Songs with lyrics about food (especially pie!)

August 19, 2023 7:45 PM

What are fun songs that include lyrics about food? The song doesn't have to be about food per se. Any genre of music and in any language really, but English language is preferred for listening comprehension ease.

I'm making a playlist for a picnic and am trawling through lyrics databases.... there are truly a lot of pie metaphors in sexy songs.

posted by spamandkimchi to Media & Arts (130 answers total)

The Frim Fram Sauce with Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong has got to be on your list.
Starfish & Coffee by Prince also has to be on your list.
posted by brookeb at 8:27 PM on August 19, 2023 [4 favorites]

Dinner Bell
posted by Countess Elena at 8:43 PM on August 19, 2023 [5 favorites]

Dance Hall Crashers - Skinhead BBQ

Note: Not all skins are Nazi skins.
posted by sacrifix at 8:44 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

American Pie - Don McLean
Cherry Pie - Warrant
Sweet Potato Pie - Ray Charles
Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch - The Four Tops
posted by erst at 8:45 PM on August 19, 2023 [4 favorites]

Eat It - Weird Al Yankovic
Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffett
TV Dinners - ZZ Top
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:47 PM on August 19, 2023 [5 favorites]

Eat the Music, Kate Bush
posted by perhapses at 8:49 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Also Home Cookin' by Junior Walker
Grits Ain't Groceries by Little Milton
posted by brookeb at 8:50 PM on August 19, 2023

Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
posted by SPrintF at 8:52 PM on August 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

The Soba Song
and covered by 3 Mustaphas 3
posted by moonmilk at 8:54 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Greasy Grit Gravy
posted by moonmilk at 8:58 PM on August 19, 2023

Song of the South -- Alabama
Thank God I'm a Country Boy -- John Denver
Brown Sugar -- Rolling Stones
Jam Up and Jelly Tight -- Tommy Roe
Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl -- Bessie Smith
posted by NotLost at 9:06 PM on August 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

And now I can't stop!!!

As people leave you could play This Was a Real Nice Clambake from Carousel
posted by brookeb at 9:07 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

This article is a listicle of Cibo Matto’s 10 best songs about food which I miraculously don’t deeply disagree with. I’d say the best one for a picnic chill playlist is probably Sugar Water, but choices abound, as songs about food is a big part of their whole deal.
posted by Mizu at 9:07 PM on August 19, 2023 [7 favorites]

MacArthur Park -- Donna Summer (I admit I don't understand this song.)
posted by NotLost at 9:14 PM on August 19, 2023 [5 favorites]

Shrimp Po Boy, Dressed - Allen Toussaint
Avocado Woo Woo - Tin Men
Potato Chips - Slim Gaillard
Chicken is Nice - Dave Van Ronk
Save The Bones For Henry Jones - Danny Barker
They All Ask'd For You - The Meters (included because they randomly shout out classic Louisiana dishes between the choruses)
posted by credulous at 9:15 PM on August 19, 2023

Toast - Streetband

Food, Glorious Food from Oliver

Eat to the Beat - Blondie

Savoy Truffle - Beatles

Pollo Asado - Ween
posted by cotton dress sock at 9:17 PM on August 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

Vegetables by the Beach Boys and Popsicle by Jan&Dean.
posted by Rash at 9:19 PM on August 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

The Chicken Song has to be up there.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 9:28 PM on August 19, 2023

Cheese and Onions by the Rutles
posted by Rash at 9:29 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'll have another piece of apple pie - you know, it don't seem right

- Ode to Billy Joe from the summer of '67
posted by Rash at 9:37 PM on August 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

I Love Rocky Road - Weird Al, who else?
posted by pianissimo at 9:39 PM on August 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

A Cup Of Coffee, A Sandwich And You
Tutti Frutti
I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts
Tupelo Honey
My Boy Lollipop
If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked A Cake
Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
Cheeseburger in Paradise
posted by Ideefixe at 9:42 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows -- Lesley Gore
posted by NotLost at 9:44 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Jam Eater Blues by The Mountain Goats
posted by smangosbubbles at 9:50 PM on August 19, 2023

No one has yet suggested Country Pie by Bob Dylan -- !?
posted by JonJacky at 9:50 PM on August 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

Fried Neckbones and Some Home Fries by Wille Bobo
posted by vunder at 9:50 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Jambalaya on the Bayou by the great Hank Williams!
(And for the pie theme: crawfish pie....)
posted by ojocaliente at 10:12 PM on August 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

You mention MacArthur Park and only link to Donna Summer?

Richard Harris did it first. Never mind that Donna did it better...Richard was iconic.
posted by lhauser at 10:13 PM on August 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

Slurf Song - Michael Hurley
posted by LionIndex at 10:18 PM on August 19, 2023

Peaches by the Presidents of the United States of America
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:26 PM on August 19, 2023 [6 favorites]

There's a bit about your popsicle in Katy Perry's California Gurls
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:30 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Eat That Chicken - Charles Mingus
posted by LionIndex at 10:31 PM on August 19, 2023

Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles
Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
...and if course... It's CORN!
posted by carlypennylane at 10:34 PM on August 19, 2023

A perfect complement to Bessie Smith's version of "Sugar in my Bowl" is Nina Simone's version.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 10:37 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Pecan Pie by Golden Smog was made for this!
posted by platinum at 10:39 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

The preacher and the slave (pie in the sky ) Utah Phillips.
My boy lollipop Millie Small .
posted by hortense at 10:52 PM on August 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Previously: Songs from Around the World About Food
posted by aws17576 at 11:56 PM on August 19, 2023 [4 favorites]

If we're allowing musicals we can't leave out Food, Glorious Foor from Oliver.
posted by Fuchsoid at 12:01 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Speaking of Oliver, don't forget Big Dairy's propaganda suite.
posted by credulous at 12:10 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie...

Weird Al's entire Food Album
posted by trig at 12:11 AM on August 20, 2023 [8 favorites]

Cornbread, Peas and Black Molasses Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:23 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

This song is only 18 seconds long, but it does meet the request for music about pie.
posted by bryon at 12:47 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy
posted by arha at 1:27 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Mod note: [btw, this post has been added to the sidebar]
posted by taz (staff) at 1:31 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Shonen Knife - Banana Chips
posted by emmling at 1:37 AM on August 20, 2023

Burma Road by Ronnie and the Rambers is not only super danceable and fun, but also contains recipes for various Bahamian specialities.
posted by rongorongo at 2:01 AM on August 20, 2023

Cake by the B52s: you can’t make a pineapple upside down cake or a chocolate devil’s cake without this.
posted by rongorongo at 2:32 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Funky Sixteen Corners is a good resource for this. The link goes to a handful of food-related playlists and includes download links for mixed mp3s.
posted by sciencegeek at 2:53 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Jolly Green Giant by The Kingsmen.
posted by misteraitch at 3:17 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'm glad someone someone mentioned Peaches, considering peach pie gets a mention in it. The Presidents also have songs called Candy , Love Delicatessen, and Electric Spider (okay the last one is about a drink recipe, not solid food) you might check out.

There's also John Prime's Spanish Pipedream which is mostly not about food but also mentions moving to the country and eating a lot of peaches.
posted by Tehhund at 3:31 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Sweet Tea by Cravin Melon

And be weird al:

Lasagna
I love rocky road
Grapefruit diet
Spam
Taco Grande
My bologna
Girls just wanna have lunch
Living in the fridge
The white stuff
Addicted to spuds
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:02 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

"A Little Something Refreshing" by No Doubt. Short and upbeat, fun if you don't mind the belch at the end.
posted by Ann Telope at 4:03 AM on August 20, 2023

AFAIK "My Boy Lollipop” isn’t about food.
posted by pompomtom at 4:13 AM on August 20, 2023

"Everybody Eats When They Come to My House" by Cab Calloway (or John Lithgow)
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:21 AM on August 20, 2023 [4 favorites]

Banana Split for My Baby, Louis Prima (“and a glass of plain water for me”)
posted by dywypi at 4:41 AM on August 20, 2023

30,000 Pounds of Bananas by Harry Chapin
posted by evilmomlady at 5:00 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

No Cake by the Ocean yet?
posted by evilmomlady at 5:02 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

pompomtom: AFAIK "My Boy Lollipop” isn’t about food.

And neither is Brown Sugar.
posted by Stoneshop at 5:04 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

The Pie Song sung by Andie McDowell in the movie Michael
posted by evilmomlady at 5:07 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Custard Pie by Led Zeppelin is another, um, double entendre but it’s a banger.
posted by caviar2d2 at 5:08 AM on August 20, 2023

Get Your Biscuits in the Oven (and Your Buns in the Bed) by Kinky Friedman

Sweet Thistle Pie by Cracker

Camel Walk by Southern Culture on the Skids "Little Debbie Little Debbie!"
posted by jferg at 5:15 AM on August 20, 2023

Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee by Irving Berlin - performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra with Tex Beneke and the Modernaires
posted by XtineHutch at 5:28 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

If I Had $1,000,000 by the Barenaked Ladies
posted by Mchelly at 5:29 AM on August 20, 2023

Canned Goods by Greg Brown.
posted by Paul Slade at 5:29 AM on August 20, 2023

Ween - Pork Roll, Egg and cheese
Phish - Bathtub Gin
Dean Martin - That's Amore
posted by knile at 5:40 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Also not strictly what you’re looking for, but I couldn’t resist. The Pi Song.
posted by Mchelly at 5:41 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Bob Dylan - One More Cup of Coffee
Blur - Coffee and TV
posted by knile at 5:41 AM on August 20, 2023

Beans and Cornbread by Louis Jordan
posted by oakroom at 6:31 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Bob Dylan did an edition of Theme Time Radio Hour about Food - there is a playlist here.
posted by rongorongo at 6:45 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Batches and Cookies by Lizzo
Boxes and Squares by Tank and the Bangas
Maybe Chocolate Chips by CHAI
Eggs and Sausage (In A Cadillac with Susan Michelson) by Tom Waits
Spuds Infinity by Big Thief
posted by chrisulonic at 7:07 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Here's a playlist with almost four hundred hotdog songs!

A friend wrote code to generate playlists based on a keywords; it will require some python knowledge to get running. The hotdog playlist was partially generated with this tool!
posted by gregr at 7:20 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Barbra Lica's The Food Song
posted by Shepherd at 7:28 AM on August 20, 2023

Julia Lee’s “Spinach Song” is nominally about spinach. But I have the feeling it’s really about something else…
posted by slkinsey at 7:40 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Hang on Little Tomato by Pink Martini
Street Cries: Strawberry Woman, Crab Man from Porgy and Bess
posted by QuakerMel at 7:44 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

The movie and musical of Waitress are about a talented pie maker though only the songs “ What’s Inside, and maybe Opening Up involve pie/food.

Young Cardamom and HAB’s song _#1 Spice_ is a lot of fun.
posted by childofTethys at 7:50 AM on August 20, 2023

Java Jive by The Manhattan Transfer
posted by QuakerMel at 7:51 AM on August 20, 2023

Waiting for That Chicken Pie to Cool by the Juggernaut Jug Band
posted by FencingGal at 8:09 AM on August 20, 2023

+1 for Cibo Matto, 'cause you got to know your chicken.
"Verdi Cries" by 10000 Maniacs has a great lyric about snagging uneaten croissants.
And the opening of "Depreston" by Courtney Barnett has a great bit about coffee.
Speaking of which, the classic song "Coffee Time", of which there's a great version by Natalie Cole.
To which you could add, screaming, "Milk is my Sugar" (uncensored video) by Skunk Anansie!
posted by Mngo at 8:10 AM on August 20, 2023

Peel me a grape Diana Krall version or
Dusty Springfield
posted by yyz at 8:15 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Ween - Roses are Free

Throw that pumpkin at the tree
Unless you think that pumpkin holds your destiny
Cast it off into the sea
Bake that pie and eat it with me

Among other lines about food.
posted by bondcliff at 8:15 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Candy Shop by 50 Cent.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:21 AM on August 20, 2023

"A Taste of Honey" Herb Alpert's classic Whipped Cream and other Delights has basically all food related titles.;

"Green Peppers" (
"Tangerine"
"Bittersweet Samba"
"Lemon Tree"
"Whipped Cream"
Side 2
"Love Potion No. 9"
"El Garbanzo"
"Ladyfingers"
"Butterball"
"Peanuts"
"Lollipops and Roses"

--Sadly Doug and the Slugs classic Cognac and Balogna has only the title
posted by yyz at 8:29 AM on August 20, 2023

Jill Scott - The Way (lyrics about what she cooked for breakfast that morning)

Domino - Sweet Potato Pie
posted by The Gooch at 8:35 AM on August 20, 2023

Coffee Jim - Terry Fell.
posted by Paul Slade at 8:54 AM on August 20, 2023

Not necessarily fun, exactly, but a great song: Making Pies -- Patty Griffin
posted by dizziest at 9:04 AM on August 20, 2023

Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlan (your love is better than ice cream, also better than chocolate, also featuring heavily in a very sweet 90s lesbian movie)

Fake Empire by the National begins with "stay out super late tonight, picking apples, baking pies" but is perhaps not the mood you are looking for.
posted by Athanassiel at 9:04 AM on August 20, 2023

Food by the Pursuit of Happiness
Eat Every Bean & Pea On Your Plate by Daddy A Go-Go
posted by stevil at 9:07 AM on August 20, 2023

Snack Attack, by Godley and Creme
posted by the Real Dan at 9:20 AM on August 20, 2023

KoKo Taylor, You Can Have My Husband
posted by effluvia at 9:31 AM on August 20, 2023

Last Meal - Asleep at the Wheel
posted by Bron at 9:34 AM on August 20, 2023

Southern American picnic staples RC Cola and a Moon Pie, by NRBQ.
posted by JDC8 at 9:38 AM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

The Carolina Chocolate Drops: Corn Bread and Butter Beans; and for more Carolina, breakfast on the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

Never mind that Donna did it better...Richard was iconic.

Well, her version definitely charted better...the way to tell them apart is, Richard Harris sings MacArthur's Park, in the studio, even as Jimmy Webb tried to make him stop. Donna Summer sings it as written, without the possessive s.
posted by Rash at 9:51 AM on August 20, 2023

And one more, from Elton John: Rotten Peaches
posted by Rash at 10:15 AM on August 20, 2023

Two Triple Cheese, Side Order of Fries
posted by jozxyqk at 10:30 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Mashed Potatoes by Brak
posted by jozxyqk at 10:41 AM on August 20, 2023

Ren hip hop / rap The Hunger
posted by mightshould at 10:42 AM on August 20, 2023

Cornbread by Lee Morgan
Brown Rice by Don Cherry
Honey by Erykah Badu
Milky Cereal by LL Cool J
Chicken Teriyaki by Rosalia
Fruit Salad by Tierra Whack
posted by stinker at 10:59 AM on August 20, 2023

I like pie, I like cake - The Four Clefs
Bread and Butter - The Newbeats
posted by rongorongo at 11:05 AM on August 20, 2023

Lyle Lovett “Church”
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 11:31 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Note: much of what's below is not good music, so beware.

"John Barleycorn" is about making liquor. I think of it being a jethro tull song but I guess it's traditional. Another Tull track, Christmas Song, mentions 'stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties' but not any particular food.

This Might Be A Wiki has a page about songs that refer to food, even tangentially in They Might Be Giants songs. There are quite a few.

flight of the conchords has one about a racist fruit seller. There are other tangential food references like sharing a kebab with the most beautiful girl in the room.

breakfast, dinner, and lunch are sort of a song, sort of samples of people saying food words.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 12:48 PM on August 20, 2023

CAN - Soup (Krautrockers)
CAN - Mushroom
Jan Akkerman - Green Onions (instrumental)
Boegies - Eggs on Bacon (Dutch Funpunk band)
Boegies - Free French Fries
Boegies - Cakes & Ale
Dead Kennedys - Soup Is Good Food
King Crimson - Lark's Tongues In Aspic
posted by Stoneshop at 12:50 PM on August 20, 2023

Clutch's Hot Bottom Feeder contains a recipe for crab cakes
posted by credulous at 1:23 PM on August 20, 2023

On Top of Spaghetti
posted by Ideefixe at 3:45 PM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Fish Heads
posted by DanSachs at 4:02 PM on August 20, 2023

Bread and Gravy, Ethel Waters, by Hoagy Carmichael
posted by Samarium at 4:50 PM on August 20, 2023

Pie For Breakfast by the Brothers Comatose
posted by loopsun at 6:52 PM on August 20, 2023

In the extended version of Rapper’s Delight at 9:30, Wonder Mike talks about being stuck at a friend’s family dinner where everything is unappetizing.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 7:40 PM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

My Milkshake
posted by Carbolic at 8:02 PM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Dinner and a Movie, Phish.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:05 PM on August 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Sly Stone, Buttermilk Part 1
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:36 PM on August 20, 2023

Coconut by Harry Nilsson ("Put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em both up")
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:27 PM on August 20, 2023

Samarium: There's a great clip of Ethel Waters singing Bread & Gravy with Diana Ross here.
posted by Paul Slade at 1:40 AM on August 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

I apologise in advance, this is the worst song ever recorded and is a terrible ear worm:

It’s the Fast Food Song

You’ve been warned!
posted by ElasticParrot at 3:30 AM on August 21, 2023

And in the category of annoying ear worms, here's the Parmesan song from AGT.
posted by rjs at 4:04 AM on August 21, 2023

The Christians and the Pagans - Dar Williams
(there are pies, though they are burning. catchy song about interfaith understanding though!)
posted by beryllium at 4:21 AM on August 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Lunchtime from Sesame Strewed.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:39 AM on August 21, 2023

MM..FOOD is an album by MF DOOM, "a concept album about the things you find on a picnic, or at a picnic table".
posted by oakroom at 5:56 AM on August 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Junk Food Junkie mentions a Moon Pie, though that isn't exactly a pie.
posted by FencingGal at 6:41 AM on August 21, 2023

Corn Puddin' from Schmigadoon.
posted by catquas at 7:54 AM on August 21, 2023

G Love and Special Sauce had 1994's Cold Beverage
posted by adekllny at 9:56 AM on August 21, 2023

G Love and Special Sauce also had 1999's Milk and Cereal
posted by knile at 10:47 AM on August 21, 2023

The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself
Jonathan Richmand & The Modern Lovers - Ice Cream Man
XTC - Fruit Nut Senses Working Overtime Ballet For A Rainy Day

There are lots of versions of "Shortnin' Bread" out there: Lee Dorsey Paul Chaplain Etta James The Blisters Bobbie Leecan Mississippi John Hurt

It's not going to work for your purposes, but The Ex have a song called "The Pie" which is basically a recipe for sweet potato pie with some radical politics thrown in.
posted by hydrophonic at 11:04 AM on August 21, 2023

Coincidentally, this popped up in my rss feed today: I Love Onions
posted by QuakerMel at 4:15 PM on August 21, 2023

"Happiness Pie" from The Kids in the Hall's "Brain Candy"?

"Cottleston Pie" by Rowlf the Dog?
posted by Mister Moofoo at 6:16 PM on August 21, 2023

"Fibber Island" by They Might Be Giants puts pie in a positive position
posted by morspin at 10:13 PM on August 21, 2023

Pie & Mash — The Gymslips
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:17 AM on August 22, 2023

Johnny Saucep'n by Moxy Fruvous.

A bit more of a stretch is their Pork Tenderloin. Can't find it on YouTube, sorry.
posted by neilbert at 7:22 AM on August 22, 2023

Fruit Salad - The Wiggles
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:17 AM on August 23, 2023

Superhero Soup - The Nields
posted by bondcliff at 2:20 PM on August 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

Def Leppard Pour some sugar on me
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:16 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]