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Misunderstood
Lyrics - Mondegreens |
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About Misunderstood Song
Lyrics
The official word for them is "mondegreen", named
by Sylvia Wright, who wrote a column about them in the 1950s,
when she told of her own misunderstood Scottish folk song,
"The Bonny Earl Of Morray." She heard the correct
lyric, "Oh, they have slain the Earl O' Morray and laid
him on the green" as "Oh, they have slain the Earl
O' Morray and Lady Mondegreen."
We have purposely left every Bob Dylan song off this list.
He is truly the god of mumbled lyrics, and no other singer/songwriter
could hold a candle to his wind. Some other notable mumblers
include Macy Gray, early Bruce Springsteen and, of course,
Michael Stipe from R.E.M. If you have any to add, please e-mail
them to us!
(more Misunderstood Song
Lyrics) |
Hi, growing up my sister and cousin
use to sing to
When a Man Loves a
Woman
, they thought it said
Peter Pan Loves My Mama
. Another was a friend
who used to sing "
to hell with
the concert friends
" to Melissa Etheridge's
Come to my Window correct lyrics
to
hell with the consequence
.
Hope you find these funny I laugh everytime one of these songs
come on.
- RClay |
When I was in the first grade,
our class put on a show where we sang
Michael Jackson's "Heal the World." Well, this song
never made sense to
me because I thought he was singing, "Kill the World."
After the show a
number of my classmates mocked me for singing "Kill"
instead of "Heal." I
had no choice but to deny it and accuse them of the same.
-Zach
P.S. As a youngster I also had trouble with "Barbara
Ann." |
On the Dutch version of Idols a
girl sang Killing me Softly with his song,
by Roberta Flack (already on your list, version by Lauryn
Hill)
Instead of singing "Strummin' my pain with his fingers",
she sang "Strong in my pants with his fingers".
Just so you know.
- Tim and Eline from Holland
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I'm sure we can all admit to singing
the wrong lyrics to songs, but hearing someone else do it
is always funny. This is a cute story:
The song was WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE by Cliff Richard
I was sitting at my desk and heard one of the guys in the
office humming/singing the song. He passed by my desk and
I hear him singing, "Disco Bunny, how we don't talk anymore).
I looked up at him and there he was serious as anything singing
these words. I started to laugh and asked him what song he
was singing. He said, "You know, that song DISCO BUNNY".
Every time I hear it on a radio station I always get a laugh
reminiscing.
- Debbie Randazzo
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Elton
John - Bennie and the Jets
In fifth grade, we thought this was the best song on the radio....we
couldn't believe they'd play a song about such a risque subject!
I now know the line is: "She's got electric boots, a
mohair suit, you know I read it in a magazine...." We
heard: "She's got electric boobs, and no hair, too....."
I still laugh today, every time I hear that song.
Thanks, JCarroll!
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Looking
Out My Back Door- Creedence Clearwater Revival
Real Lyrics: Take a ride on the flying spoon.
My Lyrics: Take a ride on the lion's womb. (To doo doo)
I never worried about the fact that my version made no sense
because, well, the original doesn't make much more sense!
Anyway, I figured anyone doing those kind of drugs might not
be bothered by going back to the feline!
I figure that John Fogerty has to give Dylan a run for his
money on mumbled lyrics. I still am not sure of all the lyrics
for Traveling Band.
I really like your web site. I was interested that there is
actually a word for this phenom. I will pass this on to my
high school students. Perhaps we can get a contest going for
the best misunderstood lyrics.
Thanks, Lynn G
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Granted I know this was on your
list, but it must be told. During a car ride home from work,
our local station was having a contest by playing the a line
of a song and you had to guess the very next line in order
to win. This particular days song was "Deep
Purple's - Smoke on the water." And the DJ announced
the first lyric line "but some stupid with a flare gun
burned the place to the ground..." The very first caller
came on and proceeded to spout out the next line "Small
cousin Walter! An fire this guy!" Needless to say, the
DJ, his sidekick, the guy behind the glass and a few people
in the cars next to me were laughing hysterically! That definately
made my day. He didn't win the contest, but he did receive
some free tickets to something for his entertaining answer,
which he seriously thought the line was.
Thanks, Mika V
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Very cool website! I have to add my 2 cents:
Years ago, the wife of one of my best friends heard the
song "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" by
the Beatles on the radio. She started singing along (halfheartedly,
I might add) and when she got to the verse which actually
goes "..the girl with kaleidoscope
eyes", it actually came out of her mouth as
"...the girl with colitis goes
by"! When quizzed about why she thought the
Beatles were singing about a young lady with colon problems,
she said she assumed it had something to do with all the
pot they were smoking! Really!
-Phil
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You know, it isn't nice to make
fun of people who misunderstand lyrics. It is now recognized
as a disease. It's called 'Lyricosis'. My sister had. She
always thought the Beatles were singing "She's got a
chicken to ride and she don't care." And remember 'Justin,
the Wind' by Kansas? One of the most severe cases I know
of occurred in the mid 90's when, as a deejay at an oldies
radio station, I got a phone request from a kid who couldn't
have been more than twelve. He wanted to hear the "D**khead
Song". I asked him to sing a little bit of it for me.
So the kid sings, "Might as well face it I'm a D**khead
in Love" to the tune of Robert Palmer's "Addicted
to Love".
-Steve Gregory
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Hey, I just wanted to say that
I mishear more song lyrics than the average person...I don't
know whether I should take pride in that or not. One of my
most infamous ones was when I was about five, I really liked
the Beach Boys song that they'd play on the oldies station
that at the time I thought was called "Bop A Ram."
Though I enjoyed it, I always wondered why it was such a strange
topic to sing about...punching a male sheep is a pretty big
feat, what with its horns. It wasn't until I was 10 or 11
that I finally found out that the song's real title was "Barbara
Ann!"
More recently, over the past couple of years I've become a
huge, huge fan of The Cars after hearing "Just What I
Needed" on the classic rock radio station. They have
a song on their debut album called "I'm In Touch With
Your World," and Ric Ocasek slurs the second verse of
that song so much that it's almost impenetrable. The official
lyrics are:
I've been lying on your feathers
You keep talking 'bout the weather
I'm a psilocybin pony
You're a flick fandango phony
But I always thought it was:
I'm an island, only better
You keep talking 'bout the weather
I'm a suicidal poet
You're a big fat macaroni
Mainly it's because I didn't know how to pronounce "psilocybin"
at the time, and it really does sound like "suicidal"
when he sings it. I still sing it my way, merely because
I prefer it.
Let's hope your ears are less muddled than mine.
Cat
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We have a listener who thinks the
opening of
Help Me Rhonda by
The Beach Boys contains this lyric: "Well
since she put me down, there's been owls spewing in my bed"
The actual line was: "Well since
she put me down I’ve been out doin’ in my head"
...We also have a listener who requests "Secret Asian
Man" by Johnny Rivers instead of "Secret Agent Man".
Go figure.
- Mike Ray
(Eagle
106.9 KEGK-FM) |
The Song: Guantanamera
I was only a kid when I heard this one and I just assumed
it was in English. I heard:
"Once on a meadow, I dream of once
one a meadow..."
The real lyrics:
Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera Guantanamera
Guajira Guantanamera...
- Thanks SW!
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Hey, I've got a couple of my own
lyric faux pas for you. When I was a kid I used to watch Green
Acres on TV and always thought that Eva Gabor sang in the
show's theme song: "I just adore a pancause
view" instead of "I just adore a penthouse view." Listen
to it, that's still what it sounds like to me even though
I know better now! I also always thought that Manfred Mann
sang in their song "Blinded By The Light":
"Wrapped up like a douche, another roamer
in the night," instead of: "Revved up like a deuce, another
runner in the night." I still sing it the wrong way
just for laughs! ;o) I thought you might like to know my misheard
lyrics.
Thanks Rod!
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"Every girl's crazy 'bout
a shot glass man"
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
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I would do shots whenever I heard
that song in a bar.
Thanks Seadog!
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"You left You picked your
behind, And I kissed it a thousand times"
The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself
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'You left you're picture behind,
and I've kissed it a thousand times'
Thanks Howard!
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" donuts make my brown eyes
blue"
Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue - Crystal
Gayle
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"don't it make my brown eyes
blue"
- greg h. of gbg. PA |
"On a dark desert highway,
cool whip in my hair"
The Eagles - Hotel California
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"On a dark desert highway,
cool wind in my hair" |
"Excuse me while I kiss this
guy"
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze
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"Excuse me while I kiss the
sky" |
"That Wonderbra that she was
gonna keep"
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - American
Girl
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"She had one little promise
she was gonna keep"
Although a wonderbra is something pretty
American
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"I'm not talkin' 'bout a live-in"
OR
"I'm not talkin 'bout millennium" OR
"I'm not talkin' 'bout beliddian" OR
"I'm not talkin' 'bout a givin' in"
England Dan and John Ford Coley- I'd
Really Love To See You Tonight
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"I'm not talking 'bout moving
in"
We're not sure what the extra syllable
is though!
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She comes back to tell me she's
gone,
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed,
As if I'd never noticed,
The way she brushed her hair and farted
Paul Simon - Graceland
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She comes back to tell me she's
gone,
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed,
As if I'd never noticed,
The way she brushed her hair from forehead
Thanks Darren S!
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"Bald Headed Woman"
Bee Gees - More Than A Woman
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"More Than a Woman"
Thanks Argfam!
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"So take your records, take
your freedom
Take your Breath Mints I don't eat 'em
And take your cat and leave my sweater"
Keith Urban - You'll Think of Me
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"So take your records, take
your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
And take your cap and leave my sweater"
Thanks Kate!
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"Don't make me yodel"
Sybil - Don't Make Me Over
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"Don't Make Me Over"
Thanks Carmen!
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"Come to me with broken arms..."
Journey - Open Arms
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"Come to me with open arms..."
Thanks Cherise!
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"I'll never leave your pizza
burning"
Rolling Stones - Beast of Burden
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"I'll Never Be Your Beast
of Burden"
Thanks Michelle C!
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"It just takes some time,
little bit
of in the middle of the rhyme"
Jimmy Eats World - In The Middle
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"It just takes some time,
little girl
You're in the middle of the ride"
Thanks Nick!
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"Strummin' my brain with his
fingers...."
Lauryn Hill - Killing Me Softly
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"Strummin' my pain with his
fingers"
Thanks GreenMtGrandma!
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"Slow talking Walter, the
fire-engine guy"
Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water
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"Smoke on the Water, Fire
in the Sky"
Thanks, DOrr42Bsure!
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"the cross-eyed bear that
you gave to me"
Alanis Morrisette - You Outta Know
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"of the cross I bear, that
you gave
to me"
Thanks, clee13!
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"I put my cat in the kettle
what will I do? There's a little boy stuck with Daniel Boon"
Harry Chapin - Cat's In The Cradle
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"And the cat's in the cradle,
and the silver spoon, Little Boy Blue, and the Man in the
Moon"
Thanks, Mister Atom!
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"You are my type, but I could
be the one you ignore, if you just let me go"
Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
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"To you, I'm a toy but I could
be the boy you adore, If you'd just let me know"
Thanks, XoJerseyGirl!
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"Do the Funky Lady"
Aerosmith - Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
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"Dude Looks Like a Lady "
Thanks, monotonetrout!
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"I'm looking for a partner,
someone who gets things fixed
Ask yourself this question: Do you want to be a b*tch?"
Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's
Make Lots of Money)
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"I'm looking for a partner,
someone who gets things fixed
Ask yourself this question: Do you want to be rich?"
Thanks, Gina R!
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"It's like a bad movie, she's
looking groovy..."
Bowling For Soup - Girl all the Bad
Guys Want
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"It's like a bad movie, she's
looking through me"
Thanks, TayBrian1!
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"take your pants off and make
it happen"
Irene Cara - Flashdance (What A
Feeling)
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"take your passion and make
it happen"
Thanks, solarchariot!
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"And the ice in his hair,
sees the world spinning round"
Beatles -"Fool On The Hill"
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"And the eyes in his head,
sees the world spinning round"
Thanks, unohoo!
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"when we only had Black children,
when we argued for some White"
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
- If You Don't Know Me By Now
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"...when we only act like
children, when we argue, fuss, and fight"
Thanks, Keesha!
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"Little darling, I feel the
acid's slowly melting /
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear"
Beatles - Here Comes the Sun
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"Little darling, I feel the
ice is slowly melting /
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear"
Thanks, Livedo!
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"Jose can you see"
Francis Scott Key - Star Spangled
Banner
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"Oh say can you see"
Thanks, Tracy!
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"workin' on a knife wound"
Bob Seger - Night Moves
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"Workin' on the night moves"
Thanks, Tracey's Brother!
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"Secret Asian Man"
Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man
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"Secret Agent Man"
Thanks, JPorterF!
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"bring your nickels, tap your
feet"
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Down
on the Corner
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"Bringing this world happy
feet"
Thanks, Pisigmaa!
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"Red Room, Busted"
B-52s - Love Shack
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"Tin Roof , Rusted!"
Thanks, Holmark211!
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"I'm blue I'm beat up and
died" OR
"I'm blue I like to beat other guys" OR
"I'm blue if I was green I would I die."
Eiffel 65 - Blue
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"I'm blue da ba dee da ba
die..."
Thanks, VanGuireBlue & jenni715
& Suzi!
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"I blow bubbles when you are
not near" OR
"I wear goggles when you are not near"
Macy Gray
- I Try
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"My world crumbles when you're
not here"
Thanks, DOTTMAN!
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" I smell sex and candle lit
hair"
Marcy Playground- Sex and Candy
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"I smell sex and candy, yeah."
Thanks, Nerline & Brent!
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"God bless America, land that
I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with the light from a bulb"
Kate Smith- God Bless America
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"God bless America, land that
I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with the light from above" |
"When I needed sunshine on
my brain"
Monkees - I'm A Believer
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"When I needed sunshine I
got rain" |
"There's a bathroom on the
right"
Creedence Clearwater Revival- Bad
Moon Rising
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"There's a bad moon on the
rise" |
"I get knocked out..."
Chumbawumba - Tubthumping
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"I get knocked down..." |
"Bakin' carrot biscuits."
Bachman Turner Overdrive - Taking
Care of Business
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"Taking care of business"
Thanks, SSlaut!
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"I'm trying to catch my bike
again"
Linkin Park - Breaking The Habit
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"I'm trying to catch my breath
agian"
Thanks, Elvikin!
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"Give me the Beach Boys and
free my soul"... "Give me the beat boys and free
my soul" - my son's (7 yrs old) lyrics "give me
the meatballs and eat my bowl"
Dobie Gray - Drift Away
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"Give me the beat boys and
free my soul"
Thanks, Diane!
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"She seems to have an invisble
torture"
Genesis- "Invisible Touch"
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"She seems to have the invisble
touch" |
"Rock-a-bye baby, in the tree
top.
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall.
And down will come baby, cradle and all"
Children's Lullaby
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Those ARE the right words. If a
child heard and understood these lyrics, would he or she even
be able to sleep? |
"Everybody needs . . .a flashlight."
Rod Stewart - Passion
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"Everybody needs . . . passion
"
Thanks, CynFoll!
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"Wrapped up like a douche/Another
boner in the night"
Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded
By the Light
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"Revved up like deuce/Another
runner in the night." |
"I got my first real sex dream"
Bryan Adams - Summer of 69
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"I got my first real six string"
Thanks, Sebastian!
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"She swam by me she got a
cramp.
He ran by me got my Sudan."
Grease Soundtrack- Summer Nights
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"She swam by me she got a
cramp.
He ran by me got my suit damp." |
"Free your Lady Marmalade"
LaBelle (or Christina & co.)
- Lady Marmalade
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"Creole Lady Marmalade"
Thanks, Stacey!
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"Gunnin' down the old man
with a transistor radio"
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
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"Goin' down the old mine with
a transistor radio" |
"99 dead baboons, sitting
in my living room"
Nena - 99 Red Balloons
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"99 red balloons floating
in the summer sky"
Thanks, Mr Moohead!
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"It never rains in California...
Matadors..."
Albert Hammond - It Never Rains
In Southern California
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"It never rains in California...
Man it pours..." "
Thanks, SurfCityDJ!
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"We're In America, man ."
Grand Funk - We're An American Band
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"We're An American Band "
Thanks, HankM123!
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"It would take an eternity
to make us. Even the songs from a star couldn't break us."
Whitney Houston -"Your love
is my love"
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"It would take an eternity
to break us. Even the chains of Amistad couldn't hold us"
Thanks, TFBanker!
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"I need some more groceries"
Whitesnake - "Still of the
Night"
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"I need to be closer"
Thanks, BGadbury!
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"Hold me closer Tony Danza"
Elton John- Tiny Dancer
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"Hold me closer tiny dancer
"
Thanks, Dennis!
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