Can You Finish the Lyrics to These Hit '80s British Songs?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Finish the Lyrics to These Hit '80s British Songs?
Image: RCA

About This Quiz

"COME ON, EILEEN!" You could do better than that. At least we hope you can! While U.K.'s Dexy's Midnight Runners was releasing "Come On Eileen," there were tons of other '80s hits from the U.K. that were taking over the airwaves. From "Karma Chameleon" to "Don't You Want Me," can you finish the lyrics to these '80s British songs like a true Brit?

The '80s was a huge decade in music. In the United States, singers like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Madonna and Jon Bon Jovi were controlling the music front. The names might've been different from England, but they were dominating the music scene just as much as their American counterparts.

Pink Floyd, Blondie, and The Police are a few groups who helped change the music scene across the pond. Fans everywhere were also listening to Wham!'s George Michael, the Beatles' John Lennon, and David Bowie. All of these artists are credited with some of the U.K.'s biggest hits of all time. Only a true Brit could finish the lyrics. Can you?

Do you remember the lyrics to George Michael's ballad "Careless Whisper?" What about the double Brit collab between Queen and David Bowie for the song "Under Pressure?" 

We hope you're not feeling under pressure for this quiz. Only a true Brit could pass with perfect answers and pitch. Will that be you? There's only one way to find out!

Mics at the ready!

"Sweet dreams are made of this/ Who am I __ __?"
To awaken
To falter
To disagree
To sleep
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” was a 1983 hit for the duo, Eurythmics. They got us all singing "Sweet dreams are made of this/ Who am I to disagree?"

“__ __ you come and go, you come and go…”
Karma Chameleon
Shonda Rimes
Fanny Brice
Great Escape
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Karma Chameleon” was a big hit for Culture Club in 1983. Boy George and the gang became international sensations, with everyone singing “Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon, you come and go, you come and go…”

"__ __/ Put on your red shoes and dance the blues"
Let's fly
Let's smart
Let's kill
Let’s dance
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Let’s Dance” was David Bowie’s hypnotic 1983 groove. It got us jiving to words like "Let's dance/ Put on your red shoes and dance the blues."

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"Some guys have all the luck/ Some guys have __ __ __"
No more than
All the pain
Money and power
No bad breath
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Some Guys Have All The Luck” was Rod Stewart’s hit revival in 1984. It got us singing "Some guys have all the luck/ Some guys have all the pain.”

"Pass the dutchie on the __ __ __"
Upper west coast
Down eastern Alexa
Left-hand side
Curb your doubt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Pass The Dutchie” was a hit 1982 mashup from the British-Jamaican young group named Musical Youth. It got us singing to "Pass the dutchie on the left-hand side” mon.

“Never gonna give you up, never gonna __ __ __”
Shut up here
Wake me up
Leave me here
Let you down
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

“Never Gonna Give You Up” was the big hit of Rick Astley’s career. It hit the number one charts in 1987 and had everybody singing “Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down/ Never gonna run around and desert you.”

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“__ __ __, 'you can't hurry love/ No, you'll just have to wait'"
My Mama said
The sister yelled
His father joked
The lover called
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"You Can’t Hurry Love” was a hit and a remake sung by Phil Collins back in 1982. It got us singing "My mama said, 'you can't hurry love/ No, you'll just have to wait.'"

“Relax, __ __ __ when you want to go to it"
Make it count
Shame on me
Take a pill
Don’t do it
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

“Relax” was Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s controversial 1984 hit. It got us singing “Relax, don’t do it, when you want to go to it."

"In a West end town a dead end world/ The East end boys and __ __ __"
West end girls
The bar girls
West side story
High end lot
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pet Shop Boys' huge rap-ish song “West End Girls” was a hit in 1984. It got us all singing "In a West end town a dead end world/ The East end boys and West end girls” in between the rap verses.

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“Every little thing she does is magic, everything she do just __ __ __"
Turns me on
Makes me cry
Laughs it off
Shows my self
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” is the 1981 hit from The Police. But we might be more familiar with their lead singer who went solo — Sting — who sang the lead in “Every little thing she does is magic, everything she do just turns me on."

“Pressure, __ __ on me”
Loving well
Cracking toes
Pushing down
Shipping here
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Under Pressure” was a great song from 1981. It’s by two of the greatest British acts ever — David Bowie and Queen — singing “Pressure, pushing down on me, pressing down on you."

“__ __ __/ Stay close to me/ Don't let me be alone"
Red red wine
Bum around it
Shake or tail
Cocktails and dreams
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Red Red Wine” was a reggae hit fom the band UB40. It got us singing "Red, red wine/ Stay close to me/ Don't let me be alone."

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“Sometimes I feel I’ve got to __ __ I’ve got to get away”
Run away
Be there
Stay here
Shut up
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Tainted Love” was a catchy new wave hit from Soft Cell in 1981. It got us singing “Sometimes I feel I’ve got to run away/ I’ve got to get away.”

"The only way is up, baby/ For __ __ __ now"
Sheer end it
Highs and lows
You and me
His and her
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Only Way is Up” was a huge 1988 dance hit for Yazz. The solo female singer got us singing "The only way is up, baby/ For you and me now."

“Back to life, back to __"
Work
Vacation
Reality
Basics
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Back to Life” is Soul II Soul’s club hit from 1989. It got us grooving to the words "Back to life, back to reality."

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"I'm never gonna dance again/ Guilty feet have got __ __"
Its end
No mercy
White powder
No rhythm
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Careless Whisper” was the 1984 solo hit by George Michael. It got us singing "I'm never gonna dance again/ Guilty feet have got no rhythm."

"The lady in red is dancing with me __ __ __"
Hand to mouth
Ear and feet
Cheek to cheek
Hand in hand
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Lady in Red” was a hit ballad of Chris De Burgh in 1986. It got us singing "The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek."

"Ebony and ivory live together in __ __"
Perfect harmony
Just shifts
Jungle fever
The wolfs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Ebony and Ivory” was a powerful 1982 duet by English rocker Paul McCartney and American R&B powerhouse Stevie Wonder. They got us singing "Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony.”

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"Been around the world and I, I, I, I, I can't __ __ __"
Find my baby
Travel all over
Fly for free
Sink or swim
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lisa Stansfield's 1989 hit, All Around The World, got us all singing "Been around the world and I, I, I, I, I can't find my baby." She continued to have other hits when the '90s rolled in.

“Don’t you __ __ baby? Don’t you __ __ ooh?”
Feel it
See him
Ask why
Want me
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Don’t You Want Me” was an electro-pop hit from the group The Human League back in 1981. It got us singing “Don’t you want me, baby? Don’t you want me, ooh?”

"Calling out around the world/ Are you ready for a __ __ __"
Sink and swim
Fly or high
Race into it
Brand new beat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Dancing in the Street” was a cool 1985 English rendition of the classic 1964 hit by Martha and the Vandellas. David Bowie and Mick Jagger got us grooving and singing "Calling out around the world/ Are you ready for a brand new beat."

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"And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time/ The greatest gift they'll get this year __ __"
Is life
Is money
Is donations
Is happiness
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Do They Know It’s Christmas” is the hit 1984 song by a bunch of popular British and Irish artists who came together under the collective name of Band Aid, to raise funds for Africa’s drought situation. They got us singing "And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time/ The greatest gift they'll get this year is life/ Where nothing ever grows/ No rain or rivers flow/ Do they know it's Christmas time at all?"

"Every woman every man / Join the caravan of love/ (Stand up) stand up/ Stand up/ Everybody __ __ __"
Make your shout
Take a stand
Fly in here
Dwell around it
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Caravan of Love” was a huge hit for The Housemartins back in 1986. The indie song got us singing "Every woman every man / Join the caravan of love/ (Stand up) stand up/ Stand up/ Everybody take a stand.”

“Acting on your best behavior/ Turn your back on __ __"
What gives
Your lover
Everyone now
Mother nature
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Everybody Wants To Rule The World” was a great hit of 1985 from Tears for Fears. They got us singing “Acting on your best behavior/ Turn your back on mother nature/ Everybody wants to rule the world."

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“Strangelove, that’s how my __ __”
Brother is
Mother shows
Love goes
Heartache affects
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

“Strangelove” was a Depeche Mode hit in 1987. Dave Gahan and the gang got us all singing “Strangelove, that’s how my love goes."

"'Cause you're too shy shy/ Hush hush __ __ __"
Way to go
Please be quiet
Don't say no
Eye to eye
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Too Shy” was a hit from the band Kajagoogoo, in 1983. it got us singing "'Cause you're too shy shy/ Hush hush, eye to eye."

“__ always believe in your soul"
Fake!
Gold!
Loser!
Brave!
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

“Gold” was Spandau Ballet’s 1983 top hit. Everyone was singing it with Tony Hadley, “Gold! Always believe in your soul!"

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"Brothers and sisters! Pump up __ __!"
The base
My ace
The volume
The roof
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The dance groove "Pump Up The Volume” was a special 1987 hit from the group named MARRS, which was made up of two different bands. It doesn’t have many words because it’s more of a study in music sampling, but it had the repetitive words "Brothers and sisters! Pump up the volume!"

"Won't you be my number two/ Me and __ __ are through"
The brow
Shoo-in
The player
Number one
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Be My Number Two” is a 1984 ballad hit from Joe Jackson. It got us singing "Won't you be my number two/ Me and number one are through."

"Yesterday I got so old/ I felt like __ __ __"
It's my birthday
You're not here
I could die
Love is dead
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"In Between Days” was a 1985 hit from The Cure. It got us all singing "Yesterday I got so old/ I felt like I could die” in a rock-new wave kind of way, ish.

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“Here she comes now sayin' __ __”
Funny Funny
Mony Mony
Shirley Shirley
Honey Honey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Mony Mony” was a big hit for punk-looking dude Billy Idol back in 1981. He got us singing “Here she comes now sayin’ Mony Mony.”

"__ __ is a lonely child who’s waiting in the park”
My Cherie
The Reflex
The Giver
Oliver Twist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Reflex” was a big hit for Duran Duran in 1984. Who could ever forget Simon LeBon and the gang singing “The reflex is a lonely child who’s waiting in the park.”

"I want to be your sledgehammer/ Why don't you __ __ __"
Hammer me in
Pound my nail
Smash me out
Call my name
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

“Sledgehammer” was a hit from Peter Gabriel in 1986. The cool song with its innovative music video got us singing "I want to be your sledgehammer/ Why don't you call my name."

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"But you'll never stop me from loving you/ It doesn't really matter what you __ __ __"
Say or do
Kiss or tell
Put me through
Hate and say
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You” is a very danceable pop hit from the solo act, Sonia, back in 1989. It got us singing "But you'll never stop me from loving you/ It doesn't really matter what you put me through."

“You put the __ __ into my heart”
Cracked ribs
Sideburns
Waylay
Boom boom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" was a 1984 hit for the duo Wham! It got everyone singing “You put the boom boom into my heart!”

You Got:
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