March 13, 2025 | Jesse Singer

Quiz: Can You Match These Lyrics To The Right Songs?


Name That Tune

We all have song lyrics stuck in our head, but how many of these 20 songs can you identify based solely on the lyrics? Let's find out...

Get 15-20 right: Lyric Legend

10-14: Lyric Almost Legend

5-9: Keep Listening

0-4: Lyrically Challenged

Lyrics Song Quiz L

1: "For Well You Know That It's A Fool Who Plays It Cool"

1: "We Are the World"

2: "Cold as Ice"

3: "Hey Jude"

4: "The Fool on the Hill"

English band The Beatles wave to fans after arriving at Kennedy AirportUnited Press International, Wikimedia Commons

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A: "Hey Jude"

Artist: The Beatles

Album: n/a (1968)

"And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain/Don't carry the world upon your shoulders/For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool/By making his world a little colder".

Grayscale Portrait Photo of The Beatles Members facing the cameraUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

2: "Well, I heard Mr Young Sing About Her"

1: "Southern Cross"

2: "Sweet Home Alabama"

3: "Free Bird"

4: "American Girl"

Grayscale Photo Trade ad for Lynyrd Skynyrd's single MCA Records, Wikimedia Commons

A: "Sweet Home Alabama"

Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd

Album: Second Helping (1974)

"Well, I heard Mr Young sing about her/Well, I heard old Neil put her down/Well, I hope Neil Young will remember/A Southern man don't need him around, anyhow".

Grayscale Photo Trade ad for Lynyrd Skynyrd's single MCA Records, Wikimedia Commons

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3: "I Want My, I Want My MTV"

1: "Sultans of Swing"

2: "Video Killed the Radio Star"

3: "Thriller"

4: "Money for Nothing"

Portrait Photo of Dire Straits Members performing at Drammenshallen, NorwayHelge Øverås, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

A: "Money For Nothing"

Artist: Dire Straits

Album: Brothers in Arms (1985)

"I want my, I want my MTV... Hah, now look at them yo-yos, that's the way you do it/You play the guitar on the MTV/That ain't workin', that's the way you do it/Money for nothing and your chicks for free".

Dire Straits Members perform at Musikhalle Hamburg 28 October 1978Heinrich Klaffs, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

4: "She's A Good Girl, Crazy 'Bout Elvis"

1: "Walking in Memphis"

2: "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"

3: "Blue Suede Shoes"

4: "Free Fallin’"

Tom Petty, performing on stage at the Fillmore, San FranciscoDavidwbaker, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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A: "Free Fallin’"

Artist: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Album: Full Moon Fever (1989)

"She's a good girl, loves her mama/Loves Jesus and America too/She's a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis/Loves horses and her boyfriend too".

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FestivalTakahiro Kyono, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

5: "Being Good Isn't Always Easy/No Matter How Hard I Try"

1: "Sinnerman"

2: "Son of a Preacher Man"

3: "Easy Lover"

4: "My Boyfriend's Back"

Dusty Springfield performing at the 1965 Sanremo music festivalDezo Hoffman, Wikimedia Commons

A: "Son Of A Preacher Man"

Artist: Dusty Springfield

Album: Dusty in Memphis (1969)

"Being good isn't always easy/No matter how hard I try/When he started sweet-talkin' to me/He'd come and tell me 'Everything is alright'/He'd kiss and tell me 'Everything is alright',Can I get away again tonight?"

Grayscale Portrait Photo Dusty Springfield at The Grand Gala du DisqueAnefo, Wikimedia Commons

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6: "Backbeat, The Word Was On The Street/That The Fire In Your Heart Is Out"

1: "Wonderwall"

2: "Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)"

3: "Wannabe"

4: "I’m on Fire"

Portrait Photo of English singer and songwriter Liam Gallagher on stageWill Fresch, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A: "Wonderwall"

Artist: Oasis

Album: (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

"Backbeat, the word was on the street/That the fire in your heart is out/I'm sure you've heard it all before/But you never really had a doubt/I don't believe that anybody/Feels the way I do about you".

Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis performing in San DiegoWill Fresch, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

7: "Long As I Know How To Love, I Know I'll Stay Alive"

1: "Night Fever"

2: "Stayin' Alive"

3: "I Will Survive"

4: "Funkytown"

Grayscale Portrait Photo of American singer Gloria Gaynor looking to the rightThomas Rodenbücher, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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A: "I Will Survive"

Artist: Gloria Gaynor

Album: Love Tracks (1978)

"No, not I, I will survive/Long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive/I've got my life to live/And all my love to give and/I will survive/I, I, I will survive".

Portrait Photo American singer Gloria Gaynor Performing on stagegiorgioerriquez, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

8: "I Was Standing In Line With Mr Jimmy"

1: "Brown Sugar"

2: "Wild Horses"

3: "Bohemian Rhapsody"

4: "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

Rolling Stones in concert at Houtrusthallen The Hague 15 April 1967Ben Merk, Wikimedia Commons

A: "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Album: Let It Bleed (1969)

"I went down to the Chelsea drugstore/To get your prescription filled/I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy/And, man, did he look pretty ill/We decided that we would have a soda/My favorite flavor, cherry red".

Portrait Photo of The Rolling Stones Members on stageRaph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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9: "Phony Beatlemania Has Bitten The Dust"

1: "Should I Stay or Should I Go"

2: "London Calling"

3: "Imagine"

4: "Friday I'm in Love"

Joe Strummer performing with the Clash at the Tower TheaterJohn Coffey, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A: "London Calling"

Artist: The Clash

Album: London Calling (1979)

"London calling, now don't look to us/Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust/London calling, see we ain't got no swing/Except for the ring of that truncheon thing".

The Clash Members performing in Chateau Neuf, Oslo, NorwayHelge Øverås, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

10: "I Don't Have Much Money, But Boy, If I Did/I'd Buy A Big House Where We Both Could Live"

1: When I'm Sixty Four"

2: "Tiny Dancer"

3: "Piano Man"

4: "Your Song"

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Elton John wearing a jacket and floral shirtBert Verhoeff, Wikimedia Commons

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A: "Your Song"

Artist: Elton John

Album: Elton John (1970)

"It's a little bit funny/This feelin' inside/I'm not one of those who can easily hide/I don't have much money, but boy, if I did/I'd buy a big house where we both could live".

Portrait Photo of British singer, songwriter Elton John on stageErnst Vikne, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

11: "At Night, I Wake Up With The Sheets Soakin' Wet/And A Freight Train Runnin' Through The Middle Of My Head"

1: "Born in the USA"

2: "Ring Of Fire"

3: "I’m on Fire"

4: "Light My Fire"

Grayscale Portrait Photo of  Bruce Springsteen at 5th Berlin Rock SummerBundesarchiv, CC-BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

A: "I’m On Fire"

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Album: Born in the USA (1985)

"At night, I wake up with the sheets soakin' wet/And a freight train runnin' through the middle of my head/Only you can cool my desire/Oh, oh, oh, I'm on fire".

Bruce Springsteen at Concert For Valor In Washington D.C. Nov. 11, 2014DoD News Features, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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12: "I Go On Too Many Dates/But I Can't Make 'Em Stay"

1: "Good Time Girl"

2: "Blank Space"

3: "I Will Always Love You"

4: "Shake it Off"

Taylor Swift at the 2014 Academy of Country Music AwardsKathy Hutchins, Shutterstock

A: "Shake It Off"

Artist: Taylor Swift

Album: 1989 (1985)

"I go on too many dates/But I can't make 'em stay/At least that's what people say, mm-mm/That's what people say, mm-mm".

Singer Taylor Swift during her show in Rio de Janeiro, BrazilA.PAES, Shutterstock

13: "Warm Smell Of Colitas Rising Up Through The Air"

1: "Purple Rain"

2: "Hotel California"

3: "Margaritaville"

4: "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)"

Portrait Photo of The Eagles members performing on stageSteve Alexander, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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A: "Hotel California"

Artist: Eagles

Album: Hotel California (1976)

"On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair/Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air/Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light/My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night".

Eagles In Concert In Australia December 2010jeaneeem, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

14: "'Cause If You Liked It, Then You Should Have Put A Ring On It"

1: "Single Ladies"

2: "7 Rings"

3: "Love Will Keep Us Together"

4: "Silly Love Songs"

Beyonce arrives to the 2013 Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013DFree, Shutterstock

A: "Single Ladies"

Artist: Beyoncé

Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008)

"Cause if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it/If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it/Don't be mad once you see that he want it/If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it/Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, o-ohh".

Beyonce Knowles on stage for NBC Today Show Concert in New YorkEverett Collection, Shutterstock

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15: "My Motto's Always Been 'When It's Right, It's Right'"

1: "Superstition"

2: "You May Be Right"

3: "Afternoon Delight"

4: "Night Fever"

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the musical group Starland Vocal Band.Windsong/RCA Records, Wikimedia Commons

A: "Afternoon Delight"

Artist: Starland Vocal Band

Album: Starland Vocal Band (1976)

"Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight/Gonna grab some afternoon delight/My motto's always been "when it's right, it's right"/Why wait until the middle of a cold, dark night?"

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the musical group Starland Vocal BandMichael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

16: "Your Beauty Is Beyond Compare/With Flaming Locks Of Auburn Hair"

1: "Roxanne"

2: "Jolene"

3: "Angie"

4: "Lola"

Grayscale Publicity shot of American singer Dolly Parton, 1977RCA Records, Wikimedia Commons

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A: "Jolene"

Artist: Dolly Parton

Album: Jolene (1974)

"Your beauty is beyond compare/With flaming locks of auburn hair/With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green/Your smile is like a breath of spring/Your voice is soft like summer rain/And I cannot compete with you Jolene".

Portrait Photo of the American singer Dolly Parton plays Newport Folk FestivalAdam Shankerm, Shutterstock

17: "If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place/Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change"

1: "Man in the Mirror"

2: "Hungry Like The Wolf"

3: "Smooth Criminal"

4: "The Times They Are A-Changin'"

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Michael Jackson in a black jacketMatthew Rolston, Wikimedia Commons

A: "Man In The Mirror"

Artist: Michael Jackson

Album: Bad (1987)

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror/I'm asking him to change his ways/And no message could've been any clearer/If you wanna make the world a better place/Take a look at yourself and then make a change".

Michael Jackson Performing on Stage at Zoran Veselinovic, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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18: "There's Nothin' That A Hundred Men Or More Could Ever Do"

1: "Burning Down the House"

2: "In the Air Tonight"

3: "Eye of the Tiger"

4: "Africa"

Toto during Night of the Proms at SAP Arena GermanySven Mandel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

A: "Africa"

Artist: Toto

Album: Toto IV (1982)

"It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you/There's nothin' that a hundred men or more could ever do/I bless the rains down in Africa/Gonna take some time to do the things we never had".

American rock band Toto on 40 Trips Around The Sun Tour.DarioZg, Shutterstock

19: "I See Trees Of Green/Red Roses Too"

1: "The Rose"

2: "Bein' Green"

3: "Kiss from a Rose"

4: "What a Wonderful World"

Grayscale Head and shoulders portrait of jazz musician Louis Armstrong.Herman Hiller, Wikimedia Commons

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A: "What A Wonderful World"

Artist: Louis Armstrong

Album: What a Wonderful World (1967)

"I see trees of green/Red roses too/I see them bloom/For me and you/And I think to myself/What a wonderful world".

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Louis Armstrong holding his trumpetHerbert Behrens, Wikimedia Commons

"If The Sky That We Look Upon/Should Tumble And Fall"

1: "Stand by Me"

2: "Brown Eyed Girl"

3: "Mrs Robinson"

4: "Can't Help Falling in Love"

Portrait Photo of American soul and R&B singer and songwriter Ben E. KingKingkongphoto, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A: "Stand By Me"

Artist: Ben E King

Album: Don't Play That Song! (1962)

"If the sky that we look upon/Should tumble and fall/Or the mountain should crumble to the sea/I won't cry, I won't cry/No, I won't shed a tear/Just as long as you stand/Stand by me".

Ben E King performs at Thunder valley Casino Resort in LincolnRandy Miramontez, Shutterstock

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How Did You Do?

So, how did you do naming those tunes? Feel free to post/boast in the comments.

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Portrait Photo of Taylor Swift performing at the 2019 Z100 Jingle BallBrian Friedmanm, Shutterstock


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