User:JIP/References in Lemmings level names

The Lemmings games by Psygnosis included many levels whose names contained references to other works. Note that many are puns involving the word "lemming".

Lemmings[edit]

Fun[edit]

Level 13: We all fall down: a lyric from the nursery rhyme Ring a Ring O'Roses. This level is repeated, with no changes except for more lemmings, at each difficulty level.
Level 14: Origins and Lemmings: a pun on the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons.
Level 18: Let's block and blow: a pun on the military phrase "lock and load".
Level 20: We are now at LEMCON ONE: a pun on DEFCON.
Level 21: You Live and Lem: a pun on the proverb "you live and learn".
Level 22: A Beast of a Level: reference to Psygnosis's earlier game Shadow of the Beast. The level features graphics and music from that game.
Level 23: I've lost that Lemming feeling: reference to the song "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling", by the Righteous Brothers.
Level 24: Konbanwa Lemming san: Japanese for "Good evening, Mr. Lemming".
Level 25: Lemmings Lemmings everywhere: reference to a line from the poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner, "Water water everywhere...".
Level 26: Nightmare on Lem street: anagram of the film series Nightmare on Elm Street.
Level 27: Let's be careful out there!: reference to a catchphrase from Hill Street Blues.
Level 29: worra lorra lemmings: parody of Cilla Black's catchphrase.

Tricky[edit]

Level 2: We all fall down: See Fun - Level 13 above.
Level 4: Here's one I prepared earlier: catchphrase from Blue Peter.
Level 5: Careless clicking costs lives: reference to the World War II-era poster slogan "careless talk costs lives".
Level 6: Lemmingology: faux-neologism meaning "the study of Lemmings."
Level 11: Lemmings in the attic: a pun on the phrase Toys in the Attic, meaning "insane". Might also be a reference to the film Flowers in the Attic, or simply to the layout of the level.
Level 12: Bitter Lemming: pun on bitter lemon, the drink.
Level 13: Lemming Drops: pun on lemon drops, the sweets. Also refers to the level layout.
Level 14: MENACING !!: reference to Psygnosis's earlier game Menace, featuring graphics from that game.
Level 16: Luvly Jubly: Del Trotter's catchphrase from Only Fools and Horses.
Level 17: Diet Lemmingaid: pun on the drink "diet lemonade" and Drinking the Kool-Aid. It is "diet" since there are only two bombers, and "aid" because the lemmings must be helped (saved).
Level 18: It's Lemmingentry Watson: refers to "Elementary, [my dear] Watson", a phrase attributed to Sherlock Holmes.
Level 21 (PC, Amiga, Archimedes and PSP only) All the 6's ........: Refers to the mark of the beast as found in Revelation chapter 13. Also how a bingo caller would announce the number "66". Almost every number in the level is a 6 (e.g. 66% of Lemmings must be rescued.)
Level 22: Turn around young Lemmings!: reference to Buster Keaton's film Go West, but also a hint on how to complete the level.
Level 23: From the boundary line: possible sports reference.
Level 26: I have a cunning plan: Baldrick's catchphrase from the Blackadder TV show.
Level 27: The Island of the Wicker people: a reference to a line spoken by the journalist Knox, in the 1989 film Batman - "this must be the King of the Wicker people".^[1]
Level 29: Rainbow Island: reference to the Taito game Rainbow Islands.

Taxing[edit]

Level 1: If at first you don't succeed...: part of a proverb, which finishes: "...try, try again."
Level 3: Heaven can wait (we hope!!!): reference to the song "Heaven Can Wait", performed by Meat Loaf from the 1977 album Bat out of Hell. Also a film made in 1978, by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry.
Level 7: Every Lemming for Himself!!!: spinoff on phrase "Every man for himself!". The level design looks a little like a ship broken in half, akin to a sinking ship.
Level 10: Izzie Wizzie lemmings get busy: reference to a catchphrase from Sooty and Sweep.
Level 12: Livin' on the edge: A phrase that describes an adventurous person, also a hint on how to beat the level. This is not a reference to the Aerosmith song of the same name which was released in 1993, two years after Lemmings.
Level 14: Hunt the Nessy....: The terrain is shaped like the Loch Ness monster. The lemmings must tunnel through the "neck" of the Nessy.
Level 15: What an AWESOME level: reference to Psygnosis's earlier game Awesome, featuring graphics from that game.
Level 16: Mary Poppins' land: Mary Poppins, the fictional magical nanny, flies using an umbrella, rather like the many Floaters used in this level.
Level 17: X marks the spot: common phrase found on fictional treasure maps.
Level 18: Tribute to M.C.Escher: direct reference to M.C. Escher, 20th century artist.
Level 19: Bomboozal: pun on bamboozle, meaning to fool, confuse, or trick. Also a reference to the Commodore 64 game Bombuzal. The "bomber" skill is the only one which can be used in this level.
Level 23: King of the Castle: an allusion to the common children's chant, "I'm king of the castle, and you're a dirty rascal".
Level 27: Call in the bomb squad: refers to the bomb squad, or the Government's bomb disposal system.
Level 30: We all fall down: See Fun - Level 13 above.

Mayhem[edit]

Level 8: Last one out is a rotten egg!: reference to the old saying.
Level 10: Pillars of Hercules: draws a parallel between the level design and the Pillars of Hercules.
Level 11: We all fall down: See Fun - Level 13 above.
Level 12: The Far Side: possible reference to Gary Larson's The Far Side, or maybe the "far side" of the moon. The level involves guiding the lemmings to the other side of a metal wall.
Level 16: Just a Minute...: wordplay on the expression, as the level has a one-minute time limit.
Level 18: And then there were four....: a phrase from Ten Little Indians, which inspired And Then There Were None, an Agatha Christie novel, and a 1945 film by René Clair. The number four is used specifically because the Lemmings can be dropped in from one of four separate entrances.
Level 20: No added colours or Lemmings: pun on the phrase "no added colours or preservatives"; you have to use every single ability you have been given. The level's terrain is exactly like Fun Level 4, but with 40 more lemmings.
Level 21: With a twist of Lemming please: from a Monty Python sketch 'Revolting Cocktails', pun on the phrase "twist of lemon".
Level 22: A BeastII of a level: reference to Psygnosis's earlier game Shadow of the Beast II.
Level 26: The Steel Mines of Kessel: reference to the planet Kessel in Star Wars.
Level 28: Mind the step...: reference to a lyric from "Yankee Doodle", "mind the music and the step".

Oh No! More Lemmings[edit]

Tame[edit]

Level 6: Intsy-Wintsy...Lemming?, refers to the popular nursery rhyme Incy Wincy Spider.
Level 7: Who's That Lemming, refers to Who's That Girl.
Level 10: New Lemmings On The Block, refers to the pop band New Kids on the Block.
Level 12: Citizen Lemming, refers to the movie Citizen Kane.
Level 13: Thunder-Lemmings Are GO!, refers to the TV show Thunderbirds.
Level 15: Not Just a Pretty Lemming, pun on the phrase "Not just a pretty face".
Level 16: Gone With The Lemming, refers to Gone with the Wind.
Level 17: Honey, I Saved The Lemmings, refers to the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

Crazy[edit]

Level 2: Dolly Dimple, possible reference to Dolly Dimples.
Level 3: Many Lemmings make level work, reference to the proverb, "Many hands make light work".
Level 5: 24 Hour Lemathon, pun on the phrase "24-hour marathon" (also, maybe a reference to the 24 Hours of Le Mans)
Level 8: KEEP ON TRUCKING, refers to Robert Crumb.
Level 10: ROCKY VI, refers to the Rocky movies (incidentally, as of 2006, there is already a sixth film in the series released). It's also a reference to the level scenery.
Level 11: No Problemming!, pun on the phrase "No problem!" (Crazy 18 is actually entitled "NO PROBLEM".)
Level 14: Time Waits For No Lemming, refers to the proverb "time waits for no man".
Level 19: DON'T PANIC, refers to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Level 20: Ice Ice Lemming, refers to the rap song Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice.

Wild[edit]

Level 2: Lemming Hotel, refers to the song Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley.
Level 5: Lemming Head, pun on Lemonheads (the candy) and The Lemonheads (a musical group).
Level 7: You Take the High Road: a lyric from the chorus of the famous Scottish Hymn, The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond.
Level 9: Ice Station Lemming, refers to Ice Station Zebra.
Level 11: Mutiny on the Bounty, refers to the Mutiny on the Bounty incident.
Level 12: SNOW JOKE, pun on the phrase "[It]'s no joke".
Level 14: ICE SPY, refers to I Spy.
Level 15: THE SILENCE OF THE LEMMINGS: refers to the horror movie The Silence of the Lambs.
Level 17: The Chain with No Name: refers to the song A Horse with No Name, by the rock band America, but the original phrase was changed to refer to part of the level scenery.
Level 18: Dr Lemminggood, refers to Dr. Feelgood.
Level 19: Lemmingdelica, pun on the term psychedelica.

Wicked[edit]

Level 2: Inroducing SUPERLEMMING [sic], refers to Superman, the level features a single lemming moving much faster than standard lemmings. The "t" is also absent in the word "introducing", presumably a typo.
Level 7: Last Lemming to LemmingCentral, refers to the song Last Train to Trancentral by acid house duo The KLF.
Level 11: ROCKY ROAD, refers to the ice-cream flavor Rocky road, and the level design.
Level 15: SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,EGG AND LEMMING [sic], refers to Monty Python's "Spam" sketch.
Level 16: Five Alive, refers to Five Alive a brand of carton fruit juice drinks, popular in the early '90s. It also refers to the level, where it is only possible to save 5 out of 6 lemmings.

Havoc[edit]

Level 1: Tubular Lemming, reference to the 1973 Mike Oldfield album, Tubular Bells
Level 5: There's Madness in the Method, an almost-exact reversal of the phrase "there's a method to the madness".
Level 7: Creature Discomforts, the name of a book by Susan Conant, and a play on the name of the show, Creature Comforts.
Level 8: Lemming About Town, pun on the phrase "Man about town".
Level 14: Synchronized Lemming, refers to synchronized swimming.
Level 15: Have an Ice Day, pun on the phrase "Have a nice day". (There was actually a level entitled Have a nice day! in the original game, rated Mayhem.)
Level 17: Where Lemmings Dare, reference to Where Eagles Dare, 1968.

Lemmings 2: The Tribes[edit]

Many of the level names for this sequel are either hints or simple descriptions of the layout of the level.

Beach[edit]

Level 2: The Barley Mow: a common pub name in the UK.

Outdoor[edit]

Level 4: Deliverance?: direct reference to the movie Deliverance, which also featured canoes.
Level 7: Natural Selection: reference to Charles Darwin

Medieval[edit]

Level 1: LEMMING OF NOTTINGHAM: pun on Sheriff of Nottingham.
Level 9: LEMMING IN DISTRESS!!: pun on phrase "damsel in distress", reference to the archetypical story of the medieval knight saving the princess from the dragon. The level design has a dragon right next to and facing the goal which is a castle.

Classic[edit]

Level 1: Do you remember?: meant to refresh memory of the original Lemmings.
Level 2: Mr Lemmy Lives Next Door: reference to the short film Mr Jolly Lives Next Door from The Comic Strip Presents.
Level 3: LEMTRIS: reference to the computer game Tetris. This level features obstacles in the shape of Tetris pieces.
Level 4: Tension Sheet, Good Idea: reference to the Tension Sheet, a fictional invention from Red Dwarf.
Level 5: The Magnificent Severn: reference to the movie The Magnificent Seven. The River Severn is a reference to John Milton's Comus.
Level 6: The Starry Threshold: the first line of Comus.
Level 8: The Secret Of LEMH: reference to the movie The Secret of NIMH.
Level 9: Flying The Mad Pursuit: another line from Comus.

Egyptian[edit]

Level 1: Two's Company: reference to the proverb, "Two's company, three's a crowd", possibly also to the sitcom Three's Company. The level is so-called because there are two entrances.

Circus[edit]

Level 8: PLAY THAT FUNKY LEMMING: reference to the song Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry.

Highland[edit]

Level 5: DONALD WHARS YER LEMMING: reference to the Scottish song Donald, whars yer troosers?
Level 6: Brigadoom!: pun on the musical Brigadoon
Level 8: The White Heather Club: a Scottish TV show.

Polar[edit]

Level 2: Ice Ice Lemy: reference to the song Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice.
Level 3: Snow More Lems: pun on the phrase "[There]'s no more lem[ming]s".

Space[edit]

Level 1: HIT THE SPACE BAR: refers to the key on the computer keyboard, also a pun.
Level 5: The Stainless Steel Lemm: reference to the sci-fi novel The Stainless Steel Rat.
Level 7: GoSh It'S fUlL oF lEmMs: reference to a line spoken by astronaut Dave Bowman in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, "My God, it's full of stars".
Level 8: Odyssey: reference to the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. Might also refers to Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, based on the roundabout route the lemmings take to get to the goal.
Also, the music used for all levels in the Space Tribe, By the Beautiful Blue Danube, is a reference to the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which also features the same music in its opening and ending scenes.

Cave[edit]

Level 1: Audex Powder: reference to the song Audax Powder by Polygon Window, mixed with Audex, the hearing-aid company.
Level 3: Mortal men doomed to die: reference to the opening of The Lord of the Rings.
Level 8: Wilma!: reference to The Flintstones.

Shadow[edit]

Level 1: Land of OZ!: reference to the Wizard of Oz, and level design.
Level 3: Twin Bleeps: reference to Twin Peaks, and level design.
Level 5: Swingadingding: reference to the swinging rope in the level; also a possible reference to the song Jesus Built My Hotrod by Ministry.

Sports[edit]

Level 1: Ceci n'est pas une pipe.: reference to painting of same name by René Magritte.
Level 3: The Octathalon!: a (hypothetical) sporting competition with eight events. Contrast triathlon, pentathlon, and decathlon.
Level 4: RRRACKETEERZ!: refers to level layout, and possibly a pun on Musketeers. Also might refer to racketeering.

Holiday Lemmings 91-94[edit]

Xmas (1992)[edit]

Level 1: Jingle Lemming: refers to Jingle Bells, the carol.
Level 4: The North Poles: refers to the level layout, and the North Pole, where St. Nick is said to reside.

Frost[edit]

Level 1: Chains of Command: apparent reference to chain of command, even though that's inapplicable here.
Level 8: Division Bell: refers to the British Division Bell. (Or possibly the Pink Floyd album of the same name)
Level 9: Quest for Kieran: a tribute to Kieran, who received this level as part of a get-well greeting.
Level 11: Maybe not such a doddle: refers to Tricky level 1, "This should be a doddle!" of the original Lemmings.
Level 12: It's Boxing Day!: refers to Boxing Day, a Commonwealth of Nations holiday on 26 December.
Level 16: Up on the Rooftops: refers to "Up on the Housetop", the Santa Claus song.

Hail[edit]

Level 4: Lemmintaschen?: pun on Homentashn, a cookie associated with the Jewish holiday of Purim, although the level actually has a Hanukkah theme.
Level 8: Sir Edmund Hilemming: refers to Sir Edmund Hillary, first person to scale Mount Everest.
Level 9: Up, up and away!: refers to Superman
Level 11: Emmings! (No L): a pun on The First Noël, a Christmas Carol.
Level 14: Rendezvous II: refers to "Rendezvous at the Mountain", the very last level of the original game.

Flurry[edit]

Level 5: Christmas South of the Equator: The level has no snow, because in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is in the summertime.
Level 10: 32 Lemmings Below Zero: possible reference to the fact that water freezes at 32 degrees Farenheit above zero.

Blitz/Blizzard[edit]

(Note: The last half of these levels allude to Star Trek in some way.)

Level 3: Check Your Hints!: refers the player to the manual, which is supposed to point out the correct exit.
Level 5: It Came Upon a Lemnight Clear: refers to It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, the Christmas hymn.
Level 9: Lemmings...The Motion Picture: refers to Star Trek: The Motion Picture, 1979.
Level 10: The Wrath of Lem: allusion to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, 1982.
Level 11: The Search for Lem: refers to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, 1984.
Level 12: The Voyage Home: reference to Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 1986.
Level 13: The Final Frontier: refers to Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, 1989.
Level 14: The Undiscovered Country: besides the obvious meaning (the level's exit is hidden), refers to Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, 1991. The film's title is a reference to a Shakespeare line from Hamlet that describes the future as "the undiscovered country".
Level 15: The Needs of the Many: allusion to a line in The Search for Spock.
Level 16: The Next Lemeration: refers to the series, Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Lemmings (PSP remake)[edit]

Special[edit]

Level 9: Pillar Talking: pun on the phrase pillow talk.
Level 10: Just 17: reference to Team17, developers of the remake, as well as the fact that the target number of Lemmings to save on this level is 17. Possibly also a reference to 'Just 17' (now J17), a UK magazine aimed at teenage girls.
Level 11: Down the line: reference to commonly used phrase meaning "in the future".
Level 12: A to B: summary of a journey from one point to another. Also named after level design.
Level 13: Chain Reaction: Scientific terminology, possible reference to the song of the same name.
Level 14: Tunnel vision: reference to medical condition.
Level 17: Release is the word: play on the song "Grease (is the word)" from the movie musical Grease.
Level 18: The run around: Commonly used English phrase - to give someone "the run around" is to lead them on.
Level 24: ...with a little help from my Lem: A reference to The Beatles' song "With a Little Help from My Friends".
Level 26: Back of the net: A common football phrase, referring to a powerful kick that scores a goal. The level comprises a large net.
Level 29: A Bridge Over Lemming Slaughter: Pun on the song title "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

Notes and references[edit]

^ From Mike Dailly's "The Story Of Lemmings": http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/Lem_2.htm

External links[edit]

A treasure trove of Lemmings (and sequels') FAQs. (Please see for additional Lemmings level names, like in the PS3.)

[tricky27-1] From Mike Dailly's "The Story Of Lemmings": http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/Lem_2.htm

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