18 of the funniest songs in music history (2024)

Whether unintentionally funny or raucous on purpose, there are plenty of songs across the genres that will inspire a chuckle or two. Considering that music tackles pretty much every human emotion, it's perhaps not a surprise that comedy also makes plenty of appearances.

Flip through the slideshow below for 18 of music's funniest tunes. From Shaggy's cheating anthem "It Wasn't Me" to Jeannie C. Riley's snarky "Harper Valley P.T.A.," these songs are packed with humor.

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Chumbawumba is a funny enough band name, but the British group's chart-topping hit "Tubthumping" is also worth a laugh or two. It's a party song, one you sing at the top of your lungs on a drunken night out.

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A joke written by comedian Eddie Murphy is the genesis for this 2000 smash from reggae artist Shaggy. It's a tongue-in-cheek song about lying after you've been caught cheating, and is packed with tons of absurd scenarios that will definitely inspire a chuckle.

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Sure, this is a song about murdering an abusive man and throwing his body in a lake, but somehow, The Chicks managed make it one hell of a good time. The humor factor is boosted by the song's goofy music video, which starred Jane Krakowski and Dennis Franz.

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The uncensored title of Cee-Lo Green's is decidedly more explicity than "forget," but the G-rated version of this song still totally gets the point across with a little humor. It clearly resonated with fans, too, earning a No. 2 spot on the Billboard 100 chart.

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A little juvenile and ridiculously catchy, it's hard not to giggle when you hear the tongue-in-cheek, sneakily progressive lyrics in Europop act Aqua's biggest hit in the United States.

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At the height of the pop-punk craze in 2003, Fountains of Wayne made it totally okay to pine after your friend's hot mom. In the music video, supermodel Rachel Hunter starred as the titular character, and of course, hijinks ensued.

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"Margaritaville" is actually a pretty sad song, but there's no denying that the series of unfortunate events that befalls its protagonist (blew out his flip-flop, lost his shaker of salt) is pretty darn funny.

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Definitely not a tune for the kids, "The Bad Touch" was everywhere in 2003. And considering that it appears on an album titled "Hooray For Boobies," it's perhaps not surprising that it's positively replete with goofy sex jokes.

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What began as a satire of rap's obsession with wealth became a smash hit when comedy trio The Lonely Island teamed up with rapper T-Pain on "I'm On A Boat." It's silly and absurd, but still made its way to the Billboard 100 chart after it was released in 2009.

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Even if you don't think the lyrics of this 1986 hit from The Bangles are all that humorous, the dance that accompanies the song (and features prominently in the music video) is definitely an icon of dorky humor.

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Maybe it's just because 24 years have passed since the Baha Men took over the airwaves with "Who Let The Dogs Out" in 2000, but this song about a bunch of party boys who get lambasted for their "dog" behavior will induce a laugh (and a cringe!) or two.

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Written by legendary humorist and songwriter Shel Silverstein, "A Boy Named Sue" is a pretty straightforward story about a boy with a deadbeat dad and a seriously unfortunate name. When the story finally hits its climax and the boy is able to confront his father, don't be surprised if the laughs soon follow.

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The lyrics of "Yakety Yak," recorded in 1958 by The Coasters, will probably feel familiar to any parent who's tired of arguing with their kid about doing the darn chores.

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It's darkly comedic to be sure, but Wanda Jackson's "Big Iron Skillet" is a decidedly funny tune about a woman who's fed up with her man's no-good, philandering behavior and decides to whomp him over the head with the titular cooking implement.

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It's hard to believe that, as its title would indicate, "Tribute" is merely an ode to the greatest song in the world, not the actual greatest song in the world. Combining the comedic and musical stylings of Kyle Gass and Jack Black, "Tribute" is goofy and ridiculous, yet still manages to rock hard.

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It was true that, in 1972 when "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" was released, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show had not yet been featured in the iconic rock magazine, and they were clearly a little salty about it. And so they enlisted Shel Silverstein, famed humorist and songwriter, to write what may be the most legendary, and tongue-in-cheek, complaint song.

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Even if just for the "oh my God, Becky" intro and all the innuendo, Sir Mix-A-Lot's 1992 tribute to bountiful derrieres is definitely one of music's most obviously funny tunes.

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"Harper Valley P.T.A." is a rare song that's got a good-enough — and funny-enough — story to be turned into a feature film. Told from the perspective of a young girl, it's a scathing takedown of prudish and judgmental small-town politics that will definitely make you chuckle.