How Long Is Too Long Wasn't Long Enough

[Nearly Sane]

Moses went up to the mountain high
To find out from God why did you make us why
Secret words in a secret room
He said a womp bop a lu bop a lop bam boom

I did not put you here to suffer
I did not put you here to whine
I put you here to love one another
And to get out and have a good time now now now

Let my people go-go-go
You gotta let my people go-go-go
Let my people go-go-go
You gotta Let my people go

[Robbie]

Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn
World serves its own needs
Don't mis-serve your own needs
Speed it up a notch, speed, grunt, no, strength
The ladder starts to clatter
With a fear of height, down, height

Wire in a fire, represent the seven games
And a government for hire and a combat site
Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry
With the Furies breathing down your neck
Team by team, reporters baffled, trumped, tethered, cropped

Look at that low plane, fine, then
Uh oh, overflow, population, common group
But it'll do, save yourself, serve yourself
World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed
Tell me with the Rapture and the reverent in the right, right
You vitriolic, patriotic, slam fight, bright light
Feeling pretty psyched

It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine

[Nearly Sane]

Rising up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive
So many times it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

It's the eye of the tiger
It's the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger

[Robbie]

All night long, you've been looking at me
Well you know you're the dance hall cutie that you love to be
Oh well now, you've been laying it down
You've got your hips swinging out of bounds
And I like the way you do what you're doin' to me
Alright

That's right, that's right, that's right,
that's right I really love your tiger light
That's neat, that's neat, that's neat,
that's neat, I really love your tiger feet
I really love your tiger feet
Your tiger feet

[Nearly Sane]

Take your baby by the hand
And make her do a high hand stand
And take your baby by the heel
And do the next thing that you feel

We were so in phase
In our dance hall days
We were cool on craze
When I, you, and everyone we knew
Could believe, do, and share in what was true
I said

Dance hall days, love

[Robbie]

I set my sights on you (and no one else will do)
And I, I've got to have my way now, baby
All I know is that to me
You look like you're having fun
Open up your lovin' arms
Watch out here I come

You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round

[Aruntraveller]

Round like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending nor beginning
On an ever spinning reel

Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel that's turning
Running rings around the moon

Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes of its face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space

Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

[Nearly Sane]

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
We could float among the stars together, you and I
For we can fly we can fly
Up, up and away
My beautiful, my beautiful balloon
The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloon
It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon
We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky

[Robbie]

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Yippie yi ooh
Yippie yi yay
Ghost riders in the sky

[Nearly Sane]

There's a message floatin' in the air
Come from crazy horses riding everywhere
It's a warning it's in every tongue
Got to stop them crazy horses on the run
What a show there they go smokin' up the sky yeah
Crazy horses all got riders and they're you and I
Crazy Horses
Crazy Horses
Crazy Horses
Crazy Horses

[Aruntraveller]

Now take me dancing at the disco
Where you buy your Winniebago
I wanna ride on a white horse
I want to ride on a white horse

When the light turns into darkness
Will he turn up to explain us?
I wanna ride on a white horse
I want to ride on a white horse

[Nearly Sane]

Ticket to ride, white line highway
Tell all your friends, they can go my way
Pay your toll, sell your soul
Pound for pound costs more than gold
The longer you stay, the more you pay
My white lines go a long way
Either up your nose or through your vein
With nothin to gain except killin' your brain

[Aruntraveller]

The auctioneer said, I'm not through yet
Here's a horse the likes of which you've never seen
And the straw hats in the sun, with a face beneath each one
Shown doubtful and the auctioneer got mean
Do you think that you can find a horse like this every day?
I don't think there's any better on this earth
And the more you pay, the more it's worth

Then out she came, a snow-white mare
Prancin' and a dancin' in the silver sun
They watched her from behind, as she did her bump and grind
Walkin' naked, sad and graceful for their fun
Oh how I wished I could afford that lady painted white
A queen with high nobility of birth
But the more you pay, the more it's worth

[Nearly Sane]

I got the horse right here, the name is Paul Revere.
And here's a guy that says that if all weather's clear,
Can do, can do, this guy says the horse can do.
If he says the horse can do, can do, can do.
I picked the Valentine, cause on the Morning Line,
The guy has got em figured at five to nine
But take the Epitaph, he went to buy a half,
He's got it cold in here in the Telegraph.
About Rivera's fight, I guess the sport's alright
Suppose it all depends if it rained last night.
I know it's Valentine, the morning works were fine
You know the jockey's brother is a friend of mine
But just a minute, boys, I got the feedback's choice,
It says the great grandfather was Aqua Poise.

[Nearly Sane]

It's been a little while since my last summary of what's been posted on this thread, and given that it has been quiet for a few days, I updated it. Below is the current list of artists with 10 or more entries. Since the last summary The Beatles have extended their lead slightly, Ella Fitzgerald has pulled ahead of Frank Sinatra, David Bowie has continued his move up the chart. The biggest increase in the period was The Rolling Stones with 9 more entries but they only moved up 2 places due to the gap that was there in January. Paul McCartney currently has 9 entries as a solo artist in addition to 82 with The Beatles, and 18 with Wings. If I counted dues  with Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson he would appear in this list 3 times.

When I did the first of these breakdowns Frank Sinatra was out in front and was for some time after, I suspect that the increase in 60s and 70s music performers is to do with losing the influence of the much missed Leonard James.

I'll do a separate post for songs that have appeared more than 5 times.

One slight oddity because of the way I decided to work this is that The Sound Of Music appears but The Sound of Music the song itself is part of the set of songs that count towards Julie Andrews appearance. Rather similarly to my approach to the Great American songbook, I've put songs from musicals that I think have a definitive version to the singer(s). If not, then just the musical itself


Artist   Number
The Beatles   82
Ella Fitzgerald   71
Frank Sinatra   69
Trad.                   48
Nat King Cole   35
David Bowie   34
Simon and Garfunkel   33
Abba   32
Queen   32
Bing Crosby   31
Doris Day   30
The Rolling Stones   27
Judy Garland   23
Fred Astaire   22
Don McLean   20
Gene Kelly   18
Wings   18
Hymn   17
Paul Simon   17
Theme   17
Billie Holiday   16
Mario Lanza   16
Diana Ross and The Supremes   15
The Carpenters   15
Andy Williams   14
Barbra Streisand   14
Bob Dylan   14
Louis Armstrong   14
Perry Como   14
Roy Orbison   14
Blondie   13
Dean Martin   13
Vera Lynn   13
10CC   12
Carole King   12
Cliff Richard   12
Elkie Brooks   12
Elvis Presley   12
Tony Bennett   12
Dionne Warwick   11
Elton John   11
Johnny Cash   11
Julie Andrews   11
Kate Bush   11
Lionel Ritchie   11
Michael Jackson   11
Pink Floyd   11
The Kinks   11
Dusty Springfield   10
John Lennon   10
Stevie Wonder   10
The Sound of Music   10

[Nearly Sane]

Here is the list of songs appearing 5 times or more. Very little change at the top with only  Memories Are Made of This that was in the top 10 going up by 1, and Singing In The Rain entering the top 10. Lots of new appearances with 5 such as Sorrow, The Green Green Grass of Home, and Video Killed the Radio Star, As before The Power of Love scores 6 as a title but is 2 different versions - Frankie Goes To Hollywood 4, Jennifer Rush 2, Huey Lewis and the News 0. Young at Heart has 5 as a title - 4 Frank Sinatra, 1 The Bluebells.

Cry Me River does appear on here with 5, though it has 6 as a title - 5 Julie London, 1 Justin Timberlake



Song                            Number
Dream a little dream of me   10
With a song in my heart   10
Memories are made of this   8
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life   7
Blue Skies   7
Love Is a Many Splendoured  Thing   7
Singing in the Rain   7
Strangers in the Night   7
Baby It's Cold Outside   6
Bohemian Rhapsody   6
Come Fly With Me   6
Don't Stop Me Now   6
I Will Survive   6
In The Still of the Night   6
The Sound of Silence   6
Walk on by   6
Amoreuse   5
Banana Boat Song   5
Brother Can you spare a dime   5
Cry Me a River   5
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes   5
Don't it make my brown Eyes Blue   5
Fools Rush In   5
Green Green Grass of Home   5
Hanging on the Telephone   5
Hello   5
Homeward Bound   5
I write the songs   5
It's a Kind of Magic   5
It's a Lovely Day Today   5
Just my imagination   5
Lilac Wine   5
Love Me or Leave Me   5
Mama Told Me Not To Come   5
Moon River   5
No More the Fool   5
Oh What a Beautiful Morning   5
Pennies From Heaven   5
Reflections    5
Rock Around the Clock   5
Somewhere over the rainbow   5
Sorrow   5
Stormy Weather   5
Summer in the City   5
Tie a Yellow Ribbon   5
Video Killed the Radio Star   5
Wherever I lay My Hat   5

[Aruntraveller]

Thanks for the breakdown NS. I am now adding to the Don McLean total with this one (I am probably largely responsible for his high showing in the list):

And Lincoln is laughing with Amos and Andy
Concerning the great Civil War
And Paul Revere sleeps with the worst-looking creeps
While revolution's knocking at his door

Magdalene Lane is the red-light domain
Where everyone's soul is for sale
A piece of your heart will do for a start
You can send us the rest in the mail
For we have our own families to feed
And we can't let them starve just for you
But we'd rather not watch while you bleed
So come back in an hour when you're through

[Robbie]

The lion is weak and ready for his jungle
What is the jungle
Equal rights and justice
And if he doesn't get it
He's gon' to take it any way and anyhow
So you better give up

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

[Nearly Sane]

You
With your masquerading
And you
Always contemplating
What to do
In case Heaven has found you
Can't you see
That it's all around you?
So follow me

Hey come on, babe
Follow me
I'm the Pied Piper
Follow me
I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at

[Aruntraveller]

They came from the hills
And they came from the valleys and the plains
They struggled in the cold
In the heat and the snow and in the rain
Came to hear him play
Play their minds away

We're all following a strange melody
We're all summoned by a tune
We're following the piper
And we dance beneath the moon

We're following the piper
And we dance beneath the moon for him
And we dance beneath the moon

[Nearly Sane]

Melody, it was a second name
Melody, it was a second name

Came home one morning about quarter to three
I'm banging on my door cause I just lost my key
Open up, baby, you got someone else inside
I'm going to come get you dead or alive

I took her out dancing but she drank away my cash
She said, "I'm going to fix my face don't you worry I'll be back"
I'm looking for her high and low like a mustard for a ham
She was crashed out in the bathroom
In the arms of my best friend

[Robbie]

The way she walks
The way she talks
How long can I pretend
Oh I can't help it, I'm in love
with the girl of my best friend

Her lovely hair
Her skin so fair
I could go on and never end
Oh I can't help it, I'm in love
With the girl of my best friend

I want to tell her how I love her so
And then hold her in my arms but then
What if she got real mad and told him so
I could never face either one again

oh the way they kiss
Their happiness
Will my aching heart ever mend
Or will I always be in love
With the girl of my best friend

[Nearly Sane]

You're always dancing down the street
With your suede blue eyes
Every new boy that you meet
He doesn't know the real surprise(Here she comes again)
When she's dancing 'neath the starry sky
Ooh, she'll make you flip
(Here she comes again)
When she's dancing 'neath the starry sky
I kinda like the way she dips
Well she's my best friend's girl
She's my best friend's girl
But she used to be mine

[Robbie]

It's so pathetic, don't know what to do
Cause now you got me cornered in the room
Picture moment and now I'm screwed
Hey, don't tell me I'm beautiful
Cause I don't want to hear it from you

Are you kidding?
You're my best friend's boyfriend
Best friend's boyfriend
What you thinking?
You're my best friend's boyfriend
Best friend's boyfriend
Don't try to tell me it's okay
Don't try to make me play your game
Boy, you're tripping
You're my best friend's boyfriend
Best friend's boyfriend

[Nearly Sane]

I got my cat moves
That so upsets them
Zippers and buttons
Fun to frustrate them

They get so angry
Like pouty children
Denied their candy
I laugh right at them

I know what boys like
I know what guys want
I know what boys like
Boys like, boys like me