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What are some of your personal misheard lyrics?
I’m sure most people know of the common examples (“Hold me closer, Tony Danza”), but I’m interested in lyrics that you or someone you know has gotten wrong in the songs you regularly listen to.
Also, I’m interested in the story of how you found out it was a misheard lyric.
- How long had you heard the wrong thing?
- How did you find out the what the actual line was supposed to be?
- Was there a dawning realization or comedy wrapped up in it?
- Do you still sing it your way in spite of the actual lyrics?
- Is the song actually improved by your lyric swap?
If it’s not a burden, link to the timestamp of the song(s) where your misheard lyrics occurs.
If you want to prime people to hear things your way, feel free to put the actual lyrics in a <details> dropdown to hide them, so people can listen to the song with your words in mind first.
A friend of mine used to corrupt Creedence Clearwater's "there's a bad moon on the rise" with "there's a bathroom on the right", and now I can't unhear that. It ruined the song for me.
~ Hotel California by The Eagles
Circa 2000 internet search was not what it is now. Having pirated the song from the college dorm network, we didn't even have official lyrics. So we turned to the dictionary, which only gave us:
The warm smell of colitis sounds like the road trip from hell, but it makes me laugh every time the song comes on.
For those who want proper resolution to this saga, colitas is Spanish for "little tip" or "little bud" and is a reference to marijuana.
Beck - Loser
Only this year has my wife made me realize the actual lyrics say “Soy un perdedor” when she happened to sing that line in the car as I was driving. I remember watching the music video on MTV in the 90s. Can’t believe how many years it’s been of me not realizing I misheard those lyrics!
I’m so torn now… I don’t listen to it very often, I don’t listen to Beck in general. Will I still sing it the wrong way? Maybe. I think I’m in the phase where I won’t sing it at all and will keep listening attentively when that line comes up almost as though I still don’t fully believe I was wrong.
Welp, today I learned
Gala - Freed From Desire
Had no idea what the hell a trombolise was, but it's still a great dancing tune. I think it was only a year or two that I learned her love has got his strong beliefs, when I saw the lyrics on Spotify.
✨🎶 get along with these starbucks lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane 🎵✨