History Main / WaxingLyrical

-->'''Monica Grady''': I think they're about [[Music/JeffWaynesMusicalVersionOfWarOfTheWorlds a million to one]].

* The ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'' has some fun with the lyrics of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town": Quoth the Raven tells Susan "You'd better watch out"; Death, in his role as Hogfather, is able to ensure some kids see him, because [[AC:I know when they are peeping]], and he asks if checking the list twice is sufficient. In the same book, the magical and dizzyingly fast sleigh ride prompts Albert to mutter sarcastically "Oh, what fun."

* In TheBookOfAwesome, the final two paragraphs of "Taking your shoes off on a long car ride" match the lyrics of Buddy Holly's Rollercoaster.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

--->'''Fry:''' How big's the honeycomb?
--->'''Hermes:''' Honeycomb's big, yeah, yeah, yeah.
--->'''Bender:''' It's not small?

* In ''VideoGame/TheSimsMedieval'' if you get the "Ghost Ship" chance event one of the choices is described with "[[Film/{{Ghostbusters}} I ain't afraid of no ghost!]]"

* The point of "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby", which was perfectly covered by Music/TheBeatles.

** In [[WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad Teen Girl Squad Issue #14]], Quarterman quotes some lines from "[[Film/HighSchoolMusical What I've Been Looking For]]" when he tells The Ugly One, "All this time I was looking around, and you weren't right there in front of me. But I realized... when I was looking around... that you were right there in front of me... all this time...".

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* In the ''Series/{{Selfie}}'' episode "With a Little Yelp From My Friends", Henry encourages Eliza to make friends with co-worker Joan, telling her to do her research. He unknowingly (probably, given his age) quotes a Biggie song, which Eliza enthusiastically finishes for him.
-->'''Henry''': Do your research. If you want to connect with Joan, find out what her interests are.\\
'''Eliza''': Who she be with?!
** In "Imperfect Harmony", Freddy and Henry are talking about Eliza's attitude about relationships at a karaoke party and a freshly-dumped Freddy says "Its like the second she knows you care about, watch out boy. She'll chew you up. She's a maneater. *Beat* I think I might do 'Maneater'"
* One of the many "Sorkinisms" Creator/AaronSorkin uses as RunningGag, involves a character going on a tangent about themselves and their credentials--inevitably topping the mini-monologue off with [[Theatre/HMSPinafore "And I'm never-never sick at sea!"]]
** [[CloudCuckoolander Margaret]] once lapses into this when she's excited about musical guest [[spoiler:James Taylor]] coming to the White House.
-->'''Margaret:''' I've always loved "Jelly Man Kelly". He's the man who likes jelly the most. He likes it on toast. Then there's Jenny Mulhenny...
* In the episode "To Kill a Chupacabraj", of ''Series/{{Workaholics}}'' Ders addresses the people waiting in small-claims court, initially mistaking them for the jury.
-->'''Ders:''' I have but one word: justice. Just-us. Its just us on this planet, Earth. We're alone, so we need to trust each other. Trust us. Rhymes, so you know that its real. Which brings me to the question, [[Music/TheKillers are we human, or are we dancers?]]"
* An ad for the TV show ''Bridezillas'' had the brides and their families getting ready for a fight and the family starts singing the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Music/TwistedSister.
* From ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous'':
-->'''Eddy:''' Life is a mystery, we all must stand alone. I hear him call my name and it feels like home.\\
'''Saffy:''' That's lovely, who wrote it?\\
'''Eddy:''' Music/{{Madonna}}, darling.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS4E1TheSmugglers The Smugglers]]", we get this nursery rhymed exchange:
--->'''Ben''': Polly?\\
'''Polly''': Yes?\\
'''Ben''': Put the kettle on.
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS10E1TheThreeDoctors The Three Doctors]]", The Doctor (Creator/JonPertwee) tries to explain the presence of [[TheNthDoctor his past self]] (Creator/PatrickTroughton) to Jo:
--->'''Third Doctor''': It's really very simple, Jo. I am he, and he is me.\\
'''Jo''': [[Music/TheBeatles And we are all together, goo goo kachoo?]]\\
'''Third Doctor''': What?\\
'''Jo''': It's a song by the Beatles.\\
'''Second Doctor''': [[CloudCuckooLander Oh, really? How does it go?]]
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E5TheBrainOfMorbius The Brain of Morbius]]" the Doctor is offered wine by the Sisterhood of Karn and rejects it, saying "I had a little drink about an hour ago". It's innocuous enough that it's easy not to notice it's a line from "Show Me The Way To Go Home", but if you [[GeniusBonus notice]] you might [[{{Foreshadowing}} realise]] the next line of the song is "and it went right to [[LivingMacGuffin my]] [[OrganTheft head]]"...)
** "[[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion The Christmas Invasion]]":
--->"[[PatrickStewartSpeech Look at these human beings! Consider their potential!]] From the day they arrive on the planet, and blinking step into the sun... there's more to see than can ever be seen! More to do than -- no, hold on... sorry, that's ''Disney/TheLionKing'', but... The point still stands!"
** And from "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E7TheIdiotsLantern The Idiot's Lantern]]":
-->'''Tommy:''' It's too late.\\
'''The Doctor:''' It's never too late, as a wise person once said. ''(to himself)'' Music/{{Kylie|Minogue}}, I think...
** And from the end of "Hide":
--->'''The Doctor:''' [[Music/ColePorter Birds do it. Bees do it. Even educated]] ''[[Music/ColePorter fleas]]'' [[Music/ColePorter do it.]]
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'':
-->'''JD:''' Just tell her about it. Tell her everything you feel.\\
'''Dr Cox:''' ...Should I give her every reason to accept that I'm for real?\\
'''JD:''' First of all, no-one understands relationships like Billy Joel, okay? UptownGirl got me through high school.
** In another episode Turk starts quoting the "Safety Dance" when Carla asks how he would react if their child were to take up dance classes and be mocked by his friends for it. When she tells Elliot, Elliot chastises her for forgetting the time she told Turk the Commissar was in town.
** Another classic Turk Moment:
--->'''Dr Cox:''' Name a test, any test that you would use to check for Lupus.\\
'''Turk:''' Lupus? ...Does she live on the second floor? Does she live upstairs from you? I think you have seen her before.
** Later, JD consoled a woman whose husband was dying with the theme from Facts of Life.
** In another example of a song being disguised as a different type of song; at the Janitor's wedding in the final season, Ted sings a beautiful acoustic love song which turns out to be "Hey Ya".
* ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun'':
** In one episode where Dick got called up for jury duty and was eager to go, Nina and Mary told him not to bother. Dick made a point about how he has a sense of duty and can be relied upon:
--->'''Dick:''' Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, all you've got to do is call, and I'll be there.\\
'''Nina:''' ''(dismissively)'' Yeah, yeah, yeah...\\
'''Dick:''' Yes I will.
** Another episode had someone asking Dick what he wanted, to which he [[LargeHam very hammily]] shot back, in dead seriousness: "Fame! I want to live forever -- light up the sky like a flame!"
** Another time, after a failed bank robbery which had Sally dressed like a biker, Tommy dressed like a sailor, and Harry dressed like a Native American, they greeted Don (in uniform) and Dick (dressed like a construction worker, since he had just gotten back from a gay bar). Everybody keeps saying "Hey!" back and forth to the tune of "Macho Man".
* Either Del or Rodney on ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses'', trying to be inspiring: "You've got to have a dream. If you don't have a dream... how're you going to have a dream come true?" (The other one just gives him a look.)
** Gordon Brittas gets the same line in ''Series/TheBrittasEmpire''.
* ''Series/NewsRadio'': Every year when the annual bonuses are delivered, Matthew gets no bonus, known around the station as "The Shaft". Naturally, the guys tease him by reciting lyrics from "Theme from ''Film/{{Shaft}}''".
** Similarly, from [[CrowningMomentOfFunny the complaint box episode]]:
--->'''Dave''' ''(reading card from the box)'': Uh, "Who's the black private dick, a sex machine to all the chicks"?\\
'''Everyone''': ''Shaft!''\\
'''Bill''': I thought we'd get a kick out of that.
* On ''Series/NotOnlyButAlso'' a spoof of ''Theatre/AManForAllSeasons'' had a scene with Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon delivering dialogue consisting entirely of lyrics from popular songs of the day.
* An occasional joke on ''Series/NotGoingOut''.
-->'''Barbara:''' Listen. When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother, what will I be? Will I be pretty? Will I be rich? Here's what she said to me.\\
'''Lee:''' I'm guessing it was a no.
** [''in an episode in which Tim and Lee have just played a gig of very unrock songs'']
--->'''Lucy:''' I don't think the crowd liked the Elaine Paige and Barabra Dixon number much.\\
'''Lee:''' Yeah... [[Theatre/{{Chess}} looking back I should have played it differently]].
* ''Series/{{House}}'' frequently quotes "You Can't Always Get What You Want". Most notably in the first episode:
-->'''House:''' As the great philosopher [[Music/TheRollingStones Jagger]] said; You can't always get what you want.\\
[[ComebackTomorrow Later]]\\
'''Cuddy:''' By the way, I checked out that philosopher you mentioned and it turns out that you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you'll get what you need.
** It should be noted that "You Can't Always Get What You Want" eventually became the theme song for House's vicodin addiction.
* ''Series/WeirdScience'' had an episode where Lisa the genie fell in love with one of the guys and became a ClingyJealousGirl. He tells her "When you love someone, set them free", which causes Lisa to start deleting herself. Instantly his friend interrupts, saying "Don't listen to him! He's an idiot spouting bad song lyrics!"
* The season 3 finale of ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' has a number of characters [[spoiler:who turn out to be Cylons]] start mumbling the same bits of nonsensical poetry as a sign of their mental breakdown. Towards the end of the finale, the lines come together and are revealed to be [[spoiler:''All Along the Watchtower'']]. The effect of Season Three's finale's reveal was weakened by the fact that the song is relatively well known, [[spoiler:since the original was by Music/BobDylan, achieved huge popularity as a cover by Music/JimiHendrix, and was popular again in the early Noughties following another cover by Dave Matthews Band (as well as covers by Music/NeilYoung, Ben Harper, Lenny Kravitz, and many, many others). "There must be some way out of here" and "I can't get no relief" may be relatively unnoticeable, but dialogue that includes "Said the Joker to the Thief," even out of context, raises a few eyebrows.]]
** [[spoiler:''All Along the Watchtower'']] became a kind of [[ArcWords significant]] {{Leitmotif}} for the [[spoiler:Final Five Cylons]] at the end of Season Three and throughout Season Four. The song actually becomes vitally important to the series overall: [[spoiler:Hera]] draws a series of dots which are revealed to be the notes to the song when [[spoiler:Kara]] remembers it as a song [[spoiler:her]] father used to play when [[spoiler:she]] was a child. [[spoiler:Kara]] also uses the line [[spoiler:"there must be some kind of way out of here"]] in the series finale, using the notes of the song as coordinates.
** According to the commentary, in the finale, when Adama asks [[spoiler:Kara]] where the coordinates have taken them, her reply was to have been [[spoiler:"Somewhere... [[TitleDrop all along the watchtower]].]] Luckily, [[spoiler:Katee Sackhoff]] recognized the {{narm}}iness of the line and refused.
* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d on ''Series/ThirtyRock'':
-->'''Jack''': ''[in total seriousness]'' I have an opportunity here, Lemon. A chance to go back to the past to [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong put things right that once went wrong]].\\
'''Liz''': That's the ''Series/QuantumLeap'' intro.
** In one episode after Liz's boyfriend Criss sells his hotdog van named "[[PunnyName Van Der Beek]]", he says "[[Series/DawsonsCreek I don't wanna wait for our lives to be over.]]" Part of the joke was that earlier in the episode Criss mentioned that he had never actually seen ''Series/DawsonsCreek''.
* In the third season of the Australian ''Series/ThankGodYoureHere'', Shaun Micallef, responding to the question "Have you ever been to London?" replies "I've been to London, I've been to Birmingham, I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me."
* The 2009 series of BBC documentary ''Springwatch'' was home to a bizarre series of these. Chris Packham had taken out a bet with a friend that he could slip the name of a [[Music/TheSmiths Smiths]] song into every episode. The last episode featured Kate Humble reporting that Bill Oddie had called to congratulate him on this feat, to which Chris deadpans to camera, "William, it was really nothing."
* Shows up on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'':
-->'''Old Sage-Type Guy''': My daughter, you will find that you can't always have what you want.\\
'''Servo''': But if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.
** Also this Beatles shout out:
--->'''Military officer''' (''on phone; suddenly cut off'') Hello? Hello?\\
'''Joel:''' I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!
** In one invention exchange, Joel demonstrated "Instant Karma". Dr. Forrester then taunted Joel and the 'bots by announcing that their experiment this week was the first of the Steve Reeves' ''Film/{{Hercules 1958}}'' movies.
--->'''Dr. Forrester''': We all shine on.
* In ''Literature/TheStand'', Randall Flagg introduces himself, "[[Music/TheRollingStones Pleased to meet you, Lloyd. Hope you guess my name]]," to indicate that he is more or less [[SympathyForTheDevil the devil]].
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'':
** An episode has Ross taking a phone message for Rachel from a guy named Casey. While on the phone, he asks if Casey is spelled "like '[[Literature/CaseyAtTheBat -at the bat]]' or '-and the Sunshine Band'?" After he hangs up:
--->'''Ross''': Who's this Casey?\\
'''Phoebe''': Some guy she met at the movies.\\
'''Ross''': What does he want with her?\\
'''Chandler''': I'm guessing he wants to do a little dance...make a little love...and, basically, get down tonight.
** There's another time when Joey tries to stall answering the question "Why?"
--->'''Joey''': Because... because... because... because... because...\\
'''Chandler''': [[Film/TheWizardOfOz Because of the wonderful things he does?]]
** And yet another Chandler case, once Phoebe mistakenly cuts Monica's hair similar to Creator/DudleyMoore:
-->'''Chandler''': Come on, Monica, things could be worse. [[Film/{{Arthur}} You could get caught between the moon and New York City. I know it's crazy, but it's true.]]
** Years later, as Creator/JimmyKimmel got all three leading ladies together, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4H2JHp5XOQ#t=355s at a certain point the dialogue gets]]... [[ThemeSong familiar.]]
--->'''Jimmy''': It's like we always say: "So no one told you life was gonna be this way." [[AudienceParticipationSong *claps*]]
* Used by ''Series/MockTheWeek'' when Diana Ross was given custody of Music/MichaelJackson's children:
-->'''Hugh:''' Do you think if they're naughty, she can just tell them "Stop! In the name of love!"
* A round on ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' involves the participants holding a conversation purely in song titles.
-->'''Ryan''': Oklahoma.\\
'''Colin''': Theme From ''Film/{{Titanic|1997}}''.
* In the 3D episode of ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', in trying to think fast, Chuck calls himself a drummer and then says: "I'm the little drummer boy... Come they told me... ba... rumpa... bombom..."
* One episode of ''Series/TheGoodies'' started off by quoting the White Rabbit's song from Disney's version of ''Disney/AliceInWonderland''. Bill and Graeme are sitting around the office:
-->'''Graeme''': He's late.\\
'''Tim''': ''(walking in)'' I'm late.\\
'''Bill''': For a very important date.\\
'''Graeme''': No time to say hello.\\
'''Tim''': ''(leaving)'' Goodbye.\\
'''Graeme and Bill''': ''(together)'' He's late, he's late, he's late, eeh eeh!
* In ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'':
** Will recites a few lines of the show's theme song in formal-sounding prose to a judge. "Your honour, in West Philadelphia born 'n' raised, on the playground was where I spent most of my days".
** Also when Will announces his marriage to Lisa; his Uncle Phil, Aunt Vivian and his mother ask how he manages to make a living.
-->'''Will:''' We're survive on love.\\
'''Vy:''' What's love gotta do with it?\\
'''[[ServileSnarker Geoffrey:]]''' ''(walking past them)'' [[Music/TinaTurner Gotta do, gotta do with it.]]
** In an early episode Will and his uncle get in an argument and end up quoting lyrics from Smith's early hit "Parents Just Don't Understand."
--->'''Will:''' You'll ruin my rep!\\
'''Uncle Phil:''' You're only sixteen, you don't have a "rep" yet!
* This was a favorite technique of the writers of ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow''. In one episode, the guys get drunk and Emily offers to make them coffee. One says, "I love coffee." A second adds, "I love tea." Then Mr. Carlin says, "I love the Java Jive, and it loves me." From another episode, Bob denies being afraid of death, saying, "I am strong, I am invincible …" at which point another character cuts him off with, "You are woman. Let's hear you roar."
** In a later episode, when Jerry, who was adopted, decides to seek out his birth mother, he comments, "Why I could be a duke, or an earl!" Bob adds, [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs "You could be the Duke of Earl."]]
* In a first season episode of ''Series/VeronicaMars'', "Lord of the Bling", Veronica explains her connection to a missing teenager with the words "We used to be friends...a long time ago." Immediately afterwards, the theme song starts playing - the opening line? "A long time ago, we used to be friends…" Also, in the second season episode "The Rapes of Graff", Veronica claims [[Music/JohnnyCash she once shot a man in Reno just to watch him die]].
** In ''Series/IZombie'', when Peyton returns, Liv introduces her with the same "We used to be friends" line. [[note]]Both shows were produced by Rob Thomas[[/note]]
* In the short-lived ''Pepper Dennis'', Pepper tries to advise a would-be RunawayBride with the lyrics to D.H.T's "Listen To Your Heart".
* In an episode of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' where Hiro Nakamura was put on trial by his own mind, he tried to defend his meddling with history by saying he had been '[[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong setting right what once went wrong]]'
--> '''[[EnemyWithin Mental image of Takezo Kensei]]:''' ''Objection, Your Honour: He's reciting the opening to Series/QuantumLeap!''
* Used in ''Series/MenBehavingBadly'' when Tony is persuading Gary he should get back together with Dorothy.
--> '''Tony''': She loves you, mate. [[Music/TheBeatles And with a love like that, you know you should be glad]].
* An episode of ''Series/HomeImprovement'' had Wilson dishing out some famous quotes about love. Tim responded with: "'Everybody... loves somebody sometimes.' Martin, comma, Dean."
** Another episode had Wilson musing, on the subject of Tim compromising with his wife, "You have to give a little, take a little..." Tim responds, sardonically, "Yeah, and let your poor heart break a little." Then, he realizes what the next line in the song is, and they figure it's not so bad an idea after all, as they sing together, "That's the story of, that's the story of love..."
* One episode of ''Series/WKRPInCincinnati'' has Herb recruiting staffers to sing a jingle for a funeral home client.
-->'''Herb''': Bailey...sing something.\\
'''Bailey''': Oh, I can't sing.\\
'''Herb''': Everyone can sing.\\
'''Venus''': Go on Bailey, sing. Sing a song.\\
'''Les''': Sing out loud, sing out strong.\\
'''Herb''': [[Series/SesameStreet Sing of]] [[Music/{{Carpenters}} good things, not---]]\\
'''Venus''': (Cutting him off) Herb!
* ''Series/{{Spaced}}'':
** In the famous PaintballEpisode.
--->'''Duane:''': You can't help who you fall in love with. Cause when you get that feeling...\\
'''Mike:''': It's like sexual healing.
** Also, when Daisy and Tim begin having an argument through cliches about the wisdom of Tim getting back with his girlfriend:
--->'''Tim''': I can read her like a book.\\
'''Daisy''': Never judge a book by its cover.\\
'''Tim''': He who dares, wins.\\
'''Daisy''': Look before you leap.\\
'''Tim''': Do ''you'' [[Music/{{Cher}} believe in life after love]]?\\
'''Daisy''': [''dismissive''] That's a song.\\
'''Tim''': Shit.
* The DVDCommentary for ''Series/{{Lost}}'', "[[Recap/LostS03E01ATaleOfTwoCities A Tale of Two Cities]]" (which is basically a producer and an actress cracking jokes - they even call it "[[ShoutOut our]] ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''"):
-->'''Elizabeth Mitchell''': Well, maybe, maybe the glass just started it. It was his impressive glass acting. It's kind of like a microwave in there, heating up... [laughs]\\
'''Damon Lindelof''': ...behind the glass. Juliet might, might as well walk over and just push the popcorn button, 'cause it's getting hot up in there.\\
'''Elizabeth Mitchell''':[laughing] So take off all your clothes. [Lindelof chuckles]
* [[Series/{{Newsnight}} Kirsty Wark's]] signature gag on ''Series/DeadRingers''; for example: "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they're like, 'It's better than yours'. Damn right it's better than yours. [[FilmAtEleven More on that story later.]]"
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** In the episode "Jus in Bello", Henriksen realizes he's been possessed and comments "I shot the sheriff." Dean, smiling, says back [[Music/BobMarley "But you didn't shoot the deputy."]]
** In "No Rest for the Wicked," Ruby says [[Music/PatBenatar "Hit me with your best shot, baby."]]
** And when Dean's being-Death-for-a-day, everyone he collects says something like 'But what does it all ''mean''?' At first he angsts about it, but after a while he gives up.
--->'''Heart Attack Guy''': But what does it all ''mean''?\\
'''Dean:''' ...Everything is dust in the wind.\\
''(pause)''\\
'''Heart Attack Guy:''' That's it? That's all you got? A Music/{{Kansas}} song?
* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete''. "Apocalypse Pete". A [[LargeHam particularly hammish]] crossing guard orders a speeding remote-control car to "Stop in the name of love". ItMakesSenseInContext.
* One episode of ''Series/{{Skins}}'' has Freddie meeting with a guidance counselor who reveres Music/MichaelJackson and gives lyrics from his songs as advice. Freddie catches on quickly enough; when asked [[WhatWouldXDo what would Michael say about him]], he suggests that he's "Bad" and should "Beat It". (Michael would actually tell him that he's "Gotta Be Startin' Somethin'" - not quite a Michael Jackson song (that was "''Wanna'' Be Startin' Somethin'"), but close enough.) And set up for a [[Funny/{{Skins}} Crowning Moment of Funny]] later when Freddie visits him again; he turns, stares at the ''Thriller'' cover for inspiration… and gets nothing. The guidance counselor is played by Will Young, who sung [[BetterByADifferentName one of the greatest Michael Jackson songs ever that wasn't actually a Michael Jackson song]] ("Your Game").
* ''Series/TheMiddleMan'':
** There's at least [[OncePerEpisode one conversation per episode]] between Wendy and Noser that consists entirely of song lyrics.
** At one point, Wendy uses "[[Music/BonJovi You give love a bad name]]" as a PreAsskickingOneLiner.
* In ''Series/{{Being Human|UK}}'', when George finds out that his dad has died, Annie tries to give a eulogy and ends up with the lyrics to [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Fight For This Love by]] Music/CherylCole.
* A running gag in ''Series/{{Miranda}}'' involves her inability to restrain herself from doing this, and she almost always ends up lapsing into singing the rest of the song in places like a job interview, psychiatrist's office and a funeral.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn5iKVB6g5U This old MTV promo]], with Creator/SteveBuscemi. All the way.
* On ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'', Mr. Feeny does this with a KC And The Sunshine Band song. Oddly, the joke is not the reference, but Mr. Feeny's deadpan delivery.
-->'''Mr. Feeny:''' Mr. Matthews I have no idea what you're talking about, and that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'':
** Quark, talking about the Dominion War, says, "War? What is it good for? You ask me, absolutely nothing."
** In the episode "[[{{Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E25InTheCards}} In the Cards]]", Jake and Nog had been collecting several things, including Dr. Bashir's teddy bear, for the senior staff in exchange for items they were giving to a man named Dr. Geiger. At one point Jake suspects that Kai Winn is up to something and plans to confront her about it, introducing Nog to the expression "beard the lion in its den." This leads to the following exchange:
-->'''Nog:''' Lions and Geigers and bears...\\
'''Jake:''' Oh, my.
* On an episode of ''Series/YesDear'', Jimmy and Christine are trying to write poems for each other. After several minutes of struggling, Jimmy starts reading his poem, only to find out that he accidentally wrote down lyrics to Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer". As it turns out, Christine wrote the exact same thing.
* Happens occasionally on ''Series/SpicksAndSpecks''. In one memorable example, Darlene Love started telling a story about the time she almost had sex with Tom Jones. Reginald D. Hunter chimed in "From what I hear, that's not unusual."
* In the ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'' episode "Over My Dead Body," a nearly carbon monoxide-poisoned Emily has a dream ([[OrWasItADream or does she?]]) that she's having a conversation with the late Alison; when Emily asks who "A" is, Alison - taking a line from the show's signature tune, The Pierces' "Secrets" - tells her that "Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead."
* In ''Series/TheCarolBurnettShow'''s parody of ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', Rat recites the lyrics to "Dixie" to express his desires to go back to a peaceful time before the Civil War. Sissy tells Rat that his speech sounds catchy, and that he should set it to music. Three more examples from the same sketch: early on, when Starlet meets an old suitor, she announces, "Why if it isn't Billy Joe [=McCalister=]! I thought you jumped off the Tallahatchee Bridge!" Later, when Starlet learns that a Yankee soldier is approaching Terra, she exclaims, "What the heck did you do, Melody? Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree?!" Brashley mentions that Rat had "stopped off at the Camptown races, and as you know, that track's five miles long. He's out there betting on a bob-tailed nag, and I put two bucks on the bay myself. Of course it only paid two-sixty to show, so, doo da, doo da..."
* ''Series/MorkAndMindy'', when Mork impersonated a priest, he offered this advice to a lady in church.
-->'''Mork''': You can't hurry love. You just have to wait. It don't come easy, it's a game of give and take.\\
'''Woman''': That's beautiful, Father. Psalms?\\
'''Mork''': Supremes.
* ''Series/{{Castle}}'', at the end of the episode "Last Call", Castle insists on sharing a bottle of expensive whiskey with Beckett, Captain Montgomery, Ryan and Esposito. When Beckett insists that she still has some paperwork to file, Castle says, "C'mon, Beckett, [[Music/BillyJoel It's nine o'clock on a Saturday]]...well, nine-fifteen." Castle, Ryan and Esposito start singing "Piano Man", and Beckett caves in and joins them on the second stanza ("He says 'Son can you play me a memory?'...").
* At the end of an episode of ''Series/GilligansIsland'', the Skipper, following yet another failed escape plan, laments in despair, "I get the feeling we're gonna be here for a long, ''long'' time," quoting part of the closing theme tune lyrics.
* Frequently happens on ''Series/TheMuppetShow''. Examples include:
-->'''Waldorf''': Wonderful!\\
'''Statler''': Marvelous!\\
'''Waldorf''': ''[[Film/FunnyFace That you should care for me]]''.
** In an episode of Veterinarian's Hospital, the crew works without a roof on a weatherman, who constantly takes their cues to sing songs.
--->'''Nurse Piggy''': Dr. Bob, it's getting worse; it's beginning to hail!\\
'''Dr. Bob''': Hail?\\
'''Weatherman''': ''The gang's all here!''
* ''Series/StorageWars'' has Barry quote Music/TheWho at one point when describing a locker. This is pretty in-character for him, so no one else comments on it.
* On ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'', Gee, trying to heal a rift between partners Pembleton and Bayliss, says, "All we are is dust in the wind." Pembleton replies, "Never figured you for a Music/{{Kansas}} fan."
* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'': In the sketch "The Mouse Problem" the "growing social problem of people wanting to be mice" is discussed. At a certain point the following conversation takes place which will go over the heads of most non-English speakers who've probably never heard of the nursery songs "Hickory Dickory Dock" and "Three Blind Mice":
-->'''Mr A's Voice''': ''"Well, er, then you steal some cheese, Brie or Camembert, or Cheddar or Gouda, if you're on the harder stuff. You might go and see one of the blue cheese films... there's a big clock in the middle of the room, and about 12:50 you climb up it and then ...eventually, it strikes one... and you all run down."''\\
''Cut to a large matron with apron and carving knife.''\\
'''Linkman's Voice''': ''"And what's that?"''\\
'''Mr A's Voice''': ''"That's the farmer's wife."''
* ''Series/AlloAllo'':
** In the episode ''"Nouvion Oars"'' René receives a secret message in code: ''"The cow is ready to jump over the moon and Jack and Jill are standing in a bucket"''. (For our non-English speakers: these are references to the children's nursery rhymes ''"Hey Diddle Diddle"'' and ''"Jack and Jill (Went Up The Hill)")''.
** In another episode, Rene asks what happened to the town's elderly, grey-haired mayor. Edith replies "The old grey mayor is dead!"
* In the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "I Fall to Pieces", Cordelia glumly asks Doyle what the point of falling in love is. His response gradually morphs into Music/BarbraStreisand's "People". She's unimpressed.
* ''Series/{{Qi}}'': In the Season L episode "Levity", they discuss lightning. Sue Perkins comments, "Well, we do know that [[Music/{{Queen}} thunderbolt and lightning are very very frightening."]]
* In the penultimate episode of ''Series/TheColbertReport'', Stephen decides to auction off setpieces. But when former Music/{{REM}} frontman Michael Stipe, [[RunningGag often shown sitting on a shelf throughout the series]], objects, Stephen says "Hey, that's you in the corner, that's me in the spotlight! It's in the contract!", paraphrasing the R.E.M. song "Losing My Religion".
* In ''Series/TheNanny'' episode "Ode to Barbra Joan", Fran Fine gets invited to a Music/BarbraStreisand concert by C.C. Babcock's father (being one of its backers). But when she realizes [[WellDoneSonGuy how hurt C.C. is by apparently being ignored]], Fran urges him to take C.C. instead, saying "People, people who need people are... Ah, you'll see the concert.", quoting the ''Theatre/FunnyGirl'' song "People".
** During the closing credits of "The Gym Teacher", Fran and her old high school gym teacher Miss Stone (nee Wickavich) are looking through a yearbook at a picture of Fran's old boyfriend, Miss Wickavich tells Fran "A boy like that, who'd kill your brother. Forget that boy and find another. One of your own kind, stick to your own kind!", which are lyrics from Theatre/WestSideStory''. Creator/RitaMoreno who played Miss Wickavich, [[ActorAllusion sang those very lines as Anita in the film adaptation]].
* In ''Series/{{Blackadder}} Back and Forth'' Bishop Melchett says "After all, if history teaches us anything, it is that, in the words of Saint Burt, 'What the world needs now is love, sweet love'."
* ''Series/TheTonightShow with Creator/JimmyFallon'':
** The ''Series/SavedByTheBell'' reunion has Zack quote the lyrics of ''Bell''s theme song.
--->'''Jimmy''': How's it going Zack?\\
'''Zack''': Typical day. I woke up in the morning, the alarm gave out a warning, I didn't think I'd ever it on time. By the time I grab my books and I gave myself a look, I was at the corner just in time to see the bus fly by.\\
'''Jimmy''': It's...all...right.
** Later, Jimmy would thank "the upcoming ''Franchise/{{Rocky}}'' movie ''Film/{{Creed}}'' for being a sequel I plan to welcome [[Music/{{Creed}} WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POoKgcTcuOE UNDER THE SUNLIGHT...]]". ([[RuleOfThree he breaks into it thrice]] - all times [[SuspiciouslySimilarSong closing with a]] Music/PearlJam lyric...)
* A ''Series/{{Charmed}}'' episode guest starring [[Music/PatBenatar Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo]] featured a leprechaun called Shamus who gave out luck to people.
-->'''Neil:''' Say, how've you been, Shamus? Long time.\\
'''Shamus:''' Don't even try it, Neil. I already hit you with me best shot. That's all ye get.
* Practically every episode of ''Series/DharmaAndGreg'' that guest stars a singer as either himself or a [[AdamWesting caricature of himself]] will have some spoken lyrics. As with the ''Series/{{Charmed}}'' example above, Greg has taunted Pat Benatar with "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", but other examples have included k.d.lang, Lyle Lovett, and Kenny Loggins.
* In the ''Series/{{Psych}}'' slasher-film pastiche episode ''Tuesday the 17th'', Shawn walks into a room and sees the VictimOfTheWeek Annie (who is, at the time, only considered "missing") silently sitting on the floor, facing away from him (in a pretty obvious set-up for the dead body variant of ChairReveal, sans chair). The tension implied by the recognizable horror trope is enough that it's pretty easy to miss the fact that Shawn is reciting the first part of the bridge from Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal".
--> "Annie? Are you okay? ... Are you okay?... Are you okay, Annie?"
* In the 2016 UK series of ''Series/MasterChef'', judge John Torode walks into this one while judging Liz's dish:
--> '''John Torode:''' I think it's really, really, very very good [...] but you can push it, just a little bit more salt, a little bit more pepper, because besides that, in my opinion it's faultless.
--> '''Gregg Wallace:''' I could be wrong, but I think John Torode just told you to [[PungeonMaster Push It with Salt 'n' Pepa]]...\\
'''Liz:''' Push it real good!
* On ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'', when seeing that Brazil built a stadium for UsefulNotes/TheWorldCup that now was mostly used as a bus yard, John notes how [[Music/JoniMitchell "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot."]]
** John says that a successful Kickstarter on a Music/LionelRichie giant inflatable head should get its creators locked up "all night long. All night. All night."
* Appears in ''Series/TheVicarOfDibley'' when Owen reveals to Geraldine that he's never been kissed.
--> '''Owen:''' [''utterly straight-faced''] The sun is up, the sky is blue, there's not a cloud to spoil the view but it's raining, raining in my heart.
* The second episode of ''Series/TheMinistryOfTime'' sees Julián countering Lope de Vega's RhymesOnADime with a quote from the song "Maneras de vivir" by Spanish 1980's rock band Leño:
-->No sé si estoy en lo cierto,\\
lo cierto es que estoy aquí.\\
Otros por menos han muerto.\\
Maneras de vivir.[[labelnote:Translation]]"I don't know if I'm right, what's certain is I'm here. Others for less have died. Ways of living."[[/labelnote]]
* Happens in one episode of ''Series/TheSmokingRoom'', after Annie storms out upset then returns later for a smoke:
-->'''Sally:''' Annie, are you okay?
-->'''Lillian:''' Are you okay?
-->'''Robin:''' Are you okay, Annie?
-->'''Lillian:''' Annie, are you okay?
-->'''Sally:''' You okay?
-->'''Len:''' You okay, Annie?
* In ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'' episode "Eye of the Gorgon", when Maria's been captured by [[NunTooHoly evil nuns]], they warn her that if she causes any trouble, she'll learn how ''they'' [[Film/TheSoundOfMusic solve a problem like Maria]].
* ''Series/VeronicaMars'': On the first season episode "Meet John Smith", when Logan thinks Duncan is acting weird, he says to him, "[[Music/TheBeatles Okay, nowhere man, you be the fool on the hill]]".
[[/folder]]

* Note: For this category we only list sketches or spoken word interludes on musical albums to be counted as an example of Waxing Lyrical.

[[folder:Theater]]

--->'''Dr. Drakken''': Your Nana is one bad grandmother...

''But now I'm free''\\

** In "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS9E17ForeignAffairs Foreign Affairs]]" Bonnie gets in a relationship with another paraplegic. Joe says that he truly loves her and proves it by standing (with help from Quagmire). The other paraplegic states that he would do anything for love, but he won't do that.

** When Carter Pewterschmidt suffers a heart attack, he exclaims "I’m having a heart attack-ack-ack-ack! You oughta know by now!" before losing consciousness.

** In the ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuyPresentsLaughItUpFuzzball parody]], when Leia strangles Jabba, his subtitles may read "Help, I'm being strangled!" [[EvenTheSubtitlerIsStumped but his Jabbaspeak is the lyrics to Lady Marmalade]]. Later, when C-3P0 is regaling the Ewoks with stories, he is telling them the opening theme to ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''.

* During the ''ComicBook/SalvationRun'' mini-series, most of DC's villains were exiled to a distant planet, where they started to form separate factions. In one scene, SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker is walking along a makeshift watchtower with Shadow Thief, complaining, "[[StealthPun There must be some way out of here!]]", in reference to the first line of Music/BobDylan's "All Along the Watchtower", [[DontExplainTheJoke "There must be some way out of here, said the joker to the thief."]] {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d when the Joker then commented, "I must be losing my mojo, there's a joke in there somewhere and I can't find it!"

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11166568/4/The-Ties-That-Bind The Ties That Bind]]'', Franchise/PhoenixWright segues into quoting John Denver ("leaving on a jet plane...") while giving Edgeworth romantic advice. It should be noted that this is not at all out of character for [[SickeninglySweethearts him]].

* ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''

** The''Series/SavedByTheBell'' reunion has Zack quote the lyrics of ''Bell''s theme song.

* This is a favourite pasttime across many ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'' games.

* ''Radio/AbsolutePower''

* ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue''

** "Fear not, William! [[Theatre/GilbertAndSullivan I am very well acquainted with all matters mathematical. I understand equations both the simple and the quadratical]]."

--->'''Goering:''' [[IKissYourHand I kiss mein Fuehrer's hand!]] I kiss [[WesternAnimation/DerFuehrersFace right in der Fuehrer's face!]]

** In ''Discoworld/LordsAndLadies'', Ridcully says "I was young and foolish then", and Granny Weatherwax retorts "Well? You're [[Music/TheyMightBeGiants old and foolish now]]."

* In Episode 3 of ''VideoGame/StrongBadsCoolGameForAttractivePeople,'' Strong Bad's character, Dangeresque, begins doing this when his father, "Dadgeresque," is killed.

*** Jake accidentally says lyrics from [[Music/{{Metallica}} "Enter Sandman"]] while describing a scene at Chel's home, and Josh tries to keep it going.

* In the ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'' ''Franchise/HarryPotter''-themed game ''Hogwarts: The New Class'':
** Episode three gets its title from Jake singing "Let's get it sorted!" to the tune of "Let's Get It Started" by Music/TheBlackEyedPeas.
** Episode four has several Music/WuTangClan lyrics dropped casually by the kids.
* In ''Podcast/TheFallenGods'' when Tuatha succeeds her constitution saving throw in episode 10, Solvin asks her if she woke up [[Music/{{Kesha}} feeling like P. Diddy]].

*** Episode three gets its title from Jake singing "Let's get it sorted!" to the tune of "Let's Get It Started" by Music/TheBlackEyedPeas.
*** Episode four has several Music/WuTangClan lyrics dropped casually by the kids.