Comedy Music Trivia

1. There are a few nonsense songs that try to explain the nonsense. For instance in the song "Mairzy Doats", what does mairzy doats mean?

From Quiz Nonsense and Novelty Songs

Answer: Mares eat oats

The lyrics in part are: "Mairzy doats and dozy doats And liddle lamzy divey" translates to "Mares eat oats And does eat oats And little lambs eat ivy" Composer Milton Drake ran across an old English nursery rhyme that went "Cowzy tweet and sowzy tweet and liddle sharksy doisters" or "Cows eat wheat and sows eat wheat and little sharks eat oysters". He thought he could make something of that and result was "Mairsy Doats". He had difficulty finding a publisher but when it came on the market in 1944 it was an instant hit. In pop-culture the ditty was used in Woody Allen's "Radio Days" (1987) and in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" (1990).

From Quiz Who on Earth Bought These Records?

Answer: By the sea

Based on a 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton, "Puff the Magic Dragon" was a 1963 hit for folk band "Peter, Paul & Mary". Puff lived 'by the sea' in the fictional land of Honalee.

From Quiz Funny, Weird, and Amusing Song Lyrics

Answer: his pet pig

Yes, his pet pig. He also sings "When you were just a football at your mama's side, I reckon everyone figured you for a bar-b-que when you died." In the song, he shoots Mona with a 12-gauge shotgun, but really misses her afterwards.

From Quiz Sing Me a Silly, Wacky Song

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."

From Quiz Top 40 Radio IV - Novelty Tunes

Answer: Alley-Oop

"Alley-Oop" was their only hit record... but in 1960 it reached number one on the Billboard charts. It was, of course, based on the long-running comic strip caveman.

From Quiz Comedy songs of the '50s and '60s

Answer: Goat

Actor/singer/writer Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives sang the best known version of "I Know An Old Lady" which was released in 1953. The full sequence of things swallowed by this woman were, a fly, a spider, a bird, a cat, a dog, a goat, a cow and finally a horse. All together now, "she's dead of course".

From Quiz Rock Me Silly

Answer: Surfin' Bird

"Surfin' Bird" was a combination of songs originally performed by The Rivingtons. You had "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird is the Word" which that group had recorded and released prior to the appearance of "Surfin' Bird". The Trashmen were performing in a club and combined the two songs. By coincidence a record producer heard the performance and offered them a recording contract. They cut the record and it eventually shot to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

From Quiz Novelty Songs- Part 2

Answer: Star Trekkin'

Released in June 1987 this song spent 2 weeks at number one on the Official UK Singles Chart. A parody of "Star Trek", it was written by Rory Kehoe and arranged by John O'Connor and Graham Lister. At first no record label would release it so they had 500 copies pressed privately, which they passed out to radio stations together with their phone number. Simon Bates of BBC Radio 1 took a liking to it and gave it extensive publicity, and it became a hit. "Spam" is by The Monty Python Team. "The Time Warp" is from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". "Yoda" is by Weird Al Yankovic.

From Quiz Lydia the Queen of Tattoos

Answer: At the Circus

"At the Circus" was a Marx brothers film made in 1939.

From Quiz More Silly Songs of the 50s, 60s and 70s

Answer: They're Coming to Take Me Away

By the end of this song you wish they HAD taken him away. Napoleon XIV was the stage name for Jerry Samuels. The song 'They're Coming to Take Me Away' was released in 1966 and reached number three on the Billboard top 100 pop singles chart.

From Quiz Silly Songs of the 50s, 60s and 70s

Answer: My boomerang won't come back!

The artist of this silly song, "My Boomerang Won't Come Back!", was Charlie Drake, an English comedian, actor, writer and singer. This song was on the charts in 1961 reaching number 14 in the UK and number 21 in the USA.

From Quiz Loony Loopy Lyrics of Yesteryear

Answer: An Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

Although the song seems to suggest a 'naughty' young woman, the writer claims that the song was inspired by his two year old daughter. This song was in the movie "One, Two, Three" and was played repeatedly to torture spies.

From Quiz "Family Guy: Live in Vegas"

Answer: Showgirls

He goes on to say that he, in fact, thinks about Elizabeth Berkley and Gina Gershon in "Showgirls" almost every minute of the day. Diane seems disgusted by this, but not terribly surprised.

From Quiz Novelty Hits Through the Ages

Answer: Alan Sherman

Alan Sherman had a big hit with this tune which he tried to parlay into a novelty music career, sort of like Weird Al. Only Sherman never really recovered from the success of this one hit.

From Quiz Bob Rivers

Answer: The Seahawks

"Why Can't They Win One On The Road?" is about how it's impossible for the Seahawks the win a game out of their home stadium, or "on the road."

From Quiz Strange and Bizarre Novelty Records

Answer: The same song, but played in reverse

Napoleon XIV actually did a couple of songs; the second most well- known is probably "I Live in a Split Level Head".

From Quiz Oldies: Novelty Songs

Answer: Cadillac, Nash Rambler

"While driving in my Cadiilac, what to my surprise, a little Nash rambler was following me ..." Sung by The Playmates.

From Quiz Light-Hearted Songs

Answer: Donald O'Connor

"Singin' In The Rain". All four were in the cast - and Kelly's rendition of the title song is deservedly remembered. Nevertheless, O'Connor's moment with "Laugh" is also memorable.

From Quiz Popular Novelty Songs

Answer: Buchanan and Goodman

Dickie Goodman went on in later years to solo success with hits like 'Batman and His Grandmother'.

From Quiz History According to Stan Freberg

Answer: Art School

Isabella: 'Why don't you go to art school like your friend daVinci? I'll put you through.' Columbus: 'Look, if Lenny wants to starve to death, that's up to Lenny. Me, I want to discover the New World!'

From Quiz Parodies, Follow-ups and Answer Songs

Answer: The Spokesmen

Barry McGuire was the lead singer for the New Christy {Minstrels;} David White of the Spokemen had been a member of Danny and the Juniors.

From Quiz Silly Lyrics

Answer: Steve Martin

'King Tut' was done by Martin when an arrow through the head was all you really needed to get a good laugh. No?...Well EXXCUUSE...you get the picture.

From Quiz Parody Songs!

Answer: Billy Joel

This is a parody of Billy Joel's "Piano Man", called "Seahawk Fan". It pokes fun at the diehard fan of a forever-losing team.

From Quiz Nonsense and Novelty Songs

Answer: No known language or dialect

The words are pure gibberish concocted by the three composers but few people bothered to check. Supposedly, "Rawlson" is Swedish town, "rillerah" a stream, "brawla" a boy and girl. "Hut-Sut" is their dream. It was recorded first by Horace Heidt's band in 1941 then at various times by Mel Tormé, Freddy Martin, The Four King Sisters and Spike Jones. It has used in at least three films "From Here to Eternity", "Ace in the Hole", and "A Christmas Story".

From Quiz Who on Earth Bought These Records?

Answer: Ethel

With sales of more than five million, "The Streak" spent three weeks at the top of the US Billboard 100 chart and also reached number one in the singles charts in the UK, Canada and New Zealand. Those who remember the record will probably recall the instruction "Don't Look, Ethel!".

From Quiz Top 40 Radio IV - Novelty Tunes

Answer: David Seville

Between his Number One hits "Witch Doctor" and "The Chipmunk Song" Seville squeezed in this novelty. It peaked at Number 34. Minneapolis quartet The Trashmen performed "Surfin' Bird" in 1963. Tippi Hedren starred in the film "The Birds" and mostly just got pecked... which she didn't sing about.

From Quiz Comedy songs of the '50s and '60s

Answer: Stan Freberg

Stan Freberg had a number 25 hit on the US pop chart with "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" in 1957. It did not chart in the UK. The voice of the bongo player was provided by actor Peter Leeds. The Tarriers had a number four hit on the US pop chart with the song in 1957. It reached number 15 on the UK chart the same year. Harry Belafonte had a number five hit on the US pop chart with song in 1957. It reached number two on the UK chart the same year. Steve Lawrence had a number 18 hit on the US pop chart with the song in 1957. It failed to chart in the UK.

From Quiz Remember These Novelty Songs? Who Sang Them?

Answer: Buzz Clifford

Buzz Clifford was born on October 8, 1941 as Reese Francis Clifford III. As a teen he won many talent competitions and signed with "Bow Records" when he was a youthful 15 years old. With no success he eventually signed with "Columbia Records" and released "Baby Sittin' Boogie" in 1961. The lyrics were written by Johnny Parker and the voice of the baby, on this song, was believed to be that of Johnny's son. Buzz Clifford became a songwriter, writing songs that have been sung by such greats as Lou Rawls, Petula Clark, Kris Kristofferson and more.

From Quiz Rock Me Silly

Answer: Purple People Eater

Wooley recounted how a strange monster came to earth to join a rock band. The monster was described as "a one eyed, one horned flying purple people eater". "I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line? He said eating purple people, and it sure is fine But that's not the reason that I came to land I wanna get a job in a rock 'n roll band". So went the lyrics. Wooley's cannibalistic monster did ok for himself. The song hit the top of the Billboard charts reaching number one in 1958.

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Last Updated Oct 18 2025 5:44 AM

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