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Misunderstood Lyrics: 38 Funny Things You Didn’t Really Hear
Udiscovermusic ^ | August 11, 2025

Posted on 08/12/2025 5:46:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Whether it’s a Freudian slip or rubbish radio quality, here are the most misheard lyrics that have been mangled by the general public.

We’re all unreliable narrators, that’s why when asked to recall what you did last Tuesday, or the lyrics to Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s ‘Blinded By The Light,” the result is a jumbled mess of false memories and misunderstood lyrics like these: “Blinded by the light, wrapped up like a douche when you’re rollin’ in the night.”

While Bruce Springsteen, AKA The Boss, first recorded the song, it wasn’t until Mann covered it that “Blinded By The Light” revved to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned a hilarious ode to female sanitary products.

Blame it on particular pronunciation or the general population’s selective hearing, whatever the case may be, we’ve all been guilty of perpetuating misunderstood lyrics to some of the biggest hits in music history. In fact, it’s so common there’s even a technical term for it: mondegreen.

In a 1954 piece for Harper’s Magazine, writer Sylvia Wright spoke of one of her favorite verses in Reliques Of Ancient English Poetry, a 1765 book of popular poems and ballads. It began with the lines, “Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands / Oh, where hae ye been? / They hae slain the Earl Amurray, / And Lady Mondegreen.” Except there was no lady to speak of, Amurray was slain and they “laid him on the green.”

While most people don’t belt out ancient English poetry in the shower, they have misconstrued Jimi Hendrix’s sexual orientation on the iconic hit “Purple Haze” with “Scuse me while I kiss this guy” among many other offenses.

This issue spans both sides of the pond, according to data from Spotify. While Mann and Hendrix are among the most misheard stateside, 28 poll respondents in the UK are under the impression that Annie Lennox believes “Sweet Dreams are made of… cheese” in the classic Eurythmics song.

Coming in a close second is Elton John. You can chalk this up to the Americans, who believed the opening track on John’s 1971 album Madman Across The Water, “Tiny Dancer,” was really an ode to the sitcom star Tony Danza. (An episode of Friends probably didn’t help matters.) Just a few years later on his hit “Bennie And The Jets.” people mistook his sartorial observations “she’s got electric boots, a mohair suit” to be “she’s got electric boobs, a bowl of soup.”

Elton John - Bennie And The Jets (Official Music Video)

Whether it’s a Freudian slip or just rubbish radio quality, here are some other songs with misheard lyrics that have been mangled and otherwise distorted by the general public.

Taylor Swift – Blank Space

Misheard lyric: “All the lonely Starbucks lovers”

Taylor Swift isn’t wistfully recalling unrequited love over lattes but talking about her old flames.

Actual lyric: “Got a long list of ex-lovers”

The Rolling Stones – Beast Of Burden

Misheard lyric: “I’ll never leave your pizza burning”

Sadly, Mick is not pledging never to burn your crust, but rather pledging never to be a pushover.

Actual lyric: “I’ll never be your beast of burden”

Journey – Open Arms

Misheard lyric: “So here I am with broken arms”

This early 80s power ballad has often been misheard as a painful injury.

Actual lyric: “So here I am with open arms”

Michael Jackson – Man in the Mirror

Misheard lyric: “And no Mrs. could have been any clever”

It feels a bit ironic, but this line from Michael Jackson often gets misheard in a variety of ways.

Actual lyric: “And no message could be clearer”

Eagles – Hotel California

Misheard lyric: “On a dark desert highway, cool whip in my hair”

Is this Don Henley’s ode to the desert… or desserts?

Actual lyric: “On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair”

ABBA – Take A Chance On Me

Misheard lyric: “If you change your mind, Jackie Chan, I’m the first in line, Jackie Chan”

It’s possible that the Swedish pop superstars were huge fans of the martial arts action star, but it’s unlikely that they knew about him in 1977, when this song was written.

Actual lyric: “If you change your mind, take a chance, I’m the first in line, take a chance”

Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind

Misheard lyric: “In New York, concrete jungle, wet dream, tomato…”

It’s not a surrealistic rap. Instead, this chorus is an ode to one of the most celebrated cities in the world.

Actual lyric: “In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made, oh… ”

The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations

Misheard lyric: “I’m pickin’ up good vibrations, she’s giving me her citations”

The misheard song lyric here makes you wonder: Are The Beach Boys excited about female flirtations or a woman’s rigorous commitment to formatting abridged material?

Actual lyric: I’m pickin’ up good vibrations, she’s giving me excitations”

UB40 – Food for Thought

Misheard lyric: “I’m a prima donna, dying in the dust. Waiting for the manna coming from the west.”

Is UB40 speaking of a high maintenance ex-pat dying for exported moisturizer or an indictment of politicians’ refusal to relieve African famine?

Actual lyric: “Ivory Madonna, dying in the dust. Waiting for the manna coming from the west.”

Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’

Misheard lyric: “Mama say, mama say, mama applesap”

This one is a Dutch mishearing, but it’s so interesting we couldn’t help but include it. Apparently, Dutch children have misunderstood the ending of Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” as another kid asking for apple juice. The joke name has since become the language’s official name for the phenomenon.

Actual lyric: “Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa”

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit

Misheard lyric: Various words like skittle, beetle, etc.

Kurt Cobain’s abstract lyrics were never the easiest to understand, but this line from one of their biggest hits is probably the most misunderstood.

Actual lyric: “A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido.”

Eminem ft. Rihanna – Monster

Misheard lyric: “I’m friends with the mustard under my bed”

Once you hear it as this condiment, you may have trouble hearing it any other way.

Actual lyric: “I’m friends with the monster under my bed.”

Macy Gray – I Try

Misheard lyric: “I blow bubbles when you are not here”

Macy is not merely bored but devastated when her lover is away.

Actual lyric: “My world crumbles when you are not near”

Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer

Misheard lyric: “It doesn’t make a difference if we’re naked or not”

This striving 80s hair metal anthem refers to self-motivation rather than nudity helping you to achieve your goals.

Actual lyric: “It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not”

Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer

Misheard lyric: “It’s gonna be May”

“It’s gonna be May” is just one of the many ways that this song title, sung by Justin Timberlake, has been misunderstood over the years, leading to a meme or two each year on May 1st.

Actual lyric: “It’s gonna be me”

Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams – Good Times Theme Song

Misheard lyric: “Good times, hangin’ in a chow line”

Even to the most trained ear, the song lyrics here can be tricky, so much so that it inspired a skit by Dave Chappelle on his eponymous TV show. After testing quiz show contestants on their knowledge of Black culture, they’re all stumped by the lyric in this catchy TV theme song from the 70s sitcom.

Actual lyric: “Good times, hanging in and jiving”

ABBA – Dancing Queen

Misheard lyric: “See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen”

It’s hard to imagine the bright and sunny Swedish pop stars ever singing lyrics so deranged, but plenty of folks have misunderstood it that way.

Actual lyric: “See that girl, watch that scene, diggin’ the Dancing Queen”

The Smiths – Ask

Misheard lyric: “Because if it’s not love, then it’s the bum, the bum, the bum, the bum, the bum, the bum, the bum, that will bring us together”

Morrissey has always been mum on the subject of his sexuality, but that doesn’t stop people from speculating on the topic and this misunderstood lyric only fuels the fire.

Actual lyric: “Because if it’s not love, then it’s the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, that will bring us together”

R.E.M – The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite

Misheard lyric: “Calling Jamaica”

Michael Stipe is renowned for his ability to provide a tough-to-decipher lyric, but this may be one of the most misunderstood lyrics he’s ever sung.

Actual lyric: “Call me when you try to wake her up”

Blind Melon – No Rain

Misheard lyric: “I like to keep my teeth extracted”

This misheard lyric from the 90s classic sounds painful, but is instead just incredibly depressing.

Actual lyric: “I’d like to keep my cheeks dry today”

Deep Purple – Highway Star

Misheard lyric: “She eats coleslaw every day”

Coleslaw isn’t exactly known as a food you eat in the car, but that hasn’t stopped folks from mishearing this Deep Purple gem.

Actual lyric: “She stays close on every bend”

Eddie Money – Two Tickets To Paradise

Misheard lyric: “Two chickens in a pot of rice”

To be fair, two chickens in a pot of rice isn’t a bad thing, but Eddie Money’s promise of two tickets to paradise sounds more enticing.

Actual lyric: “Two tickets to paradise”

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising

Misheard lyric: “There’s a bathroom on the right”

A friendly bit of direction or a dark portent? This often misunderstood lyric comes from one of Creedence’s most famous tunes.

Actual lyric: “Bad moon on the rise”

The Beach Boys – Help Me, Rhonda

Misheard lyric: “Well, since you put me down there’s been owls pukin’ in my bed”

Both sound like pretty horrible situations, but the correct lyric for this Beach Boys classic at least doesn’t involve a bird in Al Jardine’s house.

Actual lyric: “Well, since she put me down I’ve been out doin’ in my head”

The Rascals: Groovin’

Misheard lyric: “Life would be ecstasy, you and me and Leslie/Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon”

This Young Rascals classic tune is much more chaste than this misheard lyric might suggest.

Actual lyric: “Life would be ecstasy, you and me endlessly/Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon”

Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back

Misheard lyric: “I like big butts and a can of limes”

It’s possible Sir Mix-A-Lot enjoys limes, but that’s not the lyric he’s rapping on this pop rap classic.

Actual lyric: “I like big butts and I cannot lie”

The Clash – Rock The Casbah

Misheard lyric: “Rock the cash bar, rock the cash bar”

Many folks are unfamiliar with North African architecture, so it’s unsurprising to know that this is one of the most misunderstood lyrics of the 80s.

Actual lyric: “Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah”

Madonna – Like a Virgin

Misheard lyric: “Like a virgin, hey/Touched for the 31st time”

It’s hard to imagine mishearing this one, considering the content of the song, but plenty have done so over the years.

Actual lyric: “Like a virgin, hey/Touched for the very first time”

Starship – We Built This City

Misheard lyric: “We built this city on sausage rolls”

There are probably plenty of cities that would make the claim that they’ve been built on a culinary speciality, but that’s not what Starship was singing about here.

Actual lyric: “We built this city on rock ‘n’ roll”

Toto – Africa

Misheard lyric: “Ain’t nothin’ that a hundred men on Mars could ever do”

It would be strange to go from Mars to Africa in the span of a song, but many have misunderstood this lyric from Toto’s biggest hit.

Actual lyric: “There’s nothin’ that a hundred men or more could ever do.”

The Beatles – Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Misheard lyric: “A girl with colitis goes by”

Colitis is a deeply unpleasant medical condition and, thankfully, something The Beatles weren’t singing about when they put together this psychedelic classic.

Actual lyric: “The girl with kaleidoscope eyes”

Bee Gees: More Than A Woman

Misheard lyric: “Bald headed woman”

One of the most enduring songs from the group, this often misheard lyric first emerged on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

Actual lyric: “More than a woman”

Adele – Chasing Pavements

Misheard lyric: “Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing penguins, even if it leads nowhere?”

To be fair, chasing penguins would also likely lead nowhere, but this Adele classic is instead about pavements.

Actual lyric: “Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements, even if it leads nowhere?”

Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now

Misheard lyric: “I can see Deirdre now/Lorraine has gone”

Johnny Nash’s iconic song doesn’t feature any names specifically, just the general idea that happy times are here again.

Actual lyric: “I can see clearly now/The rain has gone”

Robert Palmer – Addicted to Love

Misheard lyric: “Might as well face it/You’re a dick with a glove”

Robert Palmer’s classic song has been misunderstood in many ways over the years. Needless to say, we can’t print them all here.

Actual lyric: “Might as well face it/You’re addicted to love”

Bob Dylan – Blowin’ In The Wind

Misheard lyric: “The ants are my friends”

Bob Dylan’s unique accent has made for a good number of misunderstood lyrics over the years. This is just one of the most famous.

Actual lyric: “The answer, my friend”

TLC – Waterfalls

Misheard lyric: “Don’t go, Jason Waterfalls”

Unless we missed something in the music video, the TLC lyric is more about general waterfalls as opposed to a guy named Jason.

Actual lyric: “Don’t go chasing waterfalls”

Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire

Misheard lyric: “Ohh, dyslexics on fire”

A dark mishearing of what should be a fun and sensual lyric from Kings of Leon’s big hit.

Actual lyric: “Ohh, this sex is on fire”


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: lyrics; mondegreen; mondegreens; music
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1 posted on 08/12/2025 5:46:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Don’t bring me down Bruce.


2 posted on 08/12/2025 5:52:18 PM PDT by bigbob (If thou doth eff around, thou wilt findeth out)
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To: nickcarraway
"I know that pizza goes with broccoli"

Mr Osbourne. Crazy Train.

I don't think so sir.

3 posted on 08/12/2025 5:52:27 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: nickcarraway

“Because I sneegeewhoh, I sneegeewoh I sneegeewhoh I sneegeewhoh...I’m looking high I’m looking low, can’t find where did my baby go”
Robert plant- Burning Down One Side

Tons of others of course.
When it went clean digital or I finally read the lyrics it became “I need your love”


4 posted on 08/12/2025 5:57:40 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: nickcarraway

What?! No “Louie, Louie” by the Kingsmen? The most misunderstood lyrics ever!


5 posted on 08/12/2025 5:58:59 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: nickcarraway

“Don’t you want meat gravy? Don’t you want meat? No,no, no, no.”

—Human League


6 posted on 08/12/2025 6:00:19 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: nickcarraway

Great post.

To show how evenhanded and fair I am, here is the movie Jumpin’ Jack Flash scene with Whoopi Goldberg trying to decipher Mick Jagger’s singing to save a spy’s life.

“I was raised by two lesbians, no that can’t be it.” “with a spike through my head, no.” “Mick, Mick, Mick, speak English.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyHNryKojDY


7 posted on 08/12/2025 6:01:38 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: nickcarraway

Just like a one wing dove...


8 posted on 08/12/2025 6:03:04 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Time to dump out the Treasury drawer and throw out all the junk that is wasting our money.)
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To: nickcarraway

When the hit single by Johnny Preston was on the radio in 1960 “Running Bear” (...who loved Little White Dove) many people thought it was running bare.


9 posted on 08/12/2025 6:04:06 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

A judge once ruled it “unintelligible at any speed”.


10 posted on 08/12/2025 6:05:12 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Time to dump out the Treasury drawer and throw out all the junk that is wasting our money.)
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To: nickcarraway

The hymn, “In The Garden”.

Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me.

And He walks with me, and He walks with me.


11 posted on 08/12/2025 6:08:49 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: nickcarraway

I’ll be bakin carrot biscuits -BTO


12 posted on 08/12/2025 6:09:33 PM PDT by Hyman Roth
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To: nickcarraway

Marking.


13 posted on 08/12/2025 6:23:51 PM PDT by Rummyfan ( In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.👨 )
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To: nickcarraway

CCR

Bad moon rising

Bathroom on the right


14 posted on 08/12/2025 6:24:16 PM PDT by CrashCole
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To: Hyman Roth

Steinbrenner: “She’s a heartbreaker, love taker, Brubaker run this prison like a man. Oh”


15 posted on 08/12/2025 6:25:48 PM PDT by Theophilus (covfefe)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
In the "wasn't the USA quaint and respectable in years gone by" category...
AND!...The al­most uni­ver­sal be­lief in 1963-1964 that the Kings­men had slipped some­thing ob­scene into a song being played on the radio where mi­nors could hear it every bloody day ac­tu­al­ly led to an in­ves­ti­ga­tion of the record by the FBI! The in­ves­ti­ga­tion last­ed through 1965 but as none of the agency’s ex­perts could fig­ure out what the heck Ely was ac­tu­al­ly singing, they had to leave the record alone.

More...The FBI investigated The Kingsmen's 1963 song "Louie Louie" for alleged obscene lyrics, following complaints from parents and others who believed the song contained inappropriate content. The investigation, which began in early 1964, was sparked by widespread rumors and misinterpretations of the song’s largely unintelligible lyrics, sung by Jack Ely. The FBI's probe, part of their efforts to address obscenity under federal laws like the Interstate Transportation of Obscene Material statute, lasted from February to May 1964, with some activity continuing into 1965. Agents analyzed the song at various speeds and interviewed band members, the song’s original writer Richard Berry, and others, but never contacted Ely himself. Despite a 455-page report, the FBI concluded the lyrics were "unintelligible at any speed" and found no definitive evidence of obscenity, closing the case without charges. The controversy was fueled by circulated fake lyrics and cultural anxieties about rock 'n' roll’s influence on youth, though the only actual obscenity was an accidental "f**k" muttered by drummer Lynn Easton at 56 seconds after dropping a drumstick, which went unnoticed by investigators.


16 posted on 08/12/2025 6:27:01 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Blood of Tyrants

There’s a book about the history of”Louie, Louie” and the FBI’s investigation of it. The correct lyrics were published by the WSJ in its middle human interest column.


17 posted on 08/12/2025 6:28:52 PM PDT by JeemBeau
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To: nickcarraway

“I’m not talkin’ ‘bout the linen.”
Samual Jackson sings this in The Long Kiss Goodnight.


18 posted on 08/12/2025 6:29:24 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Democrats should have been barred from elections since The Battle Of Athens.)
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To: nickcarraway

Someone misheard Elton Jophn’s Tiny Dancer:

“Hold me closer, Tony Danza”


19 posted on 08/12/2025 6:31:43 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: nickcarraway

“Reverend Blue Jeans, babe ...”

— Neil Diamond

____________

“I saw her face. Now I’m gonna leave her.”

— Sung by the Monkees, written by Neil Diamond


20 posted on 08/12/2025 6:32:12 PM PDT by x
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