Ohrwurm Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mares eat oats

Fortunately, the seemingly nonsense lyrics are translated in the song itself. The line "Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?" translates to "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy. A kid'll eat ivy too, wouldn't you?"

Answer: In dreams

"I'll See You in My Dreams" has been recorded by diverse artists including Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Mario Lanza, Alice Faye, Doris Day, Django Reinhardt, and Bob Willes. If you have ever lost a loved one, this song will linger with you when you hear it.

Perhaps one of the most endearing renditions was by the English singer Joe Brown at the concert to honor George Harrison in 2002. Brown was the closing act and brought down the house with this song played on his four stringed ukulele. He included the opening refrain that is often omitted in other recordings.

"Lonely days are long
Twilight sings a song
All the happiness that used to be

Soon my eyes will close
Soon I'll find repose
And in dreams
You're always near to me

I'll see you in my dreams
Hold you in my dreams
Someone took you right out of my arms
Still I feel the thrill of your charms"

Answer: A Royal Wedding

Jane Powell and Fred Astaire are a brother and sister act who travel to London at the time of the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II to Prince Philip in 1952. Both Powell and Astaire find love as well. Jane Powell's rendition of "Too Late Now" has been an earworm for me.

"Too late now to forget your smile
The way we cling when we danced awhile
Too late now to forget and go on to someone new
Too late now to forget your voice
The way one word makes my heart rejoice
Too late now to imagine myself away from you"

Answer: Lush Life

When I first heard this song, I was fascinated with the lyrics so I made it a personal goal to memorize them. Through the years I find myself running the song through my head just to make sure I remember it correctly (or singing it if I'm alone). This composition works on two levels--the lyric and the jazz melody.

"Lush Life" is too long to quote but here is a summary: The lyrics tell of the weariness of the night life after a failed romance, wasting time with "jazz and cocktails" at "come-what-may places" and in the company of girls with "sad and sullen gray faces/with distingué traces" and end with "I'll live a lush life in some small dive and there I'll be where I'll rot with the rest of those whose lives are lonely too."

On the jazz side according to jazz expert Ted Gioia in 2011: "The song was written in the key of D-flat major. The melody is over relatively complex chord changes,... with chromatic movement and modulations, which evoke a dreamlike state and the dissolute spirit characteristic of the ... lush life".

Answer: Try a Little Tenderness

When I was in college under the GI Bill and some part time work, money was always short. My wife and I had two small children and we were often distressed. Once in a while she would sing these words to me:

"She may be weary, women do get weary
Wearing the same shabby dress
And when she's weary, try a little tenderness"

After which we would both laugh and the mood would be redirected. If you have ever lived in poverty, laughter is a way to cope.

Answer: When my ship comes in

"Lady in the Dark" was an artistic and commercial success on Broadway and when it came to the silver screen in 1944, Ira Gershwin was upset. What he felt was the strongest song in the musical was cut from the movie without explanation.

"My Ship" is a great song to whistle. On those times I am moved to whistle, this is the tune that will pop into my head. Besides, it has beautiful lyrics.

Answer: Kay Kyser

Kay Kyser was a genius at combining popular music with comedy. His spoof of both quiz shows and music was a radio success as well as utilizing his band members as comedians (remember Ish Kabibble?).

Answer: Elvis Presley

I was one of those kids. But so was Elvis. In 1945, Elvis Presley sang "Old Shep" at a singing contest. He came in fifth place winning $5. In high school he entered the talent night, also singing "Old Shep". Prizes were not awarded but he was asked to do an encore.

Other significant recordings were Hank Williams 1942, Hank Snow 1959, Walter Brennan 1960, Dave Dundley 1965, Johnny Cash 1975, Everly Brothers and Garrison Keillor 1988, Pat Boone 1994, and Alabama 2006.

"When I was a lad
And old Shep was a pup
Over hills and meadows we'd stray
Just a boy and his dog
We were both full of fun
We grew up together that way
I remember the time at the old swimmin' hole
When I would have drowned beyond doubt
But old Shep was right there
To the rescue he came
He jumped in and then pulled me out
As the years fast did roll
Old Shep, he grew old
His eyes were fast growing dim
And one day the doctor looked at me and said
"I can do no more for him, Jim"
With hands that were trembling
I picked up my gun
And aimed it at Shep's faithful head
I just couldn't do it, I wanted to run
I wish they would shoot me instead
He came to my side and looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see
Old Shep, he has gone where the good doggies go
And no more with old Shep will I roam
But if dogs have a heaven there's one thing I know
Old Shep has a wonderful home"

Answer: You Are My Sunshine

Actually Governor Jimmie Davis, a former country singer and entertainer, was "honest" about the authorship. He bought the song and rights from Paul Rice and put his own name on it. He recorded it in 1940 and became a hit but had been recorded by the Rice before. Since then a laundry list of artists from several genres have sang it through the years.

"You are my sunshine my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear how much I love you
So please don't take my sunshine away"

Anecdote: I don't remember how old I was but I could sing part of "You Are My Sunshine". Sometimes when my parents wanted to dance they went to the Haymarket on South Third Street in Terre Haute, Indiana and sometimes they would take me with them. I remember that they sprinkled soap flakes on the dance floor for the dancers. The band that was usually there was led by Herman LaMaster. When he was told that I knew "You Are My Sunshine", he invited me up to the stage, placed me on a tall stool, brought the microphone to my level, and I sang. There was a very kind round of applause. Herman gave me a quarter. Many years later my grandmother still used coal for heat--Terre Haute in those days was a coal mining area--and since there was no provision for storage, she bought coal in 100 pound burlap bags and I took a wagon to pick her up some coal. I was surprised to find the address was a rather worn down house behind the Haymarket. Even more surprised when I found that Herman LaMaster was the seller. He did not know who I was but I was tinged with the sadness of this childhood hero having to struggle for a living.

Answer: We Are the Champions

Freddy Mercury and Queen first recorded "We Are the Champions" in 1977. Since then it has become a rock classic. In 2005 it was voted as the number one favorite song. The FIFA used it as theme song for the 1994 world tournament. A team of scientists in 2011 declared it "catchiest song in the history of pop music" according to Dr. Daniel Mullensiefen.

"We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions, we are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the world"