"Nothing Rhymed" is a song written and recorded by the Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan, who is credited as its sole composer and lyricist. It was produced by Gordon Mills and recorded in 1970 at Audio International Studios in London, with session bassist Herbie Flowers on the original recording. Released as a single on the MAM label on 30 October 1970, with "Everybody Knows" on the B-side, it was O'Sullivan's first UK hit, reaching number 8 in the UK, number 2 in Ireland and number 1 in the Netherlands. It also appeared on his 1971 debut album, Himself, where it was the only European single. Generally classified as soft rock, it was praised by Paul Gambaccini as one of the great songs of all time, and Paul Weller named it among his favourite songs.
Covers include versions by Tom Jones (1971), Clodagh Rodgers, Yvonne Elliman, Burton Cummings and Martin Carthy, and the song has also been adapted into Dutch, Finnish, Italian, Spanish and Swedish versions. In Belgium it reached number 3 in Flanders and number 13 in Wallonia, and in New Zealand it reached number 14.
