1
Africa
A 1982 soft-rock single by American band Toto, written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, featuring layered synthesizers and an evocative chorus about longing.
Looking for 3-syllable songs? Here are 42 songs that fit — each linked to a full profile.
Syllables are counted across the whole name (multi-word names sum). "Apple" is 2 syllables; "Macaroni and Cheese" is 6.
Table of contents
List of 3-syllable Songs
2
Bad Romance
A 2009 electropop single by Lady Gaga, co-written with RedOne, built on a hooked vocal refrain and a heavily art-directed music video.
3
Billie Jean
A 1982 Michael Jackson single built on a distinctive bass riff, addressing a fan who claimed he had fathered her child, and a landmark in pop dance production.
4
Born to Run
A 1975 Bruce Springsteen single layered with dense Phil Spector-influenced production, depicting young lovers planning to escape a dead-end town.
5
Closing Time
A 1998 alternative rock single by Semisonic, written by Dan Wilson, ostensibly about a closing bar but partly inspired by impending parenthood.
6
Day Tripper
A 1965 Beatles single built on a riff by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, released as a double A-side with "We Can Work It Out."
7
Firework
A 2010 pop single by Katy Perry, an empowerment-themed dance-pop song built on a kick-drum-driven chorus and Perry's belted vocal lines.
8
Get Lucky
A 2013 disco-funk revival single by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, built on a sustained four-chord progression and live guitar.
9
Good Riddance
A 1997 acoustic ballad by Green Day, also known as "Time of Your Life," written by Billie Joe Armstrong about a former girlfriend.
10
Imagine
A 1971 John Lennon ballad with piano and string arrangement, asking listeners to consider a world without borders, possessions, or religious divisions.
11
In the End
A 2001 Linkin Park single, combining Mike Shinoda's hip-hop verses with Chester Bennington's sung chorus over a piano-led arrangement and rock instrumentation.
12
Jailhouse Rock
A 1957 Elvis Presley single written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the film of the same name, opening with a famous repeated guitar punctuation.
13
Jeremy
A 1991 Pearl Jam single inspired by the real-life suicide of a 15-year-old Texas student in front of his classmates, with a music video that received heavy MTV play.
14
Let It Be
A 1970 Beatles single written by Paul McCartney, inspired by a dream about his mother, with a gospel-influenced piano arrangement and a closing guitar solo.
15
Lithium
A 1992 Nirvana single from "Nevermind," its verses moving quietly against loud chorus crashes, a defining structural pattern of early 1990s alternative rock.
16
Lose Yourself
A 2002 Eminem single from the soundtrack of the film "8 Mile," with a piano motif and Eminem's stark rap verses about seizing one opportunity.
17
Mr. Brightside
A 2004 single by The Killers, an indie-rock breakthrough about jealousy and an imagined infidelity, with a sustained eighth-note guitar pattern by Dave Keuning.
18
Nine to Five
A 1980 Dolly Parton single written for the film of the same name, a country-pop song about office workers featuring typewriter sound effects.
19
Old Town Road
A 2018 country-trap single by Lil Nas X, built on a sample of a Nine Inch Nails instrumental, that became the longest-running Billboard Hot 100 number one.
20
Only You
A 1982 single by British electronic duo Yazoo, written by Vince Clarke, with Alison Moyet's soul-influenced vocal over a synthesizer arrangement.
21
Paint It Black
A 1966 Rolling Stones single in a minor key, with a sitar part by Brian Jones, opening with a tom and acoustic-guitar groove unusual in pop singles of its era.
22
Paper Planes
A 2007 alternative hip-hop single by M.I.A., built on a sample of The Clash's "Straight to Hell" and a chorus interrupted by gunshot sound effects.
23
Pretty Hurts
A 2013 Beyonce track from her self-titled visual album, with verses about beauty competition pressures and a music video set at a fictional pageant.
24
Pumped Up Kicks
A 2010 indie pop single by Foster the People with a whistle-driven hook, addressing a troubled narrator with implied violent thoughts in upbeat sound.
25
Purple Rain
A 1984 Prince single, the title track of his sixth album and the accompanying film, building over eight minutes through ballad and extended guitar solo sections.
26
Quiet Storm
A 1975 Smokey Robinson song that gave its name to a U.S. R&B radio programming format featuring smooth, slow soul and jazz-influenced ballads.
27
Rock with You
A 1979 Michael Jackson single from "Off the Wall," produced by Quincy Jones, with a smooth disco-funk arrangement and Jackson's tightly phrased lead vocal.
28
Shape of You
A 2017 Ed Sheeran single, a dancehall-influenced pop track that topped charts in over forty countries and broke streaming records for its era.
29
Stand by Me
A 1961 soul single by Ben E. King, drawing on a gospel hymn, with a sustained walking bass line and Latin-influenced percussion.
30
Take On Me
A 1985 synth-pop single by Norwegian band a-ha, featuring a distinctive synthesizer hook by Magne Furuholmen and Morten Harket's high falsetto chorus.
31
Tom's Diner
A 1987 a cappella Suzanne Vega song remixed in 1990 by DNA into a club hit, and later used as the audio test signal for the development of the MP3 codec.
32
Umbrella
A 2007 Rihanna single featuring Jay-Z, with a "ella ella" chorus refrain that became one of the most recognizable pop phrases of its era.
33
Uptown Funk
A 2014 funk-influenced single by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, built on horn arrangements and a chord pattern referencing 1980s Minneapolis funk.
34
Uptown Girl
A 1983 Billy Joel single written about the woman who became his second wife, model Christie Brinkley, in a doo-wop style with a Frankie Valli vocal reference.
35
Wake Me Up
A 2013 single by Swedish DJ Avicii featuring vocals by Aloe Blacc, combining country guitar with electronic dance production for a folktronica chart success.
36
Waterloo
A 1974 ABBA single that won the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden, becoming the band's international breakthrough.
37
What's Going On
A 1971 Marvin Gaye single from his concept album of the same name, addressing the Vietnam War, civil rights, and the conditions of urban America.
38
Wicked Game
A 1989 Chris Isaak rock single, a slow-burning track with reverb-heavy guitar that became widely known after featuring in David Lynch's 1990 film "Wild at Heart."
39
Wonderwall
A 1995 Oasis single written by Noel Gallagher, with an open-tuned acoustic guitar pattern and Liam Gallagher's lead vocal, becoming the band's signature track.
40
Xanadu
A 1980 single by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra, the title track to the 1980 film of the same name, a roller-skating disco-pop fantasy.
41
Yesterday
A 1965 Beatles single composed by Paul McCartney as a melody he dreamed, recorded with a string quartet arrangement and McCartney as the sole performing Beatle.
42
Zorba's Dance
A 1964 instrumental piece by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, written for the film "Zorba the Greek" and adapted from a traditional Cretan dance form.
About 3-syllable songs
That's our current list of songs pronounced in 3 syllables. Want to combine with a starting letter? Try 3-syllable songs that start with A.