Great songs with a sense of humour

Inspired by one of the best new Josh Ritter songs that has come out recently, Galahad (click here). A must listen! The song tells the story of an conversation between a cynical, world-weary Angel and the saintly, sanctimonious Sir Galahad in a playful and witty fashion I can't do justice to.

Got me to thinking; what other great comedic songs have been written by serious songwriters with a serious audience?

The best example would be Bob Dylan he displayed an uproarious sense of humour throughout the Sixties (something not shared by his po-faced folk audience at times) songs like Rainy Day Woman and Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat are often overlooked, but that playful humour is a real hallmark of Dylan. As truly magnificent as the likes of Desolation Row and Visions of Joanna are, at his best he was unafraid to match that lyrical virtuosity with humour.

Two of my favourite Dylan songs are stunning songs in their own right, but very, very funny at the same time; Bob Dylan's 115th Dream and Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts.

You can hear the last one of us being sung by Joan Baez here. Unfortunatly it doesn't have the raucous energy of Dylans original, a rare Baez misstep, but the best I could find- you have to look up the Dylan version!

So; any other great comedic songs by 'serious' artists anyone can share?

Brad Paisley - I'm Gonna Miss Her, Mr. Policeman, Celebrity, I'm Still A Guy

He is a serious artist but these songs are ones with a comedic factor. I'd say the first two are the best for comedic but Celebrity and I'm Still A Guy are very good too.

The Kinks - songs such as Plastic Man, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Apeman, Lola etc ... all show great humour in the lyrics

I'd also add something like Valley Girl by Frank Zappa - gag me with a spoon!

Morrissey's sense of humour is the one that sticks out for me.

A beautifully crafted, sharp, sardonic wit - and great delivery. And never a wasted word.

flight of the concords-something for the ladies.

Damn it, I was going to mention Dylan when I saw the title of the thread. He's got a great sense of humour, just look at self portrait

Lola- The Kinks
Piggies, bungalow bill & rocky racoon- The beatles
John Birch Paranoid Blues & Talkin' World War III Blues- Bob Dylan

Talkin' World War 3 Blues is classic Gaelic!! One I missed; cracking song.

Great point on Morrissey, I've never warmed to the man or his music (Johnny Marr the real power!) but he certainly has a great wit. "We Hate It When Our Friends become Successful" is a great example.

Flight of the Conchords specialise in comedy but they really do have some chops when it comes to songwriting. Bret McKenzie is a very good musician and has a good career as such. He's a talented guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2LpeA3jcEU

They are funny guys.

Notch wrote:Talkin' World War 3 Blues is classic Gaelic!! One I missed; cracking song.

Great point on Morrissey, I've never warmed to the man or his music (Johnny Marr the real power!) but he certainly has a great wit. "We Hate It When Our Friends become Successful" is a great example.

Flight of the Conchords specialise in comedy but they really do have some chops when it comes to songwriting. Bret McKenzie is a very good musician and has a good career as such. He's a talented guy.

flight of the conchords have done some funny stuff

Big fan of Flight Of The Conchords

Just listening to Talkin' World War III Blues- absolutely brilliant. Poignant, funny, matter of fact and sooo dry. Early Dylan was a genius.

Well, the whole thing started at 3 o’clock fast
It was all over by quarter past
I was down in the sewer with some little lover
When I peeked out from a manhole cover
Wondering who turned the lights on

Well, I got up and walked around
And up and down the lonesome town
I stood a-wondering which way to go
I lit a cigarette on a parking meter and walked on down the road
It was a normal day

And the ending of the song is just wonderful. Just a wonderful song.

Green Day - Basket Case

I guess that is the only one I can think that springs to mind.

I always enjoyed Johnny Cash's A Boy Named Sue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n--1wR4L7zg

I'm partial to Anthrax NFB. Always puts a smile on my face.

I love musical comedy. Flight of the conchords are the masters, but stand up comedians who play funny songs are always close to my heart, David O’Doherty is fantastic too.

As for “serious” musicians with a comedy streak, here’s a funny one from Mr Serious Damien Rice. It’s called Childish and it’s cracking!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d68vys5HAXM

tim minchin is funny music as well

Tim Minchin is brilliant.

I've been to see him twice

The Devil And The Angel by Malcolm Middleton. Self-depricating humour.

And Speed On The M9 by the same man.

I'm so lonely, I'm gonna go out with a slut who'll hold me,
I don't care, what she's got, need to feel, like I'm red hot.

Faith No More - Surprise! You're Dead
The Wildhearts - Caffeine Bomb
The Dandy Warhols - Horse Pills
Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls
Terrorvision - Pretend Best Friend
Spin Doctors - Little Miss Can't Be Wrong
Aerosmith - Eat the Rich
The Offspring - Pretty Fly for a White Guy
Monty Python - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

And although Foo Fighters Learn To Fly isn't strictly a funny song, the video is HILARIOUS!

Steel Panther - hair metal guys that write ridiculous tunes.


May contain swearing

AberdeenSteve wrote:Steel Panther - hair metal guys that write ridiculous tunes.


May contain swearing

It's death to all but metal. Not, death to all butt metal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

Big Irish guy Noel ?????
'Why Paddies not at work today'.

.......Murphy [of course]

The Ying Tong Song.

We used to split ourselves (neighbouring kids, brother and me) listening to the footsteps going away and then coming back.

Also the themes from The Benny Hill and Dave Allen Shows - still makes me laugh just thinking about them.

Doon the Water wrote: Big Irish guy Noel ?????
'Why Paddies not at work today'.

That song’s called “the sicknote” – hilarious!

Mickado.

I played golf with Noel a few times in the 70's.
He was a very good player and won the Stage Golf Society championship a few times.
He would play in Pro-Ams which were big around that time.

Noel was 6 feet 4in with long ginger hair and a bushy beard.
He came in as a late replacement for Ronnie Corbett at one event and the story goes that two old girls looked at the programme and commented ' he looks different in real life than on the telly.'

Pavement had a sense of humour about them. Songs like 'Cut your Hair' and 'Shady Lane,' but most of their songs really. They didn't take themselves too seriously.

'Kill the Poor,' 'Chemical Warfare,' 'Let's Lynch the Landlord' - well, almost any of the songs off Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables by the Dead Kennedys.