The AMBQ Playlist

This list of 100+ songs that have a question as the title has long been one of the top three visited pages on this website.

When I was writing A More Beautiful Question, or, more accurately when I was procrastinating from writing the book, I began compiling the below list of songs that have questions in the title AND that I like (for the most part). Then four years later, I once again turned to this playlist while researching and writing my follow-up book, The Book of Beautiful Questions.

Judging by my Google analytics, close to 1 million folks around the world have also enjoyed this playlist over the years—in fact, it’s long been one of the top three visited pages on this website.

This list does not include the many, many songs that may not have a question title but do feature questions prominently in the lyrics. Maybe that’ll be a project for the future.

Thanks to all who’ve added to the playlist by sending me more great question song titles over the years. The original list of 50 has now doubled in size!

Enjoy!


My original annotated list

  • “What’s so funny ’bout Peace, Love & Understanding?” (Elvis Costello – personal favorite)
  • “Does anybody really know what time it is?”  (Chicago)
  • “Where have all the flowers gone?” (in honor of the man, Pete Seeger)
  • Moody Blues – these guys were big-time questioners – “Are you sitting comfortably?” & “Isn’t life strange?” (and the all-time great question song, “Question”—though technically, it doesn’t have a question title).
  • Creedence Clearwater – believe it or not, they did 2 question songs BOTH about rain!  “Who’ll stop the rain?” & “Have you ever seen the rain?”
  • Another on the same subject: “Can you stop the rain?” (Peabo Bryson)
  • “Should I stay or should I go?” (The Clash)
  • “What’s the frequency Kenneth?” (REM)
  • “What’s your name?” (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
  •  “Are you experienced?” (Jimi Hendrix)
  • “Who will save your soul?” (Jewell)
  • “How can you mend a broken heart?” & “How deep is your love?” (The Bee Gees)
  • “Have you seen your mother baby?” & “Doncha wanna live with me?” (The Rolling Stones)
  • “Tell me why?” (Neil Young)
  • “When will I be loved?” (Linda Ronstadt)
  • “What is life?” & “Isn’t it a pity?” (George Harrison)
  • “Where is the love?” (two different songs – Roberta Flack; Black Eyed Peas)
  • “Where did our love go?” & “Do you know where you’re going to?” (Diana Ross)
  • “Who let the dogs out?” (by who knows who, and who cares)
  • “Have you ever loved a woman?” (Eric Clapton)
  • “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” (Bryan Adams)
  • “Why does it hurt when I pee?” (Frank Zappa)
  • “Why do fools fall in love?” (Frankie Lymon)
  •  “Do you love me?” (two different songs – Dave Clark Five; Guster)
  • “Will you still love me tomorrow?” (The Shirelles)
  • “Do you feel like we do?” (Peter Frampton)
  • “Do you know what I mean?” (Lee Michaels)
  • “What’s goin’ on?” (Marvin Gaye)
  • “Can I get a witness?” (Marvin Gaye)
  • “Ain’t that peculiar?” (Marvin Gaye. Yes, he sang a lot of question songs!)
  • “How long has this been going on?” (Ace)
  • “How long has this been going on?” (different song by Ella Fitzgerald)
  • “War – (what is it good for?)” (Edwin Starr)
  • “Is she really going out with him?” (Joe Jackson)
  • “Where to now, St. Peter?” (Elton John)
  • “Where’s the orchestra?” (Billy Joel)
  • “Do you want to know a secret?” & “Why don’t we do it in the road?” (The Beatles)
  • “Why don’t you love me like you used to do?” (Hank Williams)
  • “Doesn’t anybody stay together anymore?” (Phil Collins)
  • “Isn’t she lovely?” (Stevie Wonder)
  • “Wouldn’t it be nice?” (Beach Boys)
  • “How will I know?” (Whitney Houston)
  • “How can I be sure?” (The Rascals)
  • “Who wrote the book of love?” (The Monotones)
  • Special question-songwriting honors to lyricist Hal David – “What’s It All About Alfie?” & “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” & “What’s New Pussycat?”
Additions to the original list (from both readers & me)
    • “Are you ready?” (Pacific Gas & Electric)
    • “Are you ready for it?” (Taylor Swift)
    • “Who do you love?” (Bo Diddley / also George Thorogood & The Destroyers)
    • “Where is my mind?” (Pixies)
    • “Where do broken hearts go?” (Whitney Houston)
    • “Where’s the playground, Susie?” (Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell)
    • “Who’ll be the next in line?” (The Kinks)
    • “Who’s sorry now?” (Connie Francis)
    • “When can I see you again?” (Owl City)
    • “When will I see you again?” (The Three Degrees)
    • “Is this it?” (The Strokes)
    • “Why?” (Annie Lennox)
    • “How soon is now?” (The Smiths)
    • “Are you gonna go my way?” (Lenny Kravitz)
    • “Is that all there is?” (Peggy Lee)
    • “What becomes of the broken-hearted?” (Jimmy Ruffin)
    • “Wouldn’t it be good?” (Nik Kershaw)
    • “Are you lonesome tonight?” (Elvis Presley)
    • “Now that we’ve found love (what are we going to do with it?)” (Heavy D & The Boyz)
    • “Who knows where the time goes?” (Fairport Convention)
    • “Do you believe in magic?” (The Lovin’ Spoonful)
    • “Who’s zoomin’ who?” (Aretha Franklin)
    • “Could you be loved?” (Bob Marley)
    • “Am I wrong?” (Nico & Vinz)
    • “Why does love got to be so sad?” (Derek & The Dominos)
    • “Is you is or is you ain’t my baby?” (Louis Jordan)
    • “Why can’t we be friends?” (War)
    • “Do you wanna dance?” (Bobby Freeman/Beach Boys)
    • “Do you really want to hurt me?” (Culture Club)
    • “Where do the children play?” (Cat Stevens)
    • “What’s love got to do with it?” (Tina Turner)
    • “Who wants to live forever?” (Queen)
    • “(Can anybody find me) somebody to love?” (Queen)
    • “Did you ever have to make up your mind?” (The Lovin’ Spoonful)
    • “Why Part2” (Collective Soul)
    • “Why can’t this be love?” (Van Halen)
    • “Why Georgia why?” (John Mayer)
    • “Is that alright?” (Lady Gaga)
    • “How long must I wait for you?” (Louis Jordan)
    • “What have you done for me lately?” (Janet Jackson)
    • “Can you feel the love tonight?” (Elton John)
    • “Why don’t we get drunk?” (Jimmy Buffett)
    • “Who are you?” (The Who)
    • “(Is there)…Life on Mars?” (David Bowie)
    • “How much is that doggie in the window?” (Patti Page)
    • “Have you ever seen a dream walking?” (Bing Crosby)
    • “Does your chewing gum lose its flavor (on the bedpost overnight)?” (Lonnie Donegan)
    • “Does your mother know?” (ABBA)
    • “Who do you think you are?” (Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods)
    • “How do you want it?” (Tupac Shakur)
  • Songbook Classics list (submitted by Joanna G.)
    • “What kind of fool am I?” (Anthony Newley)
    • “How deep is the ocean?” (Irving Berlin)
    • “What is this thing called love?” (Cole Porter)
    • “Why was I born?” (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein)
    • “Have you met Miss Jones?” (Rodgers & Hart)
    • “Am I blue?” (Harry Akst, Grant Clarke)
    • “What’ll I do? (Irving Berlin)
    • “How high the moon?” (Les Paul, Mary Ford)
    • “Why did I choose you?” (Barbra Streisand)
  • Holiday Question songs
    • “Why can’t every day be Christmas?” (Paul Tripp)
    • “Is that you, Santa Claus?” (Louis Armstrong)
    • “Do they know it’s Christmas? (Bob Geldof/Band Aid)
    • “Do you hear what I hear?” (Bing Crosby)
    • “Ma Nishtana: Why is this night different from all other nights?” (from The Talmud / song composed by Ephraim Abileah)

Have additions to the list? Send them to me via my Contact page.