We all sang along to songs thinking that we were singing the correct lyrics, only to find out later that we had it wrong. For instance "The Promise" by When In Rome:
Actual lyric: I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say.
What I used to think they said: I'm sure but I'm just thinking that the ride was safe.
Another one, from "Every Breath You Take":
Actualy lyric: How my poor heart aches with every step you take.
What I used to think they said: I'm a fool of heartaches with every step you take.
"Wrapped up like a douche..."
My brother and I were at a Nationals game in October and the PA man was playing a song by a female singer that I thought was a song about wanting to be a stripper: "I just want to take, take, take, take, take, take it off, take it off."
I later learned that's not how the song goes, but I think I like my version better than the real words.
I knew a fellow who thought "More Than a Feeling" went "I see that derrière walking away." I think I like that better than the real words too.
Due to the PA being kind of quiet compared to the slot machines in a noisy casino, it's easy to mishear lyrics of songs you're not familiar with. They were playing The Who's "Eminence Front" pretty heavily for a while, and half of the department thought they were saying "Unlimited fuck".
Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" apparently had the line "There's a bad moon on the rise" misheard as "There's a bathroom on the right" so frequently that John Fogerty gave up and started singing the misheard lyric.
When I was a kid, I always used to think the line in You're So Vain was "There were clowns in my coffee, clowns in my coffee" instead of "clouds." And for years, I was convinced that the reason Arlo Guthrie was arrested for littering in the Alice's Restaurant Massacre' was because there were dead bodies in the trash they dumped over the cliff (said bodies being the reason that Alice and her husband hadn't taken out their garbage in a long time).
Collective Soul: "whoa, presidential election now" (it was 1996 after all)
Metallica: "sad patrol"
The Beatles: "sunday monkeys play piano ensemble"
I mentioned this in another music/song-related thread; when I first heard Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music as a kid during the mid-70s, I thought they were saying "Play that fu*@ing music...".
Quote from: PHLBOS on December 19, 2014, 02:09:06 PM
I mentioned this in another music/song-related thread; when I first heard Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music as a kid during the mid-70s, I thought they were saying "Play that fu*@ing music...".
Reminds me of the day my sister was reading the lyrics for
Convoy and suddenly exclaimed "Oh, it's "Roll that Truckin' Convoy!" I thought it was ....
Quote from: roadman on December 19, 2014, 02:57:26 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on December 19, 2014, 02:09:06 PM
I mentioned this in another music/song-related thread; when I first heard Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music as a kid during the mid-70s, I thought they were saying "Play that fu*@ing music...".
Reminds me of the day my sister was reading the lyrics for Convoy and suddenly exclaimed "Oh, it's "Roll that Truckin' Convoy!" I thought it was ....
If it makes it out over the air, the odds are very much against what you may have thought it was. For more, ask George Carlin.
Was it a shot at Tiran Porter when Michael McDonald wrote "The white man has the power" in "What a Fool Believes"?
Quote from: Brandon on December 19, 2014, 03:02:29 PM
Quote from: roadman on December 19, 2014, 02:57:26 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on December 19, 2014, 02:09:06 PM
I mentioned this in another music/song-related thread; when I first heard Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music as a kid during the mid-70s, I thought they were saying "Play that fu*@ing music...".
Reminds me of the day my sister was reading the lyrics for Convoy and suddenly exclaimed "Oh, it's "Roll that Truckin' Convoy!" I thought it was ....
If it makes it out over the air, the odds are very much against what you may have thought it was. For more, ask George Carlin.
Don't be so sure of that. When the song first came out (decades before the
CSI series); FM stations would play
Who Are You? by The Who
in its entirety, which included the phrase
"Oh who the f*@k are you?" towards the end of the song.
I've actually heard that lyric uncensored on FM radio recently.
Shouldn't this thread be titled "misheard lyrics", which we've been discussing? "Misinterpreted lyrics" would be when we get the words right, but the meaning wrong.
Cracklin Rosie. Thought it was a hooker but refers to a bottle of wine.
My girlfriend (now wife), mishearing AC/DC: "dirty jeans and the dungarees"
Quote from: vtk on December 19, 2014, 04:27:38 PM
Shouldn't this thread be titled "misheard lyrics", which we've been discussing? "Misinterpreted lyrics" would be when we get the words right, but the meaning wrong.
You got a point. I changed the title.
Credence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon on the Rise" often sounds like "Bathroom on the Right."
Quote from: Mr. Matté on December 18, 2014, 07:50:43 PM
"Wrapped up like a douche..."
I've heard that somewhere.
Quote from: Scott5114 on December 18, 2014, 09:44:22 PM
"Unlimited fuck"
Someone is going to have to make that song now.
Rod Stewart - Some Guys Have All The Luck
Actual lyrics: "Some guys do nothing but complain"
Misheard as: "Some guys do nothing but wank"
Thought of another in the car the other day when the song played: "Blind Woman from Tokyo."
Anyone else remember "Take your pants off and make it happen" from "Flashdance"?
Also, there's the song from England Dan & John Ford Coley where I thought they said, "I'm not talkin' 'bout the linen." I used to hear that song on the radio when I was growing up, and I thought it must have had something to do with the linens on a bed.
One of my favorites in the '90s was Depeche Mode singing, "I feel you...The toilet breaks."
But no popular song had as many misheard lines as "Holding On" by Steve Winwood. Practically every line was misheard in a hilarious way.
"Turn the beat around, let me hear her passion."
Given the rhythms I honestly thought this song was about a woman experiencing great pleasure during intimate activities, when in reality, it's just about dancing.
You are a pirate has a couple.
Many of us have a day off, so there's time for TV Tropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Mondegreen
A fun variation is Songs Commonly Called by the Wrong Title (Teenage Wasteland, Sending out an SOS, etc.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAuXa6Cgc7A
Or the recent Verizon commercials where they intentionally used people's subliminal mindset with the "half fast" internet or whatever they were talking about.
Quote from: golden eagle on December 18, 2014, 07:06:30 PM
We all sang along to songs thinking that we were singing the correct lyrics, only to find out later that we had it wrong. For instance "The Promise" by When In Rome:
Actual lyric: I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say.
What I used to think they said: I'm sure but I'm just thinking that the ride was safe.
In this song, which was heard frequently on the old wLAP-FM (when they weren't ripping LAP bunker blasts), I thought that line had something to do with "The 5 Man", who was a guy with a 5 on his shirt in an old Atari game I had.
I thought of a few more from the '70s: In the song "Alive Again" by Chicago, I thought the line "I am alive again" was "I am a lima bean." And in the song "December 1963" by the Four Seasons, I thought the opening line "Oh what a night" was "Oh one eye."
Surprised no one's mentioned "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" yet.
Even Flow by Pearl Jam. I've heard the entire thing sung with the wrong lyrics.
Losing My Religion by REM.
Should be "That's me in the corner", heard by many as "let's pee in the corner..." or some variation.
Dancing Queen by ABBA. When I first heard it, I thought it was about tangerines.
I just thought of a hilarious one, which was "Forever Man" by Eric Clapton. Back when that song was popular, everyone thought he said, "Won't you be my bald-headed woman, I'll try to be your bald-headed man."
Quote from: bandit957 on December 23, 2014, 08:55:06 PMBut no popular song had as many misheard lines as "Holding On" by Steve Winwood. Practically every line was misheard in a hilarious way.
Another song like this was "Heart Don't Fail Me Now" by Holly Knight. I don't what made me think of this just now, since I haven't heard it on the radio since I was 15. That song was full of misheard lyrics - some of them R-rated.
Earlier tonight, I heard "Head Over Heels" by the Go-Go's. I used think Belinda Carlisle was saying, "Get over here".
Quote from: golden eagle on January 04, 2015, 12:27:08 AM
Earlier tonight, I heard "Head Over Heels" by the Go-Go's. I used think Belinda Carlisle was saying, "Get over here".
There was a line in the chorus of that song where I used to think they said, "Just like the toilet and the sink."
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on December 31, 2014, 02:25:03 PM
Surprised no one's mentioned "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" yet.
Tiny Dancer from Elton John! That one made me LOL!
For a long time I thought the background vocals of "Eminence Front" said "Baby let's fuck!" (it's "eminence front")
Also thought Robert Plant sang "fuck a while with me" (it's "walk") in Over The Hills and Far Away for a time.
For about twenty years I thought Steve Winwood's "Valerie" was "Finally."
I keep hearing one line in Taylor Swift's Blank Space as "come on you Starbucks lovers".
"The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby & the Range:
Lyric: Standing in line, marking time, waiting for the welfare dime...
What I thought he said: Standing in line, monkeying time, waiting for a worthy dime...
Quote from: vdeane on January 08, 2015, 01:43:04 PM
I keep hearing one line in Taylor Swift's Blank Space as "come on you Starbucks lovers".
I hear that too. Just checked the lyrics and apparently it's "got a long list of ex-lovers".
I thought of one for another song you don't hear much on the radio anymore - "My Town" by the Michael Stanley Band. Real line: "Been down, but we still rock on." Misheard line: "Been down, but we steal a lot of gum."
For many years, I always heard a verse in the UB40 hit start off with "Red red wine, you've met my feet so fine, keep me rocking all of the time..."
Damn those Jamaicans and their charming accents!
(The actual line is "Red red wine, you've made me feel so fine, keep me rocking all of the time...")
"Lithium" by Nirvana...
Lyric: "We broke our mirrors, Sunday morning"
What I thought I heard: "Broke I'm is, Sunday morning"
I heard "Eminence Front" on the radio yesterday and couldn't help but think of this thread. I'm really glad I heard it on the way BACK from a job interview. Having "unlimited fuck" running through my head at the interview might have been a bad thing.
I remember when I first heard the song "Leader Of The Band" by Dan Fogelberg. The chorus went, "I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band." But when I first heard it, I thought he said, "I'm just a living magazine to the leader of the band."
I used to think that Quite Riot's Cum On Feel The Noise used to say "Girls fuck your boys" instead of what it really says "Girls rock your boys."
Then Pass The Dutchie I used to think that a woman's body part was being said instead of Dutchie.
Then the children's song John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt I first thought was John Jacob Jingleheimer Shit for a good reason. The kids in my first and second grade class would purposely sing the song that way. Then later on hearing the song for real on a recording is when I learned that a real song was recorded with that particular name minus the s word but with the proper s word.
Boys will be Boys by Paulina Rubio has a pretty hilarious one for those who have Spanish as mother language like me: Where she sings 'They like to play around', she appears to say 'Se la chupé a Ralph', which I don't dare to translate as is... suggestive :sombrero:.
Another good one is in the FC Barcelona anthem (written in Catalan): where it says 'Blaugrana al vent' (literally 'Blue-maroon to the wind') it appears to say 'Hala Madrid', so it appears to hail its archenemy Real Madrid :-D.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 14, 2015, 11:44:31 AM
I used to think that Quite Riot's Cum On Feel The Noise used to say "Girls fuck your boys" instead of what it really says "Girls rock your boys."
They mean the same thing, but one doesn't anger the censors.
Quote from: cl94 on January 14, 2015, 07:33:05 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on January 14, 2015, 11:44:31 AM
I used to think that Quite Riot's Cum On Feel The Noise used to say "Girls fuck your boys" instead of what it really says "Girls rock your boys."
They mean the same thing, but one doesn't anger the censors.
I remember AM radio and 'American Top 40' deleting the third verse. I don't know whether the commercial single was like that.
In The Who's "You Better You Bet" I always heard the second part of "You better love me all the time now/You better shove me back into line now" as "You better show me that kid's alive now," like some kind of challenge of claimed paternity.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on January 14, 2015, 09:37:13 PM
In The Who's "You Better You Bet" I always heard the second part of "You better love me all the time now/You better shove me back into line now" as "You better show me that kid's alive now," like some kind of challenge of claimed paternity.
I remember the line where I thought they said, "Your dog keeps picking my nose."
I bet nobody can name the song that produced this misheard lyric: "I put a booger in your root beer..."
Not sure if I mentioned this one yet or not, but that song "Panama" (Guessing that's by Van Halen? Too lazy to look it up.) I always heard as "Cannonball".
In the song 'Blinded By the Light' by Manfred Mann (mentioned upthread), the correct lyrics is "revved up like a deuce". A 'deuce' is a style of heavily modified street rod, usually using a pre-WWII two-door sedan or coupe as the base vehicle.
Also, in the song '1979' by Smashing Pumpkins, those are not definable words at all, just a repetitive form of vocal scat.
Mike
I always heard that line toward the end of Chicago's "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" as "question of life," and it was not until I heard a live version that I realized it was "question, 'Who am I?'"
Quote from: vtk on January 15, 2015, 09:11:53 AM
Not sure if I mentioned this one yet or not, but that song "Panama" (Guessing that's by Van Halen? Too lazy to look it up.) I always heard as "Cannonball".
Yeah, Van Halen, during the good years *ducks for cover*. When I first heard it I thought he said "animal". Another Roth-led Van Halen song I misheard the lyrics to was "Unchained". The chorus goes "Change, nothing stays the same, unchained". I heard "Change, nothing stays the same but change" at first.
There's a song that I think is by either The Police or Sting that plays at work sometimes, and the line I keep hearing in the chorus is "Larry (?) ain't a poor man". This is apparently not the lyrics, since the Goog didn't turn anything up for that when I searched. Anyone know what the lyrics are I'm mishearing?
Anybody mention Jimi Hendrix "Purple Haze" yet?
'scuse me, while I kiss this guy.
I also think in "We Will Rock You" by Queen they say
Kickin your cat all over the place
Quote from: Takumi on January 15, 2015, 01:10:22 PM
Quote from: vtk on January 15, 2015, 09:11:53 AM
Not sure if I mentioned this one yet or not, but that song "Panama" (Guessing that's by Van Halen? Too lazy to look it up.) I always heard as "Cannonball".
Yeah, Van Halen, during the good years *ducks for cover*. When I first heard it I thought he said "animal". Another Roth-led Van Halen song I misheard the lyrics to was "Unchained". The chorus goes "Change, nothing stays the same, unchained". I heard "Change, nothing stays the same but change" at first.
There's a song that I think is by either The Police or Sting that plays at work sometimes, and the line I keep hearing in the chorus is "Larry (?) ain't a poor man". This is apparently not the lyrics, since the Goog didn't turn anything up for that when I searched. Anyone know what the lyrics are I'm mishearing?
I'm going to guess "Canary In A Coal Mine".
Yep, that's it. Thanks.
Quote from: Takumi on January 15, 2015, 01:10:22 PM
Quote from: vtk on January 15, 2015, 09:11:53 AM
Not sure if I mentioned this one yet or not, but that song "Panama" (Guessing that's by Van Halen? Too lazy to look it up.) I always heard as "Cannonball".
Yeah, Van Halen, during the good years *ducks for cover*. When I first heard it I thought he said "animal".
When it came out, I heard "many more."
QuoteThere's a song that I think is by either The Police or Sting that plays at work sometimes, and the line I keep hearing in the chorus is "Larry (?) ain't a poor man". This is apparently not the lyrics, since the Goog didn't turn anything up for that when I searched. Anyone know what the lyrics are I'm mishearing?
"Canary in a coalmine."
Quote from: Takumi on January 15, 2015, 01:10:22 PM
"Change, nothing stays the same, unchained".
I always thought that was "Change, nothing stays the same;
aww change,
[something?] hit the ground running..."
Quote from: OCGuy81 on January 15, 2015, 01:38:53 PMI also think in "We Will Rock You" by Queen they say
Kickin your cat all over the place
I was thinking the same thing when I first heard that song when it debuted in 1977.
When I first heard the old 50s tune
At The Hop! (after seeing
American Graffiti when it was re-released in 1978); I thought one line was sung:
Where the jock itch is the smoothest and the music is the coolest at the hop.Actual lyric:Where the jockey is the smoothest and the music is the coolest at the hop.Another lyric from then same song:When the record stops spinnin', you can listen with a chicken at the hop.Actual lyric:When the record stops spinnin', you can chalypso when you chicken at the hop.
I'm all about the bass no trouble.
Quote from: J Route Z on January 15, 2015, 11:10:01 PM
I'm all about the bass no trouble.
About half the people I've heard mention or sing this line do so as you wrote it.
Quote from: cl94 on January 14, 2015, 07:33:05 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on January 14, 2015, 11:44:31 AM
I used to think that Quite Riot's Cum On Feel The Noise used to say "Girls fuck your boys" instead of what it really says "Girls rock your boys."
They mean the same thing, but one doesn't anger the censors.
Just like You Shook Me All Night Long by AC DC.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on January 16, 2015, 08:59:38 AM
Quote from: J Route Z on January 15, 2015, 11:10:01 PM
I'm all about the bass no trouble.
About half the people I've heard mention or sing this line do so as you wrote it.
Including my daughter, who likes to sing along to the radio each time she's listening!
OK, so count me as probably the only person in the world who's never heard that "All About The Bass" song.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 16, 2015, 02:06:28 PM
OK, so count me as probably the only person in the world who's never heard that "All About The Bass" song.
Consider yourself lucky. I heard people blasting it 4 times during my flights home from TRBAM today. Worse than Taylor Swift's gazillion breakup songs.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 16, 2015, 02:06:28 PM
OK, so count me as probably the only person in the world who's never heard that "All About The Bass" song.
It's very new. I don't think I've heard it either, but I've seen many references to it in social media. Kind of like how I had seen many people talk about Call Me Maybe before I finally heard it (and then I was surprised it was a female lead).
Quote from: vtk on January 16, 2015, 08:11:22 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 16, 2015, 02:06:28 PM
OK, so count me as probably the only person in the world who's never heard that "All About The Bass" song.
It's very new. I don't think I've heard it either, but I've seen many references to it in social media. Kind of like how I had seen many people talk about Call Me Maybe before I finally heard it (and then I was surprised it was a female lead).
Click if you dare (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk). Thinking about it makes my ears bleed.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 16, 2015, 02:06:28 PM
OK, so count me as probably the only person in the world who's never heard that "All About The Bass" song.
And you don't want to either. Ugh mainstream music nowadays...
Yeah, adult contemporary is usually pretty bad. People don't want to listen to the crappy music that came out months ago, so they're stuck with whatever crappy music was just released in the last few weeks. Maybe once or twice a year there's a song good enough to cross over to the mix stations and play along with the good old stuff for a while.
I'm surprised no one here has heard of the name for misheard song lyrics. They're called Mondegreens (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen).
Quote from: Zeffy on January 16, 2015, 08:18:17 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 16, 2015, 02:06:28 PM
OK, so count me as probably the only person in the world who's never heard that "All About The Bass" song.
And you don't want to either. Ugh mainstream music nowadays...
Since I have friends that like modern music, and since I have an Instagram account, I have unfortunately heard about that disaster of a song, but fortunately have never driven myself to actually listen to it. One time I was in the kitchen and I came across my
mom listening to that song and singing the lyrics out loud. Lord knows that was the weirdest stare I'd ever done at her. :rofl:
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on January 16, 2015, 11:37:26 PMSince I have friends that like modern music, and since I have an Instagram account, I have unfortunately heard about that disaster of a song, but fortunately have never driven myself to actually listen to it. One time I was in the kitchen and I came across my mom listening to that song and singing the lyrics out loud. Lord knows that was the weirdest stare I'd ever done at her. :rofl:
Hey, you can't argue with catchy. I was stuck on it for a week last summer (it's not all that "very new" anymore) and I'm a giant music snob.
Quote from: Zeffy on January 16, 2015, 08:18:17 PMUgh mainstream music nowadays...
Damn kids today! And get off my lawn!
I initially thought it was "trouble'', until I made the connection of bass and treble.
I used to always think that You Really Got Me by The Kinks had the line which said "Girl you really got me going" was that, but when I heard Van Halen's cover version I actually thought I heard it wrong as VH changed the line to "Girl you really got me now." Then when I checked out the original, I then discovered I did hear it correctly.
Also if you listen to A Day In The Life by The Beatles, it sounds like John Lennon singing the line "He was really from the house of Lords" as "He was really from the house of God." However, that is just a fluke in the recording as John Lennon was a well known Atheist, so I very hardly doubt that he would be purposely singing "God" and disguising it as "Lords" to sell more records.
The common mishearing/joke about "You Really Got Me" is the alternate interpretation "Gorilla Got Me," also the name of Boston's finest garage rock radio show.
Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks
Actual lyrics: a flood of tears That no one really ever heard fall at all
Somehow misheard as: a flood of T&A...
Speaking of T&A, that reminds me of a song from the 90s, in the pre-Google era. I forget what the song was, but it sounded like it was referring to a really strange sex act.
Song unknown (male singer)
Actual lyrics unknown
Lyrics misheard as: I've had a lot of titties up in my ass
Quote from: wxfree on January 17, 2015, 11:33:32 PM
Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks
Actual lyrics: a flood of tears That no one really ever heard fall at all
Somehow misheard as: a flood of T&A...
I always misheard it as "No one really ever heard you fart at all."
That song from a few years ago which may or may not be called "crash into me" is surprisingly sexual if you listen to the lyrics. The repeated line "hike up your skirt a little more; show your world to me" is just as lecherous as it sounds out of context. But that line sounds especially effed up when it's misheard as "hike up your skirt little boy; show your world to me", as I thought it was the first time I paid attention to the lyrics.
At least nowadays many artists if they want to convey political or sexual topics come right out and say it. I may not agree with their agenda, but at least they are straight forward about it you have to admit.
Michael Jackson's "Beach Party Summer" sounds really upbeat... until you pay attention to the lyrics and figure out it's not "beach party summer".
(and then it's like the song has a stroke. mama say mama saw m'ma moo saw, mama say mama saw m'momm usa...)
Quote from: vtk on February 01, 2015, 09:13:24 AM
Michael Jackson's "Beach Party Summer" sounds really upbeat... until you pay attention to the lyrics and figure out it's not "beach party summer".
(and then it's like the song has a stroke. mama say mama saw m'ma moo saw, mama say mama saw m'momm usa...)
Is this "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"? I was just thinking about this song yesterday. I always thought it was ridiculous that he yelled out "Hee ha!" at random points in the song. I used to think it was a reference to 'Hee Haw'.
Michael Jackson was indeed the King of Pop, but some of his music always got to me why he was singing it as it never fit his own MO.
Like hearing him sing with Paul McCartney in one song where both are having a friendly argument over a girl is one prime example. I think its mainly the beat that people get into not paying attention to what is said, but of course this one other song he did as duet with McCartney was a ballad so the beat did not stand out as much as the lyrics did.
AC/DC has also good songs I like for the rock sound, however when I heard the lyrics to Hells Bells it is supporting things I do not believe in personally. So I can understand how you can love a song for its sound when the lyrics to it can be so controversial.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 01, 2015, 02:51:54 PM
Michael Jackson was indeed the King of Pop, but some of his music always got to me why he was singing it as it never fit his own MO.
Like hearing him sing with Paul McCartney in one song where both are having a friendly argument over a girl is one prime example. I think its mainly the beat that people get into not paying attention to what is said, but of course this one other song he did as duet with McCartney was a ballad so the beat did not stand out as much as the lyrics did.
AC/DC has also good songs I like for the rock sound, however when I heard the lyrics to Hells Bells it is supporting things I do not believe in personally. So I can understand how you can love a song for its sound when the lyrics to it can be so controversial.
What about 'Big Balls'?
:wow:
Mike
Even Flow by Pearl Jam
I thought it was :
Blleeeee bub aga magga dagga something something teethin
It's actually:
Freezin', rests his head on a pillow made of concrete, again :bigass:
Here are a few of mine:
(wrong lyric in quotes right in italics)
"She's so funky yeah"
jeux sans frontieres
(from Peter Gabriel's song "Games without Frontiers"--the correct lyric is the French translation of the title)
"I ain't at your corner anymore"
I ain't in Checotah anymore
(from Carrie Underwood's "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" singing about her hometown of Checotah, OK)
Does anyone remember a group in the 80's called Accept? If so their one and only hit then was Balls to The Wall. I do imagine that song title and chorus line of the song was talking about part of the male anatomy in metaphor.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 03, 2015, 06:52:50 AM
Does anyone remember a group in the 80's called Accept? If so their one and only hit then was Balls to The Wall. I do imagine that song title and chorus line of the song was talking about part of the male anatomy in metaphor.
I loved Accept. "Balls to the Wall" was the first song of theirs I ever heard, but they had some other really good stuff, like the "Restless and Wild" and "Metal Heart" albums.
And their singer had one of the best heavy metal names ever -- Udo Dirkschneider. He left them for awhile but returned.
Quote from: golden eagle on December 18, 2014, 07:06:30 PM
We all sang along to songs thinking that we were singing the correct lyrics, only to find out later that we had it wrong. For instance "The Promise" by When In Rome:
Actual lyric: I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say.
What I used to think they said: I'm sure but I'm just thinking that the ride was safe.
Another one, from "Every Breath You Take":
Actualy lyric: How my poor heart aches with every step you take.
What I used to think they said: I'm a fool of heartaches with every step you take.
I used to know a guy who thought that line in Every Breath You Take was "I'm a pool hall ace."
VS980 4G
Quote from: hbelkins on February 03, 2015, 03:02:15 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 03, 2015, 06:52:50 AM
Does anyone remember a group in the 80's called Accept? If so their one and only hit then was Balls to The Wall. I do imagine that song title and chorus line of the song was talking about part of the male anatomy in metaphor.
I loved Accept. "Balls to the Wall" was the first song of theirs I ever heard, but they had some other really good stuff, like the "Restless and Wild" and "Metal Heart" albums.
And their singer had one of the best heavy metal names ever -- Udo Dirkschneider. He left them for awhile but returned.
Fast as a Shark!
Udo is out again. Mark Tornillo of TT Quick is their singer now. Their new stuff is great.
VS980 4G
Quote from: mgk920 on January 15, 2015, 10:41:31 AM
In the song 'Blinded By the Light' by Manfred Mann (mentioned upthread), the correct lyrics is "revved up like a deuce". A 'deuce' is a style of heavily modified street rod, usually using a pre-WWII two-door sedan or coupe as the base vehicle.
Also, in the song '1979' by Smashing Pumpkins, those are not definable words at all, just a repetitive form of vocal scat.
Mike
It sounds like "wrecked up like a douche" but the original Springsteen song is clearly "cut loose like a deuce"
Quote from: bandit957 on January 18, 2015, 12:57:27 AM
Quote from: wxfree on January 17, 2015, 11:33:32 PM
Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks
Actual lyrics: a flood of tears That no one really ever heard fall at all
Somehow misheard as: a flood of T&A...
I always misheard it as "No one really ever heard you fart at all."
In the chorus, I often misheard the words "white-winged dove" as "wild Ranger" and wondered why the Ranger was a female.
I thought of another one, this time in Tom Petty's "Learning To Fly". The actual line is, "Rocks might melt and the sea may burn." But I always thought he said, "Rocks might melt, we may see Big Bird."
Fleetwood Mac, Seven Wonders
Actual lyrics: Ooh, it might work out some day
Misheard as: Ooh, what if I put out some day
In some cases, those may not be really different things.
quote from roadman65:
Quote
Does anyone remember a group in the 80's called Accept? If so their one and only hit then was Balls to The Wall. I do imagine that song title and chorus line of the song was talking about part of the male anatomy in metaphor.
Yes. I have that song.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on January 25, 2015, 10:29:13 PM
I can't have been the only one who thought of this song, right? :pan:
Until I saw this post, I thought they sang 'A house in the middle of the street' instead of 'Our house in the middle of our street'.
I always misunderstood the chorus on REM song from album Murmur called Catapult. I hear "cattle prod" instead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0n4WXHQqBo
Uptown Funk has some misheard stuff even though its really Funk you can mistake it for Uptown Fuck in some parts.
Quote from: bing101 on February 08, 2015, 09:53:59 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0n4WXHQqBo
Uptown Funk has some misheard stuff even though its really Funk you can mistake it for Uptown Fuck in some parts.
I worked at the college radio station when I was in college, and this was in the era of the song "Get The Funk Out" by Extreme. One day, somebody called the station to complain because they thought the song was "Get The Fuck Out". One of our station managers argued with the person on the phone about it for about a half-hour.
In Taylor Swift's new song "Blank Space", according to AZLYRICS.com, it says "Got a long list of ex-lovers". I swear it sounds like she's saying "come on you Starbucks lovers".
Logically, I thought, no, she's saying "star-crossed lovers", because that saying would fit well with the theme of the song and video, so I was surprised by what azlyrics.com said it was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg)
Saw a replay of the Grammys last night which featured Jeff Lynne of ELO singing their old hit, "Medieval Woman." :bigass:
In Blake Shelton's "Maybe She Wouldn't Be Gone," I keep hearing "All I want to do is fix my Mustang" instead of "All I want to do is fix my mistakes." Totally changes the tone of the song.
I remember when I thought Diamond Rio was singing, "It's a long cold swim up against the Kermit."
Quote from the nature boy:
QuoteIn Blake Shelton's "Maybe She Wouldn't Be Gone," I keep hearing "All I want to do is fix my Mustang" instead of "All I want to do is fix my mistakes." Totally changes the tone of the song.
Both are understandable sentiments.
Also, if your woman just left, I could understand wanting to work on a car to get your mind off your problems.
I used to think the song "Long Tall Glasses" by Leo Sayer was about eyeglasses.
Because "Blank Space" hasn't been mentioned enough times... http://www.eonline.com/news/626444/starbucks-and-taylor-swift-know-you-got-that-blank-space-lyric-wrong?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories
The comments about the word "gay" in the General Highway Talk thread about "Things never said by roadgeeks" prompted me to think of this thread. Back when I was in high school, I knew at least five different people who heard "Give Peace a Chance" and thought John Lennon was saying, "Everybody's talking about faggots, faggots..." over and over again. Apparently (this is based on looking up the lyrics online since I can't understand what he's singing either!) he's rattling off a list of "-isms" (bagism, shagism, dragism, who knows what else). But for the past 25+ years, every time I've heard that song I can't help but hear "faggots."
I suppose it's fair to note Lennon used to make fun of Brian Epstein (who was indeed homosexual) by changing "Baby, You're a Rich Man Too" to "Baby, You're a Rich Fag Jew," so the notion of him using the full form of that word isn't totally implausible.
(BTW, I haven't censored this post, and I've worked around the board software, because the word in question isn't being used as a slur, but if the moderators want me to change it, I will.)
Thread bump, as I don't know if there has been another newer thread about this or not...
There's a Jonas Brothers song with a line, "dance in the living room." It was on one of the New Year's Eve specials last night. My wife said she and her sister heard it when they were out some time ago and it sounded like "ants in the living room."
I use to think that I wanna hold your hand by The Beatles they were singing I get high instead it was I can't hide.
"Rock and Roll Heaven" by the Righteous Brothers
Actual lyric: If you believe in forever
What I thought: If you be leavin' forever
Also, on this topic, when I was a kid our public library had these little books that were nothing but misheard lyrics. Some seemed kinda forced. A few random ones I can still remember:
"When a Man Loves a Walnut" - Percy Sledge
"I'm Your Penis" - Shocking Blue
"We Built This City on the Wrong Damn Road" - Starship
Quote from: Buck87 on January 01, 2020, 07:01:49 PM
"Rock and Roll Heaven" by the Righteous Brothers
Actual lyric: If you believe in forever
What I thought: If you be leavin' forever
Also, on this topic, when I was a kid our public library had these little books that were nothing but misheard lyrics. Some seemed kinda forced. A few random ones I can still remember:
"When a Man Loves a Walnut" - Percy Sledge
"I'm Your Penis" - Shocking Blue
"We Built This City on the Wrong Damn Road" - Starship
I always understood "If you believe in forever,..." "When A Man Loves A Walnut" seems like a stretch to me, then again, I knew Michael Bolton's version first, which probably helped. When I was in elementary school in the 80's, Bananarama's version of "Venus" was popular. The kids would always sing "I'm your penis" during recess.
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 18, 2014, 08:10:12 PM
I knew a fellow who thought "More Than a Feeling" went "I see that derrière walking away." I think I like that better than the real words too.
I thought it was "I see Librarians walking away" until I realized it was "I see Maid Marian walking away". I don't know the obsession with Robin Hood.
Quote from: bandit957 on February 14, 2015, 11:50:32 PM
I remember when I thought Diamond Rio was singing, "It's a long cold swim up against the Kermit."
For a laugh look at Kermit's video of "Once in a Lifetime"
I always sing "Take me down to the prairie dog city, where the grass green and the girls are pretty."
Quote from: kphoger on January 02, 2020, 03:20:55 PM
I always sing "Take me down to the prairie dog city, where the grass green and the girls are pretty."
(https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/paradise_city.png)
Quote from: Buck87 on January 01, 2020, 07:01:49 PM"I'm Your Penis" - Shocking Blue
Nice to know to know that I wasn't the only one who thought that song said that when I was a toddler.
"I'm your penis!...It's on fire!...You, have perspired!"? :-D (OK...something like that!)
When I first heard "Sledgehammer" (1986) by Peter Gabriel, I misheard one line. He sings "Show me round your fruit cage". I thought he was saying fruit cake. Not unless the lyrics about sex was for the holidays. :-P
Quote from: texaskdog on January 01, 2020, 09:43:19 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 18, 2014, 08:10:12 PM
I knew a fellow who thought "More Than a Feeling" went "I see that derrière walking away." I think I like that better than the real words too.
I thought it was "I see Librarians walking away" until I realized it was "I see Maid Marian walking away". I don't know the obsession with Robin Hood.
You may want to listen to it again.
"I see my Mary Ann walking away."
You may have heard of the great Beatles song - Take the Back Right Turn (Paperback Writer) :banghead: Oh to be a kid again....
Quote from: renegade on January 03, 2020, 01:55:41 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on January 01, 2020, 09:43:19 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 18, 2014, 08:10:12 PM
I knew a fellow who thought "More Than a Feeling" went "I see that derrière walking away." I think I like that better than the real words too.
I thought it was "I see Librarians walking away" until I realized it was "I see Maid Marian walking away". I don't know the obsession with Robin Hood.
You may want to listen to it again.
"I see my Mary Ann walking away."
Oops, Gilligan's Island, sorry!
CCR's Bad Moon Rising "There's a Bathroom on the Right". On Fogerty's new live CD he even sings it once.
Quote from: wxfree on January 17, 2015, 11:33:32 PM
Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks
Actual lyrics: a flood of tears That no one really ever heard fall at all
Somehow misheard as: a flood of T&A...
Just like the one winged dove
Quote from: texaskdog on January 03, 2020, 02:04:12 PM
CCR's Bad Moon Rising "There's a Bathroom on the Right". On Fogerty's new live CD he even sings it once.
I heard bathroom on the right as well...
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on January 02, 2020, 08:58:33 PM
"I'm your penis!...It's on fire!...You, have perspired!"? :-D (OK...something like that!)
When I first heard "Sledgehammer" (1986) by Peter Gabriel, I misheard one line. He sings "Show me round your fruit cage". I thought he was saying fruit cake. Not unless the lyrics about sex was for the holidays. :-P
You're saying he's
not saying fruit cake?
YUP! It's exactly what I'm saying. This is a good related read:
https://genius.com/Peter-gabriel-sledgehammer-lyrics
Rush's Spirit of Radio
Correct Lyric: Invisible airwaves crackle with life/ Brilliant antennae bristle with the energy
Misheard Lyric: Invisible airwaves crackle with life/ Playing Nintendo whistle with the energy
The Grateful Dead's Truckin'
Correct Lyric: Arrows of neon on flashing marquees out on Main Street
Misheard Lyric: Arrows of neon I'm flashing my keys out on Main Street
"You See in the Sky with Fire" (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds)
"Ribeye, Wholesome, Listen to the Band" (If I only listen to the band)
"Bread and Butter Bread and Butter" (ZZ Top-La Grange)
"here we are now, entertainers" (Nirvana)
Quote from: texaskdog on January 04, 2020, 04:43:33 AM
"You See in the Sky with Fire" (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds)
"Ribeye, Wholesome, Listen to the Band" (If I only listen to the band)
"Bread and Butter Bread and Butter" (ZZ Top-La Grange)
"here we are now, entertainers" (Nirvana)
I just heard Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds on the radio yesterday. It was part of a quiz. The question was in Elton John's cover of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds who played rhythm guitar? If I had called in I would have got it right it was John Lennon there were people guessing George Harrison and Eric Clapton. I'm thinking to myself those are lead guitarists not Rhythm guitarists.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on January 04, 2020, 01:45:48 AM
Rush's Spirit of Radio
Correct Lyric: Invisible airwaves crackle with life/ Bright antennae bristle with the energy
FIFY
Jimmy Castor Bunch - Troglodyte (Cave Man):
Incorrect lyric: Dynamite Woman (repeat 3 times)
Correct lyric: Gotta find a woman (repeat 3 times)
So here's one I just tonight realized I was hearing wrong...
I'm not very familiar with Judas Priest, and I tend to kinda zone out during commercials and not pay very close attention to them......so for the past couple weeks I was thinking the song in one of the Aaron Rodgers State Farm Commercials was saying "Frankie Malone! Frankie Malone!"
It's "Breaking the law! Breaking the law!"
Hearing Wilco's "You and I" I always think "you will die" for some reason.
I actually had some classmates of mine make fun of the song Pass The Dutchie On The Left Hand Side and insert "Pussy" for Dutchie. Did not know of the song on radio, but when I did I actually believed that was the lyric of the song, and felt another group busted the censorship barrier once again. Yes, REO Speedwagon in Tough Guys said the word shit that made a controversy. Then Good ole Charlie Daniels with his Devil Went Down To Georgia song and using the line "SOB" that had some stations play the edited version that Daniels was forced to make a change to Son of a Gun to please the public of a time where certain things were like forbidden.
Funny as Charlie Daniels now is born again and sings songs about God. Ironic that he of all took part in changing public radio despite the censorship was cause of the Judeo Christian values this country used in the decades before he now embraces in his own personal life. Then again the Producer of The Passion appeared in Lethal Weapon with his bare ass to the world.
Anyway, the song Blinded By The Light has some people mistaking the lyrics considering that Manfred Mann and Springsteen both have somewhat different lines in the song. I believe Earlie Curly Worly in the original Bruce song was a different name than what Manfred Mann used. Then at first I always thought wrapped up like a duce was wrapped up like a douche.
Only in one song by Prince you are not hearing things. There is Pussy Control that is what you hear.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 07, 2020, 02:08:27 PM
I actually had some classmates of mine make fun of the song Pass The Dutchie On The Left Hand Side and insert "Pussy" for Dutchie. Did not know of the song on radio, but when I did I actually believed that was the lyric of the song, and felt another group busted the censorship barrier once again. Yes, REO Speedwagon in Tough Guys said the word shit that made a controversy. Then Good ole Charlie Daniels with his Devil Went Down To Georgia song and using the line "SOB" that had some stations play the edited version that Daniels was forced to make a change to Son of a Gun to please the public of a time where certain things were like forbidden.
Funny as Charlie Daniels now is born again and sings songs about God. Ironic that he of all took part in changing public radio despite the censorship was cause of the Judeo Christian values this country used in the decades before he now embraces in his own personal life. Then again the Producer of The Passion appeared in Lethal Weapon with his bare ass to the world.
Anyway, the song Blinded By The Light has some people mistaking the lyrics considering that Manfred Mann and Springsteen both have somewhat different lines in the song. I believe Earlie Curly Worly in the original Bruce song was a different name than what Manfred Mann used. Then at first I always thought wrapped up like a duce was wrapped up like a douche.
Only in one song by Prince you are not hearing things. There is Pussy Control that is what you hear.
Pass by "in his Curly Wurly"...I think
Thanks Prince if you've ever had an uber passenger pee in your car you'd appreciate that.
Quote
Funny as Charlie Daniels now is born again and sings songs about God. Ironic that he of all took part in changing public radio despite the censorship was cause of the Judeo Christian values this country used in the decades before he now embraces in his own personal life. Then again the Producer of The Passion appeared in Lethal Weapon with his bare ass to the world.
Anyway, the song Blinded By The Light has some people mistaking the lyrics considering that Manfred Mann and Springsteen both have somewhat different lines in the song. I believe Earlie Curly Worly in the original Bruce song was a different name than what Manfred Mann used. Then at first I always thought wrapped up like a duce was wrapped up like a douche.
I always thought that Charlie Daniels' reference to the Devil as an SOB was grounded in piety for God and contempt for the Devil. I haven't heard him sing the song live in a while, so I don't know how he renders it today.
You are right that Manfred Mann's and Springsteen's lyrics differ. For one, Manfred Mann uses only about *HALF* of Springsteen's lyrics.
"... And Little Early Pearly came by in *HER* curly wurly and asked me, if I needed a ride." undergoes a gender swap in the Manfred Mann version. It becomes "... in *HIS* curly wurly ..." which is actually incredulous. "An short in stature African-American prostitute with really white teeth drove up to solicit me in a big 50s-era American-tagged car with huge fins."
"... Take a right at the light and keep going straight until night and after that you're on your own"
"Some hazard from Harvard was skunked on beer playing backyard bombardier"
"Some fresh-sown moonstone was messing with his frozen zone to remind him of the feeling of romance"
"Flesh-pot mascot whispered 'Daddy's within earshot' Save the buckshot! Turn up the band!"
"Scotland Yard was trying hard. They sent some dude with a calling card. He said 'Do what you like, but don't do it here.'"
Quote from: roadman65 on January 07, 2020, 02:08:27 PM
I actually had some classmates of mine make fun of the song Pass The Dutchie On The Left Hand Side and insert "Pussy" for Dutchie. Did not know of the song on radio, but when I did I actually believed that was the lyric of the song, and felt another group busted the censorship barrier once again.
There actually was a change to clean up the lyrics in "Pass The Dutchie". The original version was titled "Pass The Kouchie", where "kouchie" is slang for a marijuana pipe. As the version most of are familiar with was being recorded by a group of teenagers, it was felt a song with drug related lyrics was inappropriate. Hence the change to "Dutchie" which was slang for a cooking pot.
Quote from: dlsterner on January 07, 2020, 11:02:28 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on January 07, 2020, 02:08:27 PM
I actually had some classmates of mine make fun of the song Pass The Dutchie On The Left Hand Side and insert "Pussy" for Dutchie. Did not know of the song on radio, but when I did I actually believed that was the lyric of the song, and felt another group busted the censorship barrier once again.
There actually was a change to clean up the lyrics in "Pass The Dutchie". The original version was titled "Pass The Kouchie", where "kouchie" is slang for a marijuana pipe. As the version most of are familiar with was being recorded by a group of teenagers, it was felt a song with drug related lyrics was inappropriate. Hence the change to "Dutchie" which was slang for a cooking pot.
I remember interviews with the singers and they couldn't say they were singing about a cooking pot with a straight face.
Quote from: Rothman on January 07, 2020, 11:42:55 PM
Quote from: dlsterner on January 07, 2020, 11:02:28 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on January 07, 2020, 02:08:27 PM
I actually had some classmates of mine make fun of the song Pass The Dutchie On The Left Hand Side and insert "Pussy" for Dutchie. Did not know of the song on radio, but when I did I actually believed that was the lyric of the song, and felt another group busted the censorship barrier once again.
There actually was a change to clean up the lyrics in "Pass The Dutchie". The original version was titled "Pass The Kouchie", where "kouchie" is slang for a marijuana pipe. As the version most of are familiar with was being recorded by a group of teenagers, it was felt a song with drug related lyrics was inappropriate. Hence the change to "Dutchie" which was slang for a cooking pot.
I remember interviews with the singers and they couldn't say they were singing about a cooking pot with a straight face.
How does it feel when you've got no food?
In the live version of Jerry Jeff Walker's LA Freeway, I originally thought he was singing "Forty boxes of vanilla wafers" instead of "A moldy box of vanilla wafers". Finally realized what the line was when I heard the studio version some years later.
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
actual line: "Oh what can it mean"
what I thought as a kid: "Owatt County Queen"
I just thought of two:
When I was six, I asked my parents if they had ever heard of the song about the Owl. You know, "She's a great....OWWWWWLLL" rather than Brick House, by the Commodores.
And I frequent an Italian restaurant who I thought at first was playing some song about a paper latte, when it actually was the Sicilian Folk Song, Eh Cumpari (sp?)
And, until I tried to sing (quite badly, I admit) Shinedown's Sound of Madness at karaoke, I thought Brent Smith was singing "you've been bitten, by a social disease, well, here's your medicine"
It's actually INFECTED by a social disease
On Saturday I was on my way back from the grocery store when "Drift Away" came on the radio. The first few times I heard that song way back when, I thought it sounded like "Give me the Beach Boys and free my soul ...."
Neither of these make any sense but when I was a kid it's what I thought they said.
In "Africa" instead of there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do, I heard, there's nothing that a hundred men on board could ever do.
In "Another Brick in the Wall Part II" instead of All in all you're just another brick in the wall, I heard, all in all you're just a mother breakin' the law.
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 05, 2020, 08:00:34 AM
On Saturday I was on my way back from the grocery store when "Drift Away" came on the radio. The first few times I heard that song way back when, I thought it sounded like "Give me the Beach Boys and free my soul ...."
I used to think the same thing when I heard that song as a kid.
Quote from: roadman on February 05, 2020, 09:08:03 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 05, 2020, 08:00:34 AM
On Saturday I was on my way back from the grocery store when "Drift Away" came on the radio. The first few times I heard that song way back when, I thought it sounded like "Give me the Beach Boys and free my soul ...."
I used to think the same thing when I heard that song as a kid.
Makes that terrible song better
Quote from: cabiness42 on February 05, 2020, 08:11:31 AM
Neither of these make any sense but when I was a kid it's what I thought they said.
In "Africa" instead of there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do, I heard, there's nothing that a hundred men on board could ever do.
Africa is a terrible one. I test the brains down in Africa.
Quote from: texaskdog on February 05, 2020, 10:24:31 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on February 05, 2020, 08:11:31 AM
Neither of these make any sense but when I was a kid it's what I thought they said.
In "Africa" instead of there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do, I heard, there's nothing that a hundred men on board could ever do.
Africa is a terrible one. I test the brains down in Africa.
I know a guy whose daughter thought it was "I left my brains down in Africa."
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 05, 2020, 08:00:34 AM
On Saturday I was on my way back from the grocery store when "Drift Away" came on the radio. The first few times I heard that song way back when, I thought it sounded like "Give me the Beach Boys and free my soul ...."
Same.
Also all of the nonsensical lyrics mishears that I had with Killer Queen by Queen. After seeing a lyric list it made sense - I've heard of real-life women around here who were like that (and that I very thankfully never got wound up with).
:-o
Mike
This thread is back? Okay, here are my top two:
"On A Plain" by Nirvana: For a long time, I thought I heard, "The finest day that I ever had was when I learned to cry like a man," but it's actually "...cry on command." I think my misinterpretation kind of makes sense, though.
When I was a kid, I thought "Everybody Plays the Fool" was "Everybody Plays the Flute." Don't laugh. Okay, laugh.
Quote from: texaskdog on February 05, 2020, 10:24:31 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on February 05, 2020, 08:11:31 AM
Neither of these make any sense but when I was a kid it's what I thought they said.
In "Africa" instead of there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do, I heard, there's nothing that a hundred men on board could ever do.
Africa is a terrible one. I test the brains down in Africa.
That's kind of a "guilty pleasure" song, like "Hotel California." Weezer didn't help, though.
She's Just My Style by Gary Lewis & The Playboys
actual line: "Oh it makes me want to tell her that I care"
what I heard: "Oh it makes me want to tell her that I'm gay"
In Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men, I have always heard "cause though the truth may vary, this shit will carry on". Couldn't figure out why the radio stations weren't censoring it...until I found out the actual lyrics.
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 05, 2020, 08:00:34 AM
On Saturday I was on my way back from the grocery store when "Drift Away" came on the radio. The first few times I heard that song way back when, I thought it sounded like "Give me the Beach Boys and free my soul ...."
I always heard "give me the people..."
Quote from: stridentweasel on February 15, 2020, 11:47:35 PM
This thread is back? Okay, here are my top two:
"On A Plain" by Nirvana: For a long time, I thought I heard, "The finest day that I ever had was when I learned to cry like a man," but it's actually "...cry on command." I think my misinterpretation kind of makes sense, though.
When I was a kid, I thought "Everybody Plays the Fool" was "Everybody Plays the Flute." Don't laugh. Okay, laugh.
Quote from: texaskdog on February 05, 2020, 10:24:31 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on February 05, 2020, 08:11:31 AM
Neither of these make any sense but when I was a kid it's what I thought they said.
In "Africa" instead of there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do, I heard, there's nothing that a hundred men on board could ever do.
Africa is a terrible one. I test the brains down in Africa.
That's kind of a "guilty pleasure" song, like "Hotel California." Weezer didn't help, though.
Weezer has become synonymous with crappy lifeless cover songs
The song "Emergency" by Girlschool, and later done by Motorhead, always threw me. I didn't know that 999 is the British equivalent of our 911. So I always thought the line was "night night night, emergency" instead of "nine nine nine."
ELO at the end of the 1977 song Mr. Blue Sky in its last line as the song fades out, a vocoder appears to have the song title synthesized but in reality it is saying "Turn me over."
The turn request is to when the vinyl albums had sides and Mr. Blue Sky was the last song on side three of the double LP where side four was on the reverse side. So the band was saying to turn the record over to listen to more songs.
Tom Petty on Full Moon Fever did that at the end of side one, but included the message that if you were listening to it on CD, you did not have to do that.
something that came in the mail recently reminded me of another one...
Annie's Song by John Denver
actual lyric: "You fill up my senses"
what I heard "You fill out my census"
Quote from: roadman65 on March 16, 2020, 11:45:50 PM
ELO at the end of the 1977 song Mr. Blue Sky in its last line as the song fades out, a vocoder appears to have the song title synthesized but in reality it is saying "Turn me over."
The turn request is to when the vinyl albums had sides and Mr. Blue Sky was the last song on side three of the double LP where side four was on the reverse side. So the band was saying to turn the record over to listen to more songs.
Tom Petty on Full Moon Fever did that at the end of side one, but included the message that if you were listening to it on CD, you did not have to do that.
"Hello, CD Listeners. We have come to the point in this album when those listening on cassette or records will have to stand up, or sit down, and turn over the record, or tape. In fairness to those listeners, we will now take a few seconds before we begin Side Two. [Brief pause] Thank you. Here's Side Two."
I once sequenced that near the end of the first side of a mixed tape, except I didn't get it right at the end of the side, so I cut it off after he said "before we begin Side Two" and then stuck the Who's "Heinz Baked Beans" fake commercial in to end the side.
Quote from: Buck87 on March 22, 2020, 09:55:46 AM
something that came in the mail recently reminded me of another one...
Annie's Song by John Denver
actual lyric: "You fill up my senses"
what I heard "You fill out my census"
This is awesome.
AC/DC Big Balls: "Well I never ever class high society" is really "Well I'm rather upper class high society"
Chili Peppers' "In the Burgess Shale it's a lonely view" is actually "With the birds I'll share this lonely view"
Sad 5-eyed Opabinia hanging out:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Opabinia_regalis_life_restoration.jpg)
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille. 400 children and a crock in the field.
I was more confused by why there would be a crocodile in the field than that she had 400 children.
Very briefly when I was a kid, I heard "Jet" and they were clearly singing about someone so I thought it was "Jeff"
Quote from: texaskdog on March 23, 2020, 12:13:56 PM
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille. 400 children and a crock in the field.
I was more confused by why there would be a crocodile in the field than that she had 400 children.
Not misheard, but humorous alternate lyrics:
You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel. 400 broken bones as I crashed in the field.
Quote from: spooky on March 26, 2020, 11:00:28 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on March 23, 2020, 12:13:56 PM
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille. 400 children and a crock in the field.
I was more confused by why there would be a crocodile in the field than that she had 400 children.
Not misheard, but humorous alternate lyrics:
You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel. 400 broken bones as I crashed in the field.
Thank you Weird Al
Quote from: spooky on March 26, 2020, 11:00:28 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on March 23, 2020, 12:13:56 PM
You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille. 400 children and a crock in the field.
I was more confused by why there would be a crocodile in the field than that she had 400 children.
Not misheard, but humorous alternate lyrics:
You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel. 400 broken bones as I crashed in the field.
Anytime a wheel came off a car during a Fox-broadcast NASCAR race from 2001 until last year, Darrell Waltrip would sing "You picked a fine time to leave me, loose wheel."
Quote from: kurumi on March 22, 2020, 02:27:10 PM
Chili Peppers' "In the Burgess Shale it's a lonely view" is actually "With the birds I'll share this lonely view"
I thought that it was "The trebuchet is alone with you!"
Carole King "Jazzman" I thought it was Jasmine
Quote from: texaskdog on March 30, 2020, 12:27:53 AM
Carole King "Jazzman" I thought it was Jasmine
On this tangent, when I would hear Seals and Croft's "Summer Breeze" I thought it was "jazz club in my mind" , not "jasmine" .
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 30, 2020, 12:29:28 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on March 30, 2020, 12:27:53 AM
Carole King "Jazzman" I thought it was Jasmine
On this tangent, when I would hear Seals and Croft’s “Summer Breeze” I thought it was “jazz club in my mind”, not “jasmine”.
good one
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 30, 2020, 12:29:28 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on March 30, 2020, 12:27:53 AM
Carole King "Jazzman" I thought it was Jasmine
On this tangent, when I would hear Seals and Croft's "Summer Breeze" I thought it was "jazz club in my mind" , not "jasmine" .
In HS when this came out, we heard "Jazz man in my mind" because no one knew what jasmine was. We played with the car radio to try to make it come out clearer. It only made sense when someone knew that jasmine was a flower.
I heard it as "jazz band," which was something I could identify with, as I played in a high school ensemble we called the "Stage Band," which was at its heart, a jazz band.
Not a song... But during an NPR station's report the other day about educational materials for kids stuck at home, I misheard "resources" as "race horses", lmao.
I was watching an episode of Later with Jools Holland couple of weeks back, and one of the bands they were featuring was singing a song, I thought was about Zambonis.
Evidently, it wasn't Zambonis, but Side Pony...
Earlier today during a discussion on a Looney Tunes FB page, I discovered that, for over fifty years, I've been misquoting the lyrics to one of my favorite TV themes, the 'Overture' opening from the old Saturday morning Bugs Bunny Road Runner Show. Since I first saw it as a kid, I always thought the opening line was "Overture. Turn the Lights. This is it, the Night of Nights!" It's actually "Overture! Curtain! Lights!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GpbY8df3Zo
Starbucks lovers in Taylor Swifts Blank Space is one of the more famous ones.
Quote from: roadman on May 06, 2020, 11:16:16 PM
Earlier today during a discussion on a Looney Tunes FB page, I discovered that, for over fifty years, I've been misquoting the lyrics to one of my favorite TV themes, the 'Overture' opening from the old Saturday morning Bugs Bunny Road Runner Show. Since I first saw it as a kid, I always thought the opening line was "Overture. Turn the Lights. This is it, the Night of Nights!" It's actually "Overture! Curtain! Lights!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GpbY8df3Zo
Don't be so hard on yourself. You were just a kid!
I used to think the term "Fateful Trip" in the Ballad of Gilligan's Island was "Faithful Trip."
Elton John's Bennie and the Jets. "She's got electric boots, a mohair suit..."
I always thought it was "She's got electric boobs, a motor suit..."
On another forum I visit, someone posted something about Tropical Storm Bertha, which of course prompted someone to quote lyrics from the Grateful Dead's song of that name.
One of the guys there says he originally misheard the lyric "I had a hard run." I assume you can guess what he heard. I imagine now I will hear his lyric every time I hear that song!
When I first looked up the lyrics for the main verse of "Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John, I realized it would have taken me multiple lifetimes to figure out what he was saying:
So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough
Back to the howling, old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny-back toad
Oh, I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
Quote from: PHLBOS on December 19, 2014, 03:23:24 PM
Quote from: Brandon on December 19, 2014, 03:02:29 PM
Quote from: roadman on December 19, 2014, 02:57:26 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on December 19, 2014, 02:09:06 PM
I mentioned this in another music/song-related thread; when I first heard Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music as a kid during the mid-70s, I thought they were saying "Play that fu*@ing music...".
Reminds me of the day my sister was reading the lyrics for Convoy and suddenly exclaimed "Oh, it's "Roll that Truckin' Convoy!" I thought it was ....
If it makes it out over the air, the odds are very much against what you may have thought it was. For more, ask George Carlin.
Don't be so sure of that. When the song first came out (decades before the CSI series); FM stations would play Who Are You? by The Who in its entirety, which included the phrase "Oh who the f*@k are you?" towards the end of the song.
The funny thing about that lyric is that Pete Townshend never wrote it at all, but it still found its way into the song. He originally intended it to be sung as "Who, who, who are you?" However, Roger Daltrey, the band's lead singer, took a more aggressive approach with the infamous "Who the fuck are you?" line, and the rest fell into place.
Another great example of songs played with profanities that became more common in music since they were first recorded is the 1973 Pink Floyd song Money, which contains the line "Don't give me that do goody-good bullshit". Of course, you'd be more likely to hear "fuck" and "shit", along with their variants, on today's rock/metal and rap/hip-hop songs.
Quote from: Henry on May 28, 2020, 10:01:44 AM
the 1973 Pink Floyd song Money
You know, I just heard that song on the car radio yesterday. For the first time, I decided to really concentrate and figure out the time, and I came to a realization: A large amount of the song, including the best-known parts with words–is in 7/4 time. I wonder if it's the most popular song with such an extensive use of 7/4 time.
Quote from: kphoger on May 28, 2020, 01:44:55 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 28, 2020, 10:01:44 AM
the 1973 Pink Floyd song Money
You know, I just heard that song on the car radio yesterday. For the first time, I decided to really concentrate and figure out the time, and I came to a realization: A large amount of the song, including the best-known parts with words–is in 7/4 time. I wonder if it's the most popular song with such an extensive use of 7/4 time.
"Tom Sawyer" uses 7/4 in the bridge. Although it might be 2 bars of 7/8 instead.
Quote from: Hwy 61 Revisited on May 28, 2020, 02:58:05 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 28, 2020, 01:44:55 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 28, 2020, 10:01:44 AM
the 1973 Pink Floyd song Money
You know, I just heard that song on the car radio yesterday. For the first time, I decided to really concentrate and figure out the time, and I came to a realization: A large amount of the song, including the best-known parts with words–is in 7/4 time. I wonder if it's the most popular song with such an extensive use of 7/4 time.
"Tom Sawyer" uses 7/4 in the bridge. Although it might be 2 bars of 7/8 instead.
That song hit #44 on Billboard, whereas
Money hit #13.
Quote from: STLmapboy on May 27, 2020, 10:44:18 PM
Elton John's Bennie and the Jets. "She's got electric boots, a mohair suit..."
I always thought it was "She's got electric boobs, a motor suit..."
I heard "She's gotta let me choose, I know Jesús." I figured it wasn't correct, but never cared enough to look up the correct line.
I used to think the chorus of 21 Pilots' "Heathens" went like this:
"All my friends are eating steak, it's slow"
It actually says this:
"All my friends are heathens take it slow" :D
REM's smash hit "Shiny Happy People Fucking." I knew that wasn't how it went, but at the same time I couldn't get it out of my head once I thought of it.
Quote from: STLmapboy on June 19, 2020, 08:56:44 PM
REM's smash hit "Shiny Happy People Fucking." I knew that wasn't how it went, but at the same time I couldn't get it out of my head once I thought of it.
Slightly off topic, but have you heard anything off "˜Chronic Town'?
Quote from: kevinb1994 on June 19, 2020, 09:01:36 PM
Quote from: STLmapboy on June 19, 2020, 08:56:44 PM
REM's smash hit "Shiny Happy People Fucking." I knew that wasn't how it went, but at the same time I couldn't get it out of my head once I thought of it.
Slightly off topic, but have you heard anything off "˜Chronic Town'?
Yeah, "Gardening at Night." I'm more familiar with their later stuff though.
For the longest time after it came out, I always heard that well known Go-Gos song as something on the lines of 'Honest Lucille'.
:spin:
Mike
Quote from: kphoger on May 28, 2020, 03:11:47 PM
Quote from: Hwy 61 Revisited on May 28, 2020, 02:58:05 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 28, 2020, 01:44:55 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 28, 2020, 10:01:44 AM
the 1973 Pink Floyd song Money
You know, I just heard that song on the car radio yesterday. For the first time, I decided to really concentrate and figure out the time, and I came to a realization: A large amount of the song, including the best-known parts with words—is in 7/4 time. I wonder if it's the most popular song with such an extensive use of 7/4 time.
"Tom Sawyer" uses 7/4 in the bridge. Although it might be 2 bars of 7/8 instead.
That song hit #44 on Billboard, whereas Money hit #13.
shows you how much charts, mean, New World Man was Rush's biggest hit
Quote from: STLmapboy on June 20, 2020, 11:27:14 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on June 19, 2020, 09:01:36 PM
Quote from: STLmapboy on June 19, 2020, 08:56:44 PM
REM's smash hit "Shiny Happy People Fucking." I knew that wasn't how it went, but at the same time I couldn't get it out of my head once I thought of it.
Slightly off topic, but have you heard anything off ‘Chronic Town’?
Yeah, "Gardening at Night." I'm more familiar with their later stuff though.
REM 1981-1987 was so good. After that the only one I like is Automatic for the People. they should have broken up years earlier. The early stuff is awesome though.
Quote from: texaskdog on June 21, 2020, 11:58:11 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 28, 2020, 03:11:47 PM
Quote from: Hwy 61 Revisited on May 28, 2020, 02:58:05 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 28, 2020, 01:44:55 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 28, 2020, 10:01:44 AM
the 1973 Pink Floyd song Money
You know, I just heard that song on the car radio yesterday. For the first time, I decided to really concentrate and figure out the time, and I came to a realization: A large amount of the song, including the best-known parts with words–is in 7/4 time. I wonder if it's the most popular song with such an extensive use of 7/4 time.
"Tom Sawyer" uses 7/4 in the bridge. Although it might be 2 bars of 7/8 instead.
That song hit #44 on Billboard, whereas Money hit #13.
shows you how much charts, mean, New World Man was Rush's biggest hit
The Grateful Dead's Estimated Prophet is also in 7/4 time.
Quote from: mgk920 on June 21, 2020, 10:07:26 PM
For the longest time after it came out, I always heard that well known Go-Gos song as something on the lines of 'Honest Lucille'.
:spin:
Mike
I thought it was "Honest, I see you."
Here's an oldie for me ... for the longest time, I thought the line in "Iron Man" was "Ozzy lost his mind..."
Quote from: roadman on May 06, 2020, 11:16:16 PM
Earlier today during a discussion on a Looney Tunes FB page, I discovered that, for over fifty years, I've been misquoting the lyrics to one of my favorite TV themes, the 'Overture' opening from the old Saturday morning Bugs Bunny Road Runner Show. Since I first saw it as a kid, I always thought the opening line was "Overture. Turn the Lights. This is it, the Night of Nights!" It's actually "Overture! Curtain! Lights!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GpbY8df3Zo
I always heard it that way too. Fortunately, the character on that show I quote the most is Yosemite Sam after he's been tricked by Bugs. In fact, that's the ringtone for my brother on my phone. A little awkward when he called one time and I forgot to silence my phone during church.
Quote from: texaskdog on June 21, 2020, 11:59:24 PM
Quote from: STLmapboy on June 20, 2020, 11:27:14 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on June 19, 2020, 09:01:36 PM
Quote from: STLmapboy on June 19, 2020, 08:56:44 PM
REM's smash hit "Shiny Happy People Fucking." I knew that wasn't how it went, but at the same time I couldn't get it out of my head once I thought of it.
Slightly off topic, but have you heard anything off ‘Chronic Town’?
Yeah, "Gardening at Night." I'm more familiar with their later stuff though.
REM 1981-1987 was so good. After that the only one I like is Automatic for the People. they should have broken up years earlier. The early stuff is awesome though.
Speaking of REM, they promised me I would feel fine at this particular junction in history.
Quote from: cabiness42 on June 22, 2020, 02:28:48 PM
Speaking of REM, they promised me I would feel fine at this particular junction in history.
Is your name Lenny Bruce?
Quote from: kphoger on June 22, 2020, 02:33:32 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on June 22, 2020, 02:28:48 PM
Speaking of REM, they promised me I would feel fine at this particular junction in history.
Is your name Lenny Bruce?
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6786905,-71.1533252,3a,32.8y,109h,90.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOFzhR9L58EVBTt2o6leN5g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Every time I pass it, I read it as sung in the song.
Or, better yet, from this (0:09)...
While we're mentioning R.E.M., an often mis-heard lyric is in the song "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is:
"Team by team, reporters baffled, trumped, tethered, cropped"
When listening, it sounds like they are name-checking a future President.
She touched my meat and blamed it on Jean–"Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" Billy Ocean
Actual line is "She dashed by me in painted on jeans".
Because of a YouTube from 12 years ago, I now mishear the lyrics below when I hear them on the radio:
Christopher Cross – 'All Right'
I know, I know what's on your mind,
And I know it gets tough sometimes.
But you can give it one more try to find another reason why,
You should pick it up and try it again,
Cause it's all right, Pingüino RodrÃguez.
I think it might just work out this time.
Dire Straits – 'Money for Nothing
Now that ain't workin', that's the way you do it.
Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb.
Maybe get a blister on your little finger.
Baby, quiero queso roñoso.
The Doors – 'Roadhouse Blues'
Give up your vows.
Give up your vows.
Se ha ido al cine.
Se ha ido al cine.
Ah, right now.
Michael Jackson – 'Billie Jean'
Billie Jean is not my lover,
She's just a girl who claims that I am the one.
But, ¿Quieres una manzana?
The Eagles – 'Hotel California
There she stood in the doorway.
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinkin' to myself,
'This could be heaven or this could be hell'.
Un chinito pecando,
And she showed me the way.
U2 – 'One'
Well it's too late tonight.
Te traigo pasta into the light.
We're one, but we're not the same.
Electric Light Orchestra – 'Hold On Tight'
Accroches-toi a ton rêve.
En tu huerto no hay tomates.
Quand tu sents ton cocur se briser,
Accroches-toi a ton rêve.
I first heard the title lyrics of Passionate Kisses as “accident victim”.
Also, I may have mentioned it before, but I first heard The Police’s Canary In A Coal Mine as “Larry ain’t a poor man”.
You'll never hear this Bon Jovi song the same again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWILHcsYVj8
Quote from: SEWIGuy on May 28, 2020, 09:37:01 AM
When I first looked up the lyrics for the main verse of "Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John, I realized it would have taken me multiple lifetimes to figure out what he was saying:
So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough
Back to the howling, old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny-back toad
Oh, I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
I always thought the second line was "We're a dark cloud society now."
Quote from: kphoger on July 21, 2020, 04:36:33 PM
Because of a YouTube from 12 years ago, I now mishear the lyrics below when I hear them on the radio:
Christopher Cross – 'All Right'
I know, I know what's on your mind,
And I know it gets tough sometimes.
But you can give it one more try to find another reason why,
You should pick it up and try it again,
Cause it's all right, Pingüino RodrÃguez.
I think it might just work out this time.
Dire Straits – 'Money for Nothing
Now that ain't workin', that's the way you do it.
Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb.
Maybe get a blister on your little finger.
Baby, quiero queso roñoso.
The Doors – 'Roadhouse Blues'
Give up your vows.
Give up your vows.
Se ha ido al cine.
Se ha ido al cine.
Ah, right now.
Michael Jackson – 'Billie Jean'
Billie Jean is not my lover,
She's just a girl who claims that I am the one.
But, ¿Quieres una manzana?
The Eagles – 'Hotel California
There she stood in the doorway.
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinkin' to myself,
'This could be heaven or this could be hell'.
Un chinito pecando,
And she showed me the way.
U2 – 'One'
Well it's too late tonight.
Te traigo pasta into the light.
We're one, but we're not the same.
Electric Light Orchestra – 'Hold On Tight'
Accroches-toi a ton rêve.
En tu huerto no hay tomates.
Quand tu sents ton cocur se briser,
Accroches-toi a ton rêve.
Those in Spain are widely known as
momentos teniente. The phrase originated in a radio show and was later taken over to a TV show with the same host. They search Spanish-like sounding passages in songs sung in a language other than Spanish. The
Pingüino RodrÃguez one is really known. My favorite one, however, is that one passage on the Barça's anthem that appears to say
Hala Madrid :sombrero:.
There's a pop-Christian song by Austin French that I mishear like this:
This is the sound of chains breaking.
This is the beat of a heart changing.
This is a song of a soul forgiven.
This is my freedom
hymn ham.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on July 22, 2020, 07:51:47 AM
Those in Spain are widely known as momentos teniente. The phrase originated in a radio show and was later taken over to a TV show with the same host. They search Spanish-like sounding passages in songs sung in a language other than Spanish. The Pingüino RodrÃguez one is really known. My favorite one, however, is that one passage on the Barça's anthem that appears to say Hala Madrid :sombrero:.
I hear 'Billie Jean' pretty often on the radio, so
¿Quieres una manzana? comes out of my mouth with some frequency (somewhere between 400 and 500 Hz, I suppose).
There is in A Day In The Life by the Beatles the line "from the house of Lord's" that sounds like its "the house of God." However, being John Lennon is like our very own Bugo here, I doubt that could be what it sounds like. The lyrics on the back of the vinyl album cover (yes all Sgt. Pepper Songs are printed on the back of the sleeve) say Lords too.
"Boys of Summer" - Don Henley
Real lyric:
After the boys of summer have gone.
Misheard:
After the poison, son of a gun!
Quote from: roadman65 on July 30, 2020, 11:21:10 AM
There is in A Day In The Life by the Beatles the line "from the house of Lord's" ... lyrics on the back of the vinyl album cover ... say Lords too.
Parliament?
Quote from: John Lennon
I read the news today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well, I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn't notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They'd seen his face before
Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords
From context, it's definitely Lords; "house of God" doesn't make sense. The point of the verse is that people stood and stared at the wreck because the dude was well-known, as one would be if they were in the House of Lords (remember, unlike the U.S. Senate, you get into the upper house of Parliament by basically being an aristocrat.) This is immediately contrasted in the next verse with "The English army had just won the war / A crowd of people turned away", basically condemning the populace for having such fascination with the well-known man's death but revulsion toward the messiness of war.
I always thought the "if he was from the House of Lords" phrase was obvious.
Kyrie Eleison - Carry a laser
Should be Carry a lathe, son.
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 03, 2020, 02:08:03 PM
Quote from: John Lennon
I read the news today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well, I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn't notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They'd seen his face before
Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords
From context, it's definitely Lords; "house of God" doesn't make sense. The point of the verse is that people stood and stared at the wreck because the dude was well-known, as one would be if they were in the House of Lords (remember, unlike the U.S. Senate, you get into the upper house of Parliament by basically being an aristocrat.) This is immediately contrasted in the next verse with "The English army had just won the war / A crowd of people turned away", basically condemning the populace for having such fascination with the well-known man's death but revulsion toward the messiness of war.
There's another line prior to the boldfaced: "I saw a film today, oh boy." Taking that together with the reference to the English army winning the war always made me think it was a reference to
How I Won the War, in which a guy named John Lennon played a role. The movie didn't get very good reviews and wasn't all that successful, hence "a crowd of people turned away."
You Can't Always Get What You Want:
I heard "I went down to the devil's station to get my fair share of abuse" . It's "demonstration" .
From Depeche Mode's classic "Enjoy the Silence"
"All I've wanted, all I've needed, is here, in my arse."
Actual: All I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here, in my arms.
Just heard a song for the first time in a while that reminded me of one of my misheard lyrics....
"One Toke Over the Line" by Brewer & Shipley
As I kid I thought it was "one toe over the line." Especially because of the line "sittin' downtown at a railway station, one toke over the line".....which I thought meant he was standing with one toe over the yellow caution line on a railway platform.
Steely Dan "Third World Man". First line of the song.
What I heard: "Chinese playroom is a bunker filled with sand"
Actual: "Johnny's playroom"
Quote from: kphoger on July 22, 2020, 01:22:13 PM
There's a pop-Christian song by Austin French that I mishear like this:
This is the sound of chains breaking.
This is the beat of a heart changing.
This is a song of a soul forgiven.
This is my freedom hymn ham.
Pretty much all CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) is unintelligible these days.
Even Steven Curtis Chapman back in the day had some unintelligible songs. I used to think his song "For the sake of the call" sounded like "For the sake of the car" .
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 26, 2021, 03:21:27 PM
Steely Dan "Third World Man". First line of the song.
What I heard: "Chinese playroom is a bunker filled with sand"
Actual: "Johnny's playroom"
Now that's one that I actually didn't have trouble understanding when I first heard it.
Not a song lyric per se, but every time I hear that Halo Top ice cream commercial on television, it sounds to me like they are singing "Hannibal Lecter, Hannibal Lecter."
When I was a child I heard the song John Jacob Jingle Himer Schmidt sung by other kids replacing Schmidt with Shit, so I thought when it was played on children's tv that they were going to play a curse word song to us.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 17, 2021, 09:57:59 AM
When I was a child I heard the song John Jacob Jingle Homer Scmidt sung by other kids replacing Scmidt with Shit, so I thought when it was played on children's tv that they were going to play a curse word song to us.
You also misheard John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
What I heard: Pay the rent Collette
What it actually is: Little Red Corvette
What I heard: She got better day besides
What it actually is: She got Bette Davis eyes
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2021, 04:26:42 PM
What I heard: Pay the rent Collette
What it actually is: Little Red Corvette
What I heard: She got better day besides
What it actually is: She got Bette Davis eyes
Interesting story -- back about '82 right after Kim Carnes'
Bette Davis Eyes came out, a friend of mine, who was an aspiring stand-up comic, worked some ersatz Al Yankovic riffs into his act. A lot of the stuff he did 39 years ago would have gotten him booed off the stage today; the "Davis" riff being one of them:
Sammy Davis Eyes: Puts it in in the morning
Puts it back every night.
Can pop it out without warning --
He's got Sammy Davis' eye!
Of course, that's in reference to the real Davis' infamous glass eye. He also had a spoof of Queen's
Bicycle called
Bisexual; now
that definitely would have gotten him thrown out of any venue in the Bay area! He called his comedy career off in the late '80's (just as well). But the Davis riff was rendered moot with the real Weird Al's
Marty Feldman Eyes about a year later!
Quote from: Big John on April 17, 2021, 01:52:17 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 17, 2021, 09:57:59 AM
When I was a child I heard the song John Jacob Jingle Homer Scmidt sung by other kids replacing Scmidt with Shit, so I thought when it was played on children's tv that they were going to play a curse word song to us.
You also misheard John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
iPad spell correct thought Himer should be Homer.
When MJ says "the kid is not my son" in Billie Jean, I thought he said "the chair is not my son".. Maybe I'm crazy but I swear it sounds like that.
from manfred man:
"little early burly gave my anus curly whirly... and asked me if i needed a ride"
from ccr:
"there's the bathroom, on the right"
from korn:
"something takes a bite of me"
from nirvana:
"hey.. wait.. i gotta lose some weight..."
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on April 28, 2021, 08:32:17 AM
from manfred man:
"little early burly gave my anus curly whirly... and asked me if i needed a ride"
from ccr:
"there's the bathroom, on the right"
from korn:
"something takes a bite of me"
from nirvana:
"hey.. wait.. i gotta lose some weight..."
The first one may or may not actually be what Springsteen wrote.
CCR is dead on.
There's other good misheard lyrics from Nirvana.
I'm pretty sure Nirvana doesn't even know what the real words are to half their songs.
Quote from: kphoger on April 28, 2021, 10:12:10 AM
I'm pretty sure Nirvana doesn't even know what the real words are to half their songs.
I'm pretty sure that the surviving members would agree with you.
Selena Gomez's Good For You:
"I'm 14 carats"
"I'm farting carrots"
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 28, 2021, 01:58:03 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 28, 2021, 10:12:10 AM
I'm pretty sure Nirvana doesn't even know what the real words are to half their songs.
I'm pretty sure that the surviving members would agree with you.
Quote from: Weird Al Yankovic: Smells Like Nirvana
What is this song all about?
Can't figure any lyrics out
How do the words to it go
I wish you'd tell me, I don't know
Don't know, don't know, don't know, oh no
Don't know, don't know, don't know
Now I'm mumblin', and I'm screamin'
And I don't know what I'm singin'
Crank the volume, ears are bleedin'
I still don't know what I'm singin'
We're so loud and incoherent
[...]
Quote from: kphoger on April 28, 2021, 02:09:09 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 28, 2021, 01:58:03 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 28, 2021, 10:12:10 AM
I'm pretty sure Nirvana doesn't even know what the real words are to half their songs.
I'm pretty sure that the surviving members would agree with you.
Quote from: Weird Al Yankovic: Smells Like Nirvana
What is this song all about?
Can't figure any lyrics out
How do the words to it go
I wish you'd tell me, I don't know
Don't know, don't know, don't know, oh no
Don't know, don't know, don't know
Now I'm mumblin', and I'm screamin'
And I don't know what I'm singin'
Crank the volume, ears are bleedin'
I still don't know what I'm singin'
We're so loud and incoherent
[...]
Pretty much hit the nail on that one.
Greater, by Christian music group MercyMe:
"Greater is the one living in sodomy..."
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 28, 2021, 09:36:12 AM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on April 28, 2021, 08:32:17 AM
from manfred man:
"little early burly gave my anus curly whirly... and asked me if i needed a ride"
from ccr:
"there's the bathroom, on the right"
from korn:
"something takes a bite of me"
from nirvana:
"hey.. wait.. i gotta lose some weight..."
The first one may or may not actually be what Springsteen wrote.
CCR is dead on.
There's other good misheard lyrics from Nirvana.
Springsteen wrote "Little Early Pearly came by in her curly wurly and asked me if I needed a ride" as in "a hooker with really white teeth came by in a 1960s-era really big American tagged car with huge fins to solicit me". It loses something with the gender-swap version that Mannfred Mann's band (actually Chris Slade) sings. The whole song is a list of Springsteen's observation while walking along the Atlantic City boardwalk. I've never really been there, but I can come by many of the same observations in Santa Cruz and Santa Monica.
I won't quote the whole song right now, but I might analyze the whole thing at some later time.
Madman, Drummers, Bummers = Insane people, street musicians, panhandlers (or people tripping out on LSD).
and Indians in the Summer = Baseball fans
with the Teenage Diplomat = the guy trying to make peace between gangs or trying to negotiate a free play or free ride
Quote from: michravera on May 03, 2021, 03:59:01 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 28, 2021, 09:36:12 AM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on April 28, 2021, 08:32:17 AM
from manfred man:
"little early burly gave my anus curly whirly... and asked me if i needed a ride"
from ccr:
"there's the bathroom, on the right"
from korn:
"something takes a bite of me"
from nirvana:
"hey.. wait.. i gotta lose some weight..."
The first one may or may not actually be what Springsteen wrote.
CCR is dead on.
There's other good misheard lyrics from Nirvana.
Springsteen wrote "Little Early Pearly came by in her curly wurly and asked me if I needed a ride" as in "a hooker with really white teeth came by in a 1960s-era really big American tagged car with huge fins to solicit me". It loses something with the gender-swap version that Mannfred Mann's band (actually Chris Slade) sings. The whole song is a list of Springsteen's observation while walking along the Atlantic City boardwalk. I've never really been there, but I can come by many of the same observations in Santa Cruz and Santa Monica.
I won't quote the whole song right now, but I might analyze the whole thing at some later time.
Madman, Drummers, Bummers = Insane people, street musicians, panhandlers (or people tripping out on LSD).
and Indians in the Summer = Baseball fans
with the Teenage Diplomat = the guy trying to make peace between gangs or trying to negotiate a free play or free ride
Free Ride was a Edgar Winter song, but it wasn't really his, someone else handled the vocals (and probably wrote the song to begin with-he later managed his own solo/collab career). Chances are that Springsteen may have heard that song. Do you know what an Indian Summer is? The Doors, IIRC, had a song about that. The Cleveland Indians would have been a mere coincidence. But they could very well have been playing whatever team Springsteen would've had been a fan of (likely, of all Tri-State Area teams, the Yanks). If I were Springsteen though, or, being the big fan that I am (like, at the very least, my own father, who happened to see him live in the 70s), I'd agree about it being about the guy trying to make peace between whatever gangs were either fighting or close to such. Madman Across the Water was an Elton John song, originally demoed for the Tumbleweed Connection album, that actually made it to its own eponymous album the following year (going from 1970 to 1971). Drummer, His Band and the Street Choir was (and still is) a notable Van Morrison album, which probably had an influence on Springsteen. I'll note that one of the best songs on that album is "˜I've Been Working', which was also done by Bob Seger on his "˜Back in "˜72' album (it also appears on one of his live albums). A big bummer could be either one you mentioned.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on May 03, 2021, 04:23:49 PM
Quote from: michravera on May 03, 2021, 03:59:01 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 28, 2021, 09:36:12 AM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on April 28, 2021, 08:32:17 AM
from manfred man:
"little early burly gave my anus curly whirly... and asked me if i needed a ride"
from ccr:
"there's the bathroom, on the right"
from korn:
"something takes a bite of me"
from nirvana:
"hey.. wait.. i gotta lose some weight..."
The first one may or may not actually be what Springsteen wrote.
CCR is dead on.
There's other good misheard lyrics from Nirvana.
Springsteen wrote "Little Early Pearly came by in her curly wurly and asked me if I needed a ride" as in "a hooker with really white teeth came by in a 1960s-era really big American tagged car with huge fins to solicit me". It loses something with the gender-swap version that Mannfred Mann's band (actually Chris Slade) sings. The whole song is a list of Springsteen's observation while walking along the Atlantic City boardwalk. I've never really been there, but I can come by many of the same observations in Santa Cruz and Santa Monica.
I won't quote the whole song right now, but I might analyze the whole thing at some later time.
Madman, Drummers, Bummers = Insane people, street musicians, panhandlers (or people tripping out on LSD).
and Indians in the Summer = Baseball fans
with the Teenage Diplomat = the guy trying to make peace between gangs or trying to negotiate a free play or free ride
Free Ride was a Edgar Winter song, but it wasn't really his, someone else handled the vocals (and probably wrote the song to begin with-he later managed his own solo/collab career). Chances are that Springsteen may have heard that song. Do you know what an Indian Summer is? The Doors, IIRC, had a song about that. The Cleveland Indians would have been a mere coincidence. But they could very well have been playing whatever team Springsteen would've had been a fan of (likely, of all Tri-State Area teams, the Yanks). If I were Springsteen though, or, being the big fan that I am (like, at the very least, my own father, who happened to see him live in the 70s), I'd agree about it being about the guy trying to make peace between whatever gangs were either fighting or close to such. Madman Across the Water was an Elton John song, originally demoed for the Tumbleweed Connection album, that actually made it to its own eponymous album the following year (going from 1970 to 1971). Drummer, His Band and the Street Choir was (and still is) a notable Van Morrison album, which probably had an influence on Springsteen. I'll note that one of the best songs on that album is "˜I've Been Working', which was also done by Bob Seger on his "˜Back in "˜72' album (it also appears on one of his live albums). A big bummer could be either one you mentioned.
In California, and "Indian Summer" is a period of warm weather in October or November. The Springsteen line is very definitely "Indians in the Summer" and, as such, very likely describes fans of the Cleveland Indians. It may be that someplace in New Jersey had a farm team for the Indians, but I have no reason to say so. However, lots of people from the further inland did go to the beach in Atlantic City in the early 1970s, even before legalized casino gaming. It was a convention destination (even mentioned tangentially in "The Flintstones" in the 1960s).
Quote from: michravera on May 03, 2021, 04:44:58 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on May 03, 2021, 04:23:49 PM
Quote from: michravera on May 03, 2021, 03:59:01 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 28, 2021, 09:36:12 AM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on April 28, 2021, 08:32:17 AM
from manfred man:
"little early burly gave my anus curly whirly... and asked me if i needed a ride"
from ccr:
"there's the bathroom, on the right"
from korn:
"something takes a bite of me"
from nirvana:
"hey.. wait.. i gotta lose some weight..."
The first one may or may not actually be what Springsteen wrote.
CCR is dead on.
There's other good misheard lyrics from Nirvana.
Springsteen wrote "Little Early Pearly came by in her curly wurly and asked me if I needed a ride" as in "a hooker with really white teeth came by in a 1960s-era really big American tagged car with huge fins to solicit me". It loses something with the gender-swap version that Mannfred Mann's band (actually Chris Slade) sings. The whole song is a list of Springsteen's observation while walking along the Atlantic City boardwalk. I've never really been there, but I can come by many of the same observations in Santa Cruz and Santa Monica.
I won't quote the whole song right now, but I might analyze the whole thing at some later time.
Madman, Drummers, Bummers = Insane people, street musicians, panhandlers (or people tripping out on LSD).
and Indians in the Summer = Baseball fans
with the Teenage Diplomat = the guy trying to make peace between gangs or trying to negotiate a free play or free ride
Free Ride was a Edgar Winter song, but it wasn't really his, someone else handled the vocals (and probably wrote the song to begin with-he later managed his own solo/collab career). Chances are that Springsteen may have heard that song. Do you know what an Indian Summer is? The Doors, IIRC, had a song about that. The Cleveland Indians would have been a mere coincidence. But they could very well have been playing whatever team Springsteen would've had been a fan of (likely, of all Tri-State Area teams, the Yanks). If I were Springsteen though, or, being the big fan that I am (like, at the very least, my own father, who happened to see him live in the 70s), I'd agree about it being about the guy trying to make peace between whatever gangs were either fighting or close to such. Madman Across the Water was an Elton John song, originally demoed for the Tumbleweed Connection album, that actually made it to its own eponymous album the following year (going from 1970 to 1971). Drummer, His Band and the Street Choir was (and still is) a notable Van Morrison album, which probably had an influence on Springsteen. I'll note that one of the best songs on that album is "˜I've Been Working', which was also done by Bob Seger on his "˜Back in "˜72' album (it also appears on one of his live albums). A big bummer could be either one you mentioned.
In California, and "Indian Summer" is a period of warm weather in October or November. The Springsteen line is very definitely "Indians in the Summer" and, as such, very likely describes fans of the Cleveland Indians. It may be that someplace in New Jersey had a farm team for the Indians, but I have no reason to say so. However, lots of people from the further inland did go to the beach in Atlantic City in the early 1970s, even before legalized casino gaming. It was a convention destination (even mentioned tangentially in "The Flintstones" in the 1960s).
I've been to both A.C. and Santa Cruz. I've never hit the boardwalk in both, but I'll note that A.C. is still a convention destination. Nowadays they hold a notable anime convention there, AnimeNEXT, that I used to frequent. I do think that the Indians may have had such a farm team, or they'd go there (to Atlantic City) because Cleveland isn't a place to go to the beach.
EDIT: It looks like Springsteen may have meant one of the old farm teams of the Indians, but they never did play in A.C.
I just spent an embarrassingly long time looking up a certain Bee Gees song, which I was certain was called "Take a Knee" or "Manganese."
Turns out it was
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSVTOMkJdqs&ab_channel=JC
Quote from: STLmapboy on May 24, 2021, 10:16:39 PM
I just spent an embarrassingly long time looking up a certain Bee Gees song, which I was certain was called "Take a Knee" or "Manganese."
I want to live in the alternate universe where the Bee Gees' catalog consisted of nothing but odes to various elements on the periodic table.
I thought The Pretenders "Brass In Pocket" was "Grass In Pocket." My mom was using at the time and for some bizarre reason said that if I wanted some she couldn't say no. I think I'll pass, but I was on the lookout for pro-marijuana signs.
Earlier in the thread were a number of songs with a word misheard for "funk". Prince's "Erotic City" got some airplay with that word that was uncensored before but is censored now. But now the background singers insist the word is "funk", and the lyrics on Amazon Music also use that word.
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on May 29, 2021, 12:20:50 AM
Earlier in the thread were a number of songs with a word misheard for "funk". Prince's "Erotic City" got some airplay with that word that was uncensored before but is censored now. But now the background singers insist the word is "funk", and the lyrics on Amazon Music also use that word.
I had a friend who misheard The Who's "Eminence Front" when it played on the intercom at work as "Unlimited Fuck", which she thought was hilarious.
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 29, 2021, 12:33:04 AM
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on May 29, 2021, 12:20:50 AM
Earlier in the thread were a number of songs with a word misheard for "funk". Prince's "Erotic City" got some airplay with that word that was uncensored before but is censored now. But now the background singers insist the word is "funk", and the lyrics on Amazon Music also use that word.
I had a friend who misheard The Who's "Eminence Front" when it played on the intercom at work as "Unlimited Fuck", which she thought was hilarious.
For a time I thought the background vocals were saying "Baby, let's fuck!"
This song is playing with the idea of deliberately mishearing lyrics: the English and Japanese sound similar, but have different meanings. And it's all subtitled. Examples:
J: Ryuu gaku sei (exchange student)
E: You gotta stay
J: Heya nijuu heibei (20 square meter room)
E: Hey I need you here babe
J: Beddo ni neru toki kutsu nugu (take off your shoes when going to sleep)
E: Better never talking cause it's no good
The song doesn't start until about 1:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEVP7NPklU
One that I just thought of was that "It's not fair to deny me, the cross I bear that you gave to me," from Alanis Morisette's "You Oughta Know" was commonly misheard as "It's not fair to deny me, the cross-eyed bear that you gave to me."
Quote from: cabiness42 on June 01, 2021, 08:53:34 AM
One that I just thought of was that "It's not fair to deny me, the cross I bear that you gave to me," from Alanis Morisette's "You Oughta Know" was commonly misheard as "It's not fair to deny me, the cross-eyed bear that you gave to me."
I suspect that's how I'm going to hear it from now on. Thanks! :cheers:
There's an old hymn, "Gladly the Cross I'd Bear". I read a story (true? I don't know) about kids singing it thinking about a unlucky bruin with bad eyesight known by the unlikely name of "Gladly".
Quote from: kurumi on May 29, 2021, 02:08:26 PM
This song is playing with the idea of deliberately mishearing lyrics: the English and Japanese sound similar, but have different meanings. And it's all subtitled. Examples:
J: Ryuu gaku sei (exchange student)
E: You gotta stay
J: Heya nijuu heibei (20 square meter room)
E: Hey I need you here babe
J: Beddo ni neru toki kutsu nugu (take off your shoes when going to sleep)
E: Better never talking cause it's no good
The song doesn't start until about 1:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEVP7NPklU
"My Sharona" was variously rendered as "maishuu onna" (Japanese for "Every week girl") and "Rice-a-rona".
"Me and Zero request you in the Mercedes" was rendered "Meet at zeroes. Request you in the Mercedes."
Probably my favorite Pixies song, "In a Lifeboat":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ugnZfHHCE
Kphoger might like this one:
Someone in my family misheard the lyrics of the second verse of the CCM band Elevation Worship's "See A Victory" as this:
"I'm not backing down from meningitis, for I know how this story ends..."
Actual lyrics:
"I'm not backing down from any giants, for I know how this story ends..."
Quote from: CoreySamson on August 11, 2021, 09:14:22 PM
Kphoger might like this one:
Someone in my family misheard the lyrics of the second verse of the CCM band Elevation Worship's "See A Victory" as this:
"I'm not backing down from meningitis, for I know how this story ends..."
Christian Scientists! :spin:
To tie this in to the "songs that self-reference" thread, for years when I was younger, I thought the first line in "Iron Man" was "Ozzy lost his mind" instead of "Has he lost his mind."
Quote from: hbelkins on August 12, 2021, 10:48:55 AM
"Ozzy lost his mind"
I think that happened a bit later.
https://youtu.be/8m2nfk5jCOI
Quote from: hbelkins on August 12, 2021, 10:48:55 AM
To tie this in to the "songs that self-reference" thread, for years when I was younger, I thought the first line in "Iron Man" was "Ozzy lost his mind" instead of "Has he lost his mind."
My step-kids pointed out that "Stark Raving Love" and "I Need a Hero" use the same intro.
Blondie has a couple self-references: Including "Fade Away and Radiate" that is referenced in "Dreaming" and "Atomic" that is referenced in "Rip Her to Shreds". It may be that "Atomic" was written afterwards (and possibly there "inspired" rather that referenced).
There's a song on Christian radio these days called Come What May (https://youtu.be/su3UNd3OR6E) by the band We Are Messengers. The first several times our eldest son heard it, he misheard the title phrase as "Kumquat Day" every time it came up in the song. Obviously he knew that was wrong, but he couldn't hear it as anything else. I suspect that's because people don't usually go around using the phrase "come what may" in casual conversation, so it hadn't been a phrase in his vocabulary.
You should surprise him with a meal with kumquats as the central ingredient, and declare that day to be Kumquat Day.
Madonna — La Isla Bonita — "Last night I dreamt of some bagel"
Quote from: kphoger on September 29, 2023, 12:37:47 PM
Madonna — La Isla Bonita — "Last night I dreamt of some bagel"
"Young girl with eyes like potaaaatoooooes"
A co-worker of mine in mid 80s thought that Huey Lewis's "I Want a New Drug" was "I Want a New Truck".
Thinking about this, in the context of the other lyrics, that interpretation is reasonable.
Quote from: Brandon on December 19, 2014, 03:02:29 PM
Quote from: roadman on December 19, 2014, 02:57:26 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on December 19, 2014, 02:09:06 PM
I mentioned this in another music/song-related thread; when I first heard Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music as a kid during the mid-70s, I thought they were saying "Play that fu*@ing music...".
Reminds me of the day my sister was reading the lyrics for Convoy and suddenly exclaimed "Oh, it's "Roll that Truckin' Convoy!" I thought it was ....
If it makes it out over the air, the odds are very much against what you may have thought it was. For more, ask George Carlin.
Nowadays, yes. (and yes I am aware I am responding to very old posts --- I am reading this thread for the first time)
But in the late '70s I remember hearing on the radio both variations of Steve Miller's "Jet Airliner":
"Cause I don't want to get caught up in any of that funky kicks going down in the city"
"Cause I don't want to get caught up in any of that funky s**t going down in the city"
I finally figured out I wasn't mishearing things, there were actually two different edits.
Quote from: Henry on January 07, 2015, 12:16:12 PM
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on December 31, 2014, 02:25:03 PM
Surprised no one's mentioned "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" yet.
Tiny Dancer from Elton John! That one made me LOL!
Reading through thread for first time to make sure I am not repeating anything in new posts.
As a result I am reading 8 or 9 year old posts.
I never got the Tony Danza reference (or better said -- thought it was funny) because that song was out several years before I ever heard of Tony Danza (I first heard of him on the "Taxi" TV show). So this must have been misheard by someone who does not remember a time without Tony Danza.
I know Cox Media Group dubs out part of the line in Money For Nothing by Dire Straits directed at a homosexual. The f*****t with earring and the makeup is blurted. They also blurt out the GD word in Eagles Life In The Fast Lane.
I wonder what they would do in Ten Years After song I Want To Change The World where there is a line using slang for lesbians and gays? The local station around my area don't play it as it's a Classic Hit station and not Classic Rock not fitting into that format.
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 01, 2020, 06:09:58 PM
I use to think that I wanna hold your hand by The Beatles they were singing I get high instead it was I can't hide.
I read that Bob Dylan thought the same thing before he met the Beatles. So you have good company.
Quote from: GaryV on March 30, 2020, 02:21:47 PM
In HS when this ["Summer Breeze by Seals and Croft] came out, we heard "Jazz man in my mind".
I have thought that for over 50 years. Never saw the lyrics printed, so no reason to believe otherwise (it's really "jasmine" according to the next sentence of the quoted post that I edited out).
I know this is been said before, but the Duce in Manfred Mann's Blinded By Light to some was not that particular word. Ironically enough, Bruce Springsteen, the actual author of the song, in his version of the song, makes Duce out to be clear when he delivers the word.
Quote from: roadman65 on October 04, 2023, 03:10:15 PM
I know Cox Media Group dubs out part of the line in Money For Nothing by Dire Straits directed at a homosexual. The f*****t with earring and the makeup is blurted. They also blurt out the GD word in Eagles Life In The Fast Lane.
I wonder what they would do in Ten Years After song I Want To Change The World where there is a line using slang for lesbians and gays? The local station around my area don't play it as it's a Classic Hit station and not Classic Rock not fitting into that format.
Most of the ones I remember, from when I was young they now either blurt it out ("erase" the word) or they remove the word and surrounding music completely, so that the rhythm is wrong (7 beats where there should be 8). When the latter happens, I usually say out loud (intended for the radio station) "why do you bother playing it?".
WRT the ones you mention:
"Money For Nothing" - I have heard the offending word blurted out ("erased") but the rhythm stays correct.
"I'd Love To Change the World" - I haven't heard that on the radio since the 20th century, so I can't comment.
Quote from: mgk920 on June 21, 2020, 10:07:26 PM
For the longest time after it came out, I always heard that well known Go-Gos song as something on the lines of 'Honest Lucille'.
:spin:
Mike
When it first came out and for several years afterwards I thought it was "Honest I'd See You" instead of "Our Lips Are Sealed".
Side note - this is one of my favorite songs from that timeframe, in spite of the fact that the lyrics don't apply to me (I won't go any further than that).
In A Flock of Seagulls song I Ran, after walking along the Avenue where the singer sings " I thought I'd never meet a girl like you" was " I thought I'd never meet a guy like you" as in the video of the song, the lead vocalist appeared woman like in his character.
Quote from: roadman65 on October 04, 2023, 03:33:48 PM
I know this is been said before, but the Duce in Manfred Mann's Blinded By Light to some was not that particular word. Ironically enough, Bruce Springsteen, the actual author of the song, in his version of the song, makes Duce out to be clear when he delivers the word.
TIL it isn't "wrapped up like a douche". Thought that's what it was this whole time.
The original lyric is "cut loose like a deuce" (not "Duce," which refers to Benito Mussolini). Springsteen has said he was thinking of a little deuce coupe (a car, for those who don't know—hardly surprising for Springsteen) when he wrote the lyric and that it took Manfred Mann singing about a feminine hygiene product to make the song a hit.
Howard Jones - Life in One Day:
Heard: Time will wear away the stone, Dance through the rabbit tree farm
Actual: Time will wear away the stone, Gets the hereditary bone
Haken - Falling Back to Earth:
Heard: I scale the summit like a non-stop purple force
Actual: I scale the summit like an unstoppable force
Quote from: Record Collector — Issue 326 — Mann Overboard — 16-OCT-2007
It sounded like 'douche' instead of 'deuce', 'cos of the technical process – a faulty azimuth due to tape-head angles, and it meant we couldn't remix it. [...] Apparently Springsteen thought we'd done it deliberately, which we hadn't, so if I ever saw him I'd avoid him and cringe away like a frightened little boy.
— Manfred Mann
Periphery - Wildfire:
Actual: With a malicious intent, I'll take two to the head
Heard: Bubblicious intent, I'll take two to the head
Obviously Bandit's threads have an effect on all of us
Heard three of my long-time mishears (by me) over the weekend, but I can only remember two right now. If I remember the 3rd I'll post that one later.
Pearl Jam - "Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town"
Actual lyric "Hearts and Thoughts they fade, fade away"
Misheard as "Arts and Farts they fade, fade away"
Bee Gees - "Night Fever"
Actual lyric - "I get higher in my walkin'"
Misheard as "I get higher in Milwaukee"
Bon Jovi — Livin' on a Prayer — It doesn't make a difference if we're naked or not
Quote from: tmoore952 on October 04, 2023, 03:08:34 PM
Quote from: Henry on January 07, 2015, 12:16:12 PM
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on December 31, 2014, 02:25:03 PM
Surprised no one's mentioned "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" yet.
Tiny Dancer from Elton John! That one made me LOL!
Reading through thread for first time to make sure I am not repeating anything in new posts.
As a result I am reading 8 or 9 year old posts.
I never got the Tony Danza reference (or better said -- thought it was funny) because that song was out several years before I ever heard of Tony Danza (I first heard of him on the "Taxi" TV show). So this must have been misheard by someone who does not remember a time without Tony Danza.
Phoebe Buffay on Friends thought the song was about Tony Danza
Quote from: kphoger on November 13, 2023, 12:29:21 PM
Bon Jovi — Livin' on a Prayer — It doesn't make a difference if we're naked or not
That's my preferred way to sing it. (By the way, if it doesn't make a difference, then why does he swear to it in another line?)
I heard two songs this morning that made me think of this topic. First was Sade's "Smooth Operetta." Then was "Cut the Cards" by Shinedown. The way they sing it makes it seem like they take their card games very seriously. They're probably playing for high stakes. It doesn't actually sound like they're saying "cards", but that's how I choose to hear it.
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 18, 2014, 08:10:12 PM...
I knew a fellow who thought "More Than a Feeling" went "I see that derrière walking away." I think I like that better than the real words too.
The fellow I knew who misheard the lyrics that way is now the nominee to be the next US Solicitor General.
Quote from: 1995hoo on November 30, 2024, 11:19:55 AMQuote from: 1995hoo on December 18, 2014, 08:10:12 PM...
I knew a fellow who thought "More Than a Feeling" went "I see that derrière walking away." I think I like that better than the real words too.
The fellow I knew who misheard the lyrics that way is now the nominee to be the next US Solicitor General.
I think, if I were a U.S. Senator, that would probably Sauer me on the idea of confirming him.
From the U2 album Achtung Baby:
♫ Shake it, shake it, shake your salami! ♫
Quote from: kphoger on February 11, 2025, 01:34:33 PMFrom the U2 album Achtung Baby:
♫ Shake it, shake it, shake your salami! ♫
That album has featured prominently around here recently.
"kyrie eleison"
I thought it was
"Carry a laser"
Quote from: kernals12 on February 11, 2025, 03:10:00 PM"kyrie eleison"
I thought it was
"Carry a laser"
Hey, you know. The phrase 'hocus pocus' came about because people didn't understand 'Hoc est corpus".
Quote from: STLmapboy on May 27, 2020, 10:44:18 PMElton John's Bennie and the Jets. "She's got electric boots, a mohair suit..."
I always thought it was "She's got electric boobs, a motor suit..."
It isn't a misheard song lyric, but when Pope Benedict met with Israeli leaders, The Daily Show had the headline "Bennie and the Jews."