Strange Song Lyrics

In this super amazing post, Sparkler goodnight_kiwi starts with some odd lyrics you're probably familiar with, but quickly delves to the depths of her record collection for weird lyrics from a few artists you may not know. —SparkNotes Editors

Sometimes you hear those lyrics that make you hit rewind, wondering, “Did I hear that correctly? Are they actually the words these award-winning musicians wrote?” Yes indeedio, there are some wacky lyrics out there. Here are few (in no particular order) of some of the strangest lyrics I know:

“One Week,” by Barenaked Ladies
This song has to receive the award for Fastest Lyrics Sung While Referencing as Many Pop Culture Icons as Possible. The "Ladies" have managed to string together a rap-style song that mentions Aquaman, wasabi, LeAnn Rimes, vertigo, Harrison Ford, Sting, Sailor Moon, and some guy who loses his shirt. I challenge you to sing along and manage to keep in time.

Chickity China the Chinese chicken/You have a drumstick and your brain stops ticking/Watching X-Files with no lights on, we’re dans la maison/ I hope the Smoking Man’s in this one/Like Harrison Ford, I’m getting frantic/Like Sting, I’m tantric/Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy...

“The Riddle,” by Nik Kershaw

When this little number was released in 1984, a whole lot of people decided to study the random lyrics, drawing conclusions that they were metaphors for peace and love etc. But then Mr. Kershaw came out and said no, that they were actually just a load of “nonsense rubbish,” and they had no significant meaning whatsoever!

I got time to kill/Sly looks in corridors without a plan of yours/A blackbird sings on a bluebird hill/Thanks to the calling of the wild wise men's child/Near a tree by a river, there’s a hole in the ground...

“All Because of You,” by U2
Being an avid U2 fan myself, I love to see what little ditties these boys come up with next. Described by Bono as "a love song dedicated to The Who," "All Because of You" makes me smile. Check out the video—the band is cruising around New York City on the back of a flatbed truck while jamming away, and Bono does a funky tambourine dance.

I like the sound of my own voice/I didn’t give anyone else a choice/An intellectual tortoise/Racing with your bullet train...

“On Any Other Day,” by The Police
This is one about a guy who is going through a major midlife crisis. Just about anything that could go wrong for this poor fellow does, from spoiled dinners to being attacked by his own dog. The worst part? It all happens on his birthday.

My wife has burned the scrambled eggs/The dog just bit my leg/My teenage daughter ran away

“Spill the Wine,” by Eric Burdon & War
The title alone made me chuckle a little bit at first, but looking back, I really don’t know why…Anyway, when I heard these lyrics, I immediately got the impression that Eric Burdon was a stumpy and jumpy little man, a bit like a cross between an elf and a chubby leprechaun, who accidentally stumbled across Hollywood stardom.

And I fell asleep and dreamed/I dreamed I was in a Hollywood movie/And that I was the star of the movie/This really blew my mind/The fact that me/An overfed, long-haired, leaping gnome/Should be the star of a Hollywood movie...

“Solar Prestige a Gammon,” by Elton John
Ahhh, yes. That one with all the fish. “Wait, FISH?” I hear you say. Yep, thaaaaat’s right. Fish. The Rocketman took it below the water this time, throwing in as many fish references to the mix as possible. And that’s basically what the whole song seems to be about—our little finned friends.

Solar prestige a gammon/Kool kar kyrie kay salmon/Hair ring molasses abounding/Common lap kitch sadin poor floundin...

So there they are. Some of what I think are the strangest lyrics. And I’m sure that one day when you’re all rock stars, you’ll be able to write some humdingers that will have people talking.

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