Laugh tracks: 18 of the funniest songs in rock history (2024)

Throughout the decades, rock musicians have never been afraid to infuse a little humor into the songs that they write. From tongue-in-cheek innuendo to out-and-out goofs, the annals of rock music history are full of good jokes.

Flip through the slideshow below for 18 of rock's funniest tunes,

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Written by the legendary late singer Janis Joplin in 1970, "Mercedes Benz" is a prayer for sorts, with Joplin asking God to bless her with everything from a night on the town to the titular vehicle. And despite its tongue-in-cheek lyrics, it has the morbid distinction of being the last song that Joplin recorded before her death.

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This swampy 1973 southern rock hit is relatable to anyone who's found themselves in a barroom disagreement that they don't quite understand. It's based on a real-life experience involving frontman Ronnie Van Zant, in which he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun after unknowingly dancing with another man's lady.

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This Shel Silverstein-penned tune is a tongue-in-cheek send-up of "Rolling Stone" magazine, with the band lamenting that even though they're selling tons of records, they've never been on the cover. And maybe it's only because "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" song was a hit, but Dr. Hook did end up on the cover eventually.

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This ridiculous song from Jack Black-helmed duo Tenacious D tells the story of a band that has to play the "greatest song in the world" for a demon, lest their souls be eaten. And we know that they survived because of "Tribute," which is merely — as its title suggests — a tribute to the rock glory that Tenacious D (allegedly) served up on that fateful night.

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Okay, so it may not have the explicit humor of other songs on this list, but there's definitely something funny about singing "Abra, abracadabra" over and over in a song that is absolutely about more X-rated behavior than the typical magic show.

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The lyrics of this weird 1974 Frank Zappa song are a little culturally insensitive all these years later, but "Don't eat yellow snow" remains solid advice for anyone.

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Whether it's frontman Fred Schneider's exaggerated vocals, the kitschy vibe of the music video, or those endlessly catchy lyrics, everyone loves "Love Shack," even if singing along does feel a little cheesy.

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Rupert Holmes mines the personal ads for the lyrics to "The Pina Colada Song," in which a woman who loves pina coladas but isn't a huge fan of yoga seeks to find the love of her life. And even though it involves the protagonist dumping his girlfriend for his new flame, this song does actually have a happy ending.

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If the lyrics to this 1977 song sound a little harsh toward the vertically challenged among us, that's because "Short People" is intended to be a statement about how ridiculous any type of prejudice or bigotry really is. But it's still funny to think about short people menacing the world with their "grubby little fingers" and "dirty little minds."

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This early '00s single was a major success thanks to the inherent awkwardness of its subject matter. There's nothing more cringe than being a teen who's crushing on your friend's mom, and the music video for "Stacy's Mom" really drives home the comedic effect.

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Whether it's Freddie Mercury's characteristic strut or the idea of belting out lyrics like "Left alone with big fat Fanny, she was such a naughty nanny," Fat Bottomed Girls is great for simultaneously rocking out while laughing.

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Even though he's in a tropical paradise, Jimmy Buffett is really going through it in "Margaritaville." He's lost his shaker of salt, blown out his flip-flop, and stepped on a pop-top, and the only cure is a potent batch of margaritas. Who among us hasn't felt exactly the same way?

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The lyrics for this 1980 new-wave fave are total nonsense, the band is wearing ridiculous hats in its music video, and sonically, "Whip It" just sounds like one big joke. It is, apparently, a satirical take on relentless optimism, but it mostly just sounds like a silly '80s hit all these years later.

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With its jazzy mambo beat and very sparse lyrics, "Tequila" has been played for laughs in everything from "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" to "The Simpsons." It always feels especially funny after a few shots of its namesake beverage, too.

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Really, the funniest thing about this song is its title. "In-A-Gadda-A-Vida" was supposed to be "In the Garden of Eden," but frontman Doug Ingle was so drunk when he relayed its title, it was transcribed in a way that somehow actually fits an absurd 17-minute rock song.

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Even if the "a-woo!" refrain doesn't give you a laugh, the absurdity of the idea that there's a werewolf prowling around London and drinking pina coladas at Trader Vic's after attacking old ladies is funny enough on its own.

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It's easy to laugh at the protagonist of this 1998 alt-rock hit, because he's a complete loser, and a total poser. And underneath its goofball vibe, "Pretty Fly For A White Guy" is a scathing send-up of anyone who seeks to appropriate hip-hop culture without actually understanding it.

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Originally recorded by the indie band SR-71, Texas pop-punkers Bowling For Soup scored a massive hit with "1985," which centers around a woman stuck in the '80s and trying to relive her glory days while stuck in the boring suburbs.