Really? I never did
You've got to be kidding me... I grew up with that tune and never thought he said that!
"With a purple umbrella and a fifty cent hat,"
Unless you know the lyrics, I bet a lot of people wouldn't figure it out.
I love Mondegreens! :)
Lots more of them here:
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/mondegreens.shtml
Funny, funny stuff! :)
Ping
Shouldn't that honor go to "Louie Louie"?
Tapir back rider.
Jimi played with audience however. He can be heard on at least one bootleg singing "'xcuse me while I kiss THAT guy."
I would wager that more people mishear Bruce Springsteen when he sings "wrapped up like a douche, another runner in the night"
I'd read that before, but always thought that one odd, because (although i'm not great at figuring out lyrics, and frankly have better uses for my time) it's clear as a bell that he sings, "scuse me while I kiss the sky".
There's an old piece of psychedelia (and I remember it clearly, no jokes please, just can't recall who did it or what the song is) which features a chorus with a falsetto or some go-go chick singin' "My, my, how time flies" -- but there are plenty of people who thing the words are "liar liar, pants on fire". It's not even close.
I thought the all-tim leader for misheard lyrics was the song "Louie, Louie" (Kingsmen version).
Thanks MotleyGirl70 for that tidbit about Livin Lovin Maid. I always wondered what Plant was talking about, so I just looked up the lyrics. :')
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_316
"Louie Louie, me gotta go. Louie Louie, me gotta go. A fine little girl, she wait for me. Me catch the ship across the sea. I sailed the ship all alone. I never think I'll make it home. Louie Louie, me gotta go . Three nights and days we sailed the sea. Me think of girl constantly. On the ship, I dream she there. I smell the rose in her hair. Louie Louie, me gotta go. Me see Jamaican moon above. It won't be long me see me love. Me take her in my arms and then I tell her I never leave again. Louie Louie, me gotta go." (By Richard Berry. Copyright 1957-1963 by Limax Music Inc.)
Steve Miller: "Big Ol' Jed left the light on....."
I used to think the song "Groovin'" by The Little Rascals was about a threesome, "Life would be ecstasy, you and me, and Leslie...." Instead it's, "you and me, endlessly."
some related asides:
When I was in high school, there was a very weird claim that the band Queen ("Bohemian Rhapsody" had just zoomed to a bit hit for that band) was made up of former members of the Cowsills. Go figure.
A local (Grand Rapids Michigan) DJ used to broadcast a very weird claim that Desmond Dekker (best known for the 1960s hit, "Israelites") was the show business nom de plume of Bishop Desmond Tutu when he was young.
http://webfitz.com/lyrics/index.php?option=com_webfitzlyrics&Itemid=27&func=fullview&lyricsid=4340
I also recall a Canadian band Klaatu which, while unremarkable IMHO, were rumored to be the Beatles recording under the cover of anonymity. I buried Paul.
Or maybe the singers can't or won't enunciate properly and they sing with all sorts of godawful racket going on anyway.
"After all tha' hooya been through" -- Peter Cetera, Chicago ("Hard to Say I'm Sorry")
Dan
I saw Hendrix play twice, 1968 and 1969. Both times he pointed to Noel Redding as he sang the line, "Scuse me, while I kiss this guy"