Song Lyrics With The Fewest Amount Of Words

Song Lyrics With The Fewest Amount Of Words


September 26, 2024 | Jesse Singer

Song Lyrics With The Fewest Amount Of Words


Of Few Words

To quote Kevin Malone from The Office, "Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?" These songs don't need a lot of words to do the trick. Some of them only need one.

One Of These Days (Pink Floyd): 12 Words

This song is basically an instrumental, but in the middle there is a little lyrical break in which the band had a message for some radio DJ they didn't like... "One of these days, I’m going to cut you into little pieces".

Pink Floyd performingNational Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Is There Anybody Out There? (Pink Floyd): 5 Words

Sticking with Pink Floyd—besides the distress call spoken word bit—it's just the five titular words that get sung.

Pink Floyd ExperienceCraig ONeal, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Wipe Out (The Surfaris): 2 Words

We don't count the laughter as words, so it's just the "wipe" and the "out".

The SurfarisJpr2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

It’s A Beautiful Day (Queen): 27 Words

Two short verses and an outro.

Grayscale Promotional photo of the Musical group Queen, in a 1975Koh Hasebe, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

The Hustle (Van McCoy): 4 Words

Only four unique words make up the entire lyrical content of this song: "Do it!/Do the hustle". That's all Van McCoy says, over and over again, in this classic '70s track that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a week and took home the Grammy in 1976 for Best Pop Vocal Instrumental Performance.

Disco songwriter, producer and artist Van McCoyMichael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

Advertisement

Fly Robin Fly (Silver Convention): 6 Words

Three verses of: "Fly, robin fly/Fly, robin fly/Fly, robin fly/Up, up to the sky".

Popband Silver ConventionUnited Archives, Getty Images

Advertisement

Pick Up The Pieces (Average White Band): 6 Words

They throw in some woos and "uh-huh", but otherwise, once Average White Band starts singing (about two minutes into the song) they just repeat the song's title over and over again. However, there is an "alright" and a "wow" tossed in also, so we added them to the total word count.

Average White BandJohan Broberg, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Tequila (The Champs): 1 Word

One word and they say it only three times throughout the song. But is it just us or are you also thinking about the Pee Wee Herman dance in the biker bar scene right now?

The Champs in 1958Challenge Records, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

David Bowie (Phish): 3 Words (Maybe 4)

Besides repeating "David Bowie" over and over again, Trey Anastasio follows that up, singing "UB40" on repeat as well. However, while the official lyrics indicate "UB40", there has been much made of the fact that David Bowie was 39 when they first introduced the song and that the intent of the lyrics were "UB 40" (you be 40).

Phish - the BandHeather Katsoulis, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Low Rider (War): 27 Words

The low rider "drives a little slower", "is a real goer", "knows every street", and is "the one to meet". In all, War used just about 27 different words to write their hit. Which is still 23 fewer than Dr Seuss used to write Green Eggs and Ham.

War - US BandJohn Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Rockit (Herbie Hancock): 4 Words

Lots of awesome DJ scratching with a few electronically-altered lyrical moments: "Don't stop it/Rock it/Don't stop it". If you now need to take a moment to throw down a piece of cardboard and show off your best breakdancing moves, we totally understand. We'll wait.

Herbie HancockRaph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

You Are So Beautiful (Joe Cocker): 14 Words

The song is everything we hoped for and everything we need—with just 14 unique words.

Joe CockerA & M Records, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

One Step Beyond (Madness): 40 Words

If our count is right, there are 40 unique words used in this one. However, they all come before the music even kicks in, in the opening pre-instrument monologue. After that, it's all instrumental with a few "One step beyond" lyrical reprises.

Madness Filming A Music VideoClare Muller, Getty Images

Advertisement

Minimum Wage (They Might Be Giants): 2 Words (Maybe 3)

It's only a 46 second track, and it's all instrumental after the opening singing of "minimum wage" and the "HYAH!"—followed by the crack of a whip. Is "HYAH!" a word?

They Might Be GiantsJohn Flansburgh, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Beef Jerky (John Lennon): 2 Words

We can't imagine John Lennon eating beef jerky, let alone singing about it. And yet, there it is—track 10 on his 1974 album, Walls and Bridges. The mostly instrumental track goes for about 1 minute 40 seconds before the "beef jerky" chants begin—followed by "beef, beef...." and back to the instrumental action.

John LennonTony Barnard, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Across The River (Peter Gabriel): 5 Words

"Across the river/Across the river/Across the river I go".

Peter GabrielBryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

No One To Depend On (Santana): 15 Words

The 15 words include the Spanish lyrics, "no tengo a nadie", which get repeated throughout.

A photo of the band SantanaColumbia Records, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Tommy Can You Hear Me (The Who): 13 Words

The song only goes for 1 minute and 35 seconds, but in that short span, they sing the word "Tommy" 28 times—which we guess didn't leave a whole lotta time for other words. So they just repeat the same verse three times: "Tommy, can you hear me?/Can you feel me near you?/Tommy, can you see me?/Can I help to cheer you?/Ooh, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy".

The Who - BandJim Summaria, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

My Baby’s Taking Me Home (Sparks): 5 Words

They repeat it over 20 times, but those are the only five words they sing. Yes, we realize we are ignoring the mid-song monologue.

Sparks - the band in 2023Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? (The Beatles): 14 Words

Does a song inspired by witnessing two monkeys doing it in the middle of the road in India really need more than 14 words? Paul McCartney didn't think so.

The BeatlesEric Koch, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Her Majesty (The Beatles): 31 Words

Just around 30 different words in 26 seconds.

The Beatles on Ed Sullivan show.its all about Rock (:, Flickr

Advertisement

I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (The Beatles): 12 Words

You got the first part with nine unique words repeated for four verses: "I want you/I want you so bad/I want you/I want you so bad/It's driving me mad, it's driving me mad". Then you got the "She's so heavy" interspersed throughout the second bit of the track. 9 + 3 = 12.

The BeatlesIberia Airlines, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

I Feel Love (Donna Summer): 11 Words

We feel the bellbottoms forming around our legs as we speak.

American singer Donna SummerFrancesco Scavullo, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Underneath The Bunker (R.E.M.): 22 Words

The singing doesn't start until about a minute into this 87-second long song. When it does, it's six lines with 22 unique words—then the end.

The Band R.E.M.lev radin, Shutterstock

Advertisement

Song For Guy (Elton John): 3 Words

When Elton John's messenger boy, Guy Burchett, was killed in an accident, John wrote this song for him. "Life isn't everything" are the only lyrics.

Elton John in 2011David Shankbone, Flickr

Advertisement

Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves) (David Crosby): Maybe 1 Word

Pure instrumentals obviously don't count here, but this David Crosby track—although there are no lyrics—it does have a lot of do do dos and dah dahs. You be the judge.

David CrosbyRaph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Tusk (Fleetwood Mac): 28 Words

This song about a cheating partner hits hard with less than 30 unique words.

The band Fleetwood MacWarner Bros. Records, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Soul Finger (Bar-Kays): 2 Words

We aren't counting the "Hoo, ha"s. So just "soul finger" over and over.

The Bar-KaysStax Records, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Où Est Le Soleil? (Paul McCartney): 8 Words

With "Michelle", Paul McCartney showed us that he could sing a few words in French—and with "Où Est Le Soleil?" he showed us he could sing a few more. Eight to be exact: "Où est le soleil?/Dans la tête/Travaillez".

Singer Paul McCartney performingDebby Wong, Shutterstock


READ MORE

Picture of Woody Harrelson
July 8, 2024 Sarah Ng

Celebrities With Tragic Childhoods

Even the most glamorous or funny stars can have utterly devastating beginnings. These are the celebrities with the most tragic childhoods.
Will Hay At A Chalk Board
August 26, 2024 Brendan Da Costa

Hidden Facts About Will Hay, Comedy's True Eccentric

Will Hay was an English comedian famous for his blundering schoolmaster character. But, off-screen, he hid many demons and shocking secrets.
September 19, 2024 Jesse Singer

Very Strange Food Combinations Celebs Love

There are some foods that we all know go so well together, and then there are other food combos that—if we're being honest—sound super strange. Well, these celebrities love those combos.
Black and white portrait of Sue Lyon looking at the camera
September 11, 2024 Sarah Ng

The Original Lolita’s Disturbing Backstory

Sue Lyon shot to fame for her performance in the film "Lolita." But the controversial nature of the role was closer to reality than anyone knew.
Actress Rachel McAdams in her color-block dress
May 15, 2025 Marlon Wright

Rachel McAdams' Gorgeous Looks Over The Years

Ever wondered how Rachel McAdams transforms from a Mean Girls queen to a Broadway star with just a change of dress? Her style evolution is a front-row ticket to Hollywood's most glamorous moments.
May 15, 2025 Jesse Singer

Every Number 1 Song, Show, Movie And More From 1975—Ready To Feel Nostalgic?

Did you know that back in 1975 a Shark movie was the biggest film in the world and people were excited to get a rock as a gift (yes, a literal rock). Like it or not, these were the songs, shows, movies, books, even toys...that were number 1 back in 1975.