In Four Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: Stagger Lee

Over 400 artists have recorded this song since its first recording in 1923. The name Stagger Lee is also recorded as Stackolee, Stack O'Lee, and Staggolee, among others. The song tells of the shooting of William "Billy" Lyons by "Stag" Lee Shelton on Christmas Eve of 1895 in a St. Louis saloon.

Lloyd Price's 1959 recording hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Hold On Tight

"Hold On Tight" hit number four in the United Kingdom and number two in Germany. It reached the top spot in both Spain and Switzerland. In the States, it got into the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100.

A fuller sense of the four words I gave you comes in the second stanza with these three lines: "When you need a shoulder to cry on, When you get so sick of trying, Hold on tight to your dream."

As I understand it, the four French words mean "tight to your dream."

Answer: The Eagles' "Get Over It"

As the lyrics go, "The more I think about it, Old Billy was right, Let's kill all the lawyers, kill 'em tonight." "Old Billy" is William Shakespeare and the quote "Let's kill all the lawyers" is from "Henry the Sixth, Part 2." The line is spoken in Act 4, scene 2 by Dick The Butcher as he chimes in with Jack Cade as the latter makes his promises to the mob for usurping the throne of England and setting himself up as ruler.

"Get Over It" was released in 1994 when the Eagles reunited after their 1980 breakup.

Answer: "Gitarzan" by Ray Stevens

Released in 1969, "Gitarzan" includes "a girl named Jane with no last name," as well as "a monkey who likes to get drunk." With these two, Gitarzan forms "a jungle band." Stevens was no doubt inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs' fictional orphaned English lord who was raised by great apes in Africa. Tarzan is actually Lord Greystoke and Jane is Jane Porter, who becomes Lady Greystoke in Burroughs' saga.

Answer: Mule Skinner Blues

"Mule Skinner Blues" was written by Jimmie Rodgers and George Vaughan as "Blue Yodel #8." Rodgers recorded the song in June of 1930. My iTunes version was a cover by The Fendermen. The song had also been recorded by Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Woody Guthrie and Lonnie Donegan, among others. Dolly Parton's rendition reached number three on the U.S. Country & Western charts.

"What's Made Milwaukee Famous" was written by Glenn Sutton. Jerry Lee Lewis' 1968 recording of the song reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles. Roger Miller's "King of the Road" reached the top spot on two U.S. Billboard lists, the Hot Country Singles and the Easy Listening lists. The Kingston Trio's 1958 release of the folk classic "Tom Dooley" was number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 as well as in Australia, Norway, Canada, and Italy.

Answer: Running On Empty

"Running On Empty" was Jackson Browne's 1977 title track for the album which was to become Jackson Browne's best selling. It reached Gold record status in its issue year and Platinum a year later. "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked the single at number 496 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." The song was also used in "Forrest Gump" in the scenes of Gump's running across the United States.

Answer: Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond's hit still has people rocking in athletic venues across America, including Boston's Fenway Park and at the University of Pittsburgh home football games. At Pitt, the students sing along but replace "so good" with "Go Pitt!" The song is also played at home games by the CFL's Hamilton Tiger Cats and Calgary Stampeders. Diamond said the song was inspired by the 11-year-old Caroline Kennedy, daughter of JFK.

Answer: Soul Man

The full line of lyrics is "Good lovin', I got a truck load." The version on my iTunes is the 1978 Blues Brothers cover. Co-authored by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, "Soul Man" was first recorded in 1967 by Sam & Dave and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., and even reached number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. It also won a 1968 Grammy.

Answer: "Macho Man" by the Village People

Songs by the Village People always had strong rhythms, which is good for listening to while jogging. "Proud Mary" debuted in 1969. "My Sharona" and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" both came out in 1979, as did the Village People's "Y.M.C.A."

Answer: Real Wild Child (Wild One)

Another tune with an interesting history, "Wild One" made its first appearance in 1958 as a single by Johnny O'Keefe, its main author, in Australia on what is considered by some to be Australia's birthday of rock and roll, July 5. Co-writers were Johnny Greenan and Dave Owens.

A 1958 recording of the song by Jerry Lee Lewis was released in 1974. My iTunes version is by Iggy Pop as "Real Wild Child." Be sure not to confuse this song with Bobby Rydell's "Wild One": "Hey there, Wild One, I'm a gonna clip your wings..." This one begins, "Well I'm just outa school. Like I'm real real cool."