# Ever been disappointed when you learned the REAL lyrics to a song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586 "2012-01-06T03:15:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/1 "2012-01-06T03:15:57Z")
There are many songs that I listened to, and liked, for _years_ without realizing that I had one of the lyrics wrong. Usually I don’t feel like it matters, but there are some songs where I actually feel disappointed when I learn the real lyric - because I feel that the lyric I had in my head was better (more poetic, I guess.) For a long time, the only version of Van Morrison’s song _Caravan_ was the one from the [Last Waltz.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44wDwMQVqCc) And I always thought the second verse was: _And the caravan is painted red and white That means everybody’s staying overnight. And the barefoot gypsy boys 'round the campfire sing and play and the Roman soldiers walk away._ I didn’t know exactly what the last part was supposed to mean, but I thought it sounded great. I was really let-down when I learned the real line: “And the woman tells us of her ways.” Likewise, for many years, I loved the song [Strange Overtones](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DQyusKTAh4) by David Byrne and Brian Eno. However - I always thought he was saying: “Strange ARE the tones.” _Strange are the tones…in the music you are playing._ I thought this was such an awesome line, “strange are the tones,” because of the archaic, poetic sounding syntax. I was _devastated_ when I found out that the title, and hence the lyric, was “Strange Overtones.” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/2 "2012-01-06T05:29:19Z")
Yes. A rose on the grey? What if all these fantasies come flailing around? A kiss on the grave and come claiming new ground are much better. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/3 "2012-01-06T05:31:40Z")
Do you mean that song by Seal? I just looked it up. I cannot _believe_ he is saying “gray” and not “grave.” Unbelievable! My entire life I thought it was “grave”. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/4 "2012-01-06T05:43:02Z")
For years, I thought the second line of “Sunshine of Your Love” was “I’ll soon be with you, my love, to give you my dull surprise”. I liked it. It sounded psychedelic and weird. Then I found out that it was “dawn surprise” instead of “dull surprise”, and realized the entire song was just a metaphor about having sex in the morning. I’ve never liked that song quite as much since then. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/5 "2012-01-06T05:58:58Z")
I used to think the lyric in Pat Benatar’s _We Belong_ was like this: “…whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better…” The actual lyric goes “…whatever we deny or rephrase, for worse or for better…” I still think “deny or embrace” has a better either/or lyrical quality to it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/6 "2012-01-06T07:08:58Z")
Mine didn’t even change the meaning… In Dan Fogelburg’s “Same Old Lang Syne”, what I thought was: _She said she married her an army gent Who kept her warm and safe and dry She would have liked to she loved the man But she didn’t want to lie_ was actually _She said she married her an architect…_ Despite the song being unchanged in meaning, I still found “army gent” to be more poignant and was disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/7 "2012-01-06T07:58:15Z")
_wrapped up like a douche in the middle of the night_ and _Hang on Snoopy, Snoopy hang on!_ ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/8 "2012-01-06T11:21:12Z")
I always thought Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones was a song about heroin disguised as a love song, or a love song about a woman that tastes so good. I liked the ambiguity. Turns out its pretty explicitly about slave rape, if you could actually make out the lyrics in the actual song I doubt it would have become a hit. > [@](#): > > Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields, > Sold in a market down in new orleans. > Scarred old slaver know he’s doin alright. > Hear him whip the women just around midnight. > Ah brown sugar how come you taste so good > (a-ha) brown sugar, just like a young girl should > A-huh. > > Drums beating, cold english blood runs hot, > Lady of the house wondrin where it’s gonna stop. > House boy knows that he’s doin alright. > You should a heard him just around midnight. > Ah brown sugar how come you taste so good > (a-ha) brown sugar, just like a black girl should > A-huh. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/9 "2012-01-06T13:38:50Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I used to think the lyric in Pat Benatar’s _We Belong_ was like this: > > “…whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better…” > > The actual lyric goes “…whatever we deny or rephrase, for worse or for better…” > > I still think “deny or embrace” has a better either/or lyrical quality to it. Oh hell no. :mad: I’m not even going to look that up in case you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/10 "2012-01-06T13:50:23Z")
Bennie and the Jets. Bennie doesn’t have “electric boobs”. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/11 "2012-01-06T14:11:37Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I used to think the lyric in Pat Benatar’s _We Belong_ was like this: > > “…whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better…” > > The actual lyric goes “…whatever we deny or rephrase, for worse or for better…” > > I still think “deny or embrace” has a better either/or lyrical quality to it. I am almost certain that you had it right the first time. The guys who wrote it, Lowen and Navarro, definitely say “embrace”. Where did you get the word “rephrase”? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/12 "2012-01-06T14:39:13Z")
When I heard the song _Luka_ by The Lemonheads on the radio (actually by Suzanne Vega, but I first heard the cover) I thought the chorus was _It only hurts until you_ die, _after that you don’t ask why_. It’s actually _It only hurts until you_ cry\* [etc.]. I like my lyricosis version better. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/13 "2012-01-06T14:47:25Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > I am almost certain that you had it right the first time. The guys who wrote it, Lowen and Navarro, definitely say “embrace”. Where did you get the word “rephrase”? All the lyrics I’ve looked up say “embrace” and in the video it seems pretty clear from watching PB’s lips that that is the word she’s singing. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/14 "2012-01-06T15:06:57Z")
From the old blues song, “Preacher’s Blues” – The real lyrics: He’ll eat your chicken He’ll eat your pie He’ll lead your wife out On the sly This is not what I had first thought. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/15 "2012-01-06T15:20:09Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > From the old blues song, “Preacher’s Blues” – > > The real lyrics: > > He’ll eat your chicken > He’ll eat your pie > He’ll lead your wife out > On the sly > > This is not what I had first thought. I like your version better. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/16 "2012-01-06T15:26:15Z")
I still prefer my version of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville: Correct line: “Searching for my lost shaker of salt.” My ears (still) hear: “Searching for my outlaw shaker of salt.” Give it a listen and tell me I’m wrong: [Start at 0:45](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cbX4DUACYU) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/17 "2012-01-06T15:36:20Z")
From Dylan’s “Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts”, I still prefer: _…and a Colt revolver clicked…_ over the accurate _…and a cold revolver clicked…_ ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/18 "2012-01-06T15:36:36Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields, > Sold in a market down in new orleans. In _The Wire’s_ first season, the detectives are complaining to each other how hard it is to understand what’s being said on the intercepted pay-phone calls between gang members. Out of the blue, Det. Pryzbylewski slowly recites that line. Everyone looks at him like now they now _know_ Prez is off his rocker. He then explains that as a kid he pressed his ear against his stereo speaker until he deciphered the right words to “Brown Sugar”. He then goes on to explain what the drug dealers are really saying to each other through all the static. Cool scene. I thought Springsteen’s “Rosalita” went “and your poppa _suddenly_ knows that I don’t have any money.” But it’s really "and your poppa \*says he knows \*that I don’t have any money. I liked it better the way I heard it, like Rosie’s dad is “suddenly” throwing obstacles between his daughter and her suitor now that he realizes she might run off with a deadbeat. Relistening to it, I think he sings it both ways over the three times it repeats. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/19 "2012-01-06T15:48:53Z")
This reminds me of an R.E.M. story. The boys had been rehearsing “I Believe” which included the line: _What do you do between the hours of the day?_ Anyway, a friend came up to Stipe and told him how much he liked that line “What do you do between the **horns** of the day?” Michael was so amused and liked the mondegreen so much that he changed the lyrics of the song to include the misheard line. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586/20 "2012-01-06T17:03:44Z")
I always liked that line. I though he was referencing factory horns that blow at the beginning and end of the work day. Well, in the cartoons they do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-disappointed-when-you-learned-the-real-lyrics-to-a-song/608586.md?page=2)