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Nonsense lyrics popular in doo-wop music

Money (That's What I Want) is represented here by Barrett Strong's original single in mono, as explicitly identified in the licensed track metadata. The supported release year is 1959. This version preserves the...

Inspired by the multiple roles a partner can play in a relationship.

Inspired by the idea of dedicating all one's love to a single person.

Inspired by the comic strip character Alley Oop, created by V.T. Hamlin in 1932.

An instrumental inspired by the beatnik culture of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Written as the theme song for the film of the same name, inspired by the spirit of youth.

The song was inspired by the idea of leaving the past behind and moving forward in life.

Don Everly wrote the song, reportedly inspired by a girl he dated in high school named Cathy.

Cooke was inspired to write the song after encountering a chain gang of prisoners working on a highway while on tour.

Inspired by the pain and sorrow of heartbreak.

Inspired by the idea of a man being unfaithful or "dogging around."

Hank Ballard wrote this song and recorded it with the Midnighters for King Records. The 1960 single also appeared on Mr. Rhythm and Blues and crossed from the R&B chart into the pop market. A later recording is a...

A cover of the 1937 song, inspired by the romantic atmosphere of a harbor at night.

Berry Gordy produced Marv Johnson's recording, with backing vocals by the Rayber Voices. The writing credit includes Gordy, Mike Ossman, Al Abrams and John O'Den. Issued by United Artists in 1960 and included on More...

The composition is credited to Lloyd Price and Harold Logan. Its repertoire history extends beyond Price: Billy Eckstine included it on the 1960 live album No Cover, No Minimum. That parallel recording provides...

Originally a French song "Je t'appartiens," the English version was inspired by the theme of eternal love.

Carl Spencer and Henry Glover wrote the song released by Billy Bland on Old Town in 1960. Its R&B recording crossed into the pop chart, and other performers later adapted the composition, including Ernest Tubb and...

The song was a humorous response to the many "death discs" popular at the time, inspired by a more optimistic outlook.

The song was inspired by youthful romance and the innocence of first love.

The song was inspired by the intensity of romantic love.

Inspired by the pursuit of financial success and its importance in relationships.

The song was inspired by the magnitude of romantic feelings.

A cover of Jimmie Rodgers' 1930 song, inspired by the life of mule drivers in the early 20th century.

The song was inspired by the romantic atmosphere of nighttime and the passion it can inspire.

An instrumental inspired by the military wake-up call, given a rock and roll twist.

An instrumental inspired by the sound of a goose honk, given a rock and roll treatment.

Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, the song was inspired by Pomus's experience at his own wedding, where he couldn't dance with his bride due to his polio.

Inspired by the popular dance moves of the time.

Inspired by the experience of trying on clothes in a store, with a humorous twist.

Inspired by the pain of watching a once-strong relationship fall apart.

Williams wrote the song at age 15, inspired by a real-life date that ended too soon.

The song was inspired by the gradual process of falling in love.

Inspired by the power of sweet talk in romance.

The original version of the song, inspired by the dance move Ballard saw people doing.

Inspired by the Watusi dance, which was becoming popular in the early 1960s.

Holly wrote the song as a wedding gift for his wife, Maria Elena, inspired by their relationship.

The song was inspired by the fear of losing a loved one and the changes that occur in relationships.

Written by Phil Everly, the song was inspired by the search for true love.

Originally from the 1937 musical "Babes in Arms," the song was inspired by the concept of déjà vu.

The instrumental was inspired by tropical beach settings.

Co-written by Cooke, Lou Adler, and Herb Alpert, the song was inspired by the simple joys of young love.

The song was inspired by admiration for a loved one's qualities.

Reginald Hall brought the song to Joe Jones after Fats Domino declined it. Jones added it to his club act and later recorded it, with Sylvia Robinson involved in the New York session. The lyric complains about an...

Persistence in love despite rejection

Using soap as a metaphor for cleansing oneself of a past love

Moving on from a past relationship

A teenage girl's first love

A girl named Barbara Ann

Rodgers and Hart's 1934 standard

A dance popular in Bristol, Pennsylvania

The idea of Cupid as a matchmaker

A soldier returning home to his loved ones

Expressing love through a song

A tragic story of a soldier's lost love

Expressing deep love

The captivating eyes of a love interest

A cover of the 1954 hit by The Fontane Sisters

The pain of lost love

Enjoyment of life and love

Returning to a former love

Optimism in a relationship

Instrumental inspired by late-night revelry

Celebration of drum-based rock and roll

The Shirelles began as a school vocal group in Passaic, New Jersey, before recording I Met Him on a Sunday for Florence Greenberg's Tiara label. Their later Scepter work paired an R&B background with string...

Common complaints about mothers-in-law

Loneliness after a breakup

The popularity of peanut butter as a snack

Waiting for a letter from a loved one

The Drifters connected gospel-influenced rhythm and blues with the more orchestrated soul records of the 1960s. Their changing lead singers included Clyde McPhatter, Ben E. King, Rudy Lewis and Johnny Moore. Working...

A beautiful girl with angelic eyes

Late-night partying

Using rain as a metaphor for tears

Gary U.S. Bonds established his career with records including New Orleans, Quarter to Three and School Is Out. Later collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt and members of the E Street Band produced...

Advice about finding the right partner

The joy of being in love

Ben E. King's baritone voice became familiar through his work as a lead singer with the Drifters and through an extensive solo recording career. His repertoire included Stand by Me, Spanish Harlem, Don't Play That...

The importance of support in relationships

Using candy as a metaphor for affection

The true story of Ferdinand Waldo Demara

African folk song "Mbube"

A new variation of the popular Twist dance

A particularly sad moment

Romantic nighttime atmosphere

Nostalgia for old love songs

The excitement of falling in love

The different aspects of true love

A cover of the 1955 hit, about longing for a loved one

A plea for a lover to return

The uncertainty of young love

New Orleans street slang

Written by Alexander himself, later covered by The Beatles.

Written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard, the song became one of Jackson's signature hits.

The Shirelles began as a school vocal group in Passaic, New Jersey, before recording I Met Him on a Sunday for Florence Greenberg's Tiara label. Their later Scepter work paired an R&B background with string...

Written by Marvin Gaye, Mickey Stevenson, and George Gordy, based on a real phone number.

Written by Cooke himself, the song became one of his most enduring hits.

Written by Howard Greenfield and Carole King, blending the Everlys' style with the Brill Building sound.

A follow-up to Bonds' hit "Quarter to Three," capitalizing on the twist craze.

Written by Berry Gordy Jr., the song was originally intended for The Temptations.

Written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, the song captured teenage phone culture.

Written by Ahmet Ertegun and Betty Nelson, showcasing King's soulful vocals.

An impromptu jam session led to this instrumental classic.

Written by Cooke himself, the song captured the joy of social gatherings.

Written by Phil Spector and the Brill Building team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

A doo-wop cover of the 1931 song written by Al Hoffman and John Klenner.

Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, showcasing Jackson's powerful vocals.

Barbara George grew up singing in a New Orleans church choir and writing songs. Fellow musician Jessie Hill introduced her to Harold Battiste's AFO label, where her recording career developed within the city's R&B...

Written by Ike Turner, the song featured the backing vocalists of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.

A soulful ballad showcasing Burke's powerful vocals and emotional delivery.

Written by Holland-Dozier-Holland, one of the group's early singles before their major breakthrough.

Written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, the song was the group's biggest hit.

Originally written in 1945 by Edward Heyman and Victor Young for the film "Love Letters."

Written by Curtis Mayfield, the song was Bradley's biggest hit.

Clark wrote the song about her experiences as a teenager wanting to go to parties.

The song was inspired by the twist dance craze and the Peppermint Lounge in New York City.

Written by Mickey Stevenson and Clarence Paul, the song was a follow-up to "Please Mr. Postman."

A posthumous release of a song Holly recorded in 1955, written by Mickey Stevenson.

Joey Dee and the Starliters developed from the band led by New Jersey singer and saxophonist Joey Dee. Their engagement at New York's Peppermint Lounge connected them closely with the early-1960s twist craze....

The Corsairs was a North Carolina vocal group featuring the Uzzell brothers and their cousin George Wooten. Earlier known as the Gleems, they worked with producer Abner Spector after moving into the New York and New...

Written by Florence Greenberg and Luther Dixon, the song reflected the experiences of young women during the Vietnam War era.

Written by Smokey Robinson, the song was one of Wells' early Motown hits.

Written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, the song was inspired by the Watusi dance.

Originally recorded by the Top Notes, the Isley Brothers' version became a hit.

Another twist-themed song, following the success of "Dear Lady Twist."

Cooke wrote the song to capitalize on the twist dance craze.

Mary Wells was a Detroit singer and songwriter who entered Motown with her own composition Bye Bye Baby. Berry Gordy signed her and produced that early recording. Work with Smokey Robinson then developed a gentler...

Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the song addressed social issues of the time.

Written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, showcasing Wells' vocal talents.

A doo-wop cover of the 1952 pop standard written by Pee Wee King, Chilton Price, and Redd Stewart.

Lynn wrote the song herself, drawing from personal experiences.

Sam Cooke grew up in Chicago after his family moved from Mississippi, and his early singing developed in gospel groups, including the Soul Stirrers. You Send Me brought him major solo success in 1957, followed by a...

The song encouraged listeners to dance and exercise.

Phil Spector and Jeff Barry wrote this song as the ultimate expression of teenage love and desire.

This Goffin-King composition was about feeling trapped in a relationship.

This song, different from the later folk version, celebrated the excitement of New Orleans.

The song portrayed a woman returning her ex-lover's gifts and memories.

The song portrayed the emotional vulnerability of a man in love.

Phil Spector and Jeff Barry wrote this song with nonsense lyrics to capture the feeling of falling in love.

The song was a defensive response to criticism of a romantic partner.

The song was written about the difficulty of expressing one's feelings in a relationship.

The hit comes from the live performance released on The 12 Year Old Genius. Its onstage energy, rather than a conventional studio ballad arrangement, was central to the young performer's breakthrough.

The first part of Wonder's live performance that showcased his harmonica skills.

The song warned young girls about the perils of playing with boys' affections.

The song was written about an idealized perfect man and became a template for girl group harmonies.

Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote this song comparing the intensity of love to a heat wave.

Lewis wrote this song about reuniting with an old flame.

This Goffin-King composition was a plea for a second chance in a relationship.

The song promised unwavering support to a loved one.

The Impressions joined gospel-influenced vocal harmony with Chicago soul and melodic pop. After early work with Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Fred Cash and Sam Gooden developed the group's enduring trio sound....

Troy co-wrote this song about love at first sight.

This cover of a Willie Dixon blues song used barnyard imagery as sexual metaphors.

The song expressed a desire to escape from worldly troubles.

The song confirmed a mother's warnings about the pain of first love.

Mickey's Monkey was first released as a Miracles single in 1963, before the following album. Motown's label history and the licensed mono-single listing establish that sequence. The album's later 1964 chart...

The song was written as a warning to a boy who had been spreading rumors about a girl.

Need to Belong is the title recording of Jerry Butler's 1963 Vee-Jay album. Curtis Mayfield, Butler's former colleague in the Impressions, wrote the song. Its place among Butler's interpretations of other writers...

The song depicted the struggles and dreams of making it in show business.

Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song expressed hope for a future with a crush.

Little Johnny Taylor brought a gospel background to blues and R&B, including an early period with the Mighty Clouds of Joy. After initial secular singles for Swingin', he recorded for Galaxy with producer Cliff...

Gaye wrote this song about his wife, Anna Gordy Gaye.

James sang about refusing to be taken advantage of in a relationship.

This enigmatic song has been interpreted in various ways, from a coded lesbian narrative to a cautionary tale about infidelity.

This rerelease of their 1957 hit was about determinedly looking for love.

This cover of a 1945 song expressed the transformative power of love.

The song captured the blissful feeling of being deeply in love.

The song was inspired by the vibrant street life on South Street in Philadelphia.

The official Motown biography describes this early hit as autobiographical. It helped establish Gaye after his initial attempts at a more traditional vocal career.

The song encouraged a friend to confess her feelings to a boy.

Written by Carole King, the song described an unforgettable love interest.

The song expressed a woman's deep love and devotion to her partner.

Written by Curtis Mayfield, the song referenced a popular dance of the time.

The song was named after and promoted a popular dance craze.

The song captured the excitement of meeting one's soulmate.

Written by Goffin and King, the song depicted finding peace above the city's chaos.

This dance song was inspired by a popular playground game.

The Tymes grew out of Philadelphia's vocal-group circuit as the Latineers, with Donald Banks, Albert Berry, Norman Burnett and George Hilliard among the founding singers. The group adopted its better-known name and...

This rerelease of their 1958 hit humorously depicted parent-teen conflicts.

The Dovells developed from the Brooktones, a vocal group formed by students at Philadelphia's Overbrook High School. Their early work included local performances and recordings before a Cameo-Parkway agreement and a...

Smokey Robinson wrote this song about a complicated, consuming love.

Holland-Dozier-Holland supplied the Four Tops' breakthrough Motown hit in 1964. The museum identifies it as the beginning of their major chart run.

Written by Holland-Dozier-Holland, continuing the success of "Where Did Our Love Go."

Written by Sylvester Stewart (later known as Sly Stone), inspired by dance crazes of the era.

Written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, inspired by wedding traditions.

Written by Holland-Dozier-Holland, continuing the group's string of hits.

Written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter, inspired by Detroit's summer atmosphere.

Written by Van McCoy, exploring themes of heartbreak and resignation.

Written by Sam Cooke, blending gospel influences with pop and soul.

Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, originally intended for The Righteous Brothers.

Written by Curtis Mayfield, continuing Lance's collaboration with Mayfield.

Written by Tommy Tucker, inspired by the sight of a woman wearing sneakers with a dress.

Written by Teddy Randazzo and Bobby Weinstein, reflecting feelings of isolation and longing.

Written by Curtis Mayfield, expressing deep love and admiration.

Written by Curtis Mayfield, reflecting the civil rights movement.

Written by George "Shadow" Morton, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, telling a tragic teenage love story.

English version of the French song "Je t'appartiens" by Gilbert Bécaud and Pierre Delanoë.

Written and produced by Smokey Robinson, inspired by his observations of relationships.

Written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller, about pursuing dreams in New York City.

Opportunity became a national hit for the Washington, D.C. vocal group the Jewels in 1964. Their history traces the singers through earlier names and local recording work before this breakthrough. The screenshot...

Written by George "Shadow" Morton, inspired by a real-life breakup.

Written by Ed Silvers and Hank Cosby, addressing a selfish lover.

Written by Jimmy Hughes, one of the early hits of the Muscle Shoals sound.

Written by The Everly Brothers, evoking the excitement and romance of an amusement park.

Written by Donald Woods and Fats Washington, named after a popular dance of the time.

Written by Rudy Clark, inspired by the idea that a kiss reveals true love.

Written by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, inspired by playful pick-up lines.

Written by Curtis Mayfield, with a catchy, repetitive chorus.

Written by Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick, evoking summer romance at the beach.

Written by Ray Whitley, expressing frustration with a dishonest lover.

Written by Smokey Robinson, one of Wells' last singles for Motown.

Written by Holland-Dozier-Holland, originally intended for The Marvelettes.

The Four Tops began in Detroit as the Four Aims, singing jazz songs and standards before their Motown breakthrough. Levi Stubbs, Renaldo Benson, Lawrence Payton and Abdul Fakir formed the original quartet. Work with...

Written by Van McCoy, known for "The Hustle."