

[VelmaD]

17. Sometimes I think Maynard...

has a philosophical objection to using the title of the song in the lyrics. :-)

[rock]

18. "Yep!" by Duane Eddy (I think)

No wait! My bad, the song's title was the only word in the song.

[Sting]

20. A.F.I. - The Leaving Song, Part 2.

Linkin Park - Figure.09
Limp Bizkit - Break Stuff
Limp Bizkit - Boiler
Staind - Epiphany
A Perfect Circle - Orestes
A Perfect Circle - 3 Libras
Tool - Hooker With a Penis
Tool - Schism


That's all I can think of for now.
Sting

[Norbert]

21. A Lovers Concerto - The Toys

Does the "Shoop Shoop Song" by Betty Everett count. I think in the 1970s it was released in Great Britain as "It's in His Kiss".

Others:

D'yer Mak'er - Led Zeppelin
Baby Sittin' Boogie - Doug Clifford
House of the Risin' Sun - The Animals (Don't think they ever said it word for word)
New York Mining Disaster, 1941 - The BeeGees
Hold me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me - Karen Chandler(1953) & Mel Carter(1965)
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane

[Rooktoven]

29. Mother's tell your children

not to do what I have done...

Spend your life in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun

[Norbert]

32. Damn. You're right.

[Missy Vixen]

22. I can think of one

"Lithium" by Nirvana. I originally thought that Pearl Jam's "Black" was another contender, but noooooo....

Julie

[Sting]

24. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

:)

[JohnKleeb]

33. ya I noticed that

[ironflange]

23. Couple of Beatles ones

Revolution 9 - not sure it's a song, though
A Day in the Life

[KG]

25. D'yer Mak'er - led zep

(spelling?)

[FDRrocks]

26. Most of the stuff I listen to...

"Mate Ka Moris Ukun Rasik An" - Propagandhi
"Albright Monument, Baghdad" - Prop
"Ordinary People Do Fucked Up Things When Fucked Up Things Become Ordinary" - Prop
"Ladies Nite In Loserville" - Prop
"Ego Fum Papa (I Am The Pope)" - Prop
"March Of The Crabs" - Prop
"Purina Hall Of Fame" - Prop
"Firestorm, My Ass" - Prop
"...And We Thought That Nation-States Were A Bad Idea" - Prop

Well okay... most of thier songs.

"You're Fired" - Strike Anywhere
"Cassandratic Equation" - Strike Anywhere
"S.S.T. (Sic Semper Tyrannis)" - Strike Anywhere

Buncha thier stuff. About any Candiria song that comes to mind, as well.

"Dr. Jackal & Mr. Hide" - Millencolin
"Lowlife" - Millencolin
"Highway Donkey" - Millencolin

I give up...

[guitar man]

27. The Weight

I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling 'bout half past dead
I just need some place where I can lay my head
``Hey mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?''
He just grinned and shook my hand, ``No'' was all he said

Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And you put the load right on me

I picked up my bag, I went looking for a place to hide
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walking side by side
I said ``Hey Carmen, come on, let's go downtown''
She said ``I gotta go but my friend can stick around''

Go down Miss Moses, there's nothing you can say
It's just old Luke, and Luke's waiting on the judgement day
``Well, Luke my friend, what about young Anna-Lee?''
He said ``Do me a favour son, won't you stay and keep Anna-Lee company?''

Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog
He said ``I will fix your rat if you'll take Jack my dog''
I said ``Wait a minute Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man''
He said ``That's okay boy, won't you feed him when you can?''

Catch a cannonball now to take me down the line
My bag is sinking low and I do believe it's time
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone

[Lydia Leftcoast]

30. Kozmic Blues

by Janis Joplin.

[leftist_rebel1569]

34. Hmmm...

I can think of a few:

"3 Libras" by A Perfect Circle
"Nutshell" by Alice in Chains
"Cochise" by Audioslave
"Digital Bath" by The Deftones
"Atmosphere" by Joy Division (not sure on this one)
"Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
"Black" by Sevendust
"Shame" by Stabbing Westward
"Interstate Love Song" by The Stone Temple Pilots
"Aenema" by Tool
"Flood" by Tool
"Lateralus" by Tool
"Schism" by Tool
"Opiate" by Tool
"Stink Fist" by Tool
"Parabol/Parabola" by Tool (kinda see a trend here?)

[VelmaD]

35. Can't believe I forgot Stink Fist

It's my favorite goddamn song after 46&2. :eyes:

Kinda cool though that we listen to some of the same stuff Little Bit. :-)