Sing Me a Silly, Wacky Song Trivia Quiz

Answer: Coming

Napoleon XIV was the name adopted by Jerry Samuels for the song "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haa" in 1966. The song rose to number four on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 popular music singles chart. The same song, recorded backwards, was on the B side of the single.

Here are some of the lyrics, just to refresh your memory:

"And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa 


They're coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha haaa 


To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time 
and I'll be happy to see those nice young men 
in their clean white coats 

And they're coming to take me away ha haaa."

Answer: Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers

This song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962. However, it didn't make the UK charts until 1973 when it became a hit. It has been covered many times and Boris Karloff himself performed the song on a US TV show. The song was covered by the Misfits, a horror/punk band in 1997. Here's the first verse and chorus:

"I was working in the lab late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my monster from his slab began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash
He did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
He did the mash
It caught on in a flash
He did the mash
He did the monster mash"

Answer: Sheb Wooley

"Purple People Eater" tells the story of an alien who come to Earth as he wants to be in a rock and roll band. Sheb Wooley both wrote and performed this song and it reached number four on the Cashbox country chart. Sing along with me:

"Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
It had the one long horn, one big eye
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
It looks like a purple eater to me

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
(One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)
A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me (One eye?)

Well he came down to earth and he lit in a tree
I said Mr. Purple People Eater, don't eat me
I heard him say in a voice so gruff
I wouldn't eat you cuz you're so tough

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
One-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater
One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me (One horn?)"

Answer: The Hollywood Argyles

Although written and recorded by Dallas Frazier in 1957, it was the Hollywood Argyles version that rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. This song has been recorded by other artists such as Dante & The Evergreens, the Beach Boys, and Ray Stevens. The inspiration for the song was said to have been the comic strip of the same name. Here's the first part of the song:

"There's a man in the funny papers we all know
(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He lived 'way back a long time ago
(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He don't eat nothin' but a bear cat stew
(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Well, this cat's name is-a Alley Oop
(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)"

Answer: Witch

This record was released under the name of David Seville but his real name was Ross Bagdasarian, and he also wrote the song. It rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song tells the story of unrequited love and the man goes to see a witch doctor for help. The song has been used in numerous TV shows such as "The A Team", "The Simpsons" and "Jonathan Creek". A cover version by UK singer Don Lang appeared in the UK Top Ten.

Here's the first verse:

"I told the witch doctor I was in love with you
I told the witch doctor I was in love with you
And then the witch doctor, he told me what to do
He said that ....

(Chorus:)
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang...
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bang bang"

Are you singing now?

Answer: Lonnie Donegan

This song reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961. The song has been used as a "Smarties" jingle and been performed on "The Muppet Show" and also heard in the motion picture "One Flew Over he Cuckoo's Nest". Here is part of the song:

"Oh-me, oh-my, oh-you
Whatever shall I do
Hallelujah, the question is peculiar
I'd give a lot of dough
If only I could know
The answer to my question
Is it yes or is it no

Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight
If your mother says don't chew it
Do you swallow it in spite
Can you catch it on your tonsils
Can you heave it left and right
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight."

Answer: Ray Stevens

"Along Came Jones" was originally recorded by The Coasters. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The Ray Stevens cover reached number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has been covered by Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones (of the Monkees). Here are some of the lyrics of the Ray Stevens cover:

"I plopped down in my easy chair and turned on Channel 2
A bad gunslinger called Salty Sam was chasin' poor Sweet Sue
He trapped her in the old sawmill and said with an evil laugh,
"If you don't give me the deed to your ranch
I'll saw you all in half!"
And then he grabbed her (and then)
He tied her up (and then)
He turned on the bandsaw (and then, and then...!)

(chorus):
And then along came Jones
Tall thin Jones
Slow-walkin' Jones
Slow-talkin' Jones
Along came long, lean, lanky Jones".

Answer: Monty Python

This song appeared in an episode of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" in 1969 and was written by Terry Jones and Michael Palin. At the "Concert for George Harrison" in 2002 (which was the first anniversary of Harrison's death) the song was performed by Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam
as it was a favourite of George Harrison.

Here are some of the lyrics:

"I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK
I sleep all night and I work all day
(He's a lumberjack and he's OK
He sleeps all night and he works all day)
I cut down trees, I eat my lunch
I go to the lavat'ry
On Wednesdays I go shopping
And have buttered scones for tea
(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a lumberjack...)
I cut down trees, I skip and jump
I love to press wild flow'rs
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars
(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a lumberjack...)
I cut down trees, I wear high heels
Suspenders and a bra
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like my dear papar
(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a lumberjack...)"

Answer: Bernard Cribbins

"Right Said Fred" is a song made popular by Bernard Cribbins who is an English musical comedian, actor and voice-over artist. He was the voice in "The Wombles" who told the story and appeared in Dr Who as the character Wilfred Mott. He appeared in many British films and on numerous TV shows and in live theatre productions. The song is about three men moving something and the trouble they have with trying to move it and they keep stopping to have a cup of tea. The song does not reveal what they are trying to move.

Here are the first two and the last verses:

"Right," said Fred, "Both of us together
One on each end and steady as we go."
Tried to shift it, couldn't even lift it
We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea and

"Right," said Fred, " Have to take the wall down,
That there wall is gonna have to go."
Took the wall down, even with it all down
We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea.

"All right," said Fred, climbing up a ladder
With his crowbar gave a mighty blow.
Was he in trouble, half a ton of rubble landed on the top of his dome.
So Charlie and me had another cuppa tea
And then we went home."

Answer: Kangaroo

Rolf Harris wrote "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" in 1957. In 1960 it was a big hit in Australia and the UK and had some success in the US in 1963 when re-released there. It rose to number one on the Australian charts and made it to the Top Ten in the UK. In the US it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The main feature of this song was the "wobble board" played by Harris, which was a piece of Masonite measuring two by three feet which he held on opposite sides and shook, producing a "wobble" sound. The song is about an Australian stockman who is dying and telling his friends how to take care of his affairs after his death. Here are the first two and last two verses:

"(Spoken)There's an old Australian stockman, lying, dying, 
and he gets himself up on one elbow, 
and he turns to his mates, 
who are gathered 'round him and he says:

Watch me wallabys feed mate. 
Watch me wallabys feed. 

They're a dangerous breed mate. 

So watch me wallabys feed. 
Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down sport, 
tie me kangaroo down. 

Tie me kangaroo down sport, 
tie me kangaroo down.

Play your digeridoo, Blue, 
play your digeridoo.

Keep playing 'til I shoot thro' Blue, 
play your digerydoo. 

Altogether now! (Chorus)

Tan me hide when I'm dead, Fred, 
tan me hide when I'm dead. 

So we tanned his hide when he died Clyde, 

(Spoken) And that's it hanging on the shed. 

Altogether now!" (Chorus)."