Novelty songs are written most often with a humorous gesture. They are so named because they all tell a brief story, sometimes complete and sometimes episodic, with light, lilting memorable melodies. Ray Stevens is noted for his novelty songs such as "Guitarzan" and "The Streak," and Johnny Cash, arguably, has taken a turn with a novelty tune "A Boy Named Sue.

Novelty songs are written most often with a humorous gesture. They are so named because they all tell a brief story, sometimes complete and sometimes episodic, with light, lilting memorable melodies. Ray Stevens is noted for his novelty songs such as "Guitarzan" and "The Streak," and Johnny Cash, arguably, has taken a turn with a novelty tune "A Boy Named Sue." Though the more serious stories like Cash's and Kenny Rogers' "Coward of the County" may not fall under the rubric, there are plenty of other examples, such as Sam the Sham and the Pharaoh's "Woolly Bully" and "L'il Red Riding Hood." ~ Keith Johnson