A search of "Longest Song Titles" gives us incomplete (and often inaccurate) results. Inside The Rock Era has researched this information, and now you have a better, accurate list:
"Medley: *Intro 'Venus'-Sugar Sugar-No Reply-I'll Be Back-Drive My Car-Do You Want to Know a Secret-We Can Work It Out-I Should Have Known Better-Nowhere Man-You're Going to Lose That Girl*-Stars on 45" by Stars On 45 went to #1 in 1981. (Note: some music historians have arbitrarily shortened the song title to "Medley", but that not only is inaccurate--it is a disservice. As you can see on the 45, the longer name is the one that is on the record label...That is the "official" title)
"Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills" from Ray Stevens made it to #35 in 1961.
1. 206 characters:
"Medley: *Intro 'Venus'-Sugar Sugar-No Reply-I'll Be Back-Drive My Car-Do You Want to Know a Secret-We Can Work It Out-I Should Have Known Better-Nowhere Man-You're Going to Lose That Girl*-Stars on 45" by Stars On 45
2. 103 characters:
"Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills" from Ray Stevens.
3. 76 characters:
"I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I'll Get It Myself)" by James Brown reached #20 in 1967.
4. 66 characters:
"Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)" from Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1971 is second for the longest title for a #1 song.
5. 65 characters:
"Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor (On The Bedpost Over Night)" by Lonnie Donegan was a #5 hit in 1961.
6. 63 characters:
"Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" climbed to #38 in 1994 for Meat Loaf.
7. 62 characters:
"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas is third in the Rock Era for longest title by a #1 song.
8. (tie) 60 characters:
"From The Candy Store On The Corner To The Chapel On The Hill" by Tony Bennett reached #11 in 1956.
"(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" by Ronnie Dyson peaked at #8 in 1970.
"(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go" by Curtis Mayfield reached #29 in 1971.
"(Sartorial Eloquence) Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?" by Elton John peaked at #39 in 1980.
"A Desultory Phillipic (or How I Was Robert Macnamara'd into Submission)"--Simon & Garfunkel
201 characters:
103 characters:
93 characters:
"A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night Love Making, Next Day Heart Breaking Guy" -- The Supremes (later abbreviated to "A Breath Taking Guy")
76 characters:
"Anaheim, Azusa & Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review And Timing Association" by Jan & Dean peaked at #77 in 1964.
"I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I'll Get It Myself)" by James Brown reached #20 in 1967.
74 characters:
"Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs - Part 1" by Sonny & Cher was #77 in 1973.
"There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At The Conference Table" by the Chi-Lites reached #63 in 1974.
72 characters:
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends" by the Beatles peaked at a highly underrated #71 in 1967.
71 characters:
"There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving #2 (The Ballad Of Francis Powers)" hit #64 in 1960 for Red River Dave.
70 characters:
"(How I Spent My Summer Vacation) Or A Day At The Beach With Pedro & Man" from Cheech & Chong peaked at #54 in 1975.
68 characters:
"What Can You Get a Wookie for Christmas (When He Already Has a Comb)"by The Star Wars Intergalactic Droid Choir and Orchestra peaked at #69 in 1980.
67 characters:
"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" by Panic! At The Disco peaked at #77 in 2005.
66 characters:
"Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)" from Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1971 is second for the longest title for a #1 song.
65 characters:
"Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor (On The Bedpost Over Night)" by Lonnie Donegan was a #5 hit in 1961.
"There Won't Be No Country Music (There Won't Be No Rock 'N' Roll)" by C. W. McCall reached #73 in 1976.
"Breaking Up Is Hard On You (a/k/a Don't Take Ma Bell Away From Me" was #70 by the American Comedy Network in 1984.
64 characters:
"There's Got To Be Rain In Your Life (To Appreciate The Sunshine)" from Dorothy Norwood peaked at #88 in 1974.
63 characters:
"Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" climbed to #38 in 1994 for Meat Loaf.
62 characters:
"The First Thing Ev'ry Morning (And The Last Thing Ev'ry Night)" was #91 for Jimmy Dean in 1965.
"(Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie On The) King Of Rock & Roll" reached #52 in 1970 for Crow and #73 for John Baldry.
"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas is third in the Rock Era for longest title by a #1 song.
61 characters:
"Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do" by Luther Vandross reached #87 in 1984.
60 characters:
"From The Candy Store On The Corner To The Chapel On The Hill" by Tony Bennett reached #11 in 1956.
"(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" by Ronnie Dyson peaked at #8 in 1970.
"(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go" by Curtis Mayfield reached #29 in 1971.
"(Sartorial Eloquence) Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?" by Elton John peaked at #39 in 1980.
59 characters:
"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" from the First Edition landed at #5 in 1968.
"You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" peaked at #39 in 1978 for Meat Loaf.
58 characters:
"Love Theme From "The Sandpiper" (The Shadow Of Your Smile)" was a #95 song in 1965 for Tony Bennett.
"You Wanted Someone To Play With (I Wanted
Someone To Love)" by Frankie Laine reached #48 in 1967.
"The Last Game Of The Season (A Blind Man In The Bleachers)" reached #18 for David Geddes and was #58 for Kenny Starr in 1975.
"Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings" reached #96 in 1993 for LL Cool J.
57 characters:
"There Should Be Rules (Protecting Fools Who Fall In Love)" peaked at #54 in 1955 for Betty Madigan.
"What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)" was a #94 song in 1968 for Jerry Lee Lewis
"What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin and John" was a #8 hit for Tom Clay in 1971.
"Where Everybody Knows Your Name (The Theme
From 'Cheers')" was a #83 hit for Gary Portnoy in 1983.
"You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)" reached #15 in 1984 for Joe Jackson.
56 characters:
"French Song (Quaind Le Soleil Dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes)" by Lucille Starr peaked at #54 in 1964.
"Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?" from the Rolling Stones hit #9 in 1966.
"Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" peaked at #26 for Kris Kristofferson in 1971.
"I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock And Roll)" by Gary Glitter reached #35 in 1972.
"I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony)", adapted from a Coca-Cola commercial, was a #7 hit for the New Seekers and #13 for the Hillside Singers in 1972.
"I Can Make It Thru The Days (But Oh Those Lonely Nights)" was a #81 song for Ray Charles in 1973.
"Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)" by Gladys Knight & the Pips topped out at #2 in 1973.
"Believe Half Of What You See (And None Of What You Hear)" reached #94 for Leon Haywood in 1975.
55 characters:
"Theme From Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight)" was a #10 hit for actor Richard Chamberlain in 1962.
"Freddie Feelgood (And His Funky Little Five Piece Band)"
could only come from Ray Stevens, and it hit #91 in 1966.
"Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" by Diana Ross was a #1 smash in 1976.
"Theme From 'Greatest American Hero' (Believe It or Not)" by Joey Scarbury stopped at #2 in 1981.
54 characters:
"You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)" was a #12 hit for High Inergy in 1977.
"Free Me From My Freedom/Tie Me To A Tree (Handcuff Me)" by Bonnie Pointer stalled at #58 in 1979.
53 characters:
"Diddle-Dee-Dum (What Happens When Your Love Has Gone)" by the Belmonts was a #53 song in 1962.
"Sittin' On A Time Bomb (Waitin' For The Hurt To Come)" by Honey Cone stalled at #96 in 1972.
"You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth" landed at #72 in 1972 for the Undisputed Truth.
"You Ain't Never Been Loved (Like I'm Gonna' Love You)" was the promise Jessi Colter made, and it peaked at #64 in 1975.
"I've Got A Feeling (We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again)" from Al Wilson reached #29 in 1976.
"My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light 'Em Up)" hit #13 for Fall Out Boy in 2013.
52 characters:
"A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love)" gave Brook Benton & Dinah Washington a #7 hit in 1960.
"That's Old Fashioned (That's The Way Love Should Be)" by the Everly Brothers was an Early Rock hit, reaching #9 in 1962.
"Puddin N' Tain (Ask Me Again, I'll Tell You The Same" was a #43 song for the Alley Cats in 1963.
"Two-Ten, Six-Eighteen (Doesn't Anybody Know My Name)" hit #78 in 1963 for Jimmie Rodgers.
"Love Me With All Your Heart (Cuando Calienta El Sol)" from 1964 hit #3 for the Ray Charles Singers.
"San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" by Scott MacKenzie peaked at #4 in the magic year of 1967.
"Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)" from 1967 was a #20 hit for the Mamas & Papas.
"Cherish What Is Dear To You (While It's Near To You)" by Freda Payne peaked at #44 in 1971.
"When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart)" peaked at #10 for Connie Francis in 1971.
"Everyone's Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine" from Stealers Wheel peaked at #49 in 1973.
"Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" by Aretha Franklin was a #3 smash in 1974.
51 characters:
"I'm Gonna' Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" by Billy Williams was a #3 hit in 1957.
"Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue)" peaked at #84 in 1960 for Teresa Brewer and #94 for the Caravelles in 1964.
"You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love)" reached #30 in 1965 for Vic Damone.
"I Got To Go Back (And Watch That Little Girl Dance)" from the McCoys peaked at #69 in 1967.
"Got To See If I Can't Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)" from Jerry Butler peaked at #62 in 1970.
"Love Theme From 'The Godfather' (Speak Softly Love)" by Andy Williams reached #34 in 1972.
"Rock N' Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)" reached #15 in 1975 for Mac Davis.
"Rust Never Sleeps (Hey Hey, My My [Into The Black])" by Neil Young & Crazy Horse peaked at #79 in 1979.
"Edge Of Seventeen (Just Like The White Winged Dove)" by Stevie Nicks hit an underrated #11 in 1982.
50 characters:
"Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet" by Jackie Wilson hit #62 in 1957.
"You're Cheatin' Yourself (If You're Cheatin' On Me") by Frank Sinatra reached #25 in 1957.
"You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It)" by Ral Donner hit #4 in 1961.
"You Never Miss Your Water (Till The Well Runs Dry)" by "Little Esther" Phillips & "Big Al" Downing landed at #73 in 1963.
"When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" by the Supremes peaked at #23 in 1964.
"Love Theme From "Romeo And Juliet" (A Time For Us)" peaked at #96 for Johnny Mathis in 1969.
"(One Of These Days) Sunday's Gonna Come On Tuesday" reached #92 in 1969 for the New Establishment.
"Prophecy Of Daniel And John The Divine (Six-Six-Six)" by the Cowsills hit #75 in 1969.
"You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" was a #34 hit in 1964 for Dionne Warwick, and the Stylistics reached #23 in 1973.
"Bees Are For The Birds) The Birds Are For The Bees" was #50 for the Newbeats in 1965.
"Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" was a #3 smash for the Temptations in 1970.
"Shamrocks And Shenanigans (Boom Shalock Lock Boom)" was a #65 hit for the House of Pain in 1993.
"People Don't Believe (a.k.a. Hand Of The Dead Body)" peaked at #74 on 1995 for Scarface Featuring Ice Cube.
Longest Song Titles to Make the Hot 100 With No Parenthesis Or Special Characters:
1. 103 characters:
"Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills" from Ray Stevens made it to #35 in 1961.
2. 76 characters:
"Anaheim, Azusa & Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review And Timing Association" by Jan & Dean peaked at #77 in 1964.
3. 74 characters:
"Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs - Part 1" by Sonny & Cher was #77 in 1973.
4. 67 characters:
"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" by Panic! At The Disco peaked at #77 in 2005.
5. 63 characters:
"Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" climbed to #38 in 1994 for Meat Loaf.
6. 60 characters:
"From The Candy Store On The Corner To The Chapel On The Hill" by Tony Bennett reached #11 in 1956.
7. 58 characters:
"Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings" reached #96 in 1993 for LL Cool J.
8. 56 characters:
"Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?" from the Rolling Stones hit #9 in 1966.
9. 53 characters:
"You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth" landed at #72 in 1972 for the Undisputed Truth.
10. 51 characters:
"I'm Gonna' Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" by Billy Williams was a #3 hit in 1957.
50 characters:
"When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" by the Supremes peaked at #23 in 1964.
(49 characters with no parenthesis or special characters)
"Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" was a #42 song for Waylon & Willie in 1978.
"Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" was a #42 song for Waylon & Willie in 1978.
The Longest Song Titles To Reach #1:
1. 206 characters:
"Medley: *Intro 'Venus'-Sugar Sugar-No Reply-I'll Be Back-Drive My Car-Do You Want to Know a Secret-We Can Work It Out-I Should Have Known Better-Nowhere Man-You're Going to Lose That Girl*-Stars on 45" by Stars On 45 went to #1 in 1981.
2. 66 characters:
"Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)" from Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1971 is just shy of the record for the longest title for a #1 song.
3. 62 characters:
"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas is third in the Rock Era for longest title by a #1 song.
4. 55 characters:
"Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" by Diana Ross was a #1 smash in 1976.
5. 46 characters:
"You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)" was a #1 smash for Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. in 1976.
"Medley: *Intro 'Venus'-Sugar Sugar-No Reply-I'll Be Back-Drive My Car-Do You Want to Know a Secret-We Can Work It Out-I Should Have Known Better-Nowhere Man-You're Going to Lose That Girl*-Stars on 45" by Stars On 45 went to #1 in 1981.
2. 66 characters:
"Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)" from Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1971 is just shy of the record for the longest title for a #1 song.
3. 62 characters:
"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas is third in the Rock Era for longest title by a #1 song.
4. 55 characters:
"Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" by Diana Ross was a #1 smash in 1976.
5. 46 characters:
"You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)" was a #1 smash for Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. in 1976.
Longest Song Titles of Songs to Reach the Top 40:
1. 206 characters:
"Medley: *Intro 'Venus'-Sugar Sugar-No Reply-I'll Be Back-Drive My Car-Do You Want to Know a Secret-We Can Work It Out-I Should Have Known Better-Nowhere Man-You're Going to Lose That Girl*-Stars on 45" by Stars On 45
2. 103 characters:
"Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills" from Ray Stevens.
3. 76 characters:
"I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I'll Get It Myself)" by James Brown reached #20 in 1967.
4. 66 characters:
"Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)" from Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1971 is second for the longest title for a #1 song.
5. 65 characters:
"Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor (On The Bedpost Over Night)" by Lonnie Donegan was a #5 hit in 1961.
6. 63 characters:
"Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" climbed to #38 in 1994 for Meat Loaf.
7. 62 characters:
"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas is third in the Rock Era for longest title by a #1 song.
8. (tie) 60 characters:
"From The Candy Store On The Corner To The Chapel On The Hill" by Tony Bennett reached #11 in 1956.
"(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" by Ronnie Dyson peaked at #8 in 1970.
"(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go" by Curtis Mayfield reached #29 in 1971.
"(Sartorial Eloquence) Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?" by Elton John peaked at #39 in 1980.
"Super-cali-fragil-istic-exi-alli-docious" by Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke, at 40 characters, is the Rock Era record holder for the longest one-word title to make the Top 100, with "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" (#74 in 1994) by OutkKast second.
As an aside, these are some of the other longest titles. Of course, a child of five can write a song with a long song title--the trick is to get people to like the song... (Additionally, most of these were not released on a 45.)
"I've Got Those "Wake Up, Seven-Thirty - Wash Your Ears They're Dirty - Eat Your Eggs And Oatmeal - Rush to School" Blues"-- Jimmy Boyd
"Talking Green Beret New Super Yellow Hydraulic Banana Teeny Bopper Blues"--Jaime Brockett
"But What About The Noise Of Crumpling Paper Which He Used To Do In Order To Paint The Series Of 'Papiers Froisses' Or Tearing Up Paper To Make 'Papiers Dechires'? Arp Was Stimulated By Water (Sea, Lake And Flowing Waters Like Rivers), Forests"--John Cage
"From Where I Stood I Could See The Shape That Once Was Formless Take On The Characteristics Of A Human Being. Who Are You?, I Gasped. Do You Not Know Me?, He Replied. I Was Once A Very Powerful Man. (A King)"--Jad Fair
To Reveal Yet Another Face. This One Even More Frightening Than The One Before. Immediately I Jumped From My Chair and Ran Toward the Door. I Now Knew
"To Reveal Yet Another Face. This One Even More Frightening Than The One Before. Immediately I Jumped From My Chair And Ran Toward The Door. I Now Knew What I Needed To. Unfortunately...So Did He"--Jad Fair
"I'm a Cranky Old Yank in a Clanky Old Tank on the Streets of Yokohama with my Honolulu Mama Doin' Those Beat-on, Beat-o Flat-On-My-Seat-on, Hirohito Blues"--Hoagy Carmichael
"You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (Even Take The Dog For A Walk, Mend A Fuse, Fold Away The Ironing Board, Or Any Other Domestic Short Comings)"--Faces
"Track Made By Setting Each 16 Bit Value In The Pcm Data Of A Wav File From The Maximum Value = +32767 To Its Minimum = -32768 And Setting Successive Values By Intervals Of +/-100"--Jliat
"Hitler, Being Punished for Obvious Reasons, is Forced to Spend Eternity Plagued by an Intense Unrelenting Physical and Emotional Fatigue That is Further Compounded by an Innumerable Multitude of Obnoxious Grandchildren Who are Constantly Present and Who Irritate Him to Such an Extreme That Not the Slightest Degree of Rest is Attainable"--Of Montreal
Pink Floyd - "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict"
"When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around" -- the Police
"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" -- Primitive Love Gods
"The Sad But True Story Of Ray Mingus, The Lumberjack Of Bulk Rock City, And His Never Slacking Stribe In Exploiting The So Far Undiscovered Areas Of The Intention To Bodily Intercourse From The Opposite Species Of His Kind..."--Rednex
"A Desultory Phillipic (or How I Was Robert Macnamara'd into Submission)"--Simon & Garfunkel
"The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire Civilization And Still Feel Good About Yourself In The Morning, Or, We Apologize For The Inconvenience But You're Going To Have To Leave Now, Or, "I Have Fought The Big Knives And Will Continue To Fight Them Until They Are Off Our Lands!"--Sufjan Stevens
"Long Live British Democracy Which Flourishes And Is Constantly Perfected Under The Immaculate Guidance Of The Great, Honorable, Generous And Correct Margaret Hilda Thatcher. She Is The Blue Sky In The Hearts Of All Nations. Our People Pay Homage And Bow In Deep Respect And Gratitude To Her, The Milk Of Human Kindness"--Test Dept.
"The Glorious Liberation of the People's Technocratic Republic of Vinnland by the Combined Forces of the United Territories of Europa"--Type O Negative
"You Got to Get Through What You've Got to Go Through to Get What You Want, But You Got to Know What You Want to Get Through What You Got to Go Through"--the Wildhearts
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