Another One Rides the Bus

"Another One Rides the Bus"
Single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
from the album Another One Rides The Bus and "Weird Al" Yankovic
B-side "Gotta Boogie"
Released November 28, 1981 and March 1982
Format 7" single
Recorded September 14, 1980
Genre Comedy, polka
Length 2:36
Label TK Records
Producer(s) "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic singles chronology
"My Bologna"
(1979)		 "Another One Rides the Bus"
(1981/1982)		 "Ricky"
(1983)
"Weird Al" Yankovic track listing
  1. "Ricky"
  2. "Gotta Boogie"
  3. "I Love Rocky Road"
  4. "Buckingham Blues"
  5. "Happy Birthday"
  6. "Stop Draggin' My Car Around"
  7. "My Bologna"
  8. "The Check's in the Mail"
  9. "Another One Rides the Bus"
  10. "I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead"
  11. "Such a Groovy Guy"
  12. "Mr. Frump in the Iron Lung"

"Another One Rides the Bus" is a 1981 parody of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It originally was released on Yankovic's first EP and was later re-released on his debut album. It is also the last single release released by TK Records, which shut down the same year.

Track listing

  1. "Another One Rides the Bus" – 2:36
  2. "Gotta Boogie" – 2:21

Lyrics

The lyrics describe a person riding in a crowded public bus. In the first verse, the speaker in the song is riding in a crammed bus, then the bus stops to pick up more people. The second verse talks about various things touching the person, such as a suitcase and an elbow, and about how various personal items are missing, like a contact lens and a wallet. In the third verse, the speaker is trying to get fresh air but the fan is broken and the window does not open. He says that he "hasn't been in a crowd like this since I went to see The Who." He laments about not getting off the bus while he still could.

Development and writing

Yankovic wrote the parody and debuted it live on the Dr. Demento Show. While practicing the song outside the sound booth, Yankovic met Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz who told Yankovic he was a drummer. Schwartz agreed to drum on Yankovic's accordion case to keep a steady beat to the song. "Another One Rides the Bus" became so popular that it got Yankovic his first appearance on a TV show, The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder. On the show, Yankovic played his accordion and Schwartz banged on Yankovic's accordion case and played the bulb horns.

Yankovic desired to release the song on a record label, although no label wanted to sign him at the time. Thus, Yankovic released the Another One Rides the Bus EP on his own label, Placebo. After the song started to become an underground hit, TK Records agreed to sign Yankovic and release the "Another One Rides the Bus" as a single. The rush-released 45 charted on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles, but TK abruptly closed due to financial troubles and the single fell off the charts.[1]

Music video

Although no official music video was created for this single, The Tomorrow Show performance has been included on the "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection DVD as a bonus feature.

Chart positions

Chart (1981) Peak
Position
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles 4

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hansen, Barret (1994). Permanent Record: Al in the Box. Dr. Demento (liner). "Weird Al" Yankovic (California, USA: Scotti Brothers Records).
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