It's What I Heard
August 30, 2007 10:54 AM Subscribe
Song lyrics that sound different from what they actually are. What are the ones that come to mind?
I was a kid when most of these songs were popular -- too young to actually think about the lyrics and the messages they conveyed, Older, wiser and more patient now, I realize that most of these interpretations made little sense but they are what I heard and sung. What are your memorable misinterpretations of song lyrics?
Here are a few that I have, but I can think of many many more:
- "baby 'wheel' power" instead of ... "baby 'WILL' power" (Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, 1968)
- "don't give us none of your aggravation, we had it with your "guitar playing" instead of ... "don't give us none of your aggravation, we had it with your "DISCIPLINE" (Elton John, 1973)
- "and though I helped me drink a thousand times, it's time to ramble on" instead of ..."and TO OUR HEALTH WE drank a thousand times, it's time to ramble on ... " (Led Zeppelin, 1969)
- ... "I want a line caught up in mine" instead of ... "I'M ON THE LINE, ONE OPEN MIND, this is my four leaf clover" ... (Tears for Fears, 1985)
I was a kid when most of these songs were popular -- too young to actually think about the lyrics and the messages they conveyed, Older, wiser and more patient now, I realize that most of these interpretations made little sense but they are what I heard and sung. What are your memorable misinterpretations of song lyrics?
Here are a few that I have, but I can think of many many more:
- "baby 'wheel' power" instead of ... "baby 'WILL' power" (Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, 1968)
- "don't give us none of your aggravation, we had it with your "guitar playing" instead of ... "don't give us none of your aggravation, we had it with your "DISCIPLINE" (Elton John, 1973)
- "and though I helped me drink a thousand times, it's time to ramble on" instead of ..."and TO OUR HEALTH WE drank a thousand times, it's time to ramble on ... " (Led Zeppelin, 1969)
- ... "I want a line caught up in mine" instead of ... "I'M ON THE LINE, ONE OPEN MIND, this is my four leaf clover" ... (Tears for Fears, 1985)
This post was deleted for the following reason: this is "I'll go first" chatfilter.
here's an entirely misheard song.
I used to think that "Every Breath You Take" by The Police was "I'm a pool hall ace". Years later I learned it was "How my poor heart aches". Oh well.
posted by sephira at 11:11 AM on August 30, 2007
I used to think that "Every Breath You Take" by The Police was "I'm a pool hall ace". Years later I learned it was "How my poor heart aches". Oh well.
posted by sephira at 11:11 AM on August 30, 2007
There's the famous "'scuse me while I kiss this guy" vs "kiss the sky" lyric from Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze,' which is where the misheard lyrics archive design8r gets it name.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 11:18 AM on August 30, 2007
posted by flibbertigibbet at 11:18 AM on August 30, 2007
another, albeit less impressive, archive and book on the subject.
posted by phil at 11:19 AM on August 30, 2007
posted by phil at 11:19 AM on August 30, 2007
"young girls with eyes like potatos" rather than "pesatas" in Madonna's La Isla Bonita
posted by patricio at 11:25 AM on August 30, 2007
posted by patricio at 11:25 AM on August 30, 2007
also, the repetition of "Sue Lawley" instead of "so lonely" in the Police's So Lonely.
(Although the wikipedia article says Sting didn't have a crush on her, the band did give her the gold disc for the song)
posted by patricio at 11:28 AM on August 30, 2007
(Although the wikipedia article says Sting didn't have a crush on her, the band did give her the gold disc for the song)
posted by patricio at 11:28 AM on August 30, 2007
The final line of "Aneurysm" by Nirvana is growled about eight times over a great big pounding riff. It goes, "She keeps it pumpin' straight to my heart." I first heard it as "She keeps a puppy chained to my heart." I actually like mine better - much more menancing somehow.
posted by gompa at 11:30 AM on August 30, 2007
posted by gompa at 11:30 AM on August 30, 2007
I heard "Bob Moran" in lieu of "Barbara Ann" for years.
posted by andythebean at 11:30 AM on August 30, 2007
posted by andythebean at 11:30 AM on August 30, 2007
I thought you were going to be talking about lullabies ("when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall...").
My favorite mondegreen story is from from John Prine, who wrote a song containing the lyrics
It's a half-an-inch of water and you think you're gonna drown
That's the way that the world goes 'round
and was later approached by a fan at a gig who asked for "the happy enchilada" (half-an-inch of water) song.
posted by jamjam at 11:31 AM on August 30, 2007
My favorite mondegreen story is from from John Prine, who wrote a song containing the lyrics
It's a half-an-inch of water and you think you're gonna drown
That's the way that the world goes 'round
and was later approached by a fan at a gig who asked for "the happy enchilada" (half-an-inch of water) song.
posted by jamjam at 11:31 AM on August 30, 2007
Another pretty famous one is Creedence Clearwater Revival: "There's a bathroom on the right" instead of "there's a bad moon on the rise."
posted by sbrollins at 11:32 AM on August 30, 2007
posted by sbrollins at 11:32 AM on August 30, 2007
My brother sang "She's got a chicken to ride" on a road trip one time...I think he was maybe 7 or 8 at the time.
posted by Nodecam at 11:33 AM on August 30, 2007
posted by Nodecam at 11:33 AM on August 30, 2007
Sorry, should have been more specific:
"Blinded By The Light"
Misheard Lyrics:
Wrapped up like a douche, another rumor in the night.
Original Lyrics:
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.
posted by quadog at 11:34 AM on August 30, 2007
"Blinded By The Light"
Misheard Lyrics:
Wrapped up like a douche, another rumor in the night.
Original Lyrics:
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.
posted by quadog at 11:34 AM on August 30, 2007
Oh, and the joke lyric "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" for "Hold me closer, tiny dancer."
And every single song by The Pixies has one often-misheard lyric.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 11:36 AM on August 30, 2007
And every single song by The Pixies has one often-misheard lyric.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 11:36 AM on August 30, 2007
Is google broken today?
"misheard lyrics"
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:37 AM on August 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
"misheard lyrics"
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:37 AM on August 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
Misheard Lyrics:
Wrapped up like a douche, another rumor in the night.
Original Lyrics:
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.
Actually, rumor has it that the Steve Miller Band's version of this song actually did say "wrapped up like a douche."
Apparently they thought it would be funny to spoof on the original (Bruce Springsteen's), which says "deuce."
posted by Rykey at 11:44 AM on August 30, 2007
Wrapped up like a douche, another rumor in the night.
Original Lyrics:
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.
Actually, rumor has it that the Steve Miller Band's version of this song actually did say "wrapped up like a douche."
Apparently they thought it would be funny to spoof on the original (Bruce Springsteen's), which says "deuce."
posted by Rykey at 11:44 AM on August 30, 2007
Misheard: "I got shoes, they're made of plywood"
Lyric: "I got chills, they're multiplyin' "
Travolta singing You're the One That I Want from Grease.
posted by kimdog at 11:55 AM on August 30, 2007
Lyric: "I got chills, they're multiplyin' "
Travolta singing You're the One That I Want from Grease.
posted by kimdog at 11:55 AM on August 30, 2007
Steve Winwood:
"Bring me a higher love!" turns into
"Bring me an Iron Lung!"
Every time.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:56 AM on August 30, 2007
"Bring me a higher love!" turns into
"Bring me an Iron Lung!"
Every time.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:56 AM on August 30, 2007
From the Smashing Pumpkins:
misheard: A spider, a raygun, I'm still decorating a cake.
real: Despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage.
However, the one my parents will never let me forget is when I was a kid and I transcribed "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" by Kenny Rogers and wrote:
"All the warts on the knees of a woman your age, Ruby I realize.."
posted by wackybrit at 11:59 AM on August 30, 2007
misheard: A spider, a raygun, I'm still decorating a cake.
real: Despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage.
However, the one my parents will never let me forget is when I was a kid and I transcribed "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" by Kenny Rogers and wrote:
"All the warts on the knees of a woman your age, Ruby I realize.."
posted by wackybrit at 11:59 AM on August 30, 2007
REM does not sing "if this one goes, I'll choose the one I love." And Pearl Jam never sang about a glorified virgin on a pelican, however much I wish they did.
("this one goes out to the one I love" and "glorified version of a pellet gun," respectively).
posted by COBRA! at 12:07 PM on August 30, 2007
("this one goes out to the one I love" and "glorified version of a pellet gun," respectively).
posted by COBRA! at 12:07 PM on August 30, 2007
Also from The Police: until very recently, even after I saw them on their tour, I thought the words in "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" were, "Their logic ties me up and wrecks me". Was not thrilled to learn after seeing them in print that the real words are, "Their logic ties me up and rapes me." Ugh, Sting, not-so-master lyricist.
posted by fuse theorem at 12:20 PM on August 30, 2007
posted by fuse theorem at 12:20 PM on August 30, 2007
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posted by bryanjbusch at 10:56 AM on August 30, 2007 [2 favorites]