# Boy did I have those lyrics wrong! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771 "2010-08-10T00:13:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/21 "2010-08-10T13:43:20Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I didn’t imagine any alternate lyrics to that. It just sounded like gibberish. MAYBE he was saying something like “Where the Pope boys are plain; crane your neck, happy feet” and maybe not. I thought it was “Where the poor boys were playin’, playin’ ‘guitar happy feet’.” ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/22 "2010-08-10T13:45:33Z")
“I’d never want a box of dust.” Me neither, but who would give Freddy such a gift? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/23 "2010-08-10T13:46:17Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > > [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > > > I’ve posted this before: > > > > “There’s a warm wind blowing the stars around, and I’d really like to see you tonight.” > > Could you post the title of the song, or the correct lyrics? “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” by England Dan and John Ford Coley. I got that line, but it wasn’t until I was watching “The Captain and Tennille,” in which Toni Tennille sang it much slower that I understood “I’m not talking’ ‘bout [muh-VIN-in] ("movin’ in,” that is). I think I got “Willy and the Po’ Boys,” but what followed it was gibberish to me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/24 "2010-08-10T14:28:21Z")
Cheers, Earl. Hrm…[it does sound like he’s singing that, don’t it](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0Knw7O5r4)? (On the other hand, I disagree with Civil Guy - I really like the image.) And I’m with you on the ‘movin in’ line…holy cow, that’s hard to understand… (My guess would have ‘not talkin’ bout the livin’’ which almost, but doesn’t quite, make sense. And I keep hearing ‘and I don’t want to change your mind’ for the line that is apparently ‘don’t want to change your life’…on the other hand, that does make sense.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/25 "2010-08-10T15:50:41Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Until I heard someone sing a folksy version in a restaurant once, I had no idea about a huge chunk of the lyrics in Creedence’s “Down On The Corner”. I couldn’t pick out ANY of the lyrics from > > _Willy And The Poor Boys are playing > Bring a nickel, tap your feet_ > > I didn’t imagine any alternate lyrics to that. It just sounded like gibberish. MAYBE he was saying something like “Where the Pope boys are plain; crane your neck, happy feet” and maybe not. > But the word I completely got wrong sounded like > > _You don’t need a **pinhead** > Just to hang around_ > > No way Fogerty was saying “penny”. It’s closer to “PIN-eh”. That’s a Southern accent for ya, pronouncing “pen” as “pin”. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/26 "2010-08-10T16:57:21Z")
> [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > I’ve posted this before: > > “There’s a warm wind blowing the stars around, and I’d really like to see you tonight.” You’ve missed the biggest one in that song, which is: I’m not talkin’ 'bout the linens, and I don’t want to change your life… ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/27 "2010-08-10T17:14:50Z")
For years, I thought Peter Gabriel’s song _Shock the Monkey_ was about a monkey named Jacques… ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/28 "2010-08-10T18:29:42Z")
> [@Jet\_Jaguar](#): > > For years, I thought Peter Gabriel’s song _Shock the Monkey_ was about a monkey named Jacques… Speaking of Gabriel, how about Games Without Frontiers, people thought it was “She’s so popular” (jeux sans frontieres) my self included until I bought the LP. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/29 "2010-08-10T19:16:03Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > > [@Jet\_Jaguar](#): > > > > For years, I thought Peter Gabriel’s song _Shock the Monkey_ was about a monkey named Jacques… > > Speaking of Gabriel, how about Games Without Frontiers, people thought it was “She’s so popular” (jeux sans frontieres) my self included until I bought the LP. “She is so frumpy now”. I knew that couldn’t possibly be it but I sing it that way to this day. The bigger surprise to me was that it’s Kate Bush singing that line and not Mr. Gabriel himself. Thank you Straight Dope for fighting my ignorance once again. ---
**Author:** ![sohvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sohvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sohvan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/30 "2010-08-10T20:35:25Z")
As a child I thought “The Miracle” by Queen went > [@](#): > > The one thing we’re all waiting for, is peace on earth and an end to all I thought it was a song about the end of the world. :o ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/31 "2010-08-10T21:25:23Z")
Possibly the worst line in rock music history is in Toto’s “Africa”: Sure as Kilaminjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti I used to think they were singing “a leopress” (a female leopard?) or “a lepress” (a female with leprosy?) instead of “Olympus.” ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/32 "2010-08-10T21:38:11Z")
Hot Blooded… Chicken of the Sea, Gotta fever of a hundred and three! I’m hot blooded, do ya do more than dance. Hot Blooded, Mama! ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/33 "2010-08-10T21:56:29Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Possibly the worst line in rock music history is in Toto’s “Africa”: > > Sure as Kilaminjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti > > I used to think they were singing “a leopress” (a female leopard?) or “a lepress” (a female with leprosy?) instead of “Olympus.” Uh, I thought it was “rises like an Empress” :o ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/34 "2010-08-10T22:26:47Z")
I caught my 4 year old daughter doing the dancing and hand moves to Beyonce’s “single ladies” song singing, “if you like a teddy bear put a ring on it!..oh,oh, oh, oh etc” cute…wrong…but cute. ---
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/35 "2010-08-10T22:36:37Z")
“I’m not talking 'bout millenium And I don’t want to save your life But there’s a warm wind blowing the stars around And I’d really like to see you tonight” I think these were pretty obvious lyrics to anyone growing up in the “Age of Aquarius” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/36 "2010-08-11T01:47:26Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Yes, we all thought it was “Dirty deeds, thunder chief” or “Dirty deeds, done to sheep.” Dirty deeds and the dungeon chief! > [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > “There’s a warm wind blowing the stars around, and I’d really like to see you tonight.” Until I read this just now, that’s what I thought he was saying. > [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > “I’m not talking’ ‘bout [muh-VIN-in] ("movin’ in,” that is). > [@Enuma\_Elish](#): > > "I’m not talking 'bout millenium I always heard “millennium” too. This is the first time I’ve heard “movin’ in”. [quote=“Sparky812, post:28, topic:549771”] > [@Jet\_Jaguar](#): > > Speaking of Gabriel, how about Games Without Frontiers, people thought it was “She’s so popular” (jeux sans frontieres) my self included until I bought the LP. I always thought this was “She’s so funky, yeah”. Never would’ve thought it was French. I guess I never bothered to look up the lyrics to these songs (and probably a lot of others) because I never doubted in my mind that what I thought I was hearing was incorrect (although “millennium” is kind of stupid). ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/37 "2010-08-11T02:13:48Z")
How about Rusted Root’s Simeon The Whale? (Send On My Way) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/38 "2010-08-11T02:38:41Z")
My favorite mondegreen moment ever was when “Pour Some Sugar On Me” came on a jukebox at our favorite college watering hole. There were a good 10 of us at a table, drinking heavily, and we all started singing along. And then the song got to the chorus, where my friend Kay sang “Pour some sugar on me…in the neighborhood!” at the top of her lungs. 9 people at the table turned and stared at her and then busted out laughing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/39 "2010-08-11T02:51:02Z")
Remember Seal’s song for that Batman movie? I kept expecting him to say _“kiss from a rose on the grave”_, and so kept tuning out as he went on: \*"kiss from a rose on the graaaaaaaaaa… …aaaay."\* ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771/40 "2010-08-11T02:57:32Z")
**Attacklass** and I were listening to the song [Paint It Black](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BhHTA6Gzn0) by the Rolling Stones a few years ago. To this day we still hear either “no more will my green sea gull turn a deeper blue,” or “no more will my creamsicle turn a deeper blue,” when the actual line is “no more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue.” Makes about as much sense, though… When **Attacklass** and **Attacklad** were little, I played [Bikeage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7WanzlOvGg) by The Descendents for them. They heard: “Selling your money for a bag of bricks.” The real lyrics? “Selling your body for another fix.” The best part was that they managed to make the songs PG without my having to do anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-did-i-have-those-lyrics-wrong/549771.md?page=3)