# D'oh! Misheard lyrics in an oft-heard song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758 "2007-06-20T19:53:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/121 "2007-07-25T18:14:11Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] KISS Heard: I want to Rock & Roll all night and part of every day [/QUOTE] Well you have to sleep _sometime_! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/122 "2007-07-25T18:43:43Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve have laid money on that being the right lyric. I am amazed to find it’s not! > > Er, what’s a Glide? A “Glide” is one of those on-the-porch (or in-the-yard) gentle swings that can “glide” slowly back and forth. The perfect place for “spooning” (kissing and light makin’ out), which is why I thought I’d finally unearthed the real meaning – “won’t you take a ride /on the glide. we’ll spoon” = “Let’s sit on the porch swing and kiss.” Only, apparently, that’s not it. Bummer. But both Pepper Mill and I independently came up with that interpretation, and were convinced it was right. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/123 "2007-09-06T16:38:36Z")
I’ve heard David Bowie’s “Fame” many, many times, but I didn’t realize that one of the lines is “I reject you first.” All these years, I thought it was “I reject your breast.” ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/124 "2007-09-06T17:16:53Z")
There is an old rock song, That i had a much better version of for a long time, until a DJ actually gave the name and wrecked it. **"I don’t wanna work, I just wanna bang; and get drunk all day."** I found out is not about sex and beer all day long ☹ **"I don’t wanna work, I just wanna bang on these drums all day"** very disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/125 "2007-09-06T17:24:20Z")
[Quote=Charger] I cannot listen to “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago without hearing, “After all the who ya been through…” even though I know the lyrics are, “After all that you have been through…” [/quote] [QUOTE=gigi] I hear “After all that we’ve been through”, and at least [one site](http://www.dapslyrics.com/display.php?sid=5941) agrees. [/QUOTE] And all my life I’ve been hearing: After all the _hell_ we’ve been through ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/126 "2007-09-06T17:42:13Z")
**Sister Goldenhair** Heard: I’ve been won for Boris Karlov Lyric: I’ve been one poor correspondant ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/127 "2007-09-06T18:34:51Z")
I surely can’t be the only one to mishear Peter Gabriel’s **Games Without Frontiers**. The lyric: **Jeux sans frontieres** What I heard: **She’s so popular** ``` or ``` **She’s so frumpy, yeah.** ---
**Author:** ![samm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/128 "2007-09-06T19:29:31Z")
I just heard a bible school song on my boyfriend’s Bioshock video game last night. As a kid, I always knew the words were: Jesus loves me this I know, Cause the bible tells me so. Little one’s too himby long, They are weak but he is strong. I didn’t know what a himby was or how it could be too long. But it all makes sense now. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/129 "2007-09-06T20:48:27Z")
In Dusty Sprigfield’s classic “I Only Want To Be With You”, I always heard her singing “I fell into your broken arm” instead of “open arms” possibly that’s because it’s what I wanted to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Nimble\_Bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@Nimble\_Bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimble_Bandit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/130 "2007-09-06T21:17:41Z")
Four two nine gotta leave that nine to five up one yourself And just enjoy yourself Cool! Mathematics in the music get to you Life ain’t so bad at all If you live it off the wall Hey, I was a kid and I though Michael Jackson simply liked Math as much as I did. ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/131 "2007-09-07T03:50:04Z")
In “Lonesome Day” from “The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen., I hear: > [@](#): > > It’s hard to swallow, **cartography** > That taste on your tongue don’t easily slip away which didn’t seem right to my ears. The correct version is: > [@](#): > > It’s hard to swallow, **come time to pay** > That taste on your tongue don’t easily slip away ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/132 "2007-09-07T04:54:32Z")
[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu] I surely can’t be the only one to mishear Peter Gabriel’s **Games Without Frontiers**. [/QUOTE] I heard it as “She’s so funky, yeah.” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/133 "2007-09-07T16:30:19Z")
[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu] I surely can’t be the only one to mishear Peter Gabriel’s **Games Without Frontiers**. The lyric: **Jeux sans frontieres** [/QUOTE] “Jeux sans frontieres”, eh? I’m glad I finally know that now. “She’s so fump-pee-eh” made so little sense. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/134 "2007-09-07T16:51:45Z")
Ooh, here’s another one I’ve mentally butchered. \*\*The Who’s \*\* \*We Won’t Get Fooled Again. \* I hear this: The farting on the left is now the farting on the right. Instead of the correct: The _parting_ on the left is now the _parting_ on the right. Even though I know the correct lyric I can’t stop hearing “farting.” Of course the mental imagery that comes with that is well, it’s a gas I tell ya. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/135 "2007-09-07T20:37:30Z")
[QUOTE=samm] I just heard a bible school song on my boyfriend’s Bioshock video game last night. As a kid, I always knew the words were: Jesus loves me this I know, Cause the bible tells me so. Little one’s too himby long, They are weak but he is strong. I didn’t know what a himby was or how it could be too long. But it all makes sense now. [/QUOTE] Isn’t this related to “Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear” ? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/136 "2007-09-07T20:39:56Z")
[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu] Ooh, here’s another one I’ve mentally butchered. \*\*The Who’s \*\* \*We Won’t Get Fooled Again. \* [/QUOTE] When I was at a Heart concert at the Hard Rock, the PA system played the Who’s Eminence Front as part of the muzak-so-the-masses-wont-riot-before-the-show music. The girls sitting next to me were singing: “Livin’ in a butt livin’ in a butt it’s a put-on” But I don’t think they actually thought those were the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/137 "2007-09-07T20:49:56Z")
My daughter once thought the words to Eminence Front were “Eleven o’clock…eleven o’clock…it’s a put-on.” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/138 "2007-09-07T21:11:58Z")
-As a kid, I thought that one of the lines in the French lyrics to “O Canada” (“Et ta valeur, de foi trempée” - and your valour steeped in faith) was “Et ta valeur, deux fois trompée” (and your valour, twice fooled). - I had no idea what Tori Amos was singing in the first verse of “Tear in Your Hand.” It’s actually “If you need me, me and Neil will be/Hanging out with the Dream King/Neil said hi, by the way/I don’t believe you’re leaving 'cause me and Charles Manson like the same ice cream.” I thought it was something like “If you need me, kneel, need me, hanging out with the Dream King/Kneels are high, write a word/I don’t believe your leaving puts me in trust/Men should like the same ice cream.” As you can see, the real lyrics don’t make substantially more sense, sort of like “the black of the blackest ocean”, which I thought was “the black of the black nasturtium.” - The Pet Shop Boys song “Decadence” contains the lyrics “this fin-de-siècle pretense” which I thought was “this kind of painful pretense.” Likewise, “A Red-Letter Day” really says “What does it matter if there’s no one here to share/The flowers in the garden, the wine/The _Waiting for Godot_ and so much modern time,” which I thought was “…a thousand dollars the wine/The waiting forgotten, and so much modern time.” - I thought Mylène Farmer was singing “Je cherche un ami pour m’aider.” It’s actually “Je cherche une âme qui pourra m’aider.” Not substantially different. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758/139 "2007-09-07T22:00:47Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Along those lines, I was sure “Hunting the horny back toad” was wrong, but not so. “Where the dogs of society howl” I didn’t figure out for years. [/QUOTE] Mine for years were “Hunting the honey black trowel” and “Where the dog star so silently howls” respectively. The first I can only assume referred to the songwriter pining for the loss of his favorite gardening instrument. The second clearly deals with the nostalgia of being in the theaters watching the pre-talkie Lassie movies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-misheard-lyrics-in-an-oft-heard-song/408758.md?page=6)