The Song That Never Ends

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"The Song That Never Ends" (previous known as "The Song That Doesn't End") is a self-referential and infinitely recursive children and some teen's song. The song is a single verse long, written in an infinite-loop motif in a march style, such that it naturally flows in a cyclical fashion, repeating the same verse over and over. It is very popular with children and teens, typically sung when doing something repetitive or boring. The song was written by writer/composer Norman Martin.

Lyrics

The lyrics are roughly as follows, although variations are to be expected, as with most folk songs:

This is the song that doesn't end,

Yes, it goes on and on, my friend.

Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,

and they'll continue singing it forever just because...

And then the song repeats ad infinitum.

The presently used version:

This is the song that never ends,

and it goes on and on, my friends.

Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,

Therefor they continue singing it forever just because...

(repeat infinity)

this song repeats itself over and over again.

Sometimes a second verse is added, following the same tune, going as follows:

This is the song that will drive you insane,

It will be etched into your brain.

Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,

And they'll continue singing it forever just because...

Notable appearances and recordings

The most notable appearance of the song was as the closing theme of Lamb Chop's Play-Along, a 1992 televised puppet show, though with slightly different lyrics. At the end of each episode, the puppets and children would sing several verses of the song while hostess Shari Lewis would try in vain to stop them. They would eventually leave, even while beginning a sixth verse (which fades out). Then Charlie Horse would return and try to get the song going again, but Shari successfully stops him by grabbing his mouth and persuading him to leave.

A short rendition of the song appeared in a skit on the animated TV show Cartoon Planet (the skit is also featured on the companion album, Space Ghost's Musical Bar-B-Que). Brak sings the song until he is asked to stop by Zorak, who finds it annoying. Brak explains that he is unable to because it's the "song that doesn't end." He attempts to continue until Zorak loses his temper, causing Brak to cease, remarking, "I guess it just ended."

The song has been adopted as an unofficial anthem by disparate groups. The Discordian organization (or disorganization) known as POEE has listed the song in their material with claims that it was written by a member, while fans of the rock band Styx adopted a variation, "The Tour That Never Ends", to describe Styx's 400-plus date tour in the late 1990s in support of their album Brave New World.

A series of Canadian Motrin pain killer ads featured kids singing the song in the back of a car, during a traffic jam, while eating chocolate-covered coffee beans.

I Know a Song that Gets on Everybody's Nerves

"I Know a Song that Gets on Everybody's Nerves" is another popular song that endlessly repeats. It is often sung to the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The lyrics are as follows:

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

And this is how it goes

And thus the song repeats itself ad infinitum.

A variant:

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

Everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

And this is how it goes

A second variant:

I know a song that'll get on your nerves,

Get on your nerves, get on your nerves.

I know a song that'll get on your nerves

And it goes something like this:

(Variant: And this is how it goes:/Getgetget on your nerves/Get on, get on your nerves)

A third variant:

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

Get's on everybody's nerves, get's on everybody's nerves

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

And this is how it goes

A fourth variant:

I've got a song that gets on everybody's nerves

Everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves

I've got a song that gets on everybody's nerves

And this is how it goes

This variant was used in the film Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up.