I don't know if there is already a thread on misheard lyrics, apologies if there is. I know there are websites devoted to it but does anyone have genuine examples?

I saw the lyrics to the Eric Clapton song 'Badge' (from the Cream days) today (I'm learning to play it). I bought the single when it came out in 1969 and what I thought was, 'She didn't have the time to wade into view' is actually, 'She didn't have the time to wait in the queue''.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2214 Jun 05 2011 by Rumbaba.

I have a book about dogs in which the author claimed Louis Armstrong believed dogs could talk - because the song says "Dogs say goodnight" ! Until it was pointed out to him that In fact in "Wonderful World" the words are "dark silent night"!

As a child, I had problems with the hymn "There is a green field far away, without* a city wall". I could never work out why a green field should have a city wall in the first place!



*"without " in this context being the archaic word for "outside"

I have a friend who, to this day, maintains that Blondie sang about 'Beneath the Knee'! Everyone else thinks that it was 'Denis, Denis'.

. Ivor



The original and real cat with the swishy tail.
Accept no imitations.

The first time I heard the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black" I thought the opening line was:

"I see a rainbow and I want it painted black.........."

When I realised my mistake, I was quite disappointed......I thought my version much more poetic!

I'm NOT paranoid......thats just what THEY want you to think!!!

Oh, 'Rainbow', I like that - much better

One of my favourites, but not a personal one I'm afraid, is the Bryan Adams 'Summer of 69' song.

'Standing on your mama's corpse
you told me that you'd wait forever
my hammer in my hand
I knew that it was now or never'

I like the one from Creedence's Bad Moon Rising - 'There's a bathroom on the right.'

Yes, good one rforrest

Until it was pointed out to him that In fact in "Wonderful World" the words are "dark silent night"!

Actually, Penny, the poor guy is still operating under misunderstood lyrics. It should be, "the bright blessed day, and the dark sacred night". I often use the close caption feature on my television, because....well, because I'm a deaf old fart, and one of the ads here used that song. The transcriptionist made the same "dogs" mistake, so I guess it's not that uncommon. That should make him feel better.

I think the "bathroom on the right" maybe a common one, as well, as that's what my brother-in-law thought it was for years.

And I like "rainbow" better, too!


And love that Summer of '69 one


Some of my favorites are:

My BIL's sister when she was small thought the line from God Bless America that says, "Through the night with a light from above" was actually, "Through the night with a light from a bulb", which actually makes more sense.

A friend's daughter thought that line from Toto's, Africa, wasn't, "There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do", but "There's nothing that a a hundred men on Mars would ever do".

A girlfriend of mine thought the Stairway to Heaven line wasn't, "and as we wind on down the road", but "and there's a wino down the road".

My brother who's been a working musician almost his whole life has had requests for "Fruit Loops" (Footloose), "The Ants Are My Friends" (The answer my friends, is blowin' in the wind.) and "She Blinded Me With Pliers" (She Blinded Me With Science).

There's more, but I gotta phone call.

I use the 'Text for the Deaf' facility, even though i am lucky enough to have reasonable hearing. Sometimes I am idle and listen to the Radio while watching TV. The facility allows me to keep up with both. However, they do pull some boners on live transmissions - especially the news and sport. I am often in tucks and there are so many that I can't think of any specific examples. I have often thought that it would be the basis of a great TV programme, but have been loathe to suggest it as I wouldn't wish to offend the people who are doing a sterling job.

. Ivor



The original and real cat with the swishy tail.
Accept no imitations.

[www.youtube.com] Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version of Bruce's 'Blinded by the light'

'Revved up like a Deuce' is often misheard by Brits, not being familiar with the Buick Electra [en.wikipedia.org] (Deuce and a Quarter) [www.youtube.com] and they hear this line as 'wrapped up like a douche'.

Another line from the same song often meets with eye rolling incredulity 'And little Early-birdy came by in his curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a ride' . God knows what people thought they heard with this line: anyone want to 'fess up? It's about cars again.

......."and there's a wino down the road"........

Absolutely bl**dy wonderful!

I'm NOT paranoid......thats just what THEY want you to think!!!

When I was a lad I thought the line in Tambourine Man - 'cast your dancin spell my way' was 'statues dancin fill my way' - but then the 60's were like that.

Yes, they were, Robert. Yes they were.

Just remembered this one....

Friend from work thought "Help me, Rhonda, yeah, get her outta my heart" was....

"Help me, Rhonda, yeah, get her outta my car".

Lady Penelope Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a book about dogs in which the author
> claimed Louis Armstrong believed dogs could talk -
> because the song says "Dogs say goodnight" !
> Until it was pointed out to him that In fact in
> "Wonderful World" the words are "dark silent
> night"!

But at least we know that dogs can't look up.

Mark E Smith said that the albums by The Fall never had lyrics included because he thought people got more out of their own interpretations than what he'd really written. This did cause him problems later on when he had to repeatedly listen to some of the songs to learn the lyrics for live performances.

Musician's rule: When in doubt....mumble.


I've only met one person in my life that actually knew all the words to Wooly Bully. And this was before the internet.

Ummm - I'm going to seem a right numpty here - but in Paint it Black, if it's not I see a rainbow - what is it? It works!!!!!

Ummm - I'm going to seem a right numpty here - but in Paint it Black, if it's not I see a rainbow - what is it? It works!!!!!

I see a red door......

I'm NOT paranoid......thats just what THEY want you to think!!!

rforrest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ummm - I'm going to seem a right numpty here - but
> in Paint it Black, if it's not I see a rainbow -
> what is it? It works!!!!!


At the risk of being pedantic, you can paint a door black but you can't paint a rainbow black.

Ah, now I remember! However - at the risk of being psychedelic - back then you could paint a rainbow any colours you liked.

As I recalll, you could sing a rainbow [www.youtube.com], dunno about painting one

Hey, if "tambourines and elephants are playing in the band", then you can paint a rainbow black.

Hey, if "tambourines and elephants are playing in the band", then you can paint a rainbow black.

......and a seagull......."No more will my green seagull turn a deeper blue"............also from Paint it Black.....boy, did they have some fancy chemicals available

I'm NOT paranoid......thats just what THEY want you to think!!!

Better living through chemistry.

I hope you don't mind my suggestion teepee, but maybe you should put your signature in a different font size/style from the rest of the post. I keep thinking there is a song lyric 'I'm not paranoid.............'

...and you started thinkin' Black Sabbath, yeah?

Rumbaba Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hope you don't mind my suggestion teepee, but
> maybe you should put your signature in a different
> font size/style from the rest of the post. I keep
> thinking there is a song lyric 'I'm not
> paranoid.............'

Which has to link to Paranoid Android by Radiohead

When I was little, I wondered why in "Silent Night" they described her as a round young virgin.

Apparently, this song is difficult for a lot of kids....my husband thought it said proud young virgin.