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How can I find songs by lyrics?

I remember a snippet of a song from years and years ago, but have no idea who sang it, what song it was, or even what "genre" of music or era. Can I dig it up with Google or some other tool? The phrase was "wrapped up like a deuce", I think.


Dave's Answer:

This is a splendid job for Google, actually, particularly its ability to search for phrases rather than just collections of words. Let's just jump in and search for the phrase you list, but make sure that we surround it with quotes:

      "wrapped up like a deuce"

Unlike most people with tenuous memories of songs, you remembered the lyrics right, congratulations! The first match is from the site Am I Right?, where they state that this particular lyric from Manfred Mann's song "Blinded by the Light" is commonly misheard (or misremembered) as "wrapped up like a douche". There's also some confusion about whether it's "wrapped up" or "revved up". Since a "deuce" is slang for a particular kind of hot rod (remember the Beach Boys "little deuce coupe"?) the latter makes a bit more sense to me...

We've already found your match, though, the song is Blinded by the Light and it's by Manfred Mann. A bit more digging and you'll find that it was originally written by a far more successful [and talented, but that's just my opinion] musician, Bruce Springsteen, in the early 70's and Manfried Mann recorded their cover version in the mid 70's.

One great place to dig around for music and song information, by the way, is Gracenote.com, where you can find that there are a surprising 350 matches in the database to "blinded by the light" and where I confirmed that indeed "Manfred Mann" was also known as "Manfred Mann's Earth Band". I thought so. :-)

Go back and look at those Google results, though. There's an upload on YouTube of Manfred and his gang playing the song from back in 1976. It's not pretty, but here it is:

The second match back at our original Google search is also quite interesting, it's an article from Cecil Adams for his splendid The Straight Dope column on the lyrics to this very song. In his short piece Cecil explains that Springsteen's original lyrics were "cut loose like a deuce" and that Mann changed it to "wrapped up like a deuce", then he bails and admits he has no idea what any of it means. Uh, okay, Cecil. We'll let you slide on this one.

Finally, if you really can't live without the song, you can Google something like "blinded by the light" free mp3 download and try your luck with the various sites listed. More likely than not, the copy you'd get would be illegal, but then again, if I hadn't done that Google search myself I wouldn't have learned that Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) did a cover of the song too...

Now, for practice, try to figure out which song the lyric "you put the lime in the coconut" comes from, the singer/band, when it was first recorded, how many people have recorded this particular song and, as a bonus, find a link to it as a video on YouTube (and double-bonus if it's a muppet singing the song). Now hold on, don't scroll down to read the answers from other readers first: that's cheating!

Too easy? Here's a tougher one: who was the first woman to record a song with the lyrics "nice work if you can get it", and which of the many recordings by female singers was the most successful by sales or based purely on the popularity of the singer?



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Comments

There's also , "The Archive of Misheard Lyrics". (Named after the oft-misheard lyrics of Hendrix's "kiss the sky".)

Posted by: Ken at August 7, 2007 10:23 AM

Something "ate" the URL in my post. That should be:

http://www.kissthisguy.com/

Posted by: Ken at August 8, 2007 10:32 AM

there's a song (oldie) called Back in Business. I'm trying to find out who sang it, wrote it, where I heard it. Thanks

Posted by: Michele at August 8, 2007 3:43 PM

Cool! I have been victimized by the last song syndrome. I like the song but I don't know what the title is for me to buy it at iTunes.

I bumped into this article and now I got it.

Thanks for sharing Dave!

Posted by: paolo at August 9, 2007 7:00 PM

All you have to do is google the phrase in quotes, with the word lyrics, and you will almost always find it!

I do it all the time, always works.

Posted by: nicole at August 10, 2007 4:10 PM

i remember a song, the notes, but not exactly knows the lyric. The first line is something like (if not wrong) "SOMEBODY'S BEEN SITTING IN MY ROOM..." and in the middle has the word "LORD", but got the record from Big Daddy and the other is Foghat, which both not I am looking for. Many combination including years been done, no go! I try to find a site that has capable finding song by notes, and found an Australian Reserch that is not finish the work yet.

Posted by: Stephen at August 15, 2007 12:17 AM

I am trying to find the artist and title of two songs. (1) a song that is relatively current ... kind of techno/electronica/dance ... the main chorus is a female voice, singing "Ooooo la la la la "

Very catchy beat ... heard it somewhere and cant find it.

(2) the song that is on one of the SUV commercials lately that sounds very U2, Cold Play, etc -ish. :) Male voice ... the commerical ends with an ariel view.

So, neither is much to go on but I figured, hey, what the heck?! Maybe you'll know. I've tried googling. No luck.

Thanks!!

Posted by: Shezatrip at August 16, 2007 10:58 AM

i watched the hills on mtv last night and i really liked this one song, ive been googling the lyrics, but cant seem to find it. thought youd be able to help me out -- the lyrics are," live from the other side things are pretty goofy " & another part , "catch a rythm and enjoy the ride, baby take it easy " thanks.

Posted by: Jackie at August 16, 2007 1:35 PM

i dont know the name of this song it kinda old i think a girl sings it but it could be more than one girl here is some of the lyrics: "God sent me an angel from the heavens above. Sent me an angel to heal my broken heart from being in love. Cause all i do is cry. God sent me an angel to wipe the tears from my eyes."

hope you can help me

Posted by: Shannan at August 18, 2007 11:36 AM

Jackie, the name of the song you're referring to is "Live From The Other Side", and the performer is Don McCloskey. One of the mtv.com pages has a list of songs that are used on "The Hills".

Posted by: Barney at August 25, 2007 6:52 PM

please help
i know this song just dont know the artist / name

it goes like this
well she said jealousy is something that distracts you, i said it's hard to focus with your fingers in his belt loops ...

Posted by: ness at August 26, 2007 9:41 PM

the song I'm after was about 1991 , some of the lyrics were, Iv'e got to have your love, i really need it now.......others were.....and when the morning comes...blah blah, blah, that's all i can remember. sorry, but the song started with a repetative tune.

Posted by: suzie at August 30, 2007 2:37 PM

To the guy who was looking for the song where the woman sings "la la la" as the chorus... you are probably talking about one of these two songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k88a_3NSZQQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-RUG-DdQUQ

Less likely, you could have been looking for this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnwxdOH2j4M


Here's the muppet song referred to in the original post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7P59YBoz_o
(don't click unless you want it stuck in your head)

Posted by: Adam Kraft at September 11, 2007 9:18 AM

I'm searching for a song from the 60s or 70s with the lyrics, "well, I'm a stranger here on your planet earth...oh you crazy fools don't you know you were living in paradise" and can't find the title or group who sang it. please help ! Thanks

Posted by: JB at September 11, 2007 5:18 PM

what is the song that - has shock collar in it or something ---- it says "BALLER!" but it is not "wanna be a baller" i need help

Posted by: Bob Northams at October 10, 2007 7:23 PM

hi am looking for a song but i dont know the name of who sings it - it is a quite old song and all i know is that it has

whoooooooo oooooooohh oooooooooohh ooooooooooohh oooooooooohh whooooooo oooooooooooohh ooooooooohh ooooooooohh oooooohh

this bit comes into the song a few times

any one know please??

Posted by: STEVEN at October 19, 2007 11:42 AM

I have tried every way to find this song googled it and all, it is in the 70's and I think the name is my love sings. it starts off with I stayed up to watch the sun go down later in the song it says you gave all you love to me and I gave all my love to you then my love sings la na na la na na la na na la na na na na. please help keep my sanity??

Posted by: roma at October 23, 2007 11:23 AM

its off the hills when lauren and brody are cuddling on a sofa talking about things with him and spencer. its goes
beleive in it its more than you and so much more than me hold on to it ill beleive in you if you believe in me.

Posted by: greg at November 4, 2007 10:50 AM

Greg, I found that one. "We Are" by Ian Axel, and you can see it at http://www.myspace.com/ianaxel

:-)

Posted by: Dave Taylor at November 4, 2007 11:33 AM

I know this song and I am pretty sure I know who its by, but not exactly the lyrics and fair warning it is a country song...modern country I should say so I don't know if you can help me. But its worth the shot. I think its by Jason Michael Carroll and here are some of the lyrics:
Look what it took for me to finally bring you flowers...steady hand with out the whiskey....bought a new suit for sundays I'm in church now...
It talks about how this guy drove drunk and killed his wife/girlfriend and he never brought her flowers before and now that she is gone he can and yeah...its a really good song and I really need your help

Posted by: Whitney at November 10, 2007 10:34 AM

Hey I need help finding this song It's been in my head for a little bit and I cant seem to find it anywhere, All I know is the chorus, IT goes like "Allllll I seeee, reminds me" Its a Rappish rock song, very catch Please somone help meee! thanks

Posted by: Justin at December 12, 2007 5:53 PM

JB the song you were talking about is Wanna Be A Baller by Lil Troy

Posted by: Mary at December 14, 2007 7:17 PM

i m finding the song it s first phraze is its arround me .. lol if u can bravo

Posted by: me at December 23, 2007 7:22 AM

i have a song stuck in my head and i don't know the title or artist the only thing i only know the last part of the last line. it is a country song and i think it was in the early 80s when it was made and a dude sings it here it is

"I cursed the day I went away and if you take me back, then im here to stay----- you can't stop love you can't stop love."

i tried you can't stop love nothing at all
would appreciate your help

Posted by: sean thomas at December 24, 2007 12:40 AM

theirs this song off the hills its from episode 16; "Night at the opera" and it goes .. "DJS never wanna play my song, radioooo never wanna turn it on"
anyone know it!?

Posted by: alexis at January 1, 2008 11:02 AM

I am trying to determine who sings the song which contains the following phrase.
I like happy endings, never no tears. I like new beginnings hopes and no fears.

Posted by: christopher Beary at January 8, 2008 9:49 PM

I'm looking for the same song as roma, the one off The Hills, it goes beilieve it, it's more than you and so much more than me...
Thanks

Posted by: Nic at January 17, 2008 9:17 PM

Whitney, the song is "Flowers" by Chris Young.

Posted by: Rob at January 18, 2008 10:58 PM

I'm looking for the title to a song that has a kind of reggae beat and only remember the following phrase:
gonna keep us together but it don't matter....cause I love you

Posted by: Chris at January 26, 2008 5:08 PM

The song sounds like it is from the 80's and goes (very upbeat) "IT's in the trees, it's all around .DESIRE>>."

Please let me know if you have any leads.

Jonathan Pulino

Posted by: Jonathan Pulino at January 28, 2008 3:01 PM

i was watching an episode of laguna beach i think it was, the other day, or maybe newport harbour... but i heard a lovely song with the lyrcis in "he and i had something beautiful" and it's driving me mad trying to work out what it is!! it's quite a slow song, and quite acoustic-y?
thanks

Posted by: Grace R at February 9, 2008 5:23 AM

I am trying to find a song that goes something like this, a circle of friends is a ring of trust that could never break that could never.... made of the dreams we shared back when all we had was a circle of friends

Posted by: lindsey at February 11, 2008 12:24 PM

I'm looking for a song that has the line "we are the laptop geeks" and "we are the superfreaks" It sounded electronica and it was playing on the college station here. Google hasn't helped me at all, thanks.

Posted by: nakedtoes@flexiss.net at February 12, 2008 2:32 PM

I'm looking for an '80s R&B song. The part
I remember goes like this;
"Everybody will be congregating"
"Living....Loving....Celebrating"

Posted by: Tim Cobine at February 14, 2008 8:25 PM

i have a question. i heard an old song that i heard alot of women say am gonna missed my lovely. and then i hear a man sing you are gonna missed, you are gonna missed.

Posted by: misaki at February 18, 2008 8:48 AM

who sings the songs on the movie the night before

Posted by: rebecca at February 19, 2008 9:18 PM

ok i need some serious help on this one.the lyrics are from a movie i saw at a friends house back in 2000 and the movie was little nicky and he lost the movie but we were thinking of the songs and the lyrics just popped in my head they are "runnin runnin runnin through my head you told me we'll be good foreverbut now i know it now or never runnin runnin ruinn through my head" but i cant find it anywhere i looked for the album too but the song wanst on there so could you help me please

Posted by: alayna at February 21, 2008 2:47 PM

i'm trying to find a song with the following words
(you've gone away and left me lonley)
i think it is by a boy band

Posted by: brad at March 14, 2008 2:44 AM

I need help finding the name, lyrics and song, this summer i was on the wheat harvest and i heard this song that talks about the wheat crew and all the fun things they did It went kinda like (I am a custom combiner don't you want to be on to; and it is not Craig Morgan, International Harvester song

Posted by: Koty at March 14, 2008 8:54 PM

What band sing this?:
"Speak now you must have a secret kept down, down where you can keep it I need you to spill your guts until then you can't runaway do your best to hide your face Oh! I know you best I know you get what you, you get what you deserve"
I would really love to know who plays this

Posted by: Devon at March 17, 2008 2:23 PM

I am having a hard time trying to find the name of a song beach song that starts of Hey Johnnie dollar I got to move

Posted by: Julie at March 29, 2008 8:07 PM

hey i am trying to find a song just heard a little of it the chorus goes like this "i want the real thing i want the unprotected"
If you could find it that would be legit

Posted by: Andrew at April 1, 2008 9:41 PM

i have words to a song that is driving me crazy, its from the 70's, the words i remember are " all i wanna do to be by yourside girl is to let you know the way that i really feel" does anyone know who sings that song??

Posted by: Angeli Kent at April 5, 2008 12:54 PM

K, i know ALL of the lyrics to this song, but i dont kno who its by. these are the lyrics:

im lonley
im lonley ’cuz i pushed you away
who said my heart will never break
atleast i know you wont come back

’cuz i miss you,
but i know your moods are the same
you’ll hate me every other day
thats why i’d rather miss your laugh

but somethings feeling strange
it’s like im missing all your ways
and even all the bad
what can i do
you’ve a new man

do do do
oh yea i’m hoping for the time of day

i’m thinking maybe youll come running back
and start off where we left off last
hey who said i couldnt dream

’cuz i miss you,
but i know your moods are the same
you’ll hate me every other day
thats why i’d rather miss your laugh

but somethings feeling strange
it’s like im missing all your ways

do do do
oh yea i’m hoping for the time of day

but somethings feeling strange
it’s like im missing all your ways
and even all the bad
what can i do
you’ve a new man

Posted by: Corallee at April 12, 2008 5:17 PM

To Tim Cobine.
The R&B song from the 80's that goes like this;
"Everybody will be congregating"
"Living....Loving....Celebrating"
is by Lilo Thomas and is called Downtown.

Posted by: Naijachic at April 15, 2008 6:55 PM

Hi, I'm looking for a song and I can't find it anywhere. I only know one line and that is "we all need love" - 'need' and 'love' are sung for a long-ish time with both of them made into 3-syllable words. I'm quite sure it's an 80s song and has a friendly keyboard riff. I'm also pretty sure "We all need love" is not the title. Sorry I don't have more info!! But this is bugging me...! Hope someone can help :)

Posted by: Pierre at April 21, 2008 4:37 AM

PLEASE HELP ME!

What song has the line, "Look at the acting in the drama of your life."

Thanks.
If you know, could you email me.
caf3623@gmail.com

Thanks again.

Posted by: Mike at May 4, 2008 12:27 PM

i have this older r&b song stuck in my head and i cannot find out who sings it please help me all i know is some of the lyrics " what you drinking? hypnotic girl your bodys so exotic ive never seen such a beautiful smile your driving me wild and i just wanna get you from this club baby to my bedroom" please tell me who sings this song???!!! nikole

Posted by: nikole brown at May 8, 2008 10:37 AM

This is in reply to:
"The song sounds like it is from the 80's and goes (very upbeat) "IT's in the trees, it's all around .DESIRE>>."

Please let me know if you have any leads.

Jonathan Pulino

Posted by: Jonathan Pulino at January 28, 2008 3:01 PM"
I'm pretty sure we have been looking for the same song, i've been searching for this since 1996 and have come up empty handed...until today, i'm not sure if they just put this info online or what, b/c i didn't do anything new in my google search, but my answer came up instantly...the song is called GREY CELL GREEN by: NED'S ATOMIC DUSTBIN on the album: GOD FODDER released in 1991. I can't believe I finally found it and hope this is what you have been looking for also!

Posted by: i found it@ at May 12, 2008 10:32 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!









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