Suggestions for comedy songs to sing at the piano

April 20, 2009 2:20 AM

I'd like to learn some more comedy songs to sing at the piano along the lines of Hugh Laurie's Mystery. Suggestions?

I have a book of Tom Lehrer songs, but that's where my knowledge ends. Can you suggest any classics, gems, or just personal favourites that I should seek out?

posted by chrismear to media & arts (18 comments total)

You could try some of Tim Minchin's excellent works, like If you open your mind too much your brain will fall out (take my wife) or Inflatable You. I have no idea if they're published though...
posted by pompomtom at 3:03 AM on April 20

Learn some Flanders & Swann. The Hippopotomas Song. The Gnu Song. Have Some Madeira M'Dear. (By the way, the wheelchair in that last link is not part of the act. Flanders had had polio.)
posted by pracowity at 3:09 AM on April 20

I love David O'Doherty's Text Song.
posted by seanyboy at 3:32 AM on April 20

You might be interested in some of Victoria Wood's songs. Also those of Bill Bailley.

A lot of the music mentioned above (probably with the exception of Tom Lehrer) could be quite hard to find as sheet music. But here are about 400 comedy songs which are available that way (or at least with chords and lyrics)
posted by rongorongo at 3:37 AM on April 20

Looks like someone's had a bash at the Minchin stuff.
posted by pompomtom at 3:42 AM on April 20

What about Tom Leherer stuff, like "Poisioning Pidgeons in the Park"?
posted by gwenlister at 4:26 AM on April 20

Fantastic suggestions so far, thanks! Just to clarify, I can usually figure things out by ear, so no need to restrict yourselves to stuff that's published.
posted by chrismear at 4:34 AM on April 20

You could learn the theme songs to Slings and Arrows, if you hang around with a theatrical crowd.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:26 AM on April 20

Monty Python's Penis Song
posted by slimepuppy at 5:46 AM on April 20

Oh, see also everything Richard Cheese has ever done. He makes lounge covers of famous songs. My personal favorite (and piano-heavy) is his version of Somebody Told Me.
posted by slimepuppy at 5:57 AM on April 20

I enjoy this tune by Doug Skinner called "Little Roaches"
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:45 AM on April 20

You could have some rag-time fun with Phil Ochs's Outside of a Small Circle of Friends.
posted by General Malaise at 7:46 AM on April 20

John Forster is the funniest.

The next funniest is, of course, Dave Frishberg.

If you don't mind working up a piano part from a guitar original, let me recommend Roy Zimmerman, Carla Ulbrich, Dan Hart, and, er, my husband.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:54 AM on April 20

I've been working on Rory Stitt's Simple Jim.
posted by nenequesadilla at 8:19 AM on April 20

Seconding Dave Frishberg. I saw him about ten years ago -- he was part of a quadruple-bill at the Bottom Line and managed to win over the twenty-something crowd quite handily. (Well, okay, his slam-dunk was the fact that he wrote "I'm Just A Bill" and he lead us all in a sing-along, but still.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:19 AM on April 20

Neil Innes - How Sweet To Be An Idiot. He's frequently referred to as The Seventh Python on account of his numerous collaborations with the group.
posted by hip_plumber at 9:52 AM on April 20

Grandma's Lye Soap. Even fFunnier if you do the tent-revival-preacher-style sermon preceding it.
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:25 AM on April 20

Tom Lehrer - I Got It From Agnes, Poisoning Pigeons In The Park, Pollution, National Brotherhood Week. Most of his songs are good, and, I imagine, would be easy to play on the piano. This user pretty much has the motherlode of Lehrer YouTube videos.
posted by Mael Oui at 8:16 PM on April 20