I Don't Have The Words

I learned a new term today: non-lexical vocables.  I was trying to look up some songs for this post.  Lately I've been thinking about songs with vocals but no lyrics.  On the radio the other day, I heard a song called Hocus Pocus (by Focus, of course...) that I hadn't heard for years.  It reminded me of one Bill Cosby did, and I was trying to think of others.  Of course there's scat, and there are often bits of songs with "la la la" and other "words" that don't really mean anything.  These just go a bit farther...



Hocus Pocus- Focus

One of those songs even "classic rock" stations don't play often, but which seem to be well-known anyway.




Hikky-Burr- Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones

As a kid I loved Bill Cosby's bit about winos becoming bus station announcers, with all sorts of made-up words: "Bus leaving for Reebazack, Habersobersack, and North Reebahaben."  Here he talks over jazz, and it somehow works.



Mairzy Doats-The Pied Pipers

This one's a bit different, in that the lyrics have meaning but are sung (and written) as if they don't.





Rubber Biscuit- Blues Brothers

An old blues song, of course, by the Chips.  This one has a few lyrics.  They're pretty goofy, and most of the song is nonsensical vocals.




Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict- Pink Floyd

This... wow.  Animal noises, sometimes with rhythm, and then an old Scot talking.  So, I guess maybe the words do have meaning, but I sure as hell don't know what he's saying...