View source for Another One Rides the Bus

{{short description|1981 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{{For|the EP|Another One Rides the Bus (EP)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Another One Rides the Bus
| cover      = Another One Rides the Bus US Single.jpg
| alt        = TK Records single cover art
| border     = yes
| type       = single
| artist     = [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]
| EP         = [[Another One Rides the Bus (EP)|Another One Rides the Bus]] {{noitalic|and the album}} [["Weird Al" Yankovic (album)|"Weird Al" Yankovic]]
| B-side     = Gotta Boogie
| released   =
* February 1981 (initial release and [[TK Records]] re-release)
* May 3, 1983 ([[Rock 'n Roll Records|Rock 'n Roll]] re-release)
| recorded   = September 14, 1980
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      =
* [[Comedy music|Comedy]]
* [[parody music|parody]]
* [[polka]]
| length     = 2:36
| label      =
* Placebo (initial release)
* TK (re-release)
* Rock 'n Roll (1983 re-release)
| writer     =
* [[John Deacon]]
* "Weird Al" Yankovic{{#tag:ref|While Yankovic wrote new lyrics for the song, on February 2, 1981, he transferred copyright of the parody to John Deacon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Another One Rides The Bus|url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=7&ti=1,7&Search%5FArg=Another%20One%20Rides%20The%20Bus&Search%5FCode=TALL&CNT=25&PID=zWgAFWLEmJWXk6x1Ox6hHvg26i&SEQ=20151117150118&SID=1|publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref> This is reflected in the liner notes for the ''[[Another One Rides the Bus (EP)|Another One Rides the Bus]]'' EP as well as the 1983 album ''[["Weird Al" Yankovic (album)|"Weird Al" Yankovic]]'', both of which list only Deacon as the parody's writer.<ref name=linernotes/><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title = "Weird Al" Yankovic|last=Yankovic |first=Alfred M. |author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic|year = 1983|url = https://www.discogs.com/Weird-Al-Yankovic-Weird-Al-Yankovic/release/3320346#images/6179495|type = liner|publisher = Rock 'n Roll Records|location = [[California]], [[United States]]}}</ref> However, Yankovic is credited with "new lyrics" in the liner notes to ''[[Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic]]'' (2017).<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title = Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic |last=Yankovic |first=Alfred M. |author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic|year = 2017 |type = book |publisher = [[Legacy Recordings]] |location = [[New York City]], [[United States]]}}</ref>|group="nb"}}
| producer   = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| prev_title = [[My Bologna]]
| prev_year  = 1979
| next_title = [[Ricky ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)|Ricky]]
| next_year  = 1983
| misc       = {{Extra album cover
 | header  =
 | type    = single
 | cover   = Another One Rides the Bus (Weird Al Yankovic single - cover art).jpg
 | border  = yes
 | alt     = A cartoon image of a crowded bus.
 | caption = Dutch single cover
}}
}}

"'''Another One Rides the Bus'''" is a song by comedy musician [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]. It was released in February 1981 and is a [[parody]] of [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s song "[[Another One Bites the Dust]]". Yankovic's version describes a person riding in a crowded public bus. It was recorded live on September 14, 1980, on the ''[[Dr. Demento|Dr. Demento Show]]'', hosted by Barret "Dr. Demento" Hansen. Accompanying Yankovic was [[Jon Schwartz (drummer)|Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz]], who would go on to be the artist's long-time drummer.

The song became a hit on the ''Dr. Demento Show'' as well as establishing underground buzz. Hoping to capitalize on the success of the song, Yankovic originally released "Another One Rides the Bus" on an [[Another One Rides the Bus (EP)|EP of the same name]]. Later, the song received a wider release, by [[TK Records]], and although it did not crack the Hot 100, it peaked at number 4 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles]]. However, TK Records soon folded and the song fell off the chart as it received no more promotion from the folded label. The song was later included on Yankovic's 1983 [["Weird Al" Yankovic (album)|debut album]]. The song has been well received by critics, and [[Brian May]]{{emdash}}the guitarist of Queen{{emdash}}has expressed his amusement with "Another One Rides the Bus".

==Background==
[[File:Bass player queen.jpg|thumb|left|"[[Another One Bites the Dust]]", the target of Yankovic's parody, was written by [[Queen (band)|Queen]] bassist [[John Deacon]].]]
In 1979, while he was still a student at [[California Polytechnic State University]] (Cal Poly) in [[San Luis Obispo, California]], [["Weird Al" Yankovic|Alfred "Weird Al" Yankovic]] recorded a rough parody of "[[My Sharona]]" by [[The Knack]] entitled "[[My Bologna]]". Fortuitous circumstances led to the song being released by [[Capitol Records]] on December 25, 1979.<ref name="praitb"/> Although the single managed to sell 10,000 copies a month after its release,<ref>Rabin and Yankovic (2012), p. 24.</ref> Yankovic soon learned that Capitol had no interest in promoting the record or releasing a follow-up single. After graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture, Yankovic still had an interest in releasing parody music, and soon turned his attention to "[[Another One Bites the Dust]]" by rock band [[Queen (band)|Queen]].<ref name="praitb"/> The song had been written by Queen bassist [[John Deacon]] and released on their 1980 album ''[[The Game (Queen album)|The Game]]''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title = The Game |author = Queen |year = 1980|type = liner|publisher = EMI Records|location = [[United Kingdom]]}}</ref>

==Writing and recording==

Lyrically, "Another One Rides the Bus" describes a person riding in a crowded public bus. In the first verse, the bus proceeds to pick up more people. The second verse discusses the various things that are touching the person (such as a suitcase and an elbow), and about how several of his 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 bus's fan is broken and his window does not open. This causes him to exclaim that he "hasn't been in a crowd like this since [he] [[The Who concert disaster|went to see The Who]]." Finally, he laments about not getting off the bus sooner.<ref>Rabin and Yankovic (2012), p. 26.</ref>

Yankovic debuted the song live on September 14, 1980, on the ''[[Dr. Demento|Dr. Demento Show]]'', hosted by Barret "Dr. Demento" Hansen. While practicing the song outside the sound booth, Yankovic met [[Jon Schwartz (drummer)|Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz]], who offered to provide percussion for his performance. Because Yankovic did not have a drum kit, Schwartz rhythmically struck Yankovic's accordion case as a way of keeping the beat.<ref>Rabin and Yankovic (2012), p. 28.</ref> The version of "Another One Rides the Bus" that was recorded in 1980 and released in 1981 was later re-released in its original form on [["Weird Al" Yankovic (album)|Yankovic's eponymous debut album]] (1983).<ref name="praitb"/>

The single's [[b-side]] is "Gotta Boogie", which was co-written by Joe Earley. The song is a play on words discussing a man with a "[[Dried nasal mucus|boogie]]" on his finger and his failure to get rid of it.<ref name=linernotes>{{cite AV media notes|title = Another One Rides the Bus|last=Yankovic |first=Alfred M. |author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic|year = 1981|url = http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=2578636|type = liner|publisher = Placebo Records|location = [[California]], [[United States]]}}</ref> The version of "Gotta Boogie" included on this single was recorded in April 1980; this song also appeared on Yankovic's eponymous debut album, although in a re-recorded form.<ref name="recordingdates">{{Cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/rcdgdate.htm |title=Recording Dates |access-date=June 26, 2010 |last=Yankovic |first=Al |author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic |date=December 2007 |work=The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709121948/http://www.weirdal.com/rcdgdate.htm |archive-date=July 9, 2010 }}</ref>

==Release==

Much like "[[My Bologna]]", "Another One Rides the Bus" was a hit on the ''Dr. Demento Show'', and Dr. Demento himself said:

<blockquote>For the next few weeks we got twice as many requests for "Another One Rides the Bus" as for everything else put together. Thank goodness I had a tape rolling! We even got it in stereo. Over the next couple of months that tape was duplicated and re-duplicated all over the world, as the song took on a life of its own. [...] The Dr. Demento Show gained a couple of dozen new station affiliates just because of that song.<ref name="praitb"/></blockquote>

Eventually, Yankovic borrowed some money from Dr. Demento and pressed one thousand copies of [[Another One Rides the Bus (EP)|a four-track EP]] by himself.<ref name=page33>Rabin and Yankovic (2012), p. 33.</ref> Yankovic then distributed this EP to various record stores, selling them through consignment deals.<ref>Rabin and Yankovic (2012), p. 31.</ref> Yankovic released the record under Placebo Records, a one-off label founded by Yankovic for the sole purpose of distributing the EPs.<ref name="praitb"/><ref name="rate">{{Cite web| url = http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/rare-items/gallery/rare-items/singles | title = The Placebo EP 1981, Placebo (7") | access-date = June 26, 2010 | last = Yankovic | first = Al | author-link = "Weird Al" Yankovic |date=December 2007 | work = The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site}}</ref><ref name=page33/> Due to the underground success of the EP, Yankovic secured a short-lived record deal with [[TK Records]], which released "Another One Rides the Bus" as a single in February 1981.<ref name="praitb">{{cite AV media notes|title = Permanent Record: Al in the Box|year = 1994|url = http://dmdb.org/al/booklet.html|first = Barret|last = Hansen|author-link = Dr. Demento|type = liner|publisher = [[Scotti Brothers Records]]|location = [[California]], [[United States]]}}</ref> The record was rush-released, but nevertheless managed to become Yankovic's first [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] entry, peaking at number four on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles]] chart.<ref name="praitb" /><ref name=awards/> However, soon after issuing the "Another One Rides the Bus" single, TK abruptly closed due to financial troubles and the song fell off the charts.<ref name="praitb"/>

Domestically, the single was released in a generic TK Records sleeve. International versions of the single, however, featured different artwork. The [[Netherlands|Dutch]] release, for instance, featured artwork depicting a crowded bus.<ref>Rabin and Yankovic (2012), p. 27.</ref> According to Yankovic's official site, this version of the "single used artwork similar to what would appear on Al's first album."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/rare-items/gallery/rare-items/singles |title=Rare Items: Another One Rides the Bus 1981 |access-date=December 18, 2016 |last=Yankovic |first=Al|author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic |date=December 2007 |work=The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site }}</ref>

==Reception==
[[File:Brian-May with red special.jpg|thumb|right|[[Brian May]], the guitarist of [[Queen (band)|Queen]], found the song "extremely funny".<ref name=brianquote/>]]
The song was well received by music critics. In a later review of Yankovic's debut album, [[Eugene Chadbourne]] of [[AllMusic]] called the parody "a classic piece of musical humor" that showcased Yankovic's ability to knock "the wind out of any pretentious, overblown rock anthem by slightly adjusting the lyrical content."<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web | url         = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r82658|pure_url=yes}} | title       = 'Weird Al' Yankovic – Overview | access-date  = December 17, 2016 | work        = [[Allmusic]] | publisher   = [[Macrovision]] | location    = [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]], [[United States|USA]]}}</ref> [[Nathan Rabin]], in the book ''Weird Al, The Book'' (2012), praised the song, writing:

<blockquote>Though the modest Yankovic himself laughs off the notion, we can all agree that "Another One Rides the Bus" embodies the anarchic spirit of punk rock just as much as anything [[Johnny Rotten]] or [[The Clash]] ever recorded. It's the essence of punk: an enraged, defiant malcontent with a long list of grievances screaming his pain to an indifferent world. [...] Yankovic came to symbolize a curiously ubiquitous fixture of [[New wave music|new wave]]: the enraged geek.<ref>Rabin and Yankovic (2012), pp. 29{{en dash}}30.</ref></blockquote>

[[Brian May]], the guitarist of Queen, found the song amusing, and said in an interview, "There's been a few cover versions [of 'Another One Bites the Dust'] of various kinds, notably 'Another One Rides the Bus', which is an extremely funny record by a bloke called 'Mad Al' or something in the [United] States—it's hilarious."<ref name=brianquote>Purvis (2012).</ref>

==Other versions==
===Live video===

Although no official music video was created for this single, Yankovic and Schwartz performed "Another One Rides the Bus" on ''[[The Tomorrow Show]]'' with [[Tom Snyder]]. During the performance, Yankovic played his accordion and Flexatone and Schwartz banged on Yankovic's accordion case and played bulb horns.<ref name=page30>Rabin and Yankovic (2012), p. 30.</ref> ''The Tomorrow Show'' performance was later included on the ''[["Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection]]'' (2003) DVD as a bonus feature.<ref>{{Citation | year       = 2003 | title      = 'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection | publisher  = [[Volcano Entertainment]] | publication-place = [[Los Angeles]], [[New York City]] | type = DVD |last=Yankovic |first=Alfred M. |author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic }}</ref>

===2022 Rerecording===
Yankovic would later re-record "Another One Rides the Bus" for the 2022 satirical [[biopic]] ''[[Weird: The Al Yankovic Story]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title='Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Original Soundtrack' Out Now |url=https://www.legacyrecordings.com/2022/11/04/weird-the-al-yankovic-story-original-soundtrack-out-now/ |publisher=[[Legacy Recordings]] |access-date=January 2, 2025 |date=November 4, 2022}}</ref> In the events of the film, [[Wolfman Jack]] ([[Jack Black]]) and [[John Deacon]] ([[David Dastmalchian]]) challenge Yankovic ([[Daniel Radcliffe]]) to parody "Another One Bites the Dust" on the spot, resulting in Yankovic coming up with the song on the spot.<ref>{{cite AV media | last1 = Appel |first1=Eric| last2= Yankovic|first2=Al| date = 2022 | title = Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | publisher = [[The Roku Channel]]}}</ref>

===Use in other media===
"Another One Rides the Bus" was used in ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]'' [[The Walking Dead season 8|season eight]] opener "[[Mercy (The Walking Dead)|Mercy]]" during an ambiguous scene featuring a gray-haired and bearded [[Rick Grimes]] joining his family, including young daughter Judith. Many critics and commentators noted that the use of "Another One Rides the Bus" was idiosyncratic.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Harp|first1=Justin|title=Watch ''The Walking Dead'' season 8 Premiere's Powerful First Three Minutes Right Now|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-walking-dead/news/a841140/walking-dead-watch-season-8-premiere-opening-scene/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=October 23, 2017|date=October 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Longridge|first1=Chris|title='Another One Rides the Bus' {{en dash}} What's that Song in ''The Walking Dead''{{'}}s Season Opener?|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-walking-dead/feature/a841009/another-one-rides-the-bus-walking-dead-song-lyrics-who/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=October 23, 2017|date=October 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Wigler|first1=Josh|title='The Walking Dead': How the 100th Episode Honored its Past|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-how-100th-episode-honored-past-1051001|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=October 23, 2017|date=October 22, 2017}}</ref> Yankovic later [[Twitter|tweeted]]: "I'm just as confused as you are why 'Another One Rides the Bus' was featured in #TheWalkingDead season premiere, but I'm extremely honored!"<ref name=cnet_weird>{{cite web|last1=Cooper|first1=Gael|title=Weird Al Loves that his Song Made a Scene on 'Walking Dead'|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/weird-al-yankovic-the-walking-dead-another-one-rides-the-bus/|publisher=[[CNET|c{{!}}net]]|access-date=October 23, 2017|date=October 23, 2017}}</ref> Showrunner [[Scott M. Gimple]] later told ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' that he had chosen the track because it "had to be a song that I wanted Judith to be into".<ref name=cnet_weird/><ref name=ew_song/> Gimble also claimed that he wanted the music to be "even more jarring" than Rick's appearance.<ref name=ew_song>{{cite magazine | url = http://ew.com/tv/2017/10/22/walking-dead-season-premiere-mercy-showrunner-scott-gimple/ |  title = ''The Walking Dead'' Showrunner Answers Season 8 Premiere Burning Questions | first = Dalton | last = Ross | date = October 22, 2017 | access-date = October 23, 2017 | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] }}</ref>

Yankovic's 2022 comedy biographical film ''[[Weird: The Al Yankovic Story|Weird: the Al Yankovic Story]]'' satirically claims that "Another One Rides the Bus" was created by Yankovic on the spot from a dare posed to him by Queen's Deacon and [[Wolfman Jack]].<ref name="wired cameos">{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/story/weird-al-yankovic-movie-cameos/ | title = The Real Story of How the Weird Al Movie Scored Fake Cameos | first = Marah | last = Eakin | date = November 4, 2022 | accessdate = November 6, 2022 | magazine =[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] }}</ref> Initially, Yankovic had originally wanted the scene to feature an actor portraying [[Freddie Mercury]]. However, the agreement that Queen had made with Yankovic allowing him to use "Another One Bites the Dust" in the movie prevented from mentioning or showing [[Freddie Mercury]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Eakin |first=Marah |date=November 4, 2022 |title=The Real Story of How the Weird Al Movie Scored Fake Cameos |url=https://www.wired.com/story/weird-al-yankovic-movie-cameos/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |accessdate=November 6, 2022}}</ref>

==Track listing==

# "Another One Rides the Bus" &ndash; 2:36
# "Gotta Boogie" &ndash; 2:21

==Personnel==
Credits from the liner notes of ''[[The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic]]'':<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |last=Yankovic |first=Alfred M. |author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic|title=The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic |date=October 29, 2009 |language=English |type=booklet}}</ref>
* [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] – lead vocal and accordion
* [[Jon Schwartz (drummer)|Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz]] – accordion case percussion
* Damaskas – backing vocal
* "Musical Mike" Kieffer & Sulu – [[Manualism (hand music)|musical hands]]
* Beefalo Bill, Tohm & Jeri – misc. insanities

==Chart positions==

{| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1981)
!Peak<br/>Position
|-
|align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles]]            
|align="center"|4<ref name=awards>{{Cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/archives/awards/ |title=Awards |access-date=December 18, 2016 |last=Yankovic |first=Alfred M. |author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic |work=The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site }}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[List of singles by "Weird Al" Yankovic]]
*[[List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic]]

==Notes==
{{reflist | group="nb"}}

==References==

===Footnotes===

{{reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===

*{{cite book|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|title=Weird Al: The Book|publisher=[[Abrams Image]]|isbn=9781419704352|author2=Yankovic, Alfred M.|date=September 25, 2012}}
*{{cite book|last1=Purvis|first1=Georg|title=Queen: The Complete Works|date=March 13, 2012|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=9780857685513|type=[[e-book]]}}

{{"Weird Al" Yankovic}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Another One Rides The Bus}}
[[Category:"Weird Al" Yankovic songs]]
[[Category:1981 singles]]
[[Category:Queen (band)]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by "Weird Al" Yankovic]]
[[Category:Songs about buses]]
[[Category:1980 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by John Deacon]]
[[Category:TK Records singles]]

[[pt:"Weird Al" Yankovic (álbum)#Another One Rides the Bus (EP)]]