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21 Best Songs About Bowling

Songs to play when celebrating your first strike.

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Best Songs About Bowling

The best songs about bowling explore the pastime with a sense of fun that reflects the atmosphere of a day with friends at a bowling alley.

These range from popular children’s songs and rock and roll classics to modern-day takes on bowling that reflect the singer-songwriter’s love of the game.

Read on, and we’ll share our favorite bowling songs you can listen to, from iconic rock bands of the 1950s up to popular country singers of recent times.

 

The 21 Best Songs About Bowling

Excellent songs about bowling showcase the pastime in all its glory and are written by singer-songwriters who clearly appreciate bowling with friends.

We’ve chosen bowling songs that best capture the fun times the game represents to ensure there’s something here for all music tastes.

Without further ado, here’s our playlist of the 21 best songs about bowling:

 

21. “The Bowling Song” – Joe Montgomery

Bowling has been a popular pastime in the United States for many decades, as “The Bowling Song” by Joe Montgomery confirms.

This upbeat song captures the fun of the sport, with the lyrics, “The score will show we’re pretty bad. But look at all the fun we’ve had.”

Joe Montgomery released “The Bowling Song” in the 1950s during the post-World War II era when young people were enjoying freedom and plenty of leisure time.

 

20. “Bowling Ball” – Superchick

Another great song about bowling that’s upbeat and lively is the pop song from 2005 by Superchick called “Bowling Ball.”

“You have too much to give, to live to waste your time on him,” the catchy chorus sings, continuing, “You need that boy like a bowling ball dropped on your head, which means not at all.”

“Bowling Ball” was released on the Superchick album Beauty from Pain, their fourth album, which featured a guest appearance from Christian rapper and singer tobyMac.

 

19. “Let’s Bowl” – Grease 2

“Let’s Bowl” was released on the soundtrack to the hit movie Grease 2, which starred Michelle Pfieffer in an early performance alongside Maxwell Caulfield.

Its simple yet effective lyrics sing, “We’re gonna score tonight, we’re gonna score tonight. We’re gonna rock; we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna bop, we’re gonna bowl.”

While the movie failed to perform as well as the original Grease movie, it’s nevertheless a popular homage to the 1950s with plenty of fans to this day.

 

18. Bowling Green – The Everly Brothers

The combination of smooth vocals and memorable lyrics has made The Everly Brothers’ music on par with some of the best karaoke songs of all time.

“Bowling Green,” which made it into the top 40 of the American charts, is another good example of their unique style and gift for lush harmonies and sweet vocals.

The Everly Brothers released “Bowling Green” in 1967, with the track included on their album The Everly Brothers Sing to critical and commercial acclaim.

 

17. “Beer Frame Judy” – Mike J. Laneside

Mike J. Laneside’s 2013 song “Beer Frame Judy” is a modern-day rock song that is deeply steeped in bowling imagery and themes.

It’s a popular bowling song that is commonly played in bowling alleys around America and supported by the PBA Bowling Association.

“Beer Frame Judy” is a short but sweet piece of music, drawing inspiration from rock and roll music, notably the Beatles’ early releases in the 1960s.

 

16. “Red Bowling Ball Ruth” – The White Stripes

“Red Bowling Ball Ruth” is a classic example of what made The White Stripes so popular, released on Live at the Gold Dollar, their album from 2012.

“Red bowling ball red bowling ball Ruth,” the lyrics sing in this popular rock song, continuing with, “Well that’s somethin’ then I should know the truth.”

At the height of their fame, The White Stripes picked up four Grammy Awards wins, with an additional eight nominations to their credit.

 

15. “The Bowling Song” – RAFFI

Canadian singer-songwriter Raffi Cavoukian, better known as RAFFI, released “The Bowling Song” in 1985, adding to his discography of popular children’s songs.

“I like to go bowling with my friend Bert, my bowling ball, and my bowling shirt,” the lyrics sing, “I like to roll the ball down the lane, on a good day, I’ll throw a few strikes.”

This fun song captures the feeling of knocking down all the pins with a strike and hanging out with friends at the local bowling alley.

 

14. “Let’s Go Bowling” – Arrogant Worms

Another catchy song that explores life in bowling alleys is “Let’s Go Bowling” by Arrogant Worms, released in 1992 on their self-titled album.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of grabbing your bowling shoes and a cool beer and rolling balls with your buddies to forget about life’s hardships.

The Arrogant Worms made a name for themselves in Canada as a comedy group notable for their upbeat and amusing takes on popular culture.

 

13. “Let’s Go Bowling” – Lambchop

Another entertaining song called “Let’s Go Bowling” was released by Lampchop two years after the Arrogant Worms sang about the same topic.

Lambchop takes a different angle on bowling, singing about love and romance and the breakdown of a relationship, lamenting what could have been.

The American band enjoyed their most popular hits during the 1990s when critics described them as one of the most consistently brilliant bands of the era.

 

12. “Man From Bowling Green” – Jody Miller

Jody Miller’s illustrious career saw her release music comparable to the best songs of all time, highly regarded for her beautiful lyrics and vocals.

Her song “Man from Bowling Green” is a great example of her unique style and was written by Max D. Barnes and Troy Seals.

Blending pop, folk, and pop music, Jody Miller burst onto the music scene in 1965 following the release of her hugely popular album, Queen of the House.

 

11. “Rolling Balls” – AFI

Punk band AFI released “Rolling Balls” in 1996, featuring the song on their hit album Very Proud of Ya, their second major release.

It’s another song with infectious lyrics that stands as a celebration of bowling, singing, “Bowling is my life. And it has always been my dream.”

The Utah-based band AFI explored many subgenres around punk in their discography, including horror punk, post-hardcore, and the emerging emo genre.

 

10. “Bowling Alley Bar” – The Handsome Family

“Bowling Alley Bar” by The Handsome Family, by the American music duo consisting of husband and wife Brett and Rennie Sparks, takes us into country music territory.

“And the sound of crashing pins, behind us when we kissed,” the lyrics sing, blending bowling with romance, “The night I wrecked my father’s car behind the bowling alley bar.”

Released on the 2006 album Last Days of Wonder by The Handsome Family, “Bowling Alley Bar” isn’t a song that breaks new ground, but it’s a solid release nevertheless.

 

9. “Bowling Shoes” – Fountains of Wayne

Fountains of Wayne followed their great song about winter, “Valley Winter Song,” with this excellent song about bowling, “Bowling Shoes.”

It’s one of the band’s more obscure releases from a band that released six albums between 1996 and 2011 to a mixed reception from critics.

Best known for “Stacey’s Mom,” Fountains of Wayne reunited for a tribute concert in 2020 following the death of founding member Adam Schlesinger.

 

8. “Let’s Go Bowling” – The Telefones

The Telefones released their song “Let’s Go Bowling” in 1980 on the album Vibration Change, pioneering punk music in America at the time.

While “Let’s Go Bowling” isn’t as well known as some of their other major works, it’s a strong reflection of their distinct punk style and ethos.

Widely regarded as one of the best bands to have emerged from the Dallas music scene, The Telefones have influenced many great punk acts in the years since.

 

7. “Take the Skinheads Bowling” – Camper Van Beethoven

From classic punk music to American rock legends Camper Van Beethoven with “Take the Skinheads Bowling.”

With the catchy chorus repeating the title of the song, it features the lyrics, “Everybody’s coming home for lunch these days, last night there were skinheads on my lawn.”

Another great song about bowling from the 1980s was released on Telephone Free Landslide Victory and is the band’s best-known tune.

 

6. “Bowling Ball Blues” – Mack Fields

Mack Fields is regarded as one of the best yet little-known country music singers, achieving respect in the 1950s and 1960s for his musical accomplishments.

There’s an undercurrent to “Bowling Ball Blues” that recalls moving songs about death, as Mack Fields sings about handing up his bowling ball for good.

“Bowling Ball Blues” is also one of those songs that encourages listeners to overcome their depression and pull up their socks to face their problems.

 

5. “The Bowling Song” – Asleep At The Wheel

The children’s music genre has covered the subject of bowling many times, and Asleep at the Wheel shared their own take with “The Bowling Song.”

“I ain’t for the one, and two, and three, and four, five pins down the lane,” the song’s lyrics sing, “With the boom, and the bang, they hit the floor, and I throw the ball again.”

It’s a fun song for the family to listen to on a day out at the bowling alley with the kids and was released on the album Country Goes Raffi.

 

4. “Bowling U.S.A.” – The Blue Flames

Listening to the best pump-up songs before hitting the bowling alley is a great way to get fired up for a fun time with friends and family.

“Bowling U.S.A.” by The Blue Flames is one such song designed to grab the attention of the listener with its classic pop and rock and roll style.

Released by The Blue Flames in 1966, “Bowling U.S.A.” was featured on the album The Rock of Young People, Volume 2.

 

3. “Laser Cat Bowling” – Parry Gripp

The title track from the Parry Gripp album released in 2012, “Laser Cat Bowling,” captures the essence of the singer-songwriter’s pop/punk style.

With lyrics that include the singer “meowing” throughout the song, it’s a child-friendly song about bowling that’s lots of fun to listen to.

While “Laser Cat Bowling” isn’t going to win any awards for quality, it’s still a catchy song with infectious lyrics and a fun approach to the topic.

 

2. “Bowling Barmy” – Toy Dolls

“Bowling Barmy” by Toy Dolls is another rock song from the 2010s that blends classic rock and roll with a more modern sensibility to great effect.

“Always, always, he’s off with the bowling team,” the singers sing in this catchy song, continuing with, “Always, always, he’s off with the bowling team.”

Toy Dolls, the British punk rock band formed in 1979, tackled the genre with a fun approach that didn’t take itself too seriously and featured many sped-up cover songs.

 

1. “Bowling Song” – Stephen Lynch

We’re wrapping up this playlist exploring the best songs about bowling with another track called “Bowling Song,” this time by Stephen Lynch.

Like the best songs about Saturday, “Bowling Song” is a celebration of relaxing and unwinding after a long week at work, singing “Let me bowl or let me die!”

Stephen Lynch released “Bowling Song” in 2013 on his live album Superhero, which was recorded at various comedy clubs around New York and New Jersey.

 

Summary

So there you have it, our recommended bowling songs to add to your music playlists the next time you hit the alley and aim for a strike.

Many of these songs are suitably breezy and lighthearted, reflecting the laid-back atmosphere and vibe when hitting the bowling alley with your friends.

Bowling remains as popular today as it was when it first emerged on the cultural landscape, so we can anticipate many more great songs on the subject in the future.

What’s the best song about bowling, in your opinion? Leave a comment below. 

Andy has been producing music since the early days of Cubase and spent much of the 2000s mixing house and techno with his trusty Technics 1200s. Fast forward two decades, you'll find him in his home studio experimenting with the latest music production software, tinkering with Ableton plug-ins, and occasionally trying (and failing) to complete Cuphead for the hundredth time.